Worst airports

[RedArmy]

Gatwick.

 

They've made improvements to its look. But the operational side is still terrible.

 

Passport control is painfully slow. Baggage reclaim is painfully slow.

 

I assume non-british flight companies get priority on gates that aren't a million miles away as it always seems to take ages to walk from the gate to passport control.

 

And despite the long walk, and long wait at passport control, the baggage reclaims are still empty when you finally reach them.

 

On the flip side, terminal 5 is outstanding.

[BlakeySFC]

I was in the premium terminal three years ago. It opened in 2006. This is it. Free food and drinks, showers, spa, even a 24 hour medical centre http://www.luxuo.com/travel/best-premium-service-airports-2013.html

 

No idea if they have opened other terminals since.

 

 

Qatar is moving its operations to the New Doha airport (Hamad International-HIA) on the 27th May.

 

Was lucky enough to experience the Doha Premium Terminal on a previous visit and it was an incredible experience, hope the new lounges at HIA can compare

[Faz]

Luton. It's a complete bun fight.

[hutch]

Qatar is moving its operations to the New Doha airport (Hamad International-HIA) on the 27th May.

 

Was lucky enough to experience the Doha Premium Terminal on a previous visit and it was an incredible experience, hope the new lounges at HIA can compare

The new airport in Doha is on the same site as the old one. I don't think the premium terminal is moving. I'll be there next Wednesday so I'll find out.

[dubai_phil]

I've had loads of interesting experiences, but the only one I go out of my way to avoid, even if it means paying more, is Dubai.

 

I actually understand that comment.

 

Dubai is not an Airport it's a bloody shopping mall full stop. The old T1 did at least have a food court with KFC Pizza Hut & McD' (that nobody could ever find as it was not sign posted very well) and it had The Irish Village. The new T3 is just horrid a central mess of shops packed full of Extras from The Walking Dead having just flown overnight to be in transit. The even newer T3 C - the A380 terminal is even worse.

 

Personally I am lucky I have had a Gold Card on Emirates since they started up so can use the lounges (which are a safe haven where you can at least sit down & work or grab a coffee). That then gives me an EGate fingerprint reader access at Immigration which is another Godsend as Immigration queues ALWAYS take at least an hour even with the Business Class section.

 

But in their favour, even zapping through the EGate, the bags are ALWAYS on the Carousel by the time you get there

 

The new DWC is 60km from Dubai. That is like the Distance from Southampton to Fleet Services. It's a 40 quid taxi fare at least (IF you can find one)

[adrian lord]

Kai Tak was wonderful, such a romantically scary way to be introduced to HK.

 

I like City Airport for stuff out of London.

[bazza]

Had a really ropey flight into Vagar in the Faroes a few years back and, unsurprisingly, the airport made Southampton look like Heathrow. The worst I've been through though was Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv. Big modern Terminal building but the security is a bloody nightmare. There were four of us travelling (to watch NI play Israel) and were pulled aside on the way back for additional security screening/questioning. Quite frankly even though we'd only done the usual tourist stuff (including visits to the West Bank and Jerusalem) I was ****ting myself, the Israelis don't mess about. It was very intense.

[hutch]

I actually understand that comment.

 

Dubai is not an Airport it's a bloody shopping mall full stop. The old T1 did at least have a food court with KFC Pizza Hut & McD' (that nobody could ever find as it was not sign posted very well) and it had The Irish Village. The new T3 is just horrid a central mess of shops packed full of Extras from The Walking Dead having just flown overnight to be in transit. The even newer T3 C - the A380 terminal is even worse.

 

Personally I am lucky I have had a Gold Card on Emirates since they started up so can use the lounges (which are a safe haven where you can at least sit down & work or grab a coffee). That then gives me an EGate fingerprint reader access at Immigration which is another Godsend as Immigration queues ALWAYS take at least an hour even with the Business Class section.

 

But in their favour, even zapping through the EGate, the bags are ALWAYS on the Carousel by the time you get there

 

The new DWC is 60km from Dubai. That is like the Distance from Southampton to Fleet Services. It's a 40 quid taxi fare at least (IF you can find one)

I usually have a business class ticket, so I could use the lounges, if only I could find them.

 

I went on a train too, when I was there last week. From C to A I think.

[BlakeySFC]

The new airport in Doha is on the same site as the old one. I don't think the premium terminal is moving. I'll be there next Wednesday so I'll find out.

 

The two airports are right next door to one another, but you won't be able to use the DIA premium terminal as all of Qatar Air's operations will now be going through HIA as of 9am on the 27th May.

 

Also, the HIA Qatar Air Premium Lounges won't be open for another couple of months so if you're flying Business or First you'll have to use the other airline lounges in the complex (Al Maha, Oryx, Gold and Silver), or, if these are full, vouchers will be offered., more info here:

 

http://dohanews.co/need-know-youre-flying-hamad-intl-airport/

 

http://dohanews.co/four-airlines-begin-flying-new-hamad-airport-may-22/

 

Also:

 

I go there about once a month. Nice, new and user friendly. No problem with free visa on arrival for brits. Can be a bit of a long walk if you're unlucky.

