Airports you love & hate
#121
Join Date: Sep 2004
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Thank you francophile for addressing the issue of SFO International Terminal. I am always embarrased that a city that is so known for its restaurants and food has such a miserable selection of places to eat at SFO..especially the International Terminal.
#123
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Funny how one man's meat is another man's poison. I LIKE the food choices at SFO international and have never had to go just for pizza, have never had pizza at SFO International, would never think of eating pizza at SFO International...
Worst food choices are any number of US airports with a McDonald's/Burger King/etc and all that fat and greasy stuff; a bar area with a lot of fried, greasy stuff; a sandwich place with hot, fat, greasy stuff; - haven't you wondered why it is that Americans started getting chubby just when air travel became available for Everyman?
Worst food choices are any number of US airports with a McDonald's/Burger King/etc and all that fat and greasy stuff; a bar area with a lot of fried, greasy stuff; a sandwich place with hot, fat, greasy stuff; - haven't you wondered why it is that Americans started getting chubby just when air travel became available for Everyman?
#125
Join Date: May 2004
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Detroit's Northwest terminal is kind of like being at Disney World. Entertaining fountain, pyschodelic walls & music in the tunnel between A & B/C, and very clean.
KEF & OSL are cool. Hardwood floors & so much glass! I think the bubble windows in the old section and the stalactite-like sculptures in customs at KEF are memorable.
KEF & OSL are cool. Hardwood floors & so much glass! I think the bubble windows in the old section and the stalactite-like sculptures in customs at KEF are memorable.
#130
Join Date: May 2006
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Many horror stories of bad airports and smoothe departures/arrivals also...so here's my vote:
Best: Charlottesville, VA ; clean neat, well laid out, On-Time , thorough and professional staffing.
Worst: Luis Munoz, San Juan , Puerto Rica; looks like a low slung 1950s movie set to be used on an old James Bond movie, complete with construction holes in the floor, smarmy con-artist car rental agents and black suited with gleaming riding boots and automatic weapons 'security guards'.
Second worst is a tie between San Jose' , Costa Rica and Providence , Rhode Island.
Best: Charlottesville, VA ; clean neat, well laid out, On-Time , thorough and professional staffing.
Worst: Luis Munoz, San Juan , Puerto Rica; looks like a low slung 1950s movie set to be used on an old James Bond movie, complete with construction holes in the floor, smarmy con-artist car rental agents and black suited with gleaming riding boots and automatic weapons 'security guards'.
Second worst is a tie between San Jose' , Costa Rica and Providence , Rhode Island.
#132
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Worst: CDG, especially if you have to change terminals. Bad design and surly, inefficient workers.
Best: Kona. On a sunny day, you can appreciate the tropical flowers blowing in the breeze as you walk to the airplane. Almost as relaxing as air travel can get.
Best: Kona. On a sunny day, you can appreciate the tropical flowers blowing in the breeze as you walk to the airplane. Almost as relaxing as air travel can get.
#134
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Quote:
>>Author: karens
Date: 06/08/2006, 06:29 pm
You all must never fly USAir...I cannot believe no one has mentioned how much they can't stand Philadelphia's airport!!
<<
well I kinda had fun there. I took that Aiport b/c they had a quick light rail and made a 5.5 hr layover (I timed this to arrive in Paris they next morning) more fun.
Nothing like seeing a bunch of "Colonial America" in 2 hrs before heading to Paris... but yes the connections via PHL via USAirways is sad...
for a first trip, it was fun!
~Jay
>>Author: karens
Date: 06/08/2006, 06:29 pm
You all must never fly USAir...I cannot believe no one has mentioned how much they can't stand Philadelphia's airport!!
<<
well I kinda had fun there. I took that Aiport b/c they had a quick light rail and made a 5.5 hr layover (I timed this to arrive in Paris they next morning) more fun.
Nothing like seeing a bunch of "Colonial America" in 2 hrs before heading to Paris... but yes the connections via PHL via USAirways is sad...
for a first trip, it was fun!
