Worst and Best Airports to transfer through
May 1, 2006, 6:05 pm
#16
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: OTP
Programs: PC
Posts: 507
SIN makes connections a real pleasure, love the free Internet, comfy chairs and greenery...SVO is on the other end for me, facilities and looks were truly craptacular last year (heard that some changes have been made, but it still has a loooong way to go).
May 1, 2006, 8:07 pm
#18
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: OAK/SFO/SJC
Programs: AA Plat 2MM+, HHonors, Amtrak GuestRewards
Posts: 1,158
Best: HEL. Generally quiet, you don't have to walk far, very clean. And in the winter, the light is very blue--you feel you are up in Scandanavia.
Worst: JFK (but maybe will improve with AA's remodeling? Big wait for bags in a remarkably dirty basement-type area, then having to go all the way out to the drop-off curb to switch gates--not good; and then on many AA flights, you're stuck in a crowded concourse with beaten-down concessions and bathrooms.) Surprisingly given all that, the staff there have always been quite friendly and helpful, in my experience.
-Hayden
Worst: JFK (but maybe will improve with AA's remodeling? Big wait for bags in a remarkably dirty basement-type area, then having to go all the way out to the drop-off curb to switch gates--not good; and then on many AA flights, you're stuck in a crowded concourse with beaten-down concessions and bathrooms.) Surprisingly given all that, the staff there have always been quite friendly and helpful, in my experience.
-Hayden
May 1, 2006, 8:46 pm
#19
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: NW Gold, '06. Good times.
Posts: 7,364
In the US, my favorite is DTW (so long as you're on NW). The McNamara Terminal is airy, bright, and very comfortable.
Worst in the US, IME, is IAD. Nothing is convenient to anything else.
Internationally, GVA is so-so. Decent shopping and convenient gates as long as you're not in the B Terminal (individual pods out in the middle of the tarmac with nothing to do once you're there).
AMS is very nice - between the shops, museum, and casino, you won't want for something to do while transitting.
Worst in the US, IME, is IAD. Nothing is convenient to anything else.
Internationally, GVA is so-so. Decent shopping and convenient gates as long as you're not in the B Terminal (individual pods out in the middle of the tarmac with nothing to do once you're there).
AMS is very nice - between the shops, museum, and casino, you won't want for something to do while transitting.
May 1, 2006, 8:50 pm
#20
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Asia/Europe
Programs: CX, OZ, MU (+AY, DL), Shangri-La, Hilton
Posts: 7,236
I would be interested to know if you mean that the 100+ restaurants at KIX do net serve enough variety or that the number is too small?
Originally Posted by MuAT
Good overall:
HKG-Hong Kong, TPE- Taipei, CVG-Cincinnati, DTW-Detroit
Decent: KIX-Osaka (although not much choice in food & you have to go through security)
Good only when you're connecting in the same terminal:
EWR-Newark (most Continental flights)
crowded & big, but not too bad:
ATL-Atlanta, IAH-Houston
HKG-Hong Kong, TPE- Taipei, CVG-Cincinnati, DTW-Detroit
Decent: KIX-Osaka (although not much choice in food & you have to go through security)
Good only when you're connecting in the same terminal:
EWR-Newark (most Continental flights)
crowded & big, but not too bad:
ATL-Atlanta, IAH-Houston
May 1, 2006, 10:35 pm
#21
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: east coast USA
Programs: Skyteam/Delta Silver Medallion, Starwood Gold Preferred
Posts: 403
Originally Posted by mosburger
I would be interested to know if you mean that the 100+ restaurants at KIX do net serve enough variety or that the number is too small?
^ KIX is actually very, very nice, just having to reclear security even on "direct" flights is puzzling.
May 2, 2006, 12:24 am
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
For me the best is -
1. AMS
2. SIN
3. DTW (not sure why, just really like the new NW terminal)
4. KUL
5. AKL (just for the Business class check-in, great idea)
And the worst -
1. Amristar International, Punjab India (like a portacabin)
2. LHR
3. LHR
4. LHR
5. LHR
6. LHR
7. LHR
8. CDG
9. DEL
8. & LHR
1. AMS
2. SIN
3. DTW (not sure why, just really like the new NW terminal)
4. KUL
5. AKL (just for the Business class check-in, great idea)
And the worst -
1. Amristar International, Punjab India (like a portacabin)
2. LHR
3. LHR
4. LHR
5. LHR
6. LHR
7. LHR
8. CDG
9. DEL
8. & LHR
May 2, 2006, 4:39 am
#23
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: BKK/ORD
Programs: UA 1P, HH Diamond, *Wood Gold
Posts: 130
YYZ - ABSOLUTELY horrible
Originally Posted by kaboom36
My worst:
1. CDG
2. YYZ (From domestic to International)
3. LHR
Easiet:
None on my airport. Avoid as much connection as possible.
