Let''s talk airports

[AdiS]

Date: 8/7/2009 2:51:56 PM
Author: onvacation

Date: 8/7/2009 3:52:30 AM
Author: AdiS
Oh, I''ll never forget the airport in Hurghada, Egypt. All of the information screens were in Arabic only so there was no way for us to understand which way to go, where to wait for our luggage and on top of that, the airport staff only spoke in Russian for some reason. Russian and Bulgarian have some common words, but not enough to have a real conversation. We were running around, absolutely clueless as to where to go and what to do. lol

The people there were actually really friendly and nice, even though they seemed to find our efforts to have a conversation in English really amusing. All in all, I have fond memories of that airport.

Wow that seems really random! Anyone have an idea why? Are there a lot of Russian tourists in Egypt? Business people?

Yes, in fact there are. Later on we found out that maybe 80% of the guests staying at our hotel were Russians. Probably that''s why many of the locals, not only the ones at the airport, but also in the towns we visited, spoke the language pretty well, as far as I was able to tell.

 

[sap483]

Date: 8/7/2009 3:28:32 PM
Author: AdiS

Date: 8/7/2009 2:51:56 PM
Author: onvacation

Date: 8/7/2009 3:52:30 AM
Author: AdiS
Oh, I''ll never forget the airport in Hurghada, Egypt. All of the information screens were in Arabic only so there was no way for us to understand which way to go, where to wait for our luggage and on top of that, the airport staff only spoke in Russian for some reason. Russian and Bulgarian have some common words, but not enough to have a real conversation. We were running around, absolutely clueless as to where to go and what to do. lol

The people there were actually really friendly and nice, even though they seemed to find our efforts to have a conversation in English really amusing. All in all, I have fond memories of that airport.

Wow that seems really random! Anyone have an idea why? Are there a lot of Russian tourists in Egypt? Business people?

Yes, in fact there are. Later on we found out that maybe 80% of the guests staying at our hotel were Russians. Probably that''s why many of the locals, not only the ones at the airport, but also in the towns we visited, spoke the language pretty well, as far as I was able to tell.

They have crazy deals to Egypt from Russia. There are lots of Italians there too.

I went in 2007 for a wedding/vacation. The groom was Egyptian and the bride was Russian (both living in the US). We found out that from Russia they routinely paid $500-800 a person for airfare 7 nights all inclusive at a nice hotel in Sharm El Sheikh. So lots of Russians chose to vacation there.

 

[onvacation]

Date: 8/7/2009 3:44:59 PM
Author: sap483

Date: 8/7/2009 3:28:32 PM
Author: AdiS

Date: 8/7/2009 2:51:56 PM
Author: onvacation

Date: 8/7/2009 3:52:30 AM
Author: AdiS
Oh, I'll never forget the airport in Hurghada, Egypt. All of the information screens were in Arabic only so there was no way for us to understand which way to go, where to wait for our luggage and on top of that, the airport staff only spoke in Russian for some reason. Russian and Bulgarian have some common words, but not enough to have a real conversation. We were running around, absolutely clueless as to where to go and what to do. lol

The people there were actually really friendly and nice, even though they seemed to find our efforts to have a conversation in English really amusing. All in all, I have fond memories of that airport.

Wow that seems really random! Anyone have an idea why? Are there a lot of Russian tourists in Egypt? Business people?

Yes, in fact there are. Later on we found out that maybe 80% of the guests staying at our hotel were Russians. Probably that's why many of the locals, not only the ones at the airport, but also in the towns we visited, spoke the language pretty well, as far as I was able to tell.

They have crazy deals to Egypt from Russia. There are lots of Italians there too.

I went in 2007 for a wedding/vacation. The groom was Egyptian and the bride was Russian (both living in the US). We found out that from Russia they routinely paid $500-800 a person for airfare 7 nights all inclusive at a nice hotel in Sharm El Sheikh. So lots of Russians chose to vacation there.

Thanks for the info, AdiS and sap! That is just amazing. Does it work from Egypt to Russia, too?

I've heard so many great things about the Singapore airport, and the country in general. Maybe sometime for a conference?

O'Hare does feel like it is getting older sometimes, but considering the insane amount of traffic it gets everyday, it's kept in pretty good shape. I hear ya on the popcorn, April! Their white cheddar is so freaking good!!!! Mmm!!

