Travellers experience the Worlds worst airports
By Darren Cronian on Tuesday, May 20th, 2008

Whilst I have travelled through some of the World’s busiest airports, from London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur International airport. I haven’t had the pleasure of travelling through any airports in the US, Africa or the Middle East.

Travellers experience the World’s worst airports

This evening during a MSN conversation with a friend he was telling me about his recent experiences at Ecuador’s, Quito International airport, where he had his wallet stolen whilst sleeping at the airport, then was interviewed by passport control because they thought he had drugs in his luggage.

Listening to his story it made me realise how lucky I have been during my travels, especially since I have travelled alone quite a lot. I’d be interested to read which airports you dread visiting, wouldn’t fly from again, and why was your experience so memorable?


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15 responses to “Travellers experience the Worlds worst airports”

Dean Oliver | 20 May, 2008 at 11:59 am

Hi Darren
I’ve been through some pretty ropey airports in my time. But the one that sticks with me is Denpasar on Bali, we were asked for bribes on arrival by immigration.
Then my friend lost his counterfoil in his passport to hand over on his way out, he was carted off by the police, intimidated and then asked for a $50 bribe to give him a new form. When he said he had no money they simply gave him a new form for free.

Darren Cronian | 20 May, 2008 at 12:31 pm

@ Dean

That’s scandaolous. The last thing you think the Bali tourist board would want is this sort of issue leaking out.

Happy Hotelier | 20 May, 2008 at 12:49 pm

From the ones I know Frankfurt is the worst. Too much walking.

Erica Johansson | 20 May, 2008 at 10:32 pm

I can’t say that there are any airports I dread visiting or wouldn’t fly from again. So far I have been pretty lucky.

Sandra | 21 May, 2008 at 5:41 am

Frankfurt for me was okay, even if I had so little time from one plaine to another, everythiong was easy even if it is so big. But I really do not like airport of Rome - it is a real mess.

Nick | 21 May, 2008 at 12:19 pm

Sandra

Out of intrest which airport in rome?

Airport to avoid Lagos… everything and anything can go wrong there.

Darren Cronian | 21 May, 2008 at 12:57 pm

@ Guido

Doesn’t Frankfurt not have those walking escalators?

@ Erica

Your like me, so far so good

@ Sandra

Yep, like Nick mentioned, which airport in Rome. I’ve heard a few horror stories from Rome. With Air Italia.

Happy Hotelier | 21 May, 2008 at 1:07 pm

Not when I was there more than 10 years ago. I had to run with my dear wife and luggage from one side of the building to the other to catch a plane to Amsterdam. Ever since I have avoided that Airport.

Ed | 21 May, 2008 at 5:39 pm

I’ve managed to avoid sub-saharan Africa and most of the “Stans”. That taken into account, I would vote for JFK as the worst major airport in the world. The Domestic Terminal in Manila is a close second and Manila’s International Terminal One comes in third.

My three favorite airports are HKG’s Chek Lap Kok, Singapore’s Changi and SFO’s, International Terminal.

Rohan | 22 May, 2008 at 12:53 am

It depends what you classify as the worst airport Darren. Worst for finding your way around or worst for services, or worst for delays.

You get my point.

London Heathrow would win for me for it’s lack of services, and lack of information and help when travelling their for the first time.

Darren Cronian | 22 May, 2008 at 1:11 am

@ Rohan

Point taken about the ‘worst’ phrase. I should have expanded, but it leaves it open to readers opinion on what worst means to them.

@ Ed

Sounds like you’ve done a fair bit of travelling, and its interesting you mention terminals, I suppose domestic and international terminals can be different in every airport, some good some bad.

suddenly susan | 22 May, 2008 at 1:13 am

i have to second the vote for rome fiumicino. al italia lost luggage one time and we waited over an hour to file the claim. another time, the screens didn’t post info for which baggage carousel had our luggage so we had to investigate each conveyor belt while wading through the sea of other passengers in the same dilemma. it was beyond crazy and chaotic.

you wouldn’t really expect lagos or manila to have great airports but with the number of tourists who fly into rome fiumicino, they really ought to get their act together.

luton airport outside of london is also at the top of my worst airport EVar list because (a) they recently instituted an idiotic “one big carry-on bag only” policy; (b) a painfully slow crawl through security even though (a) was supposed to speed it up; and (c) the worst full-on frisking/molestation of passengers if godforbid they set off the metal detector.

Darren Cronian | 22 May, 2008 at 1:17 am

@ Susan

Great rant! ;)

I agree you wouldn’t expect anything different in Lagos and Manila. As for Flumicino and Stanstead I haven’t had the pleasure. Yet.

Sandra | 22 May, 2008 at 12:15 pm

Yes I ment Fiumicino, even for me (living in Italy) it is too much mess.

agentnoir | 15 July, 2008 at 9:30 pm

I hated the paris airport, it’s rude boring and confusing, and i was just connecting.
on the othe rhand the airport in tel aviv is one of the best i must say, everything i easy to find and the people are nice.

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