A thread about airports.

I flew to Galway Airport in 2007 (DEAD now sadly) with a grand total of 2 check in desks, 1 teeny baggage claim belt & a waiting area past security that was basically a living room complete with sofas & TV. By far the most COSY airport experience I'll ever have.
 
Stornoway airport is the smallest I've been to, my parents were literally next to me behind one of those fabric barrier things (what are these actually called?) from pretty much the moment I was off the tiny plane. I can't even remember if there was a baggage carousel or if it was more like collecting luggage from the bottom of a bus.
 
Glasgow Prestwick looks so closed you’re not sure you’re at the right airport.

But it does have a train station at least!
 
My favourite is Knoxville. Friendly staff, security was a breeze, and the waiting area had rocking chairs overlooking the runways.
 
Ah I realised I missed off Glasgow! I went in 2018 as well; another 'fine. nothing special' haha. :D :scotland:
 
I can't say I've ever really *loved* an airport. Generally i prefer a small airport though. All the bigger ones feel like cattle markets.

I mean Singapore airport is great in it's own way but it also took me two hours to find somewhere to sit.
 
Unless I travel alone I find any of the Manchester terminals can be a CHORE.
 
Airports are such cursed spaces. Like a dentist's waiting room crossed with opening hour at a ropey pub. Such an anxious space, such an uncanny eco-system, so much QUEUEING.
 
It's customs and baggage that puts me off the most. I HATE the waiting, scanning, lugging, and worst of all is all the sitting on the flight itself. All that has singlehandedly put me off travel.

Fortunately, having endured 12+ hour flights to and from NZ over the years has given me some patience, so my little first European trip in March looks very manageable by comparison.
 
GNL said:
Airports are such cursed spaces. Like a dentist's waiting room crossed with opening hour at a ropey pub. Such an anxious space, such an uncanny eco-system, so much QUEUEING.
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It's giving BACKROOMS.
 
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One of my main issues with airports is not the building itself, but how well connected they are to the main cities they serve, particularly by public transport. I'll forgive a lot relating to glamour, shopping opportunities and architecture if there's an underground station or tram line which whisks you right where you want to be for a few quid.
 
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But in terms purely of architecture, Calatrava's Bilbao airport.
 
I agree that airports are bizarre, unsettling spaces and I try and minimise my time inside them as much as possible (I'm that dick who will always nearly miss his flight and then beg to be whizzed through security oops).

If I had to be stuck in one for 24hrs I'd pick either Doha or Singapore. Snooze rooms that keep humanity's dregs firmly at bay by requiring virtual silence = an innovation that needs to be far more widespread. Haneda and Incheon made good impressions in the past but it's been many years since I went through either. Loved KLIA2 when it first opened and, though it's a bit shabbier nowadays, I give it extra points for having a plant-based lounge. Delhi is also surprisingly good (pubs + sleeping pods). Looking beyond Asia, I have no issues with any of the major European (not British) or Australian airports I've been in.

Hard to really compare 'worst' imo. There are many that are little more than glorified shacks, but one wouldn't really expect them to be otherwise. There's a few in the tropics where you step off the plane directly onto the tarmac and then just stroll over to a makeshift 'carousel' to collect your bags which is always kinda fun. :disco:

I tend to judge things that I'm associated with more harshly, so I think all Chinese airports (except for HK which doesn't really count) are varying degrees of woeful given the size of the cities they're attached to. Similarly, everything in the UK often leads to second-hand embarrassment. I historically fly in to Gatwick (it's in my home county, bleurgh) and out of Heathrow T3. Both bleak, the latter mortifyingly so. I'd totally understand listing Stansted ahead of either - I haven't experienced the joy of RyanAir since 2009, but I did stupidly early flights there fairly often in my youth and always survived just fine.

Everyone and their mother says LAX is hell on earth, and I know tonnes of people that have horror stories to tell from immigration there, but my sole experience was everyone being very friendly and courteous towards me. Won't find out if that was a one-off until 2029 at the earliest tho. Actual hell on earth is sth closer to either Luanda or Kathmandu imo. Absolutely shambolic to the point where I'd almost stan if I weren't on the receiving end. And Addis Ababa might be the least functional I've seen relative to the significance of the hub.

Oh, and @KC 🦋I did the North America-Europe transit in Keflavík many many years ago and thought it was cute enough. But I just Googled some recent reviews to help trigger my memories and... I would suggest taking some food with you to be safe!
 
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I generally hate any airport that is super busy and noisy which means any at most given times.

Bordeaux was particularly grim though. And I don't care for Heathrow.

I think Liverpool had the nicest staff? Bergamo is quite lovely for an airport and the mountain view is nice. Bangkok made me want to curl up and hide. I appreciated how easy it was to get a shower in Dubai during a layover. I think I liked Copenhagen well enough. Belfast International is OK now that they've updated security and done it up so that there are no holes in the ground. Birmingham is GRIM.
 
Sardonicus said:
I flew to Galway Airport in 2007 (DEAD now sadly) with a grand total of 2 check in desks, 1 teeny baggage claim belt & a waiting area past security that was basically a living room complete with sofas & TV. By far the most COSY airport experience I'll ever have.
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I have fond memories of the tractor pulling a trailer with suitcases at the airport in Galway. Ireland West Airport in Knock has a similar feel, but it actually has THREE gates! It’s a 3 minute walk from your car to the terminal, I love flying from Knock.

Hated Lisbon Airport, the toilets REEKED of shit and farts mixed with cigarette smoke :zombie:
 
Where's the JANE BOULTON content when we need it? :disco:
 
Liverpool has had a massive makeover since those shows. It feels more like a holiday airport like Palma or Nice - not that big but bright and modern.
 
Isn't Copenhagen, like, important in Moopy lore or something?
 
Helsinki is probably the fave I’ve been to of late.

For London, Heathrow and Gatwick are both fine. Stansted and Luton are fucking dreadful.
 
I used London City for the first time last year. DELIGHTFUL. Through security in a FLASH. I still prefer a big airport though for more choice of STUFF so Heathrow is my favourite due to being a) massive and b) most convenient from where I live. Gatwick is fine. Stansted MEH. Luton is less awful now they've done it up a bit and added the DART, but still hideous.
 
So on the way back from Europe I got to experience the Reykjavík airport - well, all 11 steps of it anyway. It's really cozy and they have THE most gorgeous flight crew I've ever seen.

But I hate how they know your connection time is barely 55 minutes, which means you have no time to stop for a meal or snacks between flights, so on the second flight they charge you through the asshole for a sandwich and a soda. For a 7 hour flight! The only thing that was free was water, tea and coffee. Felt very extorted. But they were all really good looking so I acquiesced.

Regardless, it was the best trip I've ever taken so far and I can't wait to return.
 
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You had to pay for a meal on a 7 hour flight??

It's a while since I've done long haul, but surely a meal is still included in the package...?
 
funky said:
You had to pay for a meal on a 7 hour flight??

It's a while since I've done long haul, but surely a meal is still included in the package...?
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Not. A. Single. One.

I was surprised they didn't charge me to take a shit!
 
For short haul British Airways give out a free 250ml bottle of water and a tiny biscuit. The staff look genuinely embarrassed to be giving them out.
 
Not been to Prestwick airport since the early 90s and therefore in my mind it's exactly how I remember The High Life (1994-5), which is coincidentally currently on tour (5 stars from The Guardian).

 
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