Travel News - According to Frommers: Best and worst airports

According to Frommers there are several airports world-wide that merit the best and worst status. Among the worst: terminal 3 at JFK. The best the Hajj terminal in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Frommers via USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/story/2012-01-16/Travel-guide-ranks-best-worst-airport-terminals/52602176/1

According to Frommers there are several airports world-wide that merit the best and worst status. Among the worst: terminal 3 at JFK. The best the Hajj terminal in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Frommers via USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/story/2012-01-16/Travel-guide-ranks-best-worst-airport-terminals/52602176/1

Changi always gets my vote for being among the best, but was surprised to see AMM among the worst. While not spectacular (and a new terminal is being constructed) there seems to be so little traffic that its shortcomings seem tolerable.

I wonder how much hard data there is on the actual user experience in the hajj terminal? It might look good, but it's getting exclusively special-purpose traffic, and many of the users presumably don't fly much otherwise, plus they are there on a pilgrimage, not to complain about the state of the bathrooms....

It didn't make Frommer's list, but it made MINE...

http://www.askthepilot.com/essays-and-stories/meditations-from-an-african-slum-on-airports-travel-poverty-and-hedgehogs/


I'm also annoyed to see JFK's Terminal 5 (jetBlue) up there on the Best list. That terminal is, in my opinion, the most disappointing major airport project of the last 30 years. Its exterior especially -- it's the UGLIEST damn building I have ever seen. From the airside (runways and taxiway view) it resembles the back of a shopping mall. All that's missing are some dumpsters and wooden pallets. It's truly, disgracefully hideous.

And the inside? Yawn. Gee whiz, a food court! T5 the latest step in making the airport terminal and shopping mall totally indistinguishable from one another. Meanwhile the building is only a few years old, and it's already overcrowded.


Patrick Smith

I wonder how much hard data there is on the actual user experience in the hajj terminal? It might look good, but it's getting exclusively special-purpose traffic, and many of the users presumably don't fly much otherwise, plus they are there on a pilgrimage, not to complain about the state of the bathrooms....

Well said. ^


I would also add that we are talking about USA Today :td:

T5 the latest step in making the airport terminal and shopping mall totally indistinguishable from one another.

Some airports do resemble shopping malls and I can't say that I mind. (e.g. LHR does, to some extent.) What I do dislike is the old school terminals with the ugly carpeting and seats around the gates and NOTHING there to make it somewhat more aesthetic (CVG comes to mind).

ETA: By the way, I really liked your article (and generally enjoy your blog - keep it up!)

Paris' Beauvais ? It's 50 miles away FHS.

I agree with Patrick, T5 at JFK is no way in the top 10.

Am I wrong or does Delta use three of the worst terminals in the top-ten this year?

#1: JFK - Terminal 3,
#7: LGA - Terminal 5
#8: EWR - Terminal B

Pretty disgraceful !

I thought DL used terminal A in EWR, B is the "everyone except CO" international terminal, could be wrong though.

Any such list that omits Miami International as one of the world's worst is not a definitive list.

It didn't make Frommer's list, but it made MINE...

http://www.askthepilot.com/essays-and-stories/meditations-from-an-african-slum-on-airports-travel-poverty-and-hedgehogs/


I'm also annoyed to see JFK's Terminal 5 (jetBlue) up there on the Best list. That terminal is, in my opinion, the most disappointing major airport project of the last 30 years. Its exterior especially -- it's the UGLIEST damn building I have ever seen. From the airside (runways and taxiway view) it resembles the back of a shopping mall. All that's missing are some dumpsters and wooden pallets. It's truly, disgracefully hideous.

And the inside? Yawn. Gee whiz, a food court! T5 the latest step in making the airport terminal and shopping mall totally indistinguishable from one another. Meanwhile the building is only a few years old, and it's already overcrowded.


Patrick Smith
I like T5 for the whimsical shops (Museum of Art Shop, Japanese stationery?!), really good food choices, bars, and all of the laptop-friendly waiting areas with abundant outlets and comfortable seating.

That said, the walk from the gate of my last JetBlue flight to the monorail took about twenty minutes.

Am I wrong or does Delta use three of the worst terminals in the top-ten this year?

