Airports--your favorites and why?

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Replies

  • poetictraveller
    poetictraveller Posts: 47 Member
    Having made close to 40 flights this year I have to say the best airport is my very own Vancouver International and the absolute worse is Chennai, India. Frankfurt is not far off from that...only because it stinks like cigarettes and aftershave....
  • cbrewer904
    cbrewer904 Posts: 48
    I like Gatwick in London...It is like one big Mall!
  • sleepytexan
    sleepytexan Posts: 3,138 Member
    are you serious? people have favorite airports? This can only be true of people who haven't traveled much and/or do not have children.

    Well, after contemplating this, I would have to say Carlsbad, CA. Free parking (like at the grocery store), walk in, board all within a few hundred yards. When you arrive there, stand planeside, pick up your bag, and be out in your car in 3 minutes.
    I've traveled to a lot of countries and have 3 passports full of stamps to prove it.... and yes I have a favorite airport. But of course that's coming from someone who would choose boring Carlsbad Airport... cheers though!

    Boring airport? That's a really funny response. It is my goal to be in and out as quickly as possible. If airports are exciting to you, well then . . . hmmm. ok.
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    If I am at an airport, I must be taking a vacation, so anyone will do. :)
  • dorianaldyn
    dorianaldyn Posts: 611 Member
    Having made close to 40 flights this year I have to say the best airport is my very own Vancouver International and the absolute worse is Chennai, India. Frankfurt is not far off from that...only because it stinks like cigarettes and aftershave....

    Vancouver does have a nice airport ~ I love how you clear customs before you get on your flight when coming back to the US rather than waiting in a big huge line once you land.

    As for my favorite? One that's in the Caribbean (except Barbados because they lost my luggage!).
  • ellenxmariex3
    ellenxmariex3 Posts: 165 Member
    My favorite is Lehigh Valley International Airport in PA. It's tiny and the people are nice. The drive is pretty easy and I've never had an issue there. Plus the flights out of there are pretty cheap!

    My least favorite is Newark, NJ. Traffic is horrific and the actual airport is so confusing.
  • cherbapp
    cherbapp Posts: 322
    Paris ...CDG only because the pics were proof to my kids that I do indeed know what it's like to be a hamster in a Habitrail....but horrible otherwise. they did lose my bag so im still mad. Lol

    Otherwise....Minneapolis because it means I'm home!
  • RiverMelSong
    RiverMelSong Posts: 456 Member
    Changi (Singapore) :smile:
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    Heathrow and LAX.

    Oh and Long Beach Airport gets a nod as well for being sooooo easy to get through.

    Flying into Long Beach in a few weeks!
  • trojanbb
    trojanbb Posts: 1,297 Member
    Munich. The best. Modern and easy to get around. Designer shops all over the terminal. Zegna and Hermes outlets next to my gate? Sign me up. And Bavarian brews on tap around every corner. Yes please. A quick train ride to the heart of the city. There really isn't a better airport in the world.

    And did someone in this thread say HEATHROW?!?! Please tell me how the world's most crowded airport is your favorite? that place is a hellhole. Especially if you are actually trying to get into London after your flight arrives. Edit: You were clearly joking since you also listed LAX as a favorite. That is the second worst in the world. Old, falling apart, under constant construction, crowded, etc.
  • bombedpop
    bombedpop Posts: 2,229 Member
    are you serious? people have favorite airports? This can only be true of people who haven't traveled much and/or do not have children.

    Well, after contemplating this, I would have to say Carlsbad, CA. Free parking (like at the grocery store), walk in, board all within a few hundred yards. When you arrive there, stand planeside, pick up your bag, and be out in your car in 3 minutes.

    People who travel a lot definitely have preferences including favorite airports (and airport lounges). People who don't travel, not so much.
  • mwestonp
    mwestonp Posts: 77 Member
    Long Beach Airport (Southern California). It's nearly always easy to get in and out of there. Plus the whole experience feels like a throwback to the 1950's - architecture, boarding the plane from the tarmac, etc. Not a ton of flight options, but a fun change of pace from international airports.

    http://www.lgb.org/
  • AZDreamgirl
    AZDreamgirl Posts: 70
    San Diego's and Las Vegas Airports!. Airports I hate Atlanta. blah
  • Elle408
    Elle408 Posts: 500 Member
    Gatwick... for some reason whenever I go anywhere far away and exciting, we go out of Gatwick! I've spent so much time there that it feels like home.

    Also, Oman airport was pretty cool, it's in the middle of the desert and has great views, it's also really clean and spacious, and had this kids soft play area that was great for napping!

