Nominate your favourite airport and why...

[thadocta]

It is basically a permanent "visa" for participating APEC countries - some of them are still introducing it.

Details here.

Dave

 

[arun]

Thanks Dave. That is interesting and useful.
Regards
Arun

 

[HardieBoys]

I'm going to put Narita not on the list. Recently went there, and was surprised by many things: the overall dowdy appearance, disorganised bus queues, and the distance from town. Also on return to the airport, getting from the Narita Express (N'EX) to the departures area involved 3 escalators, which is always fun and interesting with a trolley.

That said... loved Tokyo.

 

[donjsimons]

There are lifts at Narita and with heavy bags it is worth the look around to find them. This is the case on more and more stations in the Tokyo area now.

As I try to tell many visitors to Tokyo, if they just slow down a bit and read the signs they will end up saving a lot of time and effort.

The Narita Express is good but the Keisei limited express gets you to Ueno for JPY 1000 and only about 15 min slower than the Keisei skyliner. It all depends where you are heading.

If you are going direct to a known hotel with heavy bags you can't beat the Limousine Bus for JPY3000. No escalators or lifting just straight outside the arrival gate and you are laughing, as long as there are not too many traffic holdups.

Also at Sydney international airport there are very handy lifts from the lower floors.
Or should I say elevators.

 

[petef]

pomjim, have to agree with you about KL, except for the immigration queues....

I'll also add that I like the terminal @ KUL especially since the train service started. I visit here 2-3 times a year. But it does have some major drawbacks.
1. There are no water (drinking) fountains anywhere in the terminal before or after immigration.
2 once past immigration the only bottled water available is 4 times the price of the same bottle in the city and it's only available at room temperature (warm).
3. Also once past immigration there is little of interest apart from the architecture.

Singapore is probabily my favorite transit airport in the area. But can be a real long marathon run if connections are close and the gates are miles apart. But on the other hand if you have a few hours in transit, immigration is always quick and the train is easy to get into town for some shopping or great food.

Peter.

 

[arun]

3. Also once past immigration there is little of interest apart from the architecture.

Agreed. There is only a couple of places to eat and no good shops even to window shop. Quite boring. I missed the restaurants before the immigration thinking there will be some inside.

 

[pax1a]

Best Airport in the world must be HK!!

- Clean, well laid out, lots of travelators and a fast transit train between the terminal wings.

- Pick Up your luggage, walk through customs, straight on the fast train to Kowloon or HK island. (Better than getting a hotel car or Taxi and if you travel CS\X you can buy your train ticket from the Duty Free mag for HK$90 – save HK$10)

- Free wireless Hot Spots around the airport.

- When I left there 2 weeks ago you could vote for the most friendly immigration/customs officer.

The ONLY (and I do mean ONLY) thing I can fault is the Carry-On Luggage naz_s who stand outside the departure gates and ensure you only carry-on 2 items. (If you travel pointy end you need a special tag on excess carry one luggage)

 

[neil_gardner]

I love Changi also..recently had a 13hr layover getting from MEL to DELHI. After some sleep, shopping in town, swim and sunbathe in the Airport pool and a massage...the 13hrs passed in no time at all.

I'd also vote for MANCHESTER, in UK. Direct flights from SIN, KUL and DXB, immigration is much firendlier than Heathrow and no horrible transfer from T4 to T1 (I hate the bus journey and refuse to risk the tube)....Nothing better than the BA Terraces lounges, sat on the recliner chairs watching the planes coming in...