The World's Top 100 Airports

[Dyslexic traveler]

Just came across the new list of The World's Top 100 Airports. What is your pick for the best airport and why is it your top pick. And to be fair what's the airport you are happy never to see

http://www.worldairportawards.com/Awards_2013/top100.htm

Wayne
The Dyslecic Traveler

 

[simongr]

Ok - straight to the controversy! For me my three top airports are... HKG and SYD QF DOM and SYD QF INT.

Now don't get stroppy about SYD - I do have reasons... First DOM - I fly through it so often I know it like the back of my hand. I generally have success in Premium Boarding have very few delays (vs. MEL where I have had some more significant delays). I have a driver that picks me up on time so I don't suffer SYD parking issues. I never have luggage so never have luggage issues and they were very helpful to my wife when she was travelling without me. SYD DOM just works for me.

SYD INT - sure there can be queues coming back into SYD but leaving SYD is just a dream - QF F check in - smooth as silk, express immigration and security - might not be that much faster but it feels faster and then of course there is the F lounge.

HKG - just because it is the best, most efficient, simple, effective, airy and wonderful - and I haven't even been to the new Wing F lounge.

Worst

Poznan in Poland - Cigarette capital of Poland
Warsaw - marginally worse than Poznan - especially factoring the customs officer with his hand up some girls skirt at the customs desk
LHR T3 - it carphole of carpfulness - dingy low ceilings, the queues - my god the queues!
JED - words fail me
AMM - Makes LHR T3 look like an oasis of brilliance

BTW that link takes you to the top airlines rather than airports...

http://www.worldairportawards.com/Awards_2013/top100.htm

 

[ajw373]

LHR T3 - it carphole of carpfulness - dingy low ceilings, the queues - my god the queues!
JED - words fail me
AMM - Makes LHR T3 look like an oasis of brilliance

Are you talking the old AMM terminal or new? Must admit I have only been to the old and agree, but the new one looked pretty good.

As for T3 been years since used it, and I am dreading 5:30am next Monday when I use it again ex QF9. Just hope a plane load of student visa holders have not arrived just before QF9.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Having recently been in both Poznan (PZN) and WAW.. Can't believe you'd say that about PZN! Have you been post-Euro? It was almost completely rebuilt and whilst tiny it's certainly enough.

And WAW, again not great but far far from the worst. I didn't like APW much at all.

I guess so much of it depends on how much time you need to spend at an airport, and whether you have lounge access. I find smaller airport like PZN to be great because you get in, quickly do your thing, and you're off. And then there's places like LHR and FRA.....

Ok - straight to the controversy! For me my three top airports are... HKG and SYD QF DOM and SYD QF INT.

Now don't get stroppy about SYD - I do have reasons... First DOM - I fly through it so often I know it like the back of my hand. I generally have success in Premium Boarding have very few delays (vs. MEL where I have had some more significant delays). I have a driver that picks me up on time so I don't suffer SYD parking issues. I never have luggage so never have luggage issues and they were very helpful to my wife when she was travelling without me. SYD DOM just works for me.

SYD INT - sure there can be queues coming back into SYD but leaving SYD is just a dream - QF F check in - smooth as silk, express immigration and security - might not be that much faster but it feels faster and then of course there is the F lounge.

HKG - just because it is the best, most efficient, simple, effective, airy and wonderful - and I haven't even been to the new Wing F lounge.

Worst

Poznan in Poland - Cigarette capital of Poland
Warsaw - marginally worse than Poznan - especially factoring the customs officer with his hand up some girls skirt at the customs desk
LHR T3 - it carphole of carpfulness - dingy low ceilings, the queues - my god the queues!
JED - words fail me
AMM - Makes LHR T3 look like an oasis of brilliance

BTW that link takes you to the top airlines rather than airports...

http://www.worldairportawards.com/Awards_2013/top100.htm

 

[Paddy55]

Ok - straight to the controversy! For me my three top airports are... HKG and SYD QF DOM and SYD QF INT.

Now don't get stroppy about SYD - I do have reasons... First DOM - I fly through it so often I know it like the back of my hand. I generally have success in Premium Boarding have very few delays (vs. MEL where I have had some more significant delays). I have a driver that picks me up on time so I don't suffer SYD parking issues. I never have luggage so never have luggage issues and they were very helpful to my wife when she was travelling without me. SYD DOM just works for me.

