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World’s best airport

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306024

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Intentionally, one hopes.

It is quite an experience. All you see is sea, sitting behind the pilot you wonder where you will land. Then you descend at quite a rate before straightening up to land, or rather splosh.

LCY is still OK if you avoid waiting in the main food area and go to a quite gate that isn’t being used to sit and wait. There’s a good greasy spoon cafe a short walk away too. For convenience for me it is far better than Stansted which is poor partly because of the duty free slalom course you have to negotiate.
 

Bletchleyite

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... but, unsurprisingly, what you would expect in France. The same can be said of the whole city really.

True, to be fair the entirety of la Suisse Romande is basically like France but a bit cleaner, a bit more organised, and more expensive. Switzerland is really 3 (or even 4, I have never been to Graubuenden) entirely different cultures, split by language. The Italian bit is similarly like Italy but a bit cleaner (etc).
 

Butts

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... but, unsurprisingly, what you would expect in France. The same can be said of the whole city really.

I've walked through to the French Sector before now.

Geneva can have horrendous security queues but at least you can see the extent of it from the Terminal - unless they've changed the layout. It's not a "theme Park" type queue hidden away.

Nice Smoking Lounge as well.
 

bspahh

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LCY is still OK if you avoid waiting in the main food area and go to a quite gate that isn’t being used to sit and wait. There’s a good greasy spoon cafe a short walk away too. For convenience for me it is far better than Stansted which is poor partly because of the duty free slalom course you have to negotiate.
My top tip for London City is to avoid it on the Wednesday evening before a catholic holiday on a Thursday. I once landed at about 6pm, just as half a dozen other flights also landed. Normally, they would be half full, but this time they were all packed, with people coming for a long weekend, and it took forever to get through the passport control, as there were only 1 or 2 booths open.

I don't like Stansted, but its the closest airport to me, and I'm happy to use it if the flight time and destination works out for where I want to get to. At least the departure lounge now has plenty of power sockets, unlike some "nicer" airports like Copenhagen.

Stansted was a location for the recent film People Just Do Nothing: Big In Japan.
 

Ianno87

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My single (departing) trip from Luton and the place had the ambience of an unloved bus station.
 

Bald Rick

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True, to be fair the entirety of la Suisse Romande is basically like France but a bit cleaner, a bit more organised, and more expensive. Switzerland is really 3 (or even 4, I have never been to Graubuenden) entirely different cultures, split by language. The Italian bit is similarly like Italy but a bit cleaner (etc).
My single (departing) trip from Luton and the place had the ambience of an unloved bus station.

You should try it now since the rebuild - completely transformed.
 

nlogax

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My single (departing) trip from Luton and the place had the ambience of an unloved bus station.

I concur. Returning from Iceland a couple of years ago, landing after midnight and being shepherded through the branch of B&Q that was christened as 'arrivals'..one of the most miserable airport experiences of my entire life.

You should try it now since the rebuild - completely transformed.

Including arrivals?
 

Bald Rick

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I concur. Returning from Iceland a couple of years ago, landing after midnight and being shepherded through the branch of B&Q that was christened as 'arrivals'..one of the most miserable airport experiences of my entire life.



Including arrivals?

Yes. It’s pretty difficult to spend more than 3 minutes there, unless you have a cabin bag. Even then, 15 minutes is a typical maximum.
 

TravelDream

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I'm amazed I have actually been to 8 of these (never been to Zurich and visited Osaka, but went around Japan by train so haven't been to Kansai).
To be fair, they are all decent airports, though I don't see how you can say one is number 3 and another 4 and another 15 as the differences can be slight. I generally find smaller airports like London City to be more comfortable to travel through than these mega hubs.
What people have to realise is these ratings are heavily influenced by 'sponsorship' from certain countries. It's also clear that big glass boxes are popular whilst other building types are not.

