Your favourite and worst airports

fifeken

BritRael wrote: »

Favourite: Koh Samui (not keen on Samui but the airport is great )

I'm surprised it took nearly 40 posts before someone mentioned this. It is such a lovely place. http://www.samuiairportonline.com/

jackieblack

Worst - definitely LAX, for all the reasons others have given
Best - we like MCO, despite the weird double bagagge thing on arrival, loads of stuff to do, everyone really friendly

Voyager2002

Sounds like none of you have ever been to a really bad airport.

A close contender for the title of world's worst airport has to be Khartoum, Sudan. I was once detained there for 24 hours and then deported. Tropical climate; no air conditioning; minimal ventilation. Even the people who were allowed in had to wait for five hours or more to get processed. Uncomfortable chairs (the head of Immigration took pity on me and allowed me to sleep in his private office, and kept me supplied with coffee and snacks). The only redeeming feature was that most of the staff were really friendly and tried hard to help, with one official almost crying when he said he had to deport me, and begged me not to think badly of his country. The effect was rather spoiled by the policeman who walked me to the 'plane to leave: when I asked him to give me my passport before I actually boarded the aircraft, he kicked me for disobedience!

Khartoum is pretty bad, but the title goes to Exeter (in England). Canned music everywhere, interrupted by constant annoying announcements about the duty-free shop. Nowhere to sit down, plug in a laptop and work. Over-priced and disgusting snacks, and of course at the centre of everything is what must once have been a great espresso coffee machine, but it has been broken for about five years!

jackieblack

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Sounds like none of you have ever been to a really bad airport.

A close contender for the title of world's worst airport has to be Khartoum, Sudan. I was once detained there for 24 hours and then deported.

:eek: Why? What had you done!!??

bezzza

Best for me (and a few other people by the looks of it) has to be Beijing - the cleanliness, the space and the fab ceiling (designed by a famous architect apparently - wasn't really listening to our guide as so absorbed in hugeness) - going through body heat detector gates was just bizarre (so glad no alarms went off ha ha) and quite enjoyed the little train ride to collect baggage.

Worst was and still is Heathrow Terminal 3 - over priced everything, terrible check in and passport control, battered cases, it's like a huge cattle market but it's the price you pay to leave this country to warmer parts eh?

realised

Best- Abu dhabi was quite nice
Worst- LAX and Mumbai. I was only about 10 years old when I last went to Mumbai airport so memories are a little fuzzy but I do remember there being a LOT of pushing and shoving (and no queues) when we were getting our visas checked on arrival at the airport. I was terrifed!

Heliflyguy

Another vote for Koh Sumui, Changi and Hong kong.
Worse - LHR T3, Larnica and Queen Aliya Amman.

Hobsons_Choice

Another vote for Coventry Airport when it was open. Just about big enough and no hanging around for hours.
The worst I ever flew to was Pula, they share with a military airport (or did then).

whatmichaelsays

You people have no idea what a bad airport is until you've flown out of Perpignan.

I've seen mini cab offices that have more amenities.

roadster1

The worst airport in the world has to be Luton. I have travelled many times from this joke of an airport and almost every time something goes wrong......Rude, inefficient staff, poor facilities (they had a major refurbishment and took most of the seating out!) and during the bad weather, just the one aircraft de icing machine. I once waited 90 minutes for my baggage. Nobody wanted to know, there was nearly a riot!

Most "interesting"? been in and out of Buyant-Ukhaa (now Ghengis Khaan International) airport a few times.