 

The main terminal is modern and air conditioned, the other terminal with the tiled ceiling is like being in a very busy sauna.

 

Thanks for the info on Abu Dhabi airport, I've currently got a decison to make about who to fly with to Australia in February on Business, considering giving Etihad a go but been put off a bit by reading poor reviews of AUH and the lounges there.

 

As for my worst airport experiences, Las Vegas has got to be my least favourite along with Jeju (Korea), Heraklion (Crete) and Zakynthos.

Edited 27 May, 2014 by BlakeySFC

[SOTONS EAST SIDE]

Harare the worst i have been too. Had to walk from the plane to the Terminal (if you can call it that) about 1000m, all surrounded by machine gun totting guys. All because their maximum security prison, is next to the runway!! WTF

[hutch]

Qatar is moving its operations to the New Doha airport (Hamad International-HIA) on the 27th May.

 

Was lucky enough to experience the Doha Premium Terminal on a previous visit and it was an incredible experience, hope the new lounges at HIA can compare

They can't, at least not for now. The business lounge in use at the moment is appalling. Very overcrowded, about one third the size of the previous lounge, and below average facilities.

 

My advice, go somewhere else for the time being. Ab Dab/Etihad is probably the best transit choice in the gulf for the time being.

[dubai_phil]

The two airports are right next door to one another, but you won't be able to use the DIA premium terminal as all of Qatar Air's operations will now be going through HIA as of 9am on the 27th May.

 

Also, the HIA Qatar Air Premium Lounges won't be open for another couple of months so if you're flying Business or First you'll have to use the other airline lounges in the complex (Al Maha, Oryx, Gold and Silver), or, if these are full, vouchers will be offered., more info here:

 

http://dohanews.co/need-know-youre-flying-hamad-intl-airport/

 

http://dohanews.co/four-airlines-begin-flying-new-hamad-airport-may-22/

 

Also:

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the info on Abu Dhabi airport, I've currently got a decison to make about who to fly with to Australia in February on Business, considering giving Etihad a go but been put off a bit by reading poor reviews of AUH and the lounges there.

 

As for my worst airport experiences, Las Vegas has got to be my least favourite along with Jeju (Korea), Heraklion (Crete) and Zakynthos.

 

IF you are on Business then the Emirates Lounges in Dubai are very good and about 5 times the size of the Etihad one in AUH (Showers etc). There are also 2 hotels in the airport if you have a long stop over and want some down time. The new Concourse C where the A380's come in and out is better than the regular EK Concourse B but it is an even worse Shopping Mall layout UNLESS you are in Business Class.

 

One other factor though - Both EK & Etihad offer Complimentary Limo service (each way) at either end. (Last time I checked) Emirates however only offer that for 50 miles in the UK then you have to pay, Etihad offered unlimited, so you can get picked up free in a nice Merc, aslo of course you can use them to get to your hotel at the other end.

 

EK Business Class on the A380 is VERY good - and on a really long haul the ability to go sit/stand at the bar at the back of the plane for an hour or so is a God-send. Their only failing is that it takes 1.5 hours to get any food drink (after the free bubbles) which when flying overnight is REALLY annoying unless you sleep right through the food.

[PhilippineSaint]

How come Paris Charles De Gaule has not been mentioned yet ?

 

No directions from terminal to terminal.

 

French all over the place who when hearing an English accent suddenly cannot speak English.

 

NB I do speak French so I can get by.

 

Its is dark and dingy, shops will not accept multiple currencies, Bars are few and far between,

 

and its in France.

[Convict Colony]

Antananarivo, hot and humid as hell, unorganised and the surrounding area is prone to black death outbreaks.

 

I was there 1 week before this happened.

 

http://reliefweb.int/report/madagascar/plague-madagascar

 

Lived in Singapore and flown out of loads of time for 4 yrs as well so can confirm changi is the best I have visited, the bags get through so quickly.

 

Shout out to vancouver though as I liked that one.

Edited 4 June, 2014 by Convict Colony

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Fagernes, Norway, foggy mountain top.

Queenstown, New Zealand. They have to turn off the mountain sensors in the cockpit or the planes won't take off as they think they won't clear them.

Corfu. Think I'm going in the sea off the end of the runway, every time.

Canberra. Can't get breakfast on a Sunday morning at 10am FFS.

 

Best: Changi by a mile.

[Simples]

From a pilots perspective, Italian and Spanish airports are generally extremely difficult to get any sort of services from. Many don't have VIP passenger lounges, no catering facilities unless you want to spend the equivalent of the third work debt, and ATC services that require 15 read backs and pleads of 'please speak slowly' to understand what is going on.

 

The best airport to fly into for me is Southampton, as I'm only 15 minutes from home then and most of the time get to see St Mary's from the air :-)

[rooney]

Kefalonia was grim about 20 years ago and they had been rebuilding for 20 years before that. I remember the baggage came in on a trailer pulled by a tractor alongside a platform and you helped yourself.