Take the top two (Hamad in Doha and Changi in Sinpapore) which I have been to multiple times.
If I had to chose which one to spend 2 hours, 6 hours or 12 hours at, it would be Changi every single time. Far more passenger friendly and far more for people to do.
I once spent about 10 hours in Doha due to a late incoming flight and missed connection (600EUR compensation and work let me 'work from home' so don't feel too sorry for me). Trust me when I say there is next to nothing to do there. It is incredibly hectic during Qatar's banks and totally dead afterwards. When quiet, it is just a massive, soulless, glass-walled warehouse.
Changi on the other hand has a whole raft of things to do for free like a cinema and a butterfly garden. It's also more 'comfortable' to just sit and relax for an hour or two.
It's not even close. Hamad might be an architect's number one, but certainly not a passenger's.

Heathrow gets a lot of bad press, but T2 is very nice and T5 is decent. It's only T4 with it's incredibly long and narrow design with oppressive low ceilings that isn't the greatest.

A special award should go to Hong Kong too. The airport is close to 25 years old now and it still looks like it was opened 12 months ago. T5 at Heathrow is already starting to show a fair bit of wear and tear and it's half HKG's age.
 
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Aictos

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Yes. It’s pretty difficult to spend more than 3 minutes there, unless you have a cabin bag. Even then, 15 minutes is a typical maximum.
Indeed, last time it took about 15 mins from arriving to going though security to going to the lounge to await ones flight to another country.

The whole experience is pretty good, I would rate it above Gatwick personally.
 

cactustwirly

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Indeed, last time it took about 15 mins from arriving to going though security to going to the lounge to await ones flight to another country.

The whole experience is pretty good, I would rate it above Gatwick personally.

Just flown out of Luton, it's ok better than Stansted probably.
Check in and security is good, departures is ok but a view of the apron would be nice.

The gates are very poor, there is no seating so you are hearded like cattle standing around for ages before you're allowed on the plane. There are no jetbridges so you have to walk out in the cold. overall a poor experience compared compared to Gatwick.

I'm not in a hurry to return.
 

Bletchleyite

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There are no jetbridges so you have to walk out in the cold.

I've always preferred ground-level boarding. First of all you get to use front and back entrances so it's quicker. Secondly, you get to look at the plane above you, and take in the sights, sounds and smells of the airfield, rather than it being hidden as if they were somehow embarrassed about it.

The only Luton gate I have developed a heavy dislike for is gate 19, in which they always used to queue you up outside in the cold for ages in a draughty walkway because there was nowhere to do it inside.
 

cactustwirly

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I've always preferred ground-level boarding. First of all you get to use front and back entrances so it's quicker. Secondly, you get to look at the plane above you, and take in the sights, sounds and smells of the airfield, rather than it being hidden as if they were somehow embarrassed about it.

The only Luton gate I have developed a heavy dislike for is gate 19, in which they always used to queue you up outside in the cold for ages in a draughty walkway because there was nowhere to do it inside.

I prefer jetbridges, which all the airlines use except Ryanair at Gatwick?

I know there are a few without bridges, most do. I find the whole boarding process much more civilised at Gatwick and Heathrow. Ie you sit down until the plane is actually ready to board, and then walk straight on.

I'd say Heathrow Terminal 5 is my favourite airport of you get the A gates. With Gatwick not far behind. Luton and Stansted at the bottom
 

bspahh

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I prefer jetbridges, which all the airlines use except Ryanair at Gatwick?

I know there are a few without bridges, most do. I find the whole boarding process much more civilised at Gatwick and Heathrow. Ie you sit down until the plane is actually ready to board, and then walk straight on.

If I fly somewhere, its because I want to get somewhere fast. With a jet bridge that only boards at the front, I have to wait twice as long for people to traipse on and off, as if they can use steps at the front and rear.

There are lots of things to dislike about Ryanair, but I do like their focus on getting people on and off their expensive planes ASAP, so it can head off somewhere else, as I can do so too.
 

BayPaul

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I've always preferred ground-level boarding. First of all you get to use front and back entrances so it's quicker. Secondly, you get to look at the plane above you, and take in the sights, sounds and smells of the airfield, rather than it being hidden as if they were somehow embarrassed about it.

The only Luton gate I have developed a heavy dislike for is gate 19, in which they always used to queue you up outside in the cold for ages in a draughty walkway because there was nowhere to do it inside.
I prefer ground level boarding at airports designed for it, like Luton, or the little airports. It is depressing flying Ryanair from airports with airbridges, and having to climb (and queue) all the way down the staff staircase to the tarmac, and then back up to the plane.

