Originally Posted by
fdog
Without a doubt the airport from hell: SVO (Sheremetyevo in Moscow). This airport is
so wrong on every level:
- Exit curbside
- Enter sheep-pen like holding area that funnels to a single entrance
- Push and shove (no lines, remember "festival seating" at concerts?) to single gate
- Through door to smaller area with luggage inspection tables scattered about
- Finally, to a DL counter agent
- Disney-like serpentine of fences to Customs
- Enter Customs, plexi doors shut in front of you and behind you
- Trapped as Customs agent scrutinizes your papers
- Door opens, I'm free! Run up the stairs
- Enter walkway on the rim of the circular terminal building
- Walk 3/4 (yes, 3/4!) of the way around the rim
- Finally, walk down jetway
- Kiss floor of A/C in gratitude
Of course, that's
Russia. US of A...I dread MCO every time.
All the best, James
Just to clarify, the "plexi doors" you are referring to is actually just one door, and at that its a barrier-like construction (akin to European supermarkets), and its not a Customes officer (customs are before check-in), but a Passport control officer scrutinizing your papers.
You don't always have to walk 3/4 of the building to the gate, it depends where your flight departs from, and which side of the Departure Hall you entered in the first place (there are 4 options).
I don't think its such a bad procedure, actually, but overall, SVO sucks, I agree (waiting anxiously until SVO 3 Terminal opens, its supposed to be very nice).
For US airports, I vote for PHL (NW Gates), very claustraphobic entrance, and you have to find it first!