JGPH1A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 2451 times:
For connectivity, Frankfurt or Munich - 2 terminals at most, very short MCT's. Paris CDG - provided you don't have to change terminals.
For facilities and transfers, Schiphol by miles.
For airside shopping and the nicest business lounge anywhere, Sydney.
For avoiding the hassle of a major airport - Manchester NH, beats BOS hands down and you can get to most US domestic points via a hub transfer in ORD,CVG,CLE,DTW. And you don't have to drive through the big dig to get there.
For the record, best avoided for transfers are:
JFK - absolute nightmare - even without changing terminals
LHR - no better, especially T1/2/3 to T4 and v.v. - kiss your bags goodbye
MXP - huge queues, the ever hovering possibility of wild-cat strikes
BKK - you walk MILES.
A330Fan1 From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 856 posts, RR: 12 Reply 2, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 2432 times:
In terms of environment: Munich or Zurich...the greenery is breathtaking
In terms of shops, etc : London Heathrow
Chgoan From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 230 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2393 times:
I've been to quite a few....
and ICN sticks out. had to change planes there and had a 4 hour layover and it was comfy...not a lot open at 7am, but it was new and clean. also like SYD!
yes.....you walk forever at BKK (espeically if you transfer International to Domestic flights) and LHR.....
i hated CDG...at least in the United terminal....once you get to the gate area....no food, no shops, NOTHING...and it was old and dingy.
JGPH1A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2373 times:
Aaah, CDG - great for connecting, but don't stay too long. As far as amenities go, CDG2 is the world's biggest bus station - ugly grey concrete, limited and VERY uncomfortable seating, deplorable retail offering. CDG1 (where United fly from), used to be futuristic (in the 1970's), with its confusing people-tubes, but no shops to speak of, and very uncomfortable to wait around in.
Maybe retail in airports is overrated - you can take it too far, like BAA have done at LHR and LGW, shops as far as the eye can see selling the most unlikely and unfeasible rubbish, but with all the space taken over by retail, public areas are cramped and badly organised. The whole of Heathrow is a giant shopping mall, with a few planes taking up valuable carpark space.
Ssides From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 4059 posts, RR: 23 Reply 5, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2366 times:
Must vote for the hometown here -- DFW is my favorite; it will truly be world class once the new International Terminal D and Automated People Mover is complete.
Jacques60 From France, joined Jul 2003, 120 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2368 times:
By far my favorite remains CDG2 E and F for out and inbound.
My worst : Montréal Dorval....miles of walk, crowded etc
I still have to be convinced that closing YMX was a good idea !!
AMS From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 1689 posts, RR: 12 Reply 7, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2363 times:
Yes I agree, recently I flew with RG AMS to CDG1 and CDG1 is such an old terminal with the sattelite gates, also the seats are so old and dirty.
I think that CDG1 is really in need of a change and cleaning up. Even the grounds are dirty at CDG1
However CDG2 is better, but defenetly a big bus station!
I am wondering why ADP does not take any actions for CDG1!
Airdolomiti From Italy, joined May 2003, 680 posts, RR: 10 Reply 9, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 2300 times:
Munich is among my favorites. Can't wait to try out Terminal 2 at MUC, I hear it's a jewel.
I also love Frankfurt, it just feels 'nice' - it's some intangible feeling that makes me like it!
Others I liked are:
-AMS , excellent shopping, wonderful terrace (why can't all airports be like that!), and excellent transportation to the city.
-SYD, I had a 7-hour layover but had no problem enduring it, which means it must be good
-HKG, huge, but even tight connections are alright. My only gripe is that it feels a bit 'sterile' as far as shopping goes. But I love it all the same, the architecture is nothing short of amazing.
-AKL - small but nice!
-LGW, a lot better than Heathrow.
Honorable mention for my home airport VCE, fantastic terminal, excellent business lounge with a great terrace, good connections to all of Europe and a daily flight to JFK. I sure will miss it when I move away from Venice...
My least favorite airports:
-CDG - never been to T1, but I was not impressed with 2A/B/C/D - dirty, awful toilets, horrible cafés, and poor shopping. I also rarely encountered friendly personnel. I haven't been to 2F/E though (just arrived at 2F once for a connection to LAX so I didn't see much of it), which seem to be nicer.
-JFK - I'll never forget the dirty immigration area and the walk to baggage claim the first time I arrived there. Yuck! I can't imagine what a nightmare transferring between terminals must be.
-MXP - only been there once, it's not horrible but nothing exciting either. Pity!
AA61hvy From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 13975 posts, RR: 59 Reply 10, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 2281 times:
HKG or KIX, both awesome places to spot within the terminal.