#1: JFK - Terminal 3,
#7: LGA - Terminal 5
#8: EWR - Terminal B

Pretty disgraceful !

Soon, the entire terminal 3 at JFK will be demolished sometime in between 2013 or 2015.

LaGuardia is up there as one of the worst airports anywhere. It would be nice some day to see an ultra modern, clean airport in the NYC area.

There was a lot of tweaking and balancing based on what I perceived to be levels of expectations. For instance, NBO and not DKR because NBO has pretensions of being a major global hub, and DKR seems to only have pretensions of being a hole in the ground.

That's also a big reason why the NYC airports were so heavily represented. NYC "has pretensions of" being, mmm, a global financial hub, global tourist center, where the UN is, stuff like that. So its gateways should be held to a high standard. Which I think we can all safely agree they do not meet.

The award for Jeddah/Mecca was in large part because it so overturns our expectations of airport design, and those tent-cones do an awesome job of natural air conditioning. That list was "most beautiful" rather than "most functional." The "worst" list was just "worst (calibrated by expectations.)"

I agree that Manila and CDG should be at the top of a list like this.

Funny.. JFK has the best and worst airport votes.. depending on the terminal..

I was surprised to see Vancouver omitted from the 'best of' list.

There was a lot of tweaking and balancing based on what I perceived to be levels of expectations. For instance, NBO and not DKR because NBO has pretensions of being a major global hub, and DKR seems to only have pretensions of being a hole in the ground.

That's also a big reason why the NYC airports were so heavily represented. NYC "has pretensions of" being, mmm, a global financial hub, global tourist center, where the UN is, stuff like that. So its gateways should be held to a high standard. Which I think we can all safely agree they do not meet.

The award for Jeddah/Mecca was in large part because it so overturns our expectations of airport design, and those tent-cones do an awesome job of natural air conditioning. That list was "most beautiful" rather than "most functional." The "worst" list was just "worst (calibrated by expectations.)"

I was surprised to see Vancouver omitted from the 'best of' list.I don't think it qualifies for the arbitrary definition of a "hub".

I was surprised to see CDG terminal 3 on the list. Granted, CDG is a toilet and does need to be included on the list of worst airports, but T3 is only for LCCs and gets little use. Terminal 2, on the other hand, is a toilet with a very dumb architecture (2F has appalling acoustics, and in an airport various announcements are commonplace - what were the architects thinking?! 2E collapsed on itself - another major blunder). Add that to the interminable array of buses, runways being very far from the terminals, planes getting parked way out there (in Belgium, it seems) and you get a very unpleasant experience.

I don't like MDW or MSP. They aren't the worst but they are a pain to use along with MIA.

I wonder how many people decide where to travel to based on the rating of the airport. :rolleyes:

I wonder how many people decide where to travel to based on the rating of the airport. :rolleyes:

Based on my experience recently at LAX, and my 3 hour wait through customs and immigration.. certainly a factor whether I enter through LAX the next time, or through another airport given the option.

HKG is not even among the top 10 best?

IMHO, SIN should get the top spot and ICN should be #2, where are AMS and MUC? I guess the author wants some cool factor by listing some far flung obscure airports on the best list.

There is no doubt that Manila T1 should be included in the worst category. For a major international terminal serviced by airlines such as EK, TG, SQ etc, its an absolute dog. worst thing being that its hard to actually get into the airport via the front door! (between security and luggage check) - what a kip.

A scandal that HKG is not in top 10 list. IMHO its the best in the world.

Whats wrong with MDW? New terminal, easy access to Red Line downtown. Short walks to connections. Great local non chain food options. I don't get this one. Makes one wonder if the writer has been to the new MDW

You lost me at "According to Frommers."

HK, YVR, AMS, SIN definitely top notch.

One of the worse I've experienced was Kuala Lumpur. I could find 12 chocolate stands but 0 places that sold bottled water.. ?:confused:

I was surprised to see CDG terminal 3 on the list. Granted, CDG is a toilet and does need to be included on the list of worst airports, but T3 is only for LCCs and gets little use. Terminal 2, on the other hand, is a toilet with a very dumb architecture (2F has appalling acoustics, and in an airport various announcements are commonplace - what were the architects thinking?! 2E collapsed on itself - another major blunder). Add that to the interminable array of buses, runways being very far from the terminals, planes getting parked way out there (in Belgium, it seems) and you get a very unpleasant experience.

