Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Survey ranks Heathrow, Charles de Gaulle and Los Angeles worst airports in the world
These three airports tend to pop up on "worst airport" surveys most of the time, and anyone who frequents any of them will understand why. Heathrow is improving slowly, and the new Terminal Five is making travel through the UK airport a slightly better experience, but the other terminals are still quite a disgrace.
Charles de Gaulle is another dump of an airport. Even though it has invested heavily in some new terminals, there are still plenty of parts of this facility that need to be flattened and built from the ground up.
Los Angeles airport just signed off on a multi-year, multi-billion Dollar renovation plan, which should be completed by 2013. Of course, that still means 4 more years of being in the top three of worst airports in the world.
Singapore Changi, Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok and Amsterdam Schiphol are voted best in the world, and anyone who has spent any time at these airports will understand why. These are the kind of airports where it is actually a treat to be stranded for a couple of hours, unlike places like Heathrow where your only urge is to get the hell out of the place as quickly as possible.
What do you think? Do these airports deserve to be crowned "worst in the world", or do you know of an airport that is even worse? Leave you comments below.
Filed under: Airports
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Claire Walter Oct 25th 2009 12:59AM
Heahtrow is problematic, but worse than LaGuardia, which has no redeeming features at all in the age of modern air travel: two congested runways that not only cross each other but have water features at one end, lousy cramped concourses, difficult connections between terminals, pathetic public transportation, limited and expensive parking. Worse than O'Hare, especially in winter? Its chapel airport chapel should be called Our Lady of Perpetual Delays?Worse than Mexico City, whose sleek new international terminal is tacked on the one end of a lo-o-o-o-o-ong older terminal with horrible signage and a loudspeaker system that garbles even the Spanish? Hard to believe.
Claire @ http://www.travel-babel.com
Bill and Susan Oct 29th 2009 5:59PM
Claire,
Droll commentary, but the comments ring true. Perhaps the worst I ever encountered was New Delhi about three years ago, both the International and National Airports. Strikes, competition among baggage handlers and then the pressing throngs at the taxi/transportation stands. Equal to Cairo in every way for truly otherworldly experiences. Very "exciting".
Stolen Oct 24th 2009 3:15PM
ORD in winter. I avoid that place like the plague.
Duffer Oct 26th 2009 6:00PM
How about ORD in the summer, fall, and spring.
Mike V. Oct 25th 2009 1:21AM
Most certainly.
Schiphol is awesome, LAX really is a big steaming pile. But then again, so is Dulles. What a horrible way to welcome people to our nation's capital!
Stolen Oct 25th 2009 11:28PM
Oh how could I have forgotten about Dulles?! Probably because its been scrubbed from my memory.
lars Oct 26th 2009 2:17PM
Schiphol is tops. I like Narita...it's always amusing. LAX is my worst nightmare after de Gaulle. I refuse any flight that goes to or connects through de Gaulle. I avoid the east coast as well, not necessarily because of the airports themselves (newark, kennedy et al) but because if anything pops up, like a rain, they fall like dominoes. Coming in from international, Newark baggage is a trip through Hades. If you want a real pleasant experience off the beaten path a bit...Edinborough Scotland is flat out cute. San Diego was always interesting cause on final y'all can look up at the downtown buildings. Miami is an "avoid if you can" airport. It's a logistical nightmare...can't get from A to B very handily.
Mike V. Nov 3rd 2009 5:13PM
I live in San Diego and never stop marveling at the killer approach.
I also happen to think it's probably the most user friendly (in almost every regard) airport in a major US city.
You're minutes, literally from downtown. Easy pick ups and drop offs.
Of course, the boondoggle to try and build a new airport has been going on for years.
Idiots.
BetsyZ Oct 26th 2009 2:29PM
Miami is just awful. People laying all over the floor with their huge luggage & kids running wild. Atlanta has the rudest security people. They are only interested in "jiving" with their fellow employees. No interest in helping passengers get thru the ordeal.
maureen Oct 26th 2009 9:11PM
I can agree with you on Atlanta.. I'd never fly there again! They surely had rude security people and can't even deliver luggage. It took them 5 days to figure out how to send luggage from one airport to another about 2 hour drive from there. Very disappointing!
Jim Oct 26th 2009 2:35PM
Heathrow is a shithole. pure and simple.
Lawrence Ward Oct 27th 2009 5:14AM
I am not happy with SEATAC in Seattle, WA.
I checked my luggage in with US Airways at the street kiosk, I had a beautiful handmade wood marquetry plaque carefully packed in the middle of the suitcase. I flew to South Bend, IN with a plane change to United. When I got home I found the plaque had been stolen from the bag. I immediatly wrote to US Air baggage claim; sent them flight information, a discription and even photo of the plaque. 10 DAYS later I get a letter telling me that since United was the last carrier I need to file my claim with them.
Ok - I contact United with the whole history and they sent back a WEEK later a letter telling me basicly, Gee that's too bad, but since you didn[t call us within the 1st 48 hours so we are not responsible.
Now I no longer wonder why there is so much theft out of baggage at SEATAC - (they are 4th in the US). Nobody is watching the thieves.
Bill Oct 29th 2009 5:55PM
Actually, I have travelled through SEATAC many times with luggage. The only times I have lost my baggage, in either direction, was when I flew United, (several times although each time it was found and then sent by taxi to my address destination). Perhaps your issue is with the airline or the transfer en route to Indiana and not the airport of origin.
Hank Oct 26th 2009 2:40PM
Another top one in the worst ranks has GOT to be Logan in the winter. Never never again!
Lizzie Oct 26th 2009 2:41PM
Dulles isn't as bad as BWI airport. I'd rather fly out of Dulles or Regan National than BWI. Almost as bad as LAX in my opinion.
Tom Oct 26th 2009 2:49PM
miami airport is the worst ever
TimeTraveler Oct 26th 2009 2:50PM
Absolutely think Madrid tops the list. Then Dallas/Fort Worth. Denver shopping is good when delayed...same with Pittsburgh. Heathrow might have made the list but I've never had problems there. Portland, Oregon is a good one; carpeting makes it less noisy. SeaTac is tough to navigate with connections (as is Denver). Hate flying to LAX or SFO; both are just too large & illogically laid out. Airports are airports, regardless of where you are. Get some grub, pull out a pillow, read a novel, and look forward to your arrival some place else. That's my motto and I'm stickin' to it.
Marie Oct 26th 2009 3:19PM
I agree with you, it's just the price you pay to travel. You have to deal with crap like that all the time. I don't get pissed off about it. I arrive early so I'm not stressed and I always have something with me to do, reading, crocheting, etc to pass the time. If you are ever leaving Logan, terminal E, they have really nice rocking chairs by the windows so you can relax and watch the planes.
johnjfoote@aol.com Oct 26th 2009 4:35PM
DeGeulle is the worst and the agents for the most part are rude nasty assh*les.
David Rowell Oct 26th 2009 3:02PM
Why no negatives about Gatwick, which gets my family's vote for the least user-friendly major airport in the world? Endless walking and poor signage, with noone offering any assistance - a gigantic cattle chute!