International Airports- Best and Worst.

[akmacca]

I found Chisinau (KIV) International Airport in Moldova the most chaotic, under-resourced airport I have visited in Europe and perhaps in all of my travels. Fights actually broke out in the check-in area. The lines waiting were huge and chaotic and people were constantly pushing in. The staff were abrupt, rude and uninformative. Things didn't get much better in the departure area with a lack of resources and seating. I was bussed to the aircraft and we waited inside the bus for 20 minutes on a hot summers day to board the aircraft. It is certainly not an experience I would want to repeat.

 

[itsBella]

My personal favorite will be Changi, I have experienced a delayed flight and layover as well for a connecting flight and I haven't got bored. There is a lot of things to do and they provide a free city tour for those who are waiting for a connecting flight.

 

[leadman]

Hit ATH on Saturday and quickly dawned it was the height of the tourist season. Working upcountry here i don't think of those things, but it could not handle another PAX. In winter you have the airport and lounge to yourself. IST was not much better.....

 

[marki]

World's Worst Airports, Ranked

This popped up on twitter and I had a good look thru it and I must say it is pretty close. I was surprised that France got 3 airports. Krakow Balice airport looks like it could improve. I have been thru the place and it wasn't as bad for me. I also would have included London Heathrow, it useless, useless, yes twice especially transiting to from Terminal 5.

 

[jase05]

Not surprised at GVA making the list. Was there a few months ago and the place is an utter shambles. I have to admit I’ve never been a fan of CDG went through there twice recently and it has improved in some areas. MEL must be close to getting on that list aswell, the last two times coming back in has been a total debacle

 

[Melburnian1]

Not surprised at GVA making the list. Was there a few months ago and the place is an utter shambles. I have to admit I’ve never been a fan of CDG went through there twice recently and it has improved in some areas. MEL must be close to getting on that list aswell, the last two times coming back in has been a total debacle

What exactly has made MEL 'a total debacle' for you?

 

[Forg]

World's Worst Airports, Ranked

This popped up on twitter and I had a good look thru it and I must say it is pretty close. I was surprised that France got 3 airports. Krakow Balice airport looks like it could improve. I have been thru the place and it wasn't as bad for me. I also would have included London Heathrow, it useless, useless, yes twice especially transiting to from Terminal 5.

The enabling of AU e-Passports in UK airports might make LHR a better experience?
A June SYD-LGW trip with a 3-day LHR-BRU side-adventure (and a one-way LGW-INV) was pretty smooth sailing for me at all involved airports ... for everything except waiting at customs gates. Arriving in LGW internationally was a 45min wait in the priority queue for the passport check, yet across the hall there all those unused e-Passport gates for UK & EU e-Passports (gates which look identical to the gates at SYD).

What exactly has made MEL 'a total debacle' for you?

Mel, I think jase05 meant the airport, wasn't taking a dig at you … ​

 

[Melburnian1]

...But, in comparison with the USA....Australia is great.

On my last visit to the USA, I was through immigration in about two minutes. No queue, despite it being an early morning arrival. Perhaps an 'outlier?'

 

[jase05]

What exactly has made MEL 'a total debacle' for you?

On arrival from DXB we found 4 of the SmartGate kiosks out of order and arrived the same time as several other flights so it was absolute chaos coupled with a baggage malfunction that constituted a 35 minute delay
Then on return from HKG a few weeks back on VA68 we landed on time but were parked remotely and then waited for 40 minutes onboard whilst they had issues with the stairs and required several maintenance crew to eventually rectify it before we disembark and get on the bus.
I do several trips a month between ADL-MEL and ADL-SYD and I don’t know if it’s my imagination or not but the delays at MEL seem to be far more common recently.

 

[Denali]

I would agree with Edinburgh. Was there in April and nothing felt "International" about it but Edinburgh security was more enjoyable than Sydney airport, even if the lounge sucked and the walk to the gate was like roaming the old corridors of the Grace Bros building on Broadway in the 80s.

I despise having to trek through Duty Free at all airports. The light, heat and noise makes me anxious, cant imagine how people with kids with sensitivity issues manage it.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

The enabling of AU e-Passports in UK airports might make LHR a better experience?
A June SYD-LGW trip with a 3-day LHR-BRU side-adventure (and a one-way LGW-INV) was pretty smooth sailing for me at all involved airports ... for everything except waiting at customs gates. Arriving in LGW internationally was a 45min wait in the priority queue for the passport check, yet across the hall there all those unused e-Passport gates for UK & EU e-Passports (gates which look identical to the gates at SYD).

I've had a 70-minute wait in the 'Express' line at LHR T5. I can't wait for the Aus e-passports to be used in the machines and will make both LHR and LGW far better.

 

[Melburnian1]

....I do several trips a month between ADL-MEL and ADL-SYD and I don’t know if it’s my imagination or not but the delays at MEL seem to be far more common recently.

