Charlatan

Losthellhound posted a journal entry about having to survive LAX and it started a series of comments about airports...

I'd love to hear your best and worst airport stories.

GOOD
Toronto Pearson Terminal 1
Believe it or not, there are a few really well organized airports out there. One of my favourite ones is the new Toronto Terminal 1... It is bright, airy, and easy to navigate... I am sure it will be even better once it is complete. I'm not sure if my love of this Terminal is owning to the fact that the old T1 was pure hell (especially when arriving) that Terminal 2 still sucks or that it can stand proudly with some of the other great airports opened in recent years (I hope it is the latter).

BAD
There are many airports that truly suck. Some suck because they are so utilitarian and drab (Taipei's Chang Kai Chek comes to mind) or convoluted (Chicago O'Hare anyone?)... but for being all that and more I have to vote for the Frankfurt Airport. The question is, when will the renovations ever stop? I have been travelling through this airport for the past 8 years, at least four times a year and it is still under renovations. While I can now figure my way around, it took some time to figure it all out. The airport lounge is nothing special (but they do have gummy bears and a great multivitamin drink on tap).


OK TFP travellers... let's hear yours.

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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

Averett

The airport in Raleigh, North Carolina has rocking chairs in the food court area. I think that adds a nice Southern charm to the airport.

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Lebell

I really didn't like Dulles when I went through there...the air conditioning was off and it was horribly hot, not to mention dirty. Likewise Midway. While it's convenient, I hated flying into Midway, as it was always horribly crowded and dirty. And the third on my triple threat is Kennedy, for the same damn reasons.


Ok airports: Hartfield (Atlanta), DIA (Denver), SeaTac, O'Hare.

While these are big, they seem to me to be better designed to get people into and out of them easily. They only rate ok with me because...well...they're big and as such you have the usual big airport issues.

I guess I can add Houston to that list. It's been a few years since I was down there, but the 3 or 4 times I went through I can never remember anything good about it.

(I've been through LAX, but I can't recall pluses or minuses on it.)

The smaller big city airports usually rank as my favorite. Portland has a great airport which is easy to get into and out of. My big complaint with it is that they have totally screwed up the security areas, but I almost feel like that isn't their fault. Billings had a nice little airport and Augusta Georgia's airport was just plain cute.

Non-descript: Columbus(OH), Cincinatti, Philly, Birmingham (AL), Charleston(WV)

Vegas was too damn flashy with all the slots, but Salt Lake was Morman clean and also well designed.

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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis

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mirevolver

O'Hare is an ok airport with one major exception. If you are flying international and coming back into the US, stay as far away from O'Hare as you can. The have the worst customs setup I've seen. All internatonal inbound flights go to the international terminal which is far away from the other terminals. Then after going through customs, you need to get to the other terminals to get to your connecting flight. It's a royal pain in the ass and if you have a three hour layover time, you will just barely make your connecting flight.

I like DIA for the fact that you can move between concourses without leaving the security area.

DFW is ok, but you really have to do a lot of walking in that airport.

Schipol Amsterdam is a really nice airport.

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ratbastid

Charlotte is nice. They have rocking chairs in the concourses!

Terminal C at Raleigh-Durham International is nice. Termal A is a pit, but they're working on it.

Salt Lake City International is very nice.

DFW is okay. It's a long way between gates, especially if you have to change terminals, but it's fairly new and clean, and has good amenities. The distributed baggage claim and check-in design is neat. God help you if you're driving through the airport and get on the service roads. There's no escape from service road hell.

Atlanta Hartfield is lousy. Endless brown halls with dim flourescent lights and long nondesript tunnels between terminals. Blech.

Charlatan

As Hub airport... Atlanta is meant to service a large number of people who arrive and then leave without leaving the airport (as opposed to other airports that mostly service locals). Knowing that, I think it is even worse... just drab and boring... Not a nice place for a layover.

mirevolver... that is exactly why I didn't like Chicago O'Hare...

