What makes a bad airport?
Jun 1, 2010, 12:41 pm
#31
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,098
There are several factors, but I think it comes down to airport ops planning that makes or breaks an airport.
1: Location
2: Terminal Structure
3: Facilities
One of my most loathed airports is Denver International and I think it's a good example of poor planning and of how NOT to design an airport.
1: Location----Denver International is a 40 minute drive out of Denver. Other airports like this include Toronto Pearson International and Belfast, where due to the drive transport to and from gets expensive, and is put at greater risk of missed flights from traffic and so forth. Good airports are located in town. Say what you want about PHX, but it's right down in the center of things. LAS too.
2: Terminal Structure--Denver International has 3 terminals with a consolidated concourse, which means that no matter what airline people are taking, they are ALL going through the same pick/up drop off, security lines, baggage claims etc, adding to crowds and extra time in security lines that are quite large. This also means an added dimension of getting to the gate..in the case of DIA, that's a train. However, it MAY make it easier for connections than some airports..good airports are designed so that you can walk between terminals easily (think LAX)..some airports like YYZ and FRA can make inter-terminal connections quite hairy. Crowd control is an issue as well. One example is MCI, the narrow circular terminals make for some bizzare security lines. LAS is a horrid airport for crowd control..it's too small as it is, but they put in blocks of slot machines which take up even more room for people.
3: Facilities..DIA does not use a consolidated rental car structure. This means finding a particular rental shuttle and longer rides depending on what rental car company you are using. There is only 1 gas station after that 40 minute drive, so returning your rental usually requires extra time waiting for a pump and elminates competition. I love the consolidated facility at LAS! Although LAS can drive me nuts, the rental car thing is easy there. However, the best airports have rentals in-terminal. I like airports like OKC and COS in which you simply walk out the front doors to your rental car. Shopping and restraunts help ease longer layovers..PHX is good for this, as is IAH. Substantial restraunts are important too, with a wide offering. More than McDonalds and Burgerking and a Fox sports bar...
1: Location
2: Terminal Structure
3: Facilities
One of my most loathed airports is Denver International and I think it's a good example of poor planning and of how NOT to design an airport.
1: Location----Denver International is a 40 minute drive out of Denver. Other airports like this include Toronto Pearson International and Belfast, where due to the drive transport to and from gets expensive, and is put at greater risk of missed flights from traffic and so forth. Good airports are located in town. Say what you want about PHX, but it's right down in the center of things. LAS too.
2: Terminal Structure--Denver International has 3 terminals with a consolidated concourse, which means that no matter what airline people are taking, they are ALL going through the same pick/up drop off, security lines, baggage claims etc, adding to crowds and extra time in security lines that are quite large. This also means an added dimension of getting to the gate..in the case of DIA, that's a train. However, it MAY make it easier for connections than some airports..good airports are designed so that you can walk between terminals easily (think LAX)..some airports like YYZ and FRA can make inter-terminal connections quite hairy. Crowd control is an issue as well. One example is MCI, the narrow circular terminals make for some bizzare security lines. LAS is a horrid airport for crowd control..it's too small as it is, but they put in blocks of slot machines which take up even more room for people.
3: Facilities..DIA does not use a consolidated rental car structure. This means finding a particular rental shuttle and longer rides depending on what rental car company you are using. There is only 1 gas station after that 40 minute drive, so returning your rental usually requires extra time waiting for a pump and elminates competition. I love the consolidated facility at LAS! Although LAS can drive me nuts, the rental car thing is easy there. However, the best airports have rentals in-terminal. I like airports like OKC and COS in which you simply walk out the front doors to your rental car. Shopping and restraunts help ease longer layovers..PHX is good for this, as is IAH. Substantial restraunts are important too, with a wide offering. More than McDonalds and Burgerking and a Fox sports bar...
Jun 1, 2010, 1:20 pm
#32
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 698
NOISE!!! Surprised no one has mentioned this. It's not beyond control: some airports are much noisier than others, so obviously there are ways to minimize it. Worst I've ever been in: ATL.
Interterminal connections that take forever by confusing bus routes. This was one of the reasons I stopped using LHR years ago.
Astonishingly expensive "airport hotels" which are so far away and have such erratic and slow "shuttle service" that you might as well just stay in town (LHR again.)
Having to go through multiple lines (LHR again -- the last time I used it I had to stand in nine different lines, which is one of the reasons that was the last time I used it.)
Layouts that trap you in places where you can't get to a rest room without going back out and then returning through security again. CDG is conspicuous for this. Especially idiotic was the fact that on at least one occasion the only rest room was through an exit door that gave no indication that after you exited you would have to go through security again to get back to the gate!!! I almost missed my flight because of this. But CDG in general seems to have been laid out by persons creating a textbook exercise in how not to design an airport.