SYD INT - sure there can be queues coming back into SYD but leaving SYD is just a dream - QF F check in - smooth as silk, express immigration and security - might not be that much faster but it feels faster and then of course there is the F lounge.

http://www.worldairportawards.com/Awards_2013/top100.htm

I'd not have SYD there simply because of the pain xferring from Dom to Int.

On the connecting side I'd have airports like SIN and DFW well ahead I'm afraid.
I'd even put MEL ahead on that score! :shock:

 

[AIRwin]

I'd not have SYD there simply because of the pain xferring from Dom to Int.

It's even worse transferring from International to Domestic - once I missed my connecting flight in the morning after queueing for 2 hours to check in after retrieving my baggage and clearing customs. The next available flight was in the afternoon even though the sector I was flying is one of the busiest in the world (SYD-MEL)... And I snapped at the staff manning the entrance to the terminal transfer bus hall who told me to wait since I had plenty of time. And all this after my international flight was 12 hours late!

 

[simongr]

Having recently been in both Poznan (PZN) and WAW.. Can't believe you'd say that about PZN! Have you been post-Euro? It was almost completely rebuilt and whilst tiny it's certainly enough.

And WAW, again not great but far far from the worst. I didn't like APW much at all.

I guess so much of it depends on how much time you need to spend at an airport, and whether you have lounge access. I find smaller airport like PZN to be great because you get in, quickly do your thing, and you're off. And then there's places like LHR and FRA.....

I was in PZN in 1999 so might be out of date

 

[simongr]

It is all about how an airport works for you - I never do Dom-int or Int-Dom transfers at SYD so do not have that issue.

 

[dajop]

It is all about how an airport works for you .

This is very true. I hear how many dislike Changi for its carpet and dreary, bland interiors (particularly T1) and gate based security. Can understand it. But I love that I can arrive at the airport 35mins before an international flight, pass through immigration and proceed to the lounge for a snack and drink and 10-15 mins of down time before proceeding to board. Works for me!

 

[tuapekastar]

I like SIN and MEL (well, not including T3, and especially not T4 :shock. Underwhelmed by HKG. Agree LHR T3 is awful. Complete zoo. PER domestic is not much chop. ADL is quite nice.

IMO any airport that charges you money to move between terminals is automatically disqualified from a 'best' list.

 

[scaredeycat]

I quite like LCY, not so much because of the terminal, but because it's such a contrast with LHR. So long as it's not raining it's quite nice walking out onto the Tarmac, and the planes seem so little. Terrific views as well. Getting to and from much easier.

 

[Fifa]

OOL is #52 and ADL is #77.
What???

 

[trentusjuventus]

For me HK is the number 1, and like others my choice is based on the way I use it. Transfers on CX/KA are a breeze, you can get away with a 60 minute transfer window most of the time on CX, lounges are great, free WiFi everywhere, tons of options for getting into town if you're staying. Just a good all-rounder.
As for the worst, LHR because of pretty much everything that has been mentioned above, with STN a close second for being miles away and full of people traveling on LCCs.

 

[Paddy55]

OOL is #52 and ADL is #77.
What???

And DFW #54 :shock: .... behind OOL? :?:

 

[ShaneN]

OOL is #52 and ADL is #77.
What???

I wonder how they conduct these surveys. Perhaps fewer people have been to ADL, which I think is easily the best terminal in Australia.

Why is LHR, with all its delays and appalling terminals (I have not been to T5) number 10? Seems to be a severe bias against US airports. The highest ranked seems to be SFO at number 40. My experience of SFO, mainly International Terminal, is that it is a very good airport.

 

[JohnK]

Surveys do not mean much to me.

I love SYD airport both T1 and T3. Still undecided on T2.

And round the world I think BKK, SIN, HKG are good airports and KUL recently also looked really nice.

I do not think there is any airport I hate enough to say I will never be back....

 

[Sprucegoose]

I wonder how they conduct these surveys. Perhaps fewer people have been to ADL, which I think is easily the best terminal in Australia.
ort.

Certainly is if you want to get fit.

 

[codash1099]

I wonder how they conduct these surveys. Perhaps fewer people have been to ADL, which I think is easily the best terminal in Australia.

Why is LHR, with all its delays and appalling terminals (I have not been to T5) number 10? Seems to be a severe bias against US airports. The highest ranked seems to be SFO at number 40. My experience of SFO, mainly International Terminal, is that it is a very good airport.

I've had my say about these sorts of surveys before. In summary, no verification of vote validity, qualification to vote or statistical validity. Just a waste of space.