Airport you like the least...

[Gary M]

The worst airport I have flown into/from is Beijing, China. Last August I experienced this airport and now all other airports seem OK. I have been flying over 40 years to many US and several foreign destinations and Beijing was the ultimate nightmare.

I know it isn't PC to say this, but I now know what a Chinese fire drill is.

 

[tinkerbell6]

So.... to the OP - are you feeling better about SEA yet? Seriously, I fly out of there quite often, and it does rate right up there.

Nope, still don't like it! You're right, it's not that bad of an airport, it's just my least favourite. Everytime we've gone from there, or someone we know has, we all comment on that huge seemingly never-ending line through security. Made me feel like cattle! The line was so long, you felt like you'd better get in it, so you wouldn't be stuck, then it moves not too badly and you're stuck on the other side.

Anyway, it does look like Atlanta is an airport to avoid, based on comments here!

Last spring, coming back from California, we flew into our own YVR...it was only early evening, and several large international flights landed in one 5 minute period...two from overseas, ours, and two others. And how many people were working at Customs that night? Two. The line stretched forever...surely they could have staffed accordingly, knowing flight schedules. Anyway, I generally appreciate my own YVR.

A couple of posters mentioned Pearson...I don't find it that bad, really.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I will do anything to avoid JFK - ALWAYS a nightmare of delayed flights and I think the airport is rather run down and dirty (especially the restrooms).

I have never had any problems at SEA. We used to live in Tacoma and flew out of there quite often.

O'hare is the worst airport for connections EVER

I agree - we have had many connecting flights delayed or cancelled here. However, I really like Chicago, so it's okay.

 

[CarolA]

DFW.... Designed only for the convience of the airlines and those staying in Dallas. Gates are a million miles apart, employees are rude and the train is a JOKE!

Kansas City where to go to the bathroom requires a trip thur secuirty....

 

[cranbiz]

I used to fly all the time for business and my least favorite are

1) Atlanta
2) OHare
3) Philly

I also don't really like Delta's new terminal at Logan, It's too much like Atlanta.

LGA is kinda creepy with the runways on piers, but I never had a problem there (but I used to fly in on regional prop planes from Hyannis).

 

[bavaria]

O'hare is the worst airport for connections EVER. I am not kidding when I say that I have had a problem there every single time I've flow through (at least 6 in the last 2 years). I avoid it at all costs.

I connect through O'Hare every 2 weeks on my 'commute' to work. I find O'Hare to be one of the best airports.

But again, it depends on the airline and routing for ANY airport. That's why we all have different opinions. If I were a Delta flyer, I might like ATL better. As a United flyer, I like O'Hare.

To the OP: I have seen customs and security lines of 1+ hours at YVR. (and that's why I treasure my Nexus pass which allows me to breeze through both )

Any airport which has a high ratio of tourists (like YVR, MCO, LAS etc) will have longer lines due to travellers who don't fly regularly and are unfamiliar with the drill.

And then there are just the silly airports, like IAD, which was built as a temporary airfield. They still have the motorized lounges to move passengers bwn terminals. And the security lines there beat any line I have seen in North America - and rarely is there an elite line for frequent travellers.

I've actually seen fistfights and airport police escort passengers out of the United line due to physical violence towards perceived queue jumpers.

 

[bavaria]

Kansas City where to go to the bathroom requires a trip thur secuirty....

same in HNL - wonder which brain trust designed that system?!

 

[bavaria]

Some other personal favourites:

- Eastern Iowa airport: check your bags and drive through the cornfields to the Amana Colonies before your flight

- Huntsville AL: clean, quick, free wireless

- Nashville TN: mixed feelings about this one as security is long with few passengers, but they have rocking chairs, so it almost makes up for the lines and lack of food

- Charlotte, NC: freakishly friendly staff who must take happy pills, even at 5am. TSA agent hugged me here, the staff really want to know all about you. Kind of a twilight zone of airports

 

[RobInBigKC]

Kansas City where to go to the bathroom requires a trip thur secuirty....

This isn't completely true anymore (and won't be true at all in about 3 months).

Obviously, 9/11 changed a lot of things at a lot of airports. When at KCI, we used to be able to move fairly easily back and forth from the departure lounges to the unsecured areas where the restrooms and concessions are -- a quick trip back through the metal detectors was all it took to re-enter the departure area. I can remember going to the restroom about 20 minutes before our plane left even if I didn't "really need to go" because it wasn't any big hassle.

In my opinion, you have to give K.C. government credit (and I do NOT work for them nor for any airline-based business though I am friends with the chairman of the City Council's Aviation Committee) because they have responded to the "9/11 security effect on passenger convenience" challenge by building restrooms and concessions within the departure lounges thus allowing passengers to use the restroom in a secured area while still keeping the convenience of drive-to-the-gate passenger drop-offs and pick-ups that was part of the airport's initial design over 30 years ago.

Terminal B departure lounge restroom and concession improvements are complete and Terminals A and C should be done by late Spring.

As a K.C. taxpayer, the best part is that these previously unplanned departure lounge improvements were/are being done with funds that still remained in the budget after other major terminal improvements were done UNDER BUDGET!

http://www.flykci.com/pdfs/2005/July_august2005.pdf

-- Rob

I'm going to be flying out of KCI (and away from yesterday's and today's snow) to WDW in 39 hours!

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I'm not at all a fan of Chicago Midway or Philadelphia. I'd take Atlanta anyday over those two.