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- Old Man Luedecke

amonkie

The rocking chairs in Charlotte made me wonder if I was dreaming when I got off my red eye - I didn't see them in I was at Raleigh-Durham.

I didn't mind the San Diego Airport so much, but LAX and the Frankfurt airport feel like rat mazes as you go around trying to figure out just exactly where the escape door is.

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greytone

I really liked Santa Fe. They don't let jets in and there is only one gate. You walk down the steps across the tarmac and into the one room airport. Then you walk right out the other door and either walk across the lot to a car rental agency or get on the one van that acts as a taxi for everyone going into town. They drive the cart with your luggage right around to the back of the van for you.

I really like the Maui airport because it means you are arriving in Hawaii. Then at the end of the trip it means you are leaving, and I hate that.

I live in Atlanta and I have come to terms with Hartsfield. As big airports go, I actually think it is pretty good, but I have never had to change planes here. I hate changing planes in Dallas. Just give up if you have to change terminals there. The last time I had to run through an unbelievable distance (but I did make a connection that saved me another connection with a 6 hour layover, so I was happy. If there had not been a seat on that plane and I would have had to go back to the other terminal to catch my scheduled flight I would have been pissed.) Another time I went to the tram only to find it was out of service and had to wait more than 30 minutes to catch a bus. I got the last seat in the back and a cover to the motor compartment was not attached. It kept swinging out and back over my head, missing by inches when I ducked.

Charles de Gaule in Paris must be the worst for connections. You have to wait for hours to catch a "bus" to and from the plane. The food is horrible (so much for french food) and you will pay for any work stoppages. I had a four hour layover but a 15 minute strike meant my luggage did not get back to Atlanta for 4 days.

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Mr Wizz

I agree greytone. Worst airport is the one you are sitting in on your way home.

Averett

Ack. Wrong about the rocking chairs in Raleigh. It was Charlotte.

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Furry

Worst airports are the ones with no air con.

Dar-Es-Salaam International, middle of january, 35 degrees centigrade, no air con, huge lines for passport control.

On the way out 3 months later, security was tighter than at Heathrow. I had to boot up my laptop for them to check that it wasn't a) a bomb or that b) my OS wasn't set to Arabic.

There is no avoiding croissants in airports, even in Africa.

I have to say that Vancouver Int. is my favourite. Nice design, lots of plants and a really cool indoor waterfall type-thing just above and behind the passport control place.

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desal75

Vegas has to be one of the good ones. Well laid out, clean, and in house gambling to help pass the time

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ophelia783

I HATE the Detroit airport.....It's uber-confusing, and most of the workers inside the airport, from the concessions to the airline employees, HAVE NO FREAKING IDEA of what's going on....

I'm dreading flying back there in 2 days!

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Grasshopper Green

I have to give it up for my homestate, Salt Lake International has a very nice airport. I like the one in Raleigh Durham too, except for the parking is way screwed up. I also thought that Orange County (aka John Wayne) airport was nice, very airy and open. I wasn't too impressed with Chicago O'Hare or Newark. Haven't been in too many international ones, but the one in Hermasillo, Mexico was pretty dreary, and it seemed like a mile walk from the main area to the terminals at the Gatwick, London airport. However, the main area in Gatwick was pretty nice.

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skinnymofo

lebell have you been to the newly upgraded Seatac?
its a lot more "cozy" now and less in and out as before.
its possible to lounge there comfortably and ejoy the scenery inside.

edit
ill throw in a soso airport
Ft Lauderdale was small and very get your stuff and get out like to me.
Houston if i remember right was like that too
and Vegas was to me, just like a huge diner with food , slot machines, and tons of souvenir shops.
editx2 maui airport was very strange to me, open everywhere except loading area and quite small but at the same time, *almost* comfortable.

martinguerre

i gotta say i love MSP. i live here...so i sort of have to, but the stores are nice, and they've put in a tram and lots more moving walkways...the things sprawls like a mofo, so they had to.

ATL is good, bradford i don't mind, la guardia is america's best flight approach, and SFO a close second.

i hates LAX with a burning passion, and Newark is a pit of despair.

