The Worst of the European Airports

[Marc]

From the IHT

Originally Posted by IHT

...outing the worst airports may be more useful than praising the best.

In that spirit, and as a frequent flier around Europe, I have polled my fellow road warriors over the past two months - on airplanes, in security lines and at taxi ranks - to come up with an entirely unscientific survey of Europe's worst.

And though I am no statistician, I think it must be significant that nearly everyone gives the same response: London Heathrow is, hands down, the worst, cited by 100 percent of respondents, as the scientists say.

Charles de Gaulle outside Paris came in a close second. Leonardo da Vinci at Fiumicino, near Rome, and the Frankfurt airport won honorable, or should I say dishonorable, mentions.

"Heathrow is horrible," said Howard Brennan, a businessman from the United States. "You wouldn't believe the waits. It's too congested, and you have to sprint to get between gates. If you fly first class they are sometimes helpful, but only sometimes, even then."

Jeffrey Pappin, a business consultant in London, said it was "always amusing to look at the signs that inform you that it takes 25 minutes to walk to a particular gate." As for Heathrow's amenities, Pappin said, "One only knows through experience and secret knowledge where the restrooms and business lounges are tucked away."

To be fair, London, as a target of terrorism, has particularly pressing security issues. Nevertheless, the lines for passport control for non-EU citizens can take hours, even at odd times of the day. I recently had the misfortune to arrive at Heathrow from Rome late at night, around the same time as jumbos from Moscow; Almaty, Kazakhstan; Islamabad; Lagos; and other far-flung locations.

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[Stijloor]

Originally Posted by Marc

From the IHT

Read more...

Here are the World's Ten Best Airports.
(None of them are in the USA.)

Stijloor.

[AndyN]

Interesting comments from someone who's clearly never stood in the immigration lines at Newark airport, after only two Jumbo's arrived from Europe!

Not only that, but the 'greetings' from US customs and immigration can be less than inviting, despite the fact that many non-citizens pay taxes which pay their wages. And I'm talking pre 911!

Airports are not only a function of their designs - London is a very old one - and so are the New York 'three', compared to O'Hare, Denver etc., they are also held hostage by the poor services provided/funded by the airlines. We all know they don't give much away in service (not including Virgin Atlantic, of course).

Also, is the comparison is being made to US national airports, by those frequent flyers? By my estimation, getting on a plane in the US is like getting on a train or bus in Europe. Perhaps they should compare those - like the trains in the cities cited - they arrive and leave on time, are clean, the food's pretty good (better than bloody pretzels). What about AmTrak here - who'd use that for business travel.......??

Plane travel in Europe isn't like the USA, so no wonder they don't compare!

[Dr. L. Ramakrishnan]

Singapore Changi and Hong Kong Airports are indeed quite good. I would still rate Singapore Changi ahead of Hong Kong. There are quite a few good airports (that I pass through) in Asia Pacific; the list includes Shanghai and Bangkok airports. Many small airports in this region are also quite good.

Indeed if one experiences Heathrew and Frankfurt (especially frequent changes in gates), anyother airport will appear good. Amsterdam's Schipol may be good; but one has to be careful about his/her belongings, including boarding passes, money etc. It appears that organized gangs are involved in such thefts inside and outside Schipol. I was myself a victim of such an act a few years ago, when I lost my passport, money and airticket, at a railway station, outside Schipol.

My experience in USA was not that good; three years ago I almost missed my flight at Fort Lauderdale because of long lines (and chaos) in front of check-in counters and security check areas, even though I reached the airport two hours in advance. (Indeed the airport looked like a bus stand in a developing country like India). This year when I visited Boston, I could experience exploitation of passengers with heavy luggage (no trolley ??; available only to the porter). International airports like Boston, New York etc., are nowhere near Singarpore Changi in facilities.

[Stijloor]

Originally Posted by AndyN

We all know they don't give much away in service (not including Virgin Atlantic, of course).

Noteworthy fact: Virgin Atlantic Airways, Ltd is owned for 49% by Singapore Airlines. For interesting information about this company and its colorful top manager Richard Branson look here: Virgin Atlantic.

Stijloor.