2E/F is awful, agreed, but 3 got the nod for that bit about the airport authorities pointedly driving homeless people out there, plus being even more difficult to connect between terminals from than in the 2s.

Whats wrong with MDW? New terminal, easy access to Red Line downtown. Short walks to connections. Great local non chain food options. I don't get this one. Makes one wonder if the writer has been to the new MDW

MDW was on the list *only* because of the departure delays statistic. That was the only reason.

Surprising that LAX International Terminal did not make it to the worst list. International arriving via LAX is just horrible. :mad:

Whats wrong with MDW? New terminal, easy access to Red Line downtown. Short walks to connections. Great local non chain food options. I don't get this one. Makes one wonder if the writer has been to the new MDW

I agree, but so many of our fellow PAX do not. I'm not sure why. Possibly because it's a major Southwest hub for the most part. But I agree, the "ORANGE" line (not Red) is convenient to Downtown, and it's clean, simple and easy to get in and out of - with as you say "some good local non-chain food options".

You lost me at "According to Frommers."

Frommers has a reputable name.. but I'm surprised Frommers is evaluating best and worst airports..

"Many flights require a change between de Gaulle's various, scattered terminal buildings, which are connected primarily by slow, confusing shuttle buses," the travel guide publisher says. "Changing planes is tiring, irritating and sometimes, a little terrifying."

Was the article written in 2006?! Or is the author just clueless and unlike the rest of us who have been using CDGVAL for the last 4+ years taking a bus between terminals?

The world's second-best terminal is Leifur Eiríksson Air Terminal in Keflavik, Iceland, about a 45-minute drive from Reykjavík, the nation's capital.

Fourteen passenger airlines fly into the airport during the summer, including Icelandair and SAS, which operate year-round service.

"Iceland's cozy, little international airport looks like it arrived in a flat pack from Ikea," Frommers.com says. "It's all blond wood and volcanic-looking stone with big windows looking out on the dramatic Icelandic landscape."

I don't care how pretty a terminal looks. The fact that it is only served by 14 carriers for part of the year, and is 45 minutes from the city, negates the look of the place.

Interesting as well that traditionally top ranked airports didn't make the list. The source (Frommers, USA Today) and the results make me question the selection criteria.

You lost me at "According to Frommers."

^ +1

Frommers to me is a cliched leisure travel website reinforcing the worst stereotypes on all sides. From a FT thread last year:

"Improve your chances for a free upgrade by dressing the part when flying. Wearing a business suit can mean the difference between staying in economy class -- or getting bumped up to the first-class cabin."
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1243491-dress-up-upgrade.html

Frommers also offers the sage advice to bring a coin purse if travelling for business, and recommends women's wear from circa 1985 for business travel.

I don't care how pretty a terminal looks.

That's fine, but I'd like to mention that the particular article containing KEF was called "The world's 10 most beautiful airport terminals," so "how pretty it looks" was pretty much the primary criterion.

http://www.frommers.com/slideshow/index.cfm?group=785&p=1

That's fine, but I'd like to mention that the particular article containing KEF was called "The world's 10 most beautiful airport terminals," so "how pretty it looks" was pretty much the primary criterion.

http://www.frommers.com/slideshow/index.cfm?group=785&p=1

I copied that quote about KEF from the OP's link, from an article titled Travel guide ranks best, worst airport terminals

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/story/2012-01-16/Travel-guide-ranks-best-worst-airport-terminals/52602176/1

Perhaps they are recycling previous 'articles' into new ones, but the quote I posted came from that article, and not one about 'pretty' terminals. Pretty does not equate to best. (Perhaps you can share some insight as an insider as to how Frommers did the ranking, and if they recycle content? It looks like they just took your article and reworked or retitled it?)

I wouldn't have actually noticed that until you posted, but thank you for reaffirming my feelings towards Frommers.