No drinking fountains after security. Most recent example: VIE (an airport I otherwise like.) The medical need to keep hydrated on airplane flights is well established. So, hey, let's forbid people to bring water through security and then not let them have access to water afterwards. Passengers? They're not even cattle.
[Lest I be accused of negativity, there are some major airports that I at least don't dread going through: SFO, LAX, MSP, ATH.]
Interterminal connections that take forever by confusing bus routes. This was one of the reasons I stopped using LHR years ago.
Astonishingly expensive "airport hotels" which are so far away and have such erratic and slow "shuttle service" that you might as well just stay in town (LHR again.)
Having to go through multiple lines (LHR again -- the last time I used it I had to stand in nine different lines, which is one of the reasons that was the last time I used it.)
Layouts that trap you in places where you can't get to a rest room without going back out and then returning through security again. CDG is conspicuous for this. Especially idiotic was the fact that on at least one occasion the only rest room was through an exit door that gave no indication that after you exited you would have to go through security again to get back to the gate!!! I almost missed my flight because of this. But CDG in general seems to have been laid out by persons creating a textbook exercise in how not to design an airport.
No drinking fountains after security. Most recent example: VIE (an airport I otherwise like.) The medical need to keep hydrated on airplane flights is well established. So, hey, let's forbid people to bring water through security and then not let them have access to water afterwards. Passengers? They're not even cattle.
[Lest I be accused of negativity, there are some major airports that I at least don't dread going through: SFO, LAX, MSP, ATH.]
Jun 1, 2010, 1:37 pm
#33
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,386
There were several good reasons to build DEN where they built it. One is that Denver is still growing rapidly, and in 20 years it probably won't seem that remote at all.
DEN has three separate security facilities, not one: East, West and Concourse A.
The big "mistakes" are the lack of walkways between concourses and lousy interface between airport and rental car facilities.
Jun 1, 2010, 3:23 pm
#34
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: MEL
Programs: QF, VA, VN, BA, SQ, KC - all reds and blues.
Posts: 3,205
How about fellow passengers? I was unfortunate enough to be in LTN on a Friday night waiting for a heavily delayed flight and the biggest problem was the airport being awash with obnoxious drunks on their way to stag and hen weekends.
Jun 1, 2010, 3:34 pm
#35
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Norway, Maine
Programs: United Silver and HH Diamond
Posts: 1,474
Jun 1, 2010, 7:22 pm
#37
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 64 miles North of SFO
Posts: 139
I agree with RBH58 about poor signage. MEM comes to mind I went there last year and entering the concourse there were no signs indicating the direction to Baggage claim, Ground Transportation, etc. At least you had a 50/50 chance of getting it right.
Cha cha is right on about water fountains. There are no drinking fountains @ FCO. Kind of ironic for a City with so many.
BW
Cha cha is right on about water fountains. There are no drinking fountains @ FCO. Kind of ironic for a City with so many.
BW
Jun 1, 2010, 8:19 pm
#38
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
I agree DEN makes a couple of huge mistakes, but mostly they got the important stuff right.
There were several good reasons to build DEN where they built it. One is that Denver is still growing rapidly, and in 20 years it probably won't seem that remote at all.
DEN has three separate security facilities, not one: East, West and Concourse A.
The big "mistakes" are the lack of walkways between concourses and lousy interface between airport and rental car facilities.
There were several good reasons to build DEN where they built it. One is that Denver is still growing rapidly, and in 20 years it probably won't seem that remote at all.
DEN has three separate security facilities, not one: East, West and Concourse A.
The big "mistakes" are the lack of walkways between concourses and lousy interface between airport and rental car facilities.
Jun 1, 2010, 8:22 pm
#39
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,849
One other thing I'd like to add:
Those that charge for baggage trolleys. Are we expecting the new immigrant family from Nepal or the visitor from Finland to carry local currency upon arrival? I realise they often accept credit cards, but it's just one of those things that can make travelling a real pain in the backside.
Jun 1, 2010, 10:27 pm
#43
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SFO/SJC/SQL
Posts: 1,412
Here is a good summary of what represents a bad airport. 
http://www.theonion.com/video/prague...lds-mos,14321/
http://www.theonion.com/video/prague...lds-mos,14321/
Jun 1, 2010, 10:36 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ORD
Posts: 277
My pet peeve is always when I have a redeye departure and there are no services open after 9 or 10. Just because I'm leaving late doesn't mean I don't want a cup of coffee or snack! How hard is it to keep one newsstand open at all times of day and night?
Jun 1, 2010, 11:16 pm
#45
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: MEL
Programs: QF, VA, VN, BA, SQ, KC - all reds and blues.
Posts: 3,205
Those that charge for baggage trolleys. Are we expecting the new immigrant family from Nepal or the visitor from Finland to carry local currency upon arrival? I realise they often accept credit cards, but it's just one of those things that can make travelling a real pain in the backside.