~Jay
#136
Join Date: Apr 2006
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My Worst:
Antigua
Horrible horrible food, low ceilings and dingy departure area.
Paris CDG
Seems to be at the top of the hated list! It's one of my least favourites too, mainly because everyone there just swarms together instead of lining up to get through immigration.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Toronto
Once when we were walking and walking AND walking to arrivals, another passenger remarked that if he'd know the plane would stop halfway to Toronto he would've brought his bike for the rest of the journey!
Favourites:
Hong Kong
Dallas
Although the trains freaked me out a little when the kids were small, I was afraid they'd get lost!
Antigua
Horrible horrible food, low ceilings and dingy departure area.
Paris CDG
Seems to be at the top of the hated list! It's one of my least favourites too, mainly because everyone there just swarms together instead of lining up to get through immigration.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Toronto
Once when we were walking and walking AND walking to arrivals, another passenger remarked that if he'd know the plane would stop halfway to Toronto he would've brought his bike for the rest of the journey!
Favourites:
Hong Kong
Dallas
Although the trains freaked me out a little when the kids were small, I was afraid they'd get lost!
#138
Join Date: Jun 2006
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My favorite airports are listed for both the US and Europe as well as my least favorites. My homebase airport is Reno/Tahoe International and my secondary is San Francisco International only a four hour drive away.
Favorites in the US:
SEA - very user/friendly with its subway system.
SFO - all five terminals are physically connected. New ART people mover system is great. BART connections to/from airport. The food selection excellent but pricey.
SAN - its compact size. Only two terminal buildings close to each other.
RNO - OK but can get crowded at check-in counters.
Favorites in Europe:
CPH - I know the layout very well
AMS - easy to get around
LGW - a very good substitute for LHR
My least favorite airports are any airport with a poor layout such as terminal-to-terminal connections, safety/security concerns, overcrowding and traffic delays to and from the airport:
In the US:
JFK - way too big with terminal buildings too far apart and miserable ground transportation.
LAX - poor inter-terminal and flight connections and terrible ground transportation.
ORD - flight delays arrivals/departures.
BOS - Traffic problems to/from airport. Terminals B,C and D are physically connected. Terminals A and E are separated from the rest.
In Europe:
LHR - poor inter-terminal connections
FRA - too confusing and too many flight delays. Circled for forty minutes before landing.
Favorites in the US:
SEA - very user/friendly with its subway system.
SFO - all five terminals are physically connected. New ART people mover system is great. BART connections to/from airport. The food selection excellent but pricey.
SAN - its compact size. Only two terminal buildings close to each other.
RNO - OK but can get crowded at check-in counters.
Favorites in Europe:
CPH - I know the layout very well
AMS - easy to get around
LGW - a very good substitute for LHR
My least favorite airports are any airport with a poor layout such as terminal-to-terminal connections, safety/security concerns, overcrowding and traffic delays to and from the airport:
In the US:
JFK - way too big with terminal buildings too far apart and miserable ground transportation.
LAX - poor inter-terminal and flight connections and terrible ground transportation.
ORD - flight delays arrivals/departures.
BOS - Traffic problems to/from airport. Terminals B,C and D are physically connected. Terminals A and E are separated from the rest.
In Europe:
LHR - poor inter-terminal connections
FRA - too confusing and too many flight delays. Circled for forty minutes before landing.
#139
Join Date: Feb 2003
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CDG does seem to be in a class by itself, doesn't it? It's a complicated mess. So confusing and tiresome.
No airport stands out as one I "love" but CDG is definitely the one to hate. Although I do like arriving there, but only because I'm excited to be in Paris. (If I can manage to find my way out of the airport, that is!)
No airport stands out as one I "love" but CDG is definitely the one to hate. Although I do like arriving there, but only because I'm excited to be in Paris. (If I can manage to find my way out of the airport, that is!)