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amonkie

Martinguerre - I have to admit MSP has gotten much better in recent years. I remember I had 45 minutes to make a connection once, but it was on a different airline. It took me all of 40 minutes to get from gate to gate. Not to mention I was only 14 years old, and by myself. I had a much better experience when I flew out of there in May.

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ShaniFaye

I live in Atlanta and I love our airport....I've only ever been in the one in newark, las vegas, and midway in chicago, and ours of course.....out of those Atlanta is the best

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Lebell

skinnymofo:

Last time I was at Seatac was in 96'. Now I'm only a 4 hour drive away, so I probably won't be flying through there anytime soon again.

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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis

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maleficent

Let's see:
Chicago:
Midway - -it's a dump -- it's super easy access via the El to the Loop, but that's all it's got going for it -- a decent cup of coffee is no where to be found, security is hopelessly disorganized, and every flight I have had out of there has been at the furthest possible gate out.
O"hare --
Terminal 3 - two admiral's clubs, but they close too early. There's a starbucks every 20 feet which is good, and a pretty decent food court. Changing planes, you are in for a hike. Flights rarely take off on time. Baggage in this airport is usually pretty good, I can make it from the gate, one stop in the ladies, and head down to baggage claim and my bag is right there.
The El is 45 minutes into midtown, non rush hour it's a waste of time.
Terminal 2 - Security is a joke - the United Airlines tunnel playing Rhapsody in Blue is very cool, the food court isn't bad, but it all closes early.

Newark: My home airport
Terminal A - It's laid out really well and it makes the airport kinda cozy. The coffee places don't open early enough, and the admiral's club doesn't stay open late enough, but security is pretty efficient.
Terminal C (ContinentHell's Terminal) is a mess. It's just gotten too big, and no one seems to know anything. If you are unlucky enough to have to change planes here, bring your running shoes, because it's guarenteed you are going for a jog - -and there's tons of ground stop delays in Newark, so that 2 hour layover you had, gets cut to 15 minutes.

Las Vegas
Dirty Dirty Dirry
Too many slot machines and too many disgusting people.
Just a nasty place to have a layover.

Ontario - Orange County California
Nice cute little airport -- no food services to speak of but flight took off, landes and no baggage delays.

Manchester Regional - New Hampshire
A tiny airport that used to be a dream - -I could go from curb to gate - check my bag and check in for a flight - including clearing securitry in 15 minutes. Now, it's taking longer. the airport is going thru some growing pains. Airport can't handle anything larger than a 737 but it's still an efficient airpott, if you can ger a direct flight - Three stars in my book.

Logan - _Boston
Hate it Hate it Hate it.
The water is pretty though

Atlanta -
Another place running is mandatory. The train in the airport doesnt help when you ahve to go from gate 2 to gate 122 (it's about a mile hike - with no automated walkways, trams, and the train doesn't help at all) Transferring is ugly.

Hobby - Houston
Big Hair, bigger belt buckles - buncha good ole boys here. I was there a few years back and ended up missing a connection because the shuttle to go from one terminal to the other (was changing planes) was delayed/

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mirevolver

I was waiting for maleficent to find this thread and deposit her vast airport knowledge.

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Amnesia620

I really liked Las Vegas airport. I loved the setup and the people in that city are pretty nice...wish Tucson was like that.

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punx1325

The airports I have been through and there is a lot:

Good ones: DFW (well organized) the only thing good to come out of texas, no offense to anyone that lives there or likes it there, it's a hot, humid place with nothing to do. Dulles, I think it's pretty simple to get around.

OK airports nothing good or bad to speak of: San Diego, LAX, Perth Australia, Baltimore.

Bad Airports: Singapore (confusing mess); Detroit (A mess of an airport); London-Heathrow (confusing); and lastly Karachi, Pakistan (The country is already bad, try letting them build airports. Not only is it dirty and confusing, you have hoards of people trying to get into the airport and escape their lives there, you have no idea what a bad airport is until you get there.)