    EDIT: I forgot MCO Orlando International - if I'm there, it means only one thing - DISNEY VACATION!!!
  • kimpossible471
    kimpossible471 Posts: 268 Member
    Minneapolis - mall, sushi and sky club.
  • dsjohndrow
    dsjohndrow Posts: 1,820 Member
    Curitiba, Brazil. It means I have arrived!
  • ElizaRoche
    ElizaRoche Posts: 2,005 Member
    San Diego.. JFK and Mexico´s City

    I like big airports, size matters! LOL
  • Heaven71
    Heaven71 Posts: 706 Member
    Norfolk, it's small and easy to get around.
  • Rayman79
    Rayman79 Posts: 2,009 Member
    Heathrow would have to be my favourite. Only because I got to spend a few hours in their 1st class lounge and it was all I could do not to eat and drink myself stupid. They have the biggest open bar I have ever seen!
  • cncrafton
    cncrafton Posts: 82 Member
    I really disliked Denver for some reason – it was just really stressful to me. Beautiful, but stressful. I like O'Hare and ATL. Kansas City (MCI) is okay - it's surprisingly small, which I appreciate it.
  • lindsy721
    lindsy721 Posts: 350 Member
    I grew up close to O'Hare (Chicago), and it's big and has lots of options. I also really like the Nashville, TN airport because I love the country music theme :smile:
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    I despise Philly..JFK is alright...SFO is pretty good too. Don't love LAX but I don't hate it either. Orlando is mediocre. O'Hare is actually not bad at all...I liked it pretty well.
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    Hong Kong.
  • StarryOne
    StarryOne Posts: 50 Member
    I enjoy the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport so much, I volunteer there at the information booths a couple times a month. I love airports of all shapes and sizes- my favorite, besides MSP of course, is definitely Schiphol (Amsterdam), but Bangkok is pretty amazing too.
  • jus_in_bello
    jus_in_bello Posts: 326 Member
    Lethbridge - because it is tiny and cute and because it was my first non-American airport ever.

    I also deeply love Dulles, which changed a little when I lived near Dulles and began to curse it's very existence, but I love it because I once spent the night there, our plane was delayed and we missed our connection and slept at the gate and it was just fun to be running around an airport at 3am with my sisters.
  • TexanThom
    TexanThom Posts: 778
    Love Field....First one I flew out of in 1970.
  • sleepytexan
    sleepytexan Posts: 3,138 Member
    are you serious? people have favorite airports? This can only be true of people who haven't traveled much and/or do not have children.

    Well, after contemplating this, I would have to say Carlsbad, CA. Free parking (like at the grocery store), walk in, board all within a few hundred yards. When you arrive there, stand planeside, pick up your bag, and be out in your car in 3 minutes.

    People who travel a lot definitely have preferences including favorite airports (and airport lounges). People who don't travel, not so much.


    Favorite airport, or less horrible alternative than others? Air travel was a constant for me as a kid, going to school overseas from my parents, twice weekly necessary evil for most of my corporate years (in fact I worked for both Delta and United's legal departments for several years and flew constantly for meetings, litigation, as well as personal non-rev travel), and it remains necessary now for visiting distant family and vacations. I consider the whole minimum 2-hour experience on either end of a journey to be a chore, and when I have 4 children in tow (as I will tomorrow, flying from SAN to ATL), I dread it. It is nothing short of exasperating and exhausting.

    Even on those rare occasions when I actually fly by myself it is still my goal to be in and out as soon as possible. I couldn't care less what they're selling as long as it has caffeine.
  • tahawairua
    tahawairua Posts: 26 Member
    Changi, Singapore is by far one of the best airports I've been in. If you're on a long layover, there are free tours of Singapore, free movies, loads of duty free and food galore!

    Malaysia International is not too bad either! The new section with again loads of duty free shops and several cafes and restaurants to choose from.

    Rarotonga - Cook Islands - small and relaxed.

    Faleolo - Samoa - small, convenient and great scenery

    Agreed, Long Beach Airport is easy to get through!

    Dislikes: LAX, Phuket, JFK, Mexico City, Galeao
  • angieroo2
    angieroo2 Posts: 970 Member
    Lester B. Pierson (is it still called that?) in Toronto. There used to be this Franglais boutique that sold tasty salmon jerky.

    Yes, it's still called that.

    I liked Tampa Airport when I had a layover, it had good options for food.
    Amsterdam Airport was also an interesting experience.
  • claritarejoice
    claritarejoice Posts: 461 Member
    Best in the world: Schiphol, the Amsterdam international airport. Worst in the world: Lagos, Nigeria (and believe me, I have been in a lot of airports!)

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