Best airport criteria? What's your favorite?
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,220
Amazing how, even with the same criteria, one can come to different conclusions. IMHO, the food outlets at SFO are very mediocre: there’s nowhere in T3 or International G that I would want to have dinner and I’ve tried lots of them. And the whole business of getting on the AirTrain to get to BART is a real pain. And then BART itself is slow, dirty and inconvenient. But I suppose it’s better than most other US airports of similar size.
#17
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 7,987
Hmm. In no particular order
- compact, need not be distancewise, but at least timewise (with thoughtful use of interterminal trains, moving walkways, etc.)
- high capacity security checks, never more than 10-15 minutes wait
- good connections direct and at most one-stop within the continent and to major intercontinental destinations
- good public transport connection to major local destinations (usually this would mean train, but sometimes subway works as well, ex. SIN)
- quiet and comfortable seating in public areas and/or solid selection of affordable lounges (looking at you, FRA... I get that LH is the king of T1, but at least one Diners/PP lounge wouldn't kill)
- F&B outlets with reasonable prices and decent quality, not paying 5x city prices for beer or water and a mediocre small meal.
- supermarket in public area
I don't have much worldwide experience, I can pretty much only mention SIN as a positive experience.
Europewide, I very much like VIE for connecting, not at all for O/D. Prefer BUD by a mile for that, even though it's lacking public transport connections.
AMS is decent, but not great, and FRA is either great (A/Z T1) or mediocre (T1>T2, T1C)
Others are either not worth mentioning or I haven't been there enough times to comment.
- compact, need not be distancewise, but at least timewise (with thoughtful use of interterminal trains, moving walkways, etc.)
- high capacity security checks, never more than 10-15 minutes wait
- good connections direct and at most one-stop within the continent and to major intercontinental destinations
- good public transport connection to major local destinations (usually this would mean train, but sometimes subway works as well, ex. SIN)
- quiet and comfortable seating in public areas and/or solid selection of affordable lounges (looking at you, FRA... I get that LH is the king of T1, but at least one Diners/PP lounge wouldn't kill)
- F&B outlets with reasonable prices and decent quality, not paying 5x city prices for beer or water and a mediocre small meal.
- supermarket in public area
I don't have much worldwide experience, I can pretty much only mention SIN as a positive experience.
Europewide, I very much like VIE for connecting, not at all for O/D. Prefer BUD by a mile for that, even though it's lacking public transport connections.
AMS is decent, but not great, and FRA is either great (A/Z T1) or mediocre (T1>T2, T1C)
Others are either not worth mentioning or I haven't been there enough times to comment.
#18
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,253
For hub airports, I want a common airside area. First because I feel like it's good for health and sleep hygiene to go for a nice walk between flights if you've got a longer connection (Yes, I like to do 'laps' in the tunnels between T and F in ATL), and second because I like having the full range of food and shopping options at an airport.
#19
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 53
Amazing how, even with the same criteria, one can come to different conclusions. IMHO, the food outlets at SFO are very mediocre: there’s nowhere in T3 or International G that I would want to have dinner and I’ve tried lots of them. And the whole business of getting on the AirTrain to get to BART is a real pain. And then BART itself is slow, dirty and inconvenient. But I suppose it’s better than most other US airports of similar size.
#20
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,369
Amazing how, even with the same criteria, one can come to different conclusions. IMHO, the food outlets at SFO are very mediocre: there’s nowhere in T3 or International G that I would want to have dinner and I’ve tried lots of them. And the whole business of getting on the AirTrain to get to BART is a real pain. And then BART itself is slow, dirty and inconvenient. But I suppose it’s better than most other US airports of similar size.
Agree. And not just all terminals connected airside, but rather one big airside hub/concourse lined with lots of shops and one/two major food courts with tentacles of gates. SEA is great from that standpoint. Also MSP (minus Humphrey). Although LAX will get better if/when all terminals are connected airside, they will never be like SEA because the layout there is multiple separate terminals connected by long narrow hallways.
#21
It might not be the most glamorous airport in the world, but I really do like Riyadh a lot.
Based on these criteria:
1) Efficient transit (including intl-intl transit security) - never had to use it but I admit that this might be a weakness
2) Compact, no need to walk far or take bus/train to get to/from gate - extremely quick. In fact you might be able to spot your departure gate from the cab as your get down and take out your luggage. All the gates are <5 mins walk from security.
3) Good airside food/concessions - mostly fast-food-centric but quite adequate when combined with the decent offerings in the lounges.
4) Prices same as in city [this eliminates all US airport] - never seen any major price differences for most things
5) Efficient customs/immigration - the fastest I have ever experienced - never takes more than five to ten minutes on average - unless you have the curse of having to enter for the first time on a new visa (it can take 5 mins to 2 hours really)
6) Good selection of Star Alliance lounges - not Star specific but two lounges per terminal is quite ok
7) Fast, frequent, comfortable train directly from terminal into city center [eg, HKG, NRT, KIX; this eliminates all US airports] - no viable mass public transit but Uber works fine and is dirt cheap.
Ro
Based on these criteria:
1) Efficient transit (including intl-intl transit security) - never had to use it but I admit that this might be a weakness
2) Compact, no need to walk far or take bus/train to get to/from gate - extremely quick. In fact you might be able to spot your departure gate from the cab as your get down and take out your luggage. All the gates are <5 mins walk from security.
3) Good airside food/concessions - mostly fast-food-centric but quite adequate when combined with the decent offerings in the lounges.
4) Prices same as in city [this eliminates all US airport] - never seen any major price differences for most things
5) Efficient customs/immigration - the fastest I have ever experienced - never takes more than five to ten minutes on average - unless you have the curse of having to enter for the first time on a new visa (it can take 5 mins to 2 hours really)
6) Good selection of Star Alliance lounges - not Star specific but two lounges per terminal is quite ok
7) Fast, frequent, comfortable train directly from terminal into city center [eg, HKG, NRT, KIX; this eliminates all US airports] - no viable mass public transit but Uber works fine and is dirt cheap.
Ro
I used to think Japanese airports were the best, what with their nearly painless security checks and frequent presence of shops selling local souvenir foods. But, if you take those two aspects away, they just evoke a dentist's more contemporary waiting room.
SIN used to be up there, too, but the transfers, lack of late-night public transit, the non-gate agnostic security checks, and the random security checks right before immigration chip away at its luster.
Guess that leaves me with the previous FNJ as the winner...
#22
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,284
My criteria are slightly different for an O&D airport versus a connection hub. For O&D I care about how efficient transit/parking and security are. It's nice to have good food options and lounges but these are not as important. Basically, I emphasize quick in/out. For a connecting hub I don't care about security or transit as I'm not using them. Food, lounges, and other amenities become more important, especially on longer connections or between long flights.