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If something seems too good to be true, then it probably is....

tiltedbc

My best airport experiences:
1. Mexico City (helpful ticket agents saved my day)
2. London, Heathrow (do not leave any bag unattended)
3. Vancouver, Canada (just don't travel through at Christmas)
4. San Diego, California (planes pass directly over the city)

Worst;
1. Athens (too small for being a major hub)
2. San Francisco (good transit but, a long drive into the city)
3. LAX, Los Angeles (your connecting flight is on the other side of the terminal)

Charlatan

tiltedbc... don't travel at Christmas is good advice for *any* airport.


punx... i surprised you didn't like the Singapore airport... it isn't one of the new modern airports but I have experienced much worse. I've always been able to find my way around quite nicely.

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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

martinguerre

amonkie...i should add that only counts if you're flying NWA/KLM. Why or how you would get a flight in to MSP on another carrier is somewhat beyond me... and since they own the damn place, they're good about holding flights or offering other connections.

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Charlatan

Some more Good:

Hong Kong's new Chek Lap Kok
Arriving here was a breeze. I stepped off the plane, went through customs, picked up my bags and walked onto a waiting train to take me into the city... they reason this was remarkable was that at no time did I have to climb any stairs, turn any cornerers, etc... Well organized and efficient.

As for being in Transit, not too bad. The United lounge is nice and well situated. You can sit in the airy lounge and have a clear view of your gate below...


Nice: Cote d'Azure
This is a relatively small two terminal airport. It feels old and dated... but functions fairly well. The departure area in Terminal one is always dirty (they still permit smoking in public areas). The lounge was deplorable and hardly worth using. The arrivals area is, again, functional but nothing to write home about... the only thing worth noting is the occasion opportunity to see stars like Bono waiting for their luggage.

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

maleficent

I have always liked Skyharbor in Phoeniz, despite the "emergency, assume the crash position" landing my plane had to make there... It's a pretty airport - and I recall it being clean (when I was so happy to be on the ground I wanted to kiss the ground)

Sydney, australia had a nice airport -they made a lot of improvements for the Olympics, and when all the Olympics finally left, it was a great airport.

Heathrow I remember being really hot, and I don't remember if it was Heathrow or Gatwick that they didn't open the gate area until 15 minutes before the flight was supposed to leave (so there was no place to sit down and just chill out)

Gatwick - bad experience. Arrived at 1:00am, and found that the taxi cab drivers were on strike, and had to call for a cab from a coin operated pay phone. (I just arrived and had no change) Someone finally took pity on me and called a cab for me, and I sat down to wait, and there was a very drunk person about 5 feet from me, who stood up and the proceeded to spew forth the contents of his stomach into the nearest trashcan. Ewwwww.


Haven't been to Toronto in years, but for a while I was commuting there. It used to annoy me that it was a 50 minute flight from NYC to Toronto - but it never too less than 3 -4 hours to reach my destination -- between the longest taxiway in the world - and customs that was just useless-- it was never a good time.

Detroit =Shudder.. (I've been thru detroit a bunch of times, and each time, my luggage has gotten misdirected.

Columbus, Ohio - Cute little airport, but no decent coffee or really anything once you clear security.. I could make a fortune by putting in coffee kiosks at some of these airports, The shopping in this airport is a hoot - -it's all Ohio State all the time... there was also a store that had a really amazing selection of hot sauces...

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amonkie

Yup, think it was NWA - had to catch a hopper plane to go from MSP to Rochester.

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Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

Glory's Sun

Personally I hate the Charlotte airport.. BORING!! I'd hate to get stuck there I know that.

RDU in raleigh is ok.. They are doing major renovations to it..hopefully they'll be smart about it.

DFW is a decent airport.. it's too big though. Like others have mentioned it takes forever to get from gate to gate sometimes.. oh well

Orlando Intl. isn't too bad..granted it's full of tourists and scammers but that's home so I can't say too much bad about it.

Las Vegas is horrible..it's just dirty from the top to the bottom.. I hate that place

Atlanta isn't terrible considering how big it is.. it could be worse but could be alot better.