Teva From France, joined Jan 2001, 1868 posts, RR: 17 Reply 11, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 2247 times:
My favorite airport ? Bora-Bora
My number 2? CDG
I have a lot of airlines and destinations. I really love CDG2F, where you have a lot of restaurants/cafes/brasseries. (at each end of the building, in the public area)(and in each peninsula after security)
About shops in CDG, in the public area you have to follow the signs "BOUTIQUAIRE". There is one in the basement of CDG1, with a few shops and a lot of restaurants. The other one in between CDG2A and 2B.
About CDG1, I love it, but I agree with everyone here: it urgently needs renovation. There was a project, but it has been postponed after Sept 11.
Teva
Ecoute les orgues, Elles jouent pour toi...C'est le requiem pour un con
JGPH1A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 2233 times:
Bora Bora is cool, but Rarotonga is better - the boarding lounge is on the grass behind a hedge - waiting to board your NZ 747 is magic - the aircraft takes up the whole apron, and dwarfs the terminal.
Planemannyc From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 989 posts, RR: 9 Reply 13, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 2217 times:
HKG and then SIN. Clean, open and convenient. Love the fact that shower and lounge facilities exist (for a small fee) so one can freshen up between connections. And great for spotting as well!
GD727 From United States of America, joined Mar 2002, 925 posts, RR: 11 Reply 15, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 2205 times:
PVD is my favorite airport for convenience, location, and quality of the terminal.
As for my favorite connecting airport, it has to be ATL. It may not be the prettiest airport in the world, but there are plenty of shops and it is very easy to connect there.
777lover From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 96 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 2185 times:
DEN's pretty cool especially when there's a UAL 777 at terminal B
StevenUhl777 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 2153 times:
PDX (E concourse) is great. DEN (UA concourses) are great also. I love IAD for the scenery around it, and the spotting, but the concourse is too damn narrow. ORD (once again...UA concourses) is a great place to spot also. HNL is great, just for the tropical feel to it!
AirVB From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 268 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 2136 times:
Having not been to many international airports except LHR, my absolute favorite is DEN. Very nice layout, beautiful terminal, fantastic scenery, and plenty of traffic/aircraft types.
JGPH1A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 20, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 2134 times:
Hi SteveUhl777 - why LHR an international favourite ? Great spotting opportunities yes, but its a dia-bloody-bolical airport to travel through - great long gangly neverending piers, moving pavements that don't move, crowded stuffy baggage halls, outdoor bus stations (ideal for the sun-drenched British climate), I could go on for ever. LHR was home base for some years, and I HATED it - but I still prefer the horrors of T1 to flying Squeazyjet into LTN, or (God forbid) Ryanair.
Westjet_8 From Canada, joined Jan 2001, 451 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 2114 times:
Home Airport YYC
Airports i've been to LHR, YVR, YYZ, YPR, YUL, YOW, FLL, MSP, DEN, LAX, SAN, PHX, SLC,
For Connections: MSP and DEN are both great, I found MSP really easy though as its all one terminal,
For Location: Calgary's airport is close to almost everywhere in Calgary as you just take the Deerfoot to get there, also FLL's airport is really close to the city and the beach
For Stuff: Calgary has very good shoping for an airport of its size, the D concourse has by far the most though. Denver seemed amazing for this too.
CanyonBlue From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 2076 times:
I have to go with DFW or ATL. Both have an easy layout and are big enough for some good spotting from the terminal. I like the different food options both airports have as well too.
ACEregular From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2003, 674 posts, RR: 1 Reply 24, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 2054 times:
I think London Gatwick is the best in Europe, for the shear volume of traffic using one runway, the facilities there and it´s a very exciting airport.
25 Randy4920: MY FAVORITES: IN THE US: NEWARK -TERMINAL C CHICAGO O'HARE- TERMINAL 1 NON US: ATHENS, GREECE LONDON HEATHROW
26 Arsenal@LHR: In the UK it's got be Heathrow obviously, the variety of airlines and traffic is unmatched anywhere else. Abroad it's O'Hare for me, nice and spacious
27 ConcordeBoy: N. America: 1) Favorite Airport of all: MSY (my home airport) 2) Favorite Airport for connections: ATL 3) Favorite Airport for spotting: JFK Europe: 1
28 Aaron747: My home airport - OAK, obviously. Second fav - LAX. Great mix of airlines from around the globe and multiple spotting locations.
29 B747fan: I have traveled to hundreds of cities, and by far the best airport has to be HKG (Chek Lap Kok) The architecture is amazing, the transfer to the city
30 ATA L1011: For travel and connections ATL, the worlds simplest setup for connections. For watching good ol' LAX great spotting locations and nice mix of aircraft
31 PKK: I LOVE CPH........ Other must do too. Click link and look at IATA's 2002 Global Airport Monitor survey. http://www.iata.org/air/productsandservices/ga
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 1689 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From France, joined Jul 2003, 120 posts, 
From Italy, joined May 2003, 680 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
BOI!!!!!
From Norway, joined Mar 2001, 73 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2003, 877 posts, 
From Canada, joined Jan 2001, 451 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
