Airports might be our gateways to travel, adventure and a little extra sunshine, but some of them, especially the bigger hubs, have been getting bogged down by the increased traffic and convoluted patchwork of add-on terminals that are supposed to be handling the growth. And these hubs seem increasingly unavoidable. We've got concourses that feel longer than than some of the runways, check-in and security lines that make you wonder if you'll start to decompose before you reach the plane, gate-changes that feel like a twisted game of musical chairs, and delays to take-off, land and even find a parking spot. According to more than 2000 participants from over 80 countries who took the "World's Worst Travel Survey," here's the ranked list of top offenders. For more travel "worsts," check out the Titanic Awards.
Follow Doug Lansky on Twitter: www.twitter.com/dlansky
|
Post a Comment
Today's airport should be thought of more like a cheap motel, sure, easy to get in and out, but more importantly, a place to rest for 3 or 4 or 10 hours while you wait for your next flight.
So many airports have no place actually rest, to lay your body out, to let your kids play or to exercise w/o having to tote around all your luggage.
Airports were made for a world when airlines cared about their passengers and you could show up less than an hour before your flight took off.
Neither is true today.
Most HATED AIRPORTS
I AGREE. And, must say, it's "impressive" that USA, most powerful, strong, freedom-liberty country in the world boasts 5 out of the 10 worst airports in the W O R L D .
Just one more wrong thing.
I guess we could say it is a "wake-up call"? Give me some more ambien.
pancho, NYC
Atlanta is obviously the worst, especially if you're flying in the summer and the mandatory thunderstorms hit and your stuck there a few extra hours. It does get bonus points for the unventilated "smoking lounges" and their hanging clouds of smoke.
The only airports on this list I've never been through are Miami and...oh. Just Miami.
I've been stuck there for 2 days, i've been treated like garbage by the staff and gotten food poising from their crappy food. They say you can't get to Hell without going through Atlanta but they're wrong, it is the first circle of Hell.
Let me put in a word here for SEATAC, the major international airport in my area. Ugly as hell, mega-surly customs and immigration people, you have to claim your bags TWICE before you can leave the airport, and the layout of the main road, well, let's say that as soon as we hit the turn for the airport we start singing, "we're off to see the wizard." And the whole outer facade is coated in this dingy yellow film or tint. Don't know what's up with that.
For all of LAX's faults, I have to say that I have never had a bad experience there (though the phony charity beggars were pretty annoying) and the access in and out of it was simple and direct.