1. CDG
2. YYZ (From domestic to International)
3. LHR
Easiet:
None on my airport. Avoid as much connection as possible.
As for best, I like BKK.
May 2, 2006, 4:52 am
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: SAN
Programs: Nothing, nowhere!
Posts: 23,315
I haven't had the misfortune to transit through LHR yet so I can't comment but as an airport i agree its hell.
Best; DTW if you're using McNamara terminal.
Worst; YYZ transiting intl-intl, a real pain in the backside.
Best; DTW if you're using McNamara terminal.
Worst; YYZ transiting intl-intl, a real pain in the backside.
May 2, 2006, 9:27 am
#25
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: AA Plat, HH Gold, SPG Gold, HH Gold, Marriott Silver, Amex Plat, GlobalEntry, SW A-List Preferred
Posts: 866
Best:
CPH
AMS (but that means you're flying KLM , their ground staff is horrible)
YVR
Worst:
LHR
YYZ
MAD (pre new terminal)
CPH
AMS (but that means you're flying KLM , their ground staff is horrible)
YVR
Worst:
LHR
YYZ
MAD (pre new terminal)
May 2, 2006, 10:07 am
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Caribbean
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, US Air Silver Preferred, BA ExecSilver
Posts: 758
Can't believe MIA has not figured more prominently in worst airports - dirty, crowded, rude people, and to top it off, they are always changing gate departures (after you have already gotten there).
Do agree about Hong Kong and Singapore some of best (they always have their "people movers" working!)- also CLT in US
Do agree about Hong Kong and Singapore some of best (they always have their "people movers" working!)- also CLT in US
May 2, 2006, 10:15 am
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Caribbean
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, US Air Silver Preferred, BA ExecSilver
Posts: 758
Originally Posted by Athena53
Worst: Heathrow, Heathrow and Heathrow for the reasons listed above. "Worst" not only includes any airport where a bus is involved, but any where you have no alternative but to get dumped outsode the "secure" area and thus have to go through "security" again. See Heathrow...OK, I'll stop ranting now.
Best- ZRH- we went through only once but were impressed. "Best" includes any airport where you can manage to stay inside the secure area when connecting.
Best- ZRH- we went through only once but were impressed. "Best" includes any airport where you can manage to stay inside the secure area when connecting.
May 2, 2006, 10:28 am
#28
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: JUB
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 166
IAD has never given me much trouble on connections, particularly with an international leg.
LHR is, as everyone has said, the worst.
PHI is pretty bad for international connections as well, particularly inbound from abroad.
FRA is one of the best, as is MUC. AMS is OK, but sheer size is an issue for me.
As folks have said: anytime you have to change terminals you're probably in for a difficult time, even with trains/busses/whatever helping.
ATL stinks, imho, and I don't like ORD or LAX either but that's mostly because I always end up with gates that are seemingly miles apart.
DEN is OK, and I sorta like DFW for some reason.
LHR is, as everyone has said, the worst.
PHI is pretty bad for international connections as well, particularly inbound from abroad.
FRA is one of the best, as is MUC. AMS is OK, but sheer size is an issue for me.
As folks have said: anytime you have to change terminals you're probably in for a difficult time, even with trains/busses/whatever helping.
ATL stinks, imho, and I don't like ORD or LAX either but that's mostly because I always end up with gates that are seemingly miles apart.
DEN is OK, and I sorta like DFW for some reason.
May 2, 2006, 10:32 am
#29
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Richmond, VA
Programs: BA Silver, SPG Gold, Sixt Platinum,
Posts: 233
Originally Posted by alex0683de
My experiences:
Best 3:
Singapore
Hong Kong
Zurich
Worst 3:
Newark
Los Angeles
Heathrow
Oh, and of course any int'l to int'l transfer in the US.
Best 3:
Singapore
Hong Kong
Zurich
Worst 3:
Newark
Los Angeles
Heathrow
Oh, and of course any int'l to int'l transfer in the US.
Best:
Cape Town
SFO
Sydney