Cozy with a dramatic view

The world's second-best terminal is Leifur Eiríksson Air Terminal in Keflavik, Iceland, about a 45-minute drive from Reykjavík, the nation's capital.

Fourteen passenger airlines fly into the airport during the summer, including Icelandair and SAS, which operate year-round service.

"Iceland's cozy, little international airport looks like it arrived in a flat pack from Ikea," Frommers.com says. "It's all blond wood and volcanic-looking stone with big windows looking out on the dramatic Icelandic landscape."

The seven other terminals in the travel guide publisher's top 10 are at airports serving Seoul; Wellington, New Zealand; Singapore; Madrid; Marrakech, Morocco; Montevideo, Uruguay; and Bilbao, Spain.

"If a city has an excellent terminal, it says to the visitor that they're thought about," Clampet says.

I'm also genuinely curious about a supposedly reputable travel company including information about one of the world's major airports which is five years out of date. Was that also copied from a previous article, and never caught by either the Frommers or USA Today editors?

Perhaps they are recycling previous 'articles' into new ones, but the quote I posted came from that article, and not one about 'pretty' terminals. Pretty does not equate to best. (Perhaps you can share some insight as an insider as to how Frommers did the ranking, and if they recycle content? It looks like they just took your article and reworked or retitled it?)

You are correct: USA Today syndicated my article from Frommers, changing the focus from "most beautiful," which is what it says on Frommers.com, to the more generic "best." Take it up with USA Today, or feel free to criticize the actual source story on Frommers.com, but please don't blame F.com for the headline of a different publication copying its story. (It isn't plagiarism; it was copied with permission.)

Okay, just took another look at the USA Today story (and edited this post), and all I can say is, I'm a little confused too. The stories on Frommers.com are "most beautiful" and "worst." (And "worst" is calibrated idiosyncratically, as the intro to that particular piece says.) I'm not sure where the transformation occurred, but I'm not personally going to defend my list as anything other than "most beautiful."

I'm also genuinely curious about a supposedly reputable travel company including information about one of the world's major airports which is five years out of date. Was that also copied from a previous article, and never caught by either the Frommers or USA Today editors?

Oh, you mean ignoring CDGVAL? With its delightfully inconvenient stations a long hike from most gates, especially in the T2 complex? At least the miserable buses drop you off in the appropriate lobe, when and if they drop you off. Oh right, and the "Terminal 3" CDGVAL train station is so convenient for T3, too. It's like CDG thought of half an inter-terminal train system, got distracted, and wandered away mid-concept.

Yeah, I find JFK's Terminal 5 to be terribly overrated.

Interesting, too, how Saarinen's TWA masterpiece and I.M. Pei's National Airlines building sit (or sat) on either side of this overblown building.


As for the WORST airports, my vote is for Dakar. Here's my write-up about DKR....

http://www.askthepilot.com/essays-and-stories/meditations-from-an-african-slum-on-airports-travel-poverty-and-hedgehogs/

Of course, I've never been to Kinshasa. Since originally publishing that Dakar story on Salon.com a few years back, I've received numerous letters from travelers insisting that Kinshasa makes DKR look like Vancouver or Changi. Can anybody vouch?


Patrick Smith

As the discussion continues.. is the list provided by Frommers' an accurate reflection of the best and worst airports.. sure there maybe a few arguable that should be in the top ten, but is generally the list accurate?

You are correct

You've just reinforced my opinion of Frommers being inaccurate, geared towards generally clueless or illinformed leisure travellers, and reinforcing stereotypes.

I didn't realise that the author of that inaccurate information was actually posting when I critiqued the 'article', but reading back I am not the only one who has issues with what was written.

And there are many instances of Frommers providing poor information. I tend to check areas I know best to judge the credibility and tone of travel websites and guides. Frommers not only misspells several things in the region but also places key places 100km out of place.

CDG may not rank as one of the top 10 or 20 airports in the world, but it also doesn't rank in the bottom 10. And using information 5 years out of date to support that rating (as in the originally posted article) makes me question the rest of the information.

It appears that I am not alone, based on this thread as well as another on the same topic http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1305121-worlds-worst-terminals.html

Frommers also offers the sage advice to bring a coin purse if travelling for business...

To make it easier to tip the FAs?