Without going 'off topic' for long, in the VA cancellations and delays thread the very helpful AviatorInsight has recently stated (from his staff perspective) that operating into MEL has become a 'nightmare.' Surprisingly strong words. So its not just 'we users' suffering.

 

[jase05]

Without going 'off topic' for long, in the VA cancellations and delays thread the very helpful AviatorInsight has recently stated (from his staff perspective) that operating into MEL has become a 'nightmare.' Surprisingly strong words. So its not just 'we users' suffering.

And here I was thinking Melbourne must have the worst fog in the world. Seems like every second flight that I take from MEL is delayed due to fog

 

[OATEK]

World's Worst Airports, Ranked

This popped up on twitter and I had a good look thru it and I must say it is pretty close. I was surprised that France got 3 airports. Krakow Balice airport looks like it could improve. I have been thru the place and it wasn't as bad for me. I also would have included London Heathrow, it useless, useless, yes twice especially transiting to from Terminal 5.

They show T1 at CDG, and have to agree it is woeful, but been through T2 a couple of times recently and it has not presented an issues. Also ARN was fine on our recent trip, although a fair way out of town.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Totally agree with TXL. I loathe that place...so disjointed and security at the gate sucks.

EDI is fine for a regional airport there are just too many elites and BA dont do Group 1 calls but rather group 1-3 which is too many people.

LGW is a complete zoo and my least favourite... F checkin, priority secruity and that hidden corridor just after security avoiding duty free make it ok for the experienced adventurer chancing their luck through there.

 

[dajop]

World's Worst Airports, Ranked

This popped up on twitter and I had a good look thru it and I must say it is pretty close.

Apart from being very euro-centric, this lists seems to have lots of airports that are dominated by LCCs (STN, LYS, ORY, MAN, BOD, EIN, SXF, LGW, KEF, KRK,GVA) . I suspect that doesn't help with the whole airport experience. But also missing some of the "bad" airports in this part of the world, such as MNL, DAC and I am sure many others.

 

[PineappleSkip]

The third world is conspicuously absent from the ‘worst airports’ list!

BTW, ARN is one of my favourites!

Cheers skip

 

[p--and--t]

I find it interesting reading different people's perspectives and experiences at airports.

We generally do a big trip each year for 6-8 weeks and its often a round the world affair as we tackle various items on the "gunna" (aka bucket) list.

My 2cents worth on major airports from the last 3 years. We have been to plenty of dubious smaller airports I'll omit:-

FRA - been through FRA 4 times in 3 years - I absolutely loathe the place and will do everything in my planning to avoid it forever more. The walking for miles, the security process, the rude lazy disinterested staff, the delays, you name it.
LHR - been through LHR 4 for 2xstop and 2x transit and each time must have been very fortuitous given others comments, breezed through immigration and security and sat around waiting for a long time for our driver because he expected us to be delayed.
NBO - Dreadful place, dirty, aircon not working, hopeless check-in security and boarding processes, no toilets in gate lounges.
TXL - Very "unique" arrangements for departures. Had premium lounge access so didn't have to wait around near the boarding gate and didn't concern me. But if not lounge access it would have been chomping at the bit at lack of seating, space, queueing.
LAX - TBIT gradually improving but still at lot to left to improve; terribly long queues to get through security that take forever, I avoid if possible.
MEL - International departures is going from bad to worse as each new "improvement" is delivered, the IKEA style maze to get through all the retail in international is draining and frustrating. Many of the food outlets are a national embarrassment.
MIA - arrivals was a total mess, understaffed immigration & customs, huge queues, a major hike to get to any form of transport away from the airport.
HKG - a great airport
SIN - a very good airport
KUL - layout not too bad and well maintained but assertive aggressive security who take random body searches into private areas way beyond acceptable practice.

 

[Scott K]

I find it interesting reading different people's perspectives and experiences at airports
KUL - layout not too bad and well maintained but assertive aggressive security who take random body searches into private areas way beyond acceptable practice.

Hey? I’ve never seen that happen. There’s got to be a cracker of a story behind this!

 

[RooFlyer]

Worst:
Well, HBA (Hobart) is classified as 'international' (flights to Antarctica ) and its pretty gruesome - very crowded, no air bridges (or buses), shipping containers form part of the infrastructure ...

Manchester MAN I found pretty ordinary. Irkutsk IRK, Russia was very old and cramped; Ouagadougou OUA when I was there a few years ago had a concrete shell as a terminal building, queue outside in the hot sun for immigration (I assume they have finished it by now); Rabat RBA, as a capital city airport fell into the old and very cramped category, no air bridges. My last 4 experiences at Miami MIA have been uniformly appalling so its on my list. Bangkok BKK I loathe for its size/walking requirements and poor facilities.

Best:
Changi SIN should be on anyone's list (with arrival immigration an odd exception to the overall experience); Hong Kong HKG; Doha DOH (except for the stupid big teddy), Mumbai (MUM) T2 is up there with them.