The World's BEST Airports: Where Delays Don't Seem So Bad (PHOTOS)

This week the British consulting firm Skytrax released its World Airport Awards, an annual ranking of the world's airports.

Now in its eleventh year, the study, which was funded strictly by the research group, surveyed air travelers in more than 38 criteria related to customer satisfaction (including check-in, arrivals and transfers) for more than 190 airports.

And while airports may be generally reviled, there are some standouts, commended by passengers for their cleanliness, efficiency, design and amenities. And with extras that include free massage chairs, internet, a cinema, waterfalls, and, in one truly exceptional case, a butterfly garden, who can blame them?

Check out a quick list of the world's top five airports -- and the reasons travelers love them so much -- and vote for the ones you'd most like to get stuck in (if you were to get stuck!) below:

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#5 Kuala Lumpur International Airport

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WHY: Travelers report that Malaysia's main airport, which opened in 1998, is "spacious and quiet," with "friendly and helpful" staff, "good wifi," and many food options.

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WHY: Travelers report that Malaysia's main airport, which opened in 1998, is "spacious and quiet," with "friendly and helpful" staff, "good wifi," and many food options.

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It's Still An Airport Pretty Fantastic

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Comments

[drxcreatures]

01:35 AM on 04/22/2010

Nummy! I like a good airport. It's like an adventure. :)

[JerryMerry]

12:11 AM on 04/08/2010

Interesting, the top 3 airports are in Asia

[Timothy Knight]

05:56 AM on 04/06/2010

The Asian world has some of the nicest airports. They also have excellent high speed rail. They will be selling tech to the United States. ANYBODY see a trend?

[SilentSolidarity]

01:56 AM on 04/01/2010

And you know what's funny? Hong Kong is the most deregulated economy on earth, yet the most prestigious airport.

[Timothy Knight]

06:00 AM on 04/06/2010

They also have Universal Health Care are some of the most healthy people in the world, something America can not seem to figure out.

[SilentSolidarity]

01:54 AM on 04/01/2010

Have you ever used Google Street View for other countries? I googled myself into the streets of Hong Kong. We are way behind in everything!

Just try it out! http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

[wurdjunky]

02:22 PM on 03/31/2010

They forgot to include Kansai International.

[plzchuteme]

09:30 AM on 03/31/2010

I can't imagine being stuck in any airport, anytime. It's like comparing the best root canals one has had.

[quindy]

04:24 PM on 03/30/2010

I was in three of these airports but didn't get stuck there. I wish I got stuck in Singapore instead of Moscow. It takes them half and hour to serve a coffee.

[thefooligan5]

09:39 AM on 03/30/2010

And the worst airport is: [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEyFH-a-XoQ]Franz Kafka International[/url]

[CountWestwest]

09:03 AM on 03/30/2010

The only one of the ones mentioned I've been to is Munich, and it is definitely the best airport I've ever seen. It's clean and easy to navigate. If you are not carrying too much luggage you can get on the S-Bahn (subway) and go anywhere in the city from there.

The worst is by far Charles de Gaulle in Paris.Whoever design that airport should be shot.

[TheGripester]

01:37 PM on 03/30/2010

As has been said by wits quicker than mine, Charles de Gaulle Airport was designed by the Marquis de Sade.

[netzwerg]

08:04 AM on 03/30/2010

@Saul Bloodworth: "That is true, but this is not the fault of the airport. Also, San Francisco is very well connected to the city via BART. The airport itself, I find average."

No, of course its the fault of the US government, everyone in the world knows that. Some border authority guys seem to think they are on a military base or something and yell at you if you don't stand in line or talk.

My company (not a small mom/pop store but 2 billion EUR in volume a year) does not hold conferences in the US anymore though, due to harassment of guests with arab names at airport immigration and stolen/confiscated company laptop computers for no given reason. That's lost revenue for the US tourism industry our company now spends elsewhere in the world. And we are not the only company that handles it that way, I know at least a dozen who avoid sending employees to the US at all costs.

[samiles96]

07:24 AM on 03/30/2010

Oslo Gadermoden should be on that list.

[ImagesbyMagoe]

06:49 AM on 03/30/2010

I LOVE Seoul's Incheon Airport! I am always excited about getting to travel through this airport. The shopping is very enjoyable and sitting area is very spacious and relaxing. This airport is my favorite!

[jefered]

12:01 PM on 04/06/2010

Agreed. I've found their facilities - the shopping, the restaurants and public areas very appealing, relaxing and spotless. It makes getting on an Atlanta-bound plane that much more disappointing.

[WYHKTai-Tai]

06:12 AM on 03/30/2010

Yay! Hong Kong!!!

Although, I'd have to vote for Singapore, it's so small and easy to navigate, you get in & out in minutes.

My fave in the US is Salt Lake City, very clean efficient, although like most it is big & sprawling. The planes always seem to be on time there. San Francisco is beautiful, but the planes are always late. Very late.

[SeanOcali2]

06:09 AM on 03/30/2010

Surprised Schipol didn't make it.

[JanVerMeulen2010]

07:19 AM on 03/30/2010

Schiphol was number 8 in the top 10.