I guess I've never had any real major issues with airports. Maybe I'll think of a story. I've been to more airports than the ones listed..I just don't recall them.

acostello

Among the big-complex-megaplex airports, AMS,HKG,ICN,SIN are amongst the best.
Amsterdam is very easy to traverse, so is Hong Kong. New Seoul and Singapore are super clean and efficient too.

U.S based airports do not even begin to understand the experience these above mentioned airports strive to create. Dining options in Hong Kong,Singapore are amazing.

Worst: How about an airport that is just a runway ? Tamarindo, CostaRica = No checkin, No arrival and departure lounges

vector_1979

London Standsted Airport, UK - Well designed and purpose built, so you can walk in one direction.

Dusseldorf, Germany - Just a very pretty airport

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Charlatan

International customs is almost always a drag... that said, I think you will really like the new Terminal... very posh. The lounge, which was always good is better.

and nothing is longer than the bloody taxi in at Charles De Gaulle...

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

punx1325

charlatan...I went through the singapore airport over 10 years ago, so things could have dramatically changed. All I know is when we went through customs was a bitch and finding McDonalds took an hour.

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If something seems too good to be true, then it probably is....

Charlatan

Punx... it is very different now... I'd say it is one of the quickest airports for me to get through customs and out (and the customs guards serve you a big mac as they stamp your passport).

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

ScottKuma

I fly all over the Midwest & to the Boston area in the Northeast. Here are my assessments:

Cincinnati (my hometown)/Northern Kentucky: It's OK as long as you're flying Delta. Fairly non-descript, but well laid-out.

Detroit (my former hometown) Metro: LOVE the new terminal! Haven't been over to the non-NorthWorst side in ages. I remember it being old, skanky and even more skanky. Hell of a way to treat passengers lucky enough to make it to Detroit.

Cleveland: HATE IT. I seem to only have the luck <?> to fly through Cleveland late at night, after everything I might want to frequent has closed. That sure makes an awfully long wait for that 1 hour connection.

Newark: I got very used to the Continental terminal. Never really LIKED it, but I got used to it. I did like the fact that there's a Staples in-terminal. Made buying a cellphone earpiece convenient, since every time I flew in, I seemed to have forgotten/lost mine.

La Guardia: Don't get me started. Ick. I flew through a few times during spring/summer & they seemed to delay or cancel at the drop of a hat.

Boston Logan: I'm there WAY too much. This is the kind of airport that makes me want to wash my hands BEFORE I go to the bathroom. At least I know where my equipment has been.

Atlanta Hartfield: I agree with previous posters that transferring planes can be a nightmare, especially with Delta's under-planned connect times! Thank God the last time I went through there my plane was LITERALLY right next-door.

-----------

Best food: Detroit, for the Japanese restaurant that's in-terminal. Newark comes in a close second for their extensive food court in the Continental terminal.

Worst food: Boston Logan's terminal C (Delta) ... there's NOTHING once you get past security, save a Sam Adams bar & Dunkin Donuts that both serve pre-packaged sammiches. Awful for when you find out last-minute that you didn't get the upgrade you were hoping for, and will either not eat until after 11pm, or have to go get a $9 sammich & drink.

joemc91

Let's see, best:

Midway: subway within walking distance, if you call ahead on Multicom Altantic Aviation will have fresh cookies! Plus there's a Dunkie's in the subway terminal which I sorely miss in Indiana. The new terminal isn't bad but I normally fly in a private plane.

Denver: Love it! Just a beautiful airport and well laid out. Best large airport in the US IMO

Providence: Easy to get to, friendly to GA, nice terminal. Only bad thing is the insanely long security line.

Indianapolis: I can't say enough good things about this airport. Raytheon Aviation is awesome to GA. Free parking for 30 minutes when dropping off an picking up. The terminal is well laid out and has only once had a long security line in the many times I've been there. Only one problem: long ass taxi times when the wind's from the NE.

Boston: Home airport, love the approach. Plus the subway is very close. Don't drive in though, it sucks paying $3 just to leave the area.