-------------------------------------
For the person who nominated Kirkwall as the best airport, I had one of my most stressful airport experiences there - there is (or was) no mobile phone signal at the check in desk, which was a problem, as the travel agent had booked, but not paid for my flight, but didn't believe me when I explained this, and wanted to talk to the check in agent... And the desks don't open very long before the flight closes!
 

frodshamfella

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I think I prefer the speed boarding / disembarking that steps allow. I also tend to prefer using smaller airports in general.
 

cactustwirly

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I don't think there's a significant difference with steps tbh.
As you have to wait ages for the stairs to be attached. And ofc it's a longer walk to the terminal
 

Roast Veg

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The World’s Top 10 Airports of 2021:

  • ...
  • Incheon International
  • ...
Incheon was... ok? The nicest thing about it was the chamber orchestra performing a mixture of classical and videogame music airside while I was there. It was at least clean and well connected to public transport.
 

BayPaul

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Well sorry. IMO - Atlanta is a great airport. I am close to 700 take off and landings from it.
It's not a pleasant place to arrive at from international - I've been through some horrendous queues.
 

TravelDream

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It's not a pleasant place to arrive at from international - I've been through some horrendous queues.

That's US airports in general though. Miami, SFO, JFK and other can all be absolutely horrendous.

It's a big advantage Aer Lingus has. People in Dublin clear US immigration there so land as 'domestic' passengers.
 

d9009alycidon

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Luton has improved a lot, I found it much better in my last visit than a few years ago. The one I detest is Gatwick, why on earth do they insist that passengers arriving from other UK airports connecting with overseas flights have to go through security again when at Heathrow T5 you go straight into the departure hall. I once travelled from Glasgow to Brussels via Gatwick and as the plane from Glasgow was next scheduled to fly to an overseas destination we had to get off the plane onto a bus which took us on a tour of the apron before depositing us at a shabby little door which led into a series of long corridors, up an escalator to security before getting into the departure lounge - where was my connecting flight to Brussels? - at the gate next to the one that the flight from Glasgow had arrived into about half an hour before! Next on my hate list is Belfast International, a total dump of a place with the surliest staff I have ever met at any airport.
I like Zurich, but it is easy to get lost downstairs if you are looking for the courtesy buses to the hotels, Oslo is also a decent place but the food prices are eye watering. One to be careful at is Basel - make sure you leave the airport via the correct door, there is one for France/Germany/EU and another for Switzerland. The airport is physically in France but there is a road corridor with high fences into the Swiss part of the city. Weirdest experience was at Cork, where I arrived on a turboprop from Edinburgh, and when the engines were switched off and we exited the aircraft there was total silence, not the usual background hum of jet and turboprop engines, just nothing.
 

GRALISTAIR

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It's not a pleasant place to arrive at from international - I've been through some horrendous queues.
That's US airports in general though. Miami, SFO, JFK and other can all be absolutely horrendous.

It's a big advantage Aer Lingus has. People in Dublin clear US immigration there so land as 'domestic' passengers.
Absolutely to both. I hope and pray that MAN gets precheck as that would enable me to arrive in a domestic terminal in ATL without having to go through all the farce.

Connecting in Europe for me AMS is the best. I do not enjoy CDG or LHR at all. MUC is not bad. I found ZRH to be a slight pain even though the scenery is great!

BTW to clarify my OP - I love ATL for connecting not for originating.
 

nlogax

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That's US airports in general though. Miami, SFO, JFK and other can all be absolutely horrendous.

SFO and JFK are nightmares as is EWR - though I can forgive that one as it's a bit like arriving home from this perspective.

I've had better international arrivals experiences at smaller US airports. Austin is a particularly good example from last year, I was off the plane and through immigration in under ten minutes.
 

AlterEgo

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That's US airports in general though. Miami, SFO, JFK and other can all be absolutely horrendous.

It's a big advantage Aer Lingus has. People in Dublin clear US immigration there so land as 'domestic' passengers.
There's pre-clearance at Shannon, too.
 

pdq

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Best airport - the one at my destination for a week or two in the sun.
Worst airport - the same one taking me home again.
 
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