Any place with an observation deck. MSP counts because the garage is an awesome vantage point and the cops are understanding of nerdy college students with cameras.

WORST:

O'Hare: Like the terminal, shitiest runway design ever. Nice to have one of the busiest airports in the US drop to half it's normal capacity with bad weather, which is a lot in Chicago.

Reagan National: Love the River Visual to 18 but the terminal sucks. I hate having to leave security to change gates. Plus, GA isn't allowed there any more, which also sucks.

Heathrow: Two things... what a dump and only three runways?! Freakin' holding patterns.

Any place with only Signature Aviation serving GA. Nothing like flying in and getting charged for a "security screening" when you're flying the damned airplane. $40 in fees when flying into Meigs (rest in peace) not counting Chicago landing fees and fuel. My ass still hurts.

SaltPork

Airports I like:
Pittsburgh: Great assortment of food and stores. Awesome place to have a layover. Not so good though if you fly in to Terminal E and have to go to the main terminal for your connection.

Manchester, NH: Nothing like a full service airport in a teeny-tiny living space. Easy in, Easy out, cheap parking and they have a McDonald's AND a Dunkin' Donuts.

Reagan International: Though the river approach is a bit surreal the first time you take it, the airport is a snap to get in and out of and easy to navigate through.

London City: Small airport, simple check in, nice lounge area. A pain in the ass to get to, but once you're there it's smooth sailing.

Airports I don't like so much:
Heathrow: So huge, kind of a pain in the ass to get around especially if you have to make a connection on the other side of the damn place, and the signs are horrible.

Chicago Midway: Fly into the middle of a neighborhood and navigate the labyrinth that is the terminal building. It's a great time!!

LaGuardia and Kennedy: Flight delays, last minute gate changes-to the other side of the airport, surly airline workers, these two have it all!

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It was like that when I got here....I swear.

Charlatan

Oslo Airport: It was rebuilt for the Lilihammer Olympics so it is big spacious and new... very pleasant with a great rail link to the city. Tranfering was a breeze.

Stockholm Airport: very old school, not poorly designed but relatively forgetable... the central area was nice and airy though which is a plus.

Jakarta: The arrival was initially quite nice. The jetways are glass enclosures that look out onto landscaped teraces... The waiting lounges are like little clay roofed pagodas (for lack of a better word) sticking out from the central corridor. The "fun" starts when you have to line up for first your visa and then customs... Long slow moving lines. The main terminal is actually rather dull compared to the rest of the airport but is reasonably well laid out. The lounge, while nice, was looking a little rough around the edges when I was there in December.

Chang Kai Chek - Taipei: This was the most dull and boring airport I've been to. This was exacerbated by the fact that I was there at 5:00 am. The design felt like Asian mall meets airport.... low ceillings and narrow hallways. The arrivals and departures were definately old school and had a bit of charm because of it but just felt old and dirty when it came down to it... I believe they were building a new terminal when I was there last...

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

snowy

I've been in and out of a few airports and my favorites are:
Portland Int'l--PDX is, quite frankly, what every airport should strive to be--simply organized with pleasant public spaces, easy access to transportation and services, etc. I have never encountered a problem flying in or out of PDX.

Denver Int'l--I've only changed flights in Denver a couple of times, but it's a reasonably nice airport in which to pass some time. Pleasant public spaces, nice shopping. Good food.

Gatwick (London)--Gatwick has to be the handiest airport I've ever been to. I took the train in, managed to find my way to the check-in desk without problems, and also managed to pass the several hours before my flight took off quite comfortably. I enjoyed my experience there...though mostly I was glad to be going back to the States.

Airports I dislike:

Seatac. Despite remodels it's still ugly and doesn't even begin to compare to PDX. The traffic in and out of the airport is really terrible at times and it's just an awful place to be. Blech.

Atlanta. Despite the spankin' new international terminal when I was there, I didn't like it...too crowded, seemed really hot and dirty, and just...no.

Reno. Small, dirty, gross. 'Nuff said.

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