I like how there's lots of artwork at both Inchon and Indianapolis. Inchon gets bonus points for carpets and moving walkways. Indianapolis' rental car station is pretty far, but the buses come fairly regularly.

Midway - The airport itself is ok, but I hate getting there.... So many traffic signals (that never seem to coordinate so you get all greens lights, even when there's not much traffic) + usually bad traffic..

Denver - Ditto on efficiency. Love the skylights!

Frankfurt - super modern, clean, and very easy to navigate.

One of my worst experiences was in Toronto, when I was caught during the east coast blackout of 2003. I was going through customs when all the lights went out! I had to spend three days there with NOTHING. I learned then that auto-flush toilets without manual levers are one of the worst inventions ever. All the bathrooms were flooded. Ewww.

 

[swimmer]

I love the new international terminal at Beijing. Singapore, Taipei, Auckland, and Denver all are large clean, modern, and efficient. My favorite adjectives for airports. I don't care if people are friendly to me, just get me and my stuff through and we are good to go.

New Delhi, I am an assertive person, OK, so yeah, I've been called worse, but I simply could not keep my place in line to check in on my last flight home. Somehow approx the entire population of New Delhi cut in front of me. I finally broke down and started crying, a man had peed on me off of a rickshaw that morning (which was totally an accident and not normal) and my legs had gotten covered in goat blood since it was Eid. My day was just awful and I was going to miss my flight. So a tiny elderly woman pushed me up to the front and I managed to get checked in on time. Old ladies rule. And I love love Asian and African countries that really show respect for elderly folks.

In Ghana I once gave up hope of ever leaving (their airline just delays flights by days regularly) so took a bus to Lagos, Nigeria to get home. This was a bit over 2 years ago, so we all had those rules about taking off shoes (except in internal Chinese flights where this is not the rule and you can carry on your coffee), anyway, they did no screening. There were heavily armed people who got on the flight with me. We landed in JFK and all got off the plane. No screening again. It is scary that things like that still happen (I'm Israeli and used to a great deal of security, better safe than sorry.) My most recent flight from Lagos we were screened when coming into Newark? that was awesome. Lagos is a scary place to be, the airport is a magnet for trafficking and thieves. I would not suggest a vacation to Nigeria. But Ghana is so very beautiful and the people so wonderful, it is worth it even if their airline only operates sporadically.

ETA: I have to give a shout out to Toronto, when I got stuck there overnight a guard showed me the area where people go to sleep, it was totally safe and he gave me a candy bar. So sweet!

For internal Chinese flights, I just pray and breathe very deeply, at least in the past 8 yrs or so I haven't had to stand on a puddle jumper in the west because all the seats were taken. Those old Aeroflot planes are still out there...many terminals around China were redone for the Olympics, and that is an awesome improvement.

 

[VRBeauty]

I thought Charles de Gaulle was just stunning, visually. Unfortunately I can't say as much for the business end of things.

Tel Aviv is interesting -- nothing like being greeted by armed soldiers!

Here in the States I really like the shopping opportunities

at National. I find Las Vegas one of the easier hub airports to navigate, and it's not a bad place for a long layover because it has lots of dining choices.

In the LA area (my home away from home for awhile) I avoid LAX like the plague. Ontario and Burbank are my favorites for ease of access and departure... with Burbank getting the sentimental favorite nod because I love the romance of walking out on the tarmac and climbing the stairs into the plane!

But I think Sacramento International is still one of my favorites of all. I especially like the view on the approach!

 

[kama_s]

Airports I like:

Schipol: LOVE it, love the ood, the lounges and just the general atmosphere. I always try and have my stop-over in Amsterdam
Toronto Pearson: Good food options, big, clean and efficient
Singapore: It''s been ages since I visited, but I remember loving the airport

Airports I dislike:

Dubai: Not really because of anything the airport does, but just all the memories associated with the airport. Everytime I leave, I have a huge group of friends and family drop me off. And inevitably my father will cry and it just tugs at my heart watching him be so sad.
New Delhi: Ugh, gross gross gross. ''nuff said.
Paris: Charles de Gaulle smells, has very few facilities and none of the shops are ever open (in true Parisian fashion).
Heathrow: Doesn''t do anything for me.

 

[kama_s]

Date: 8/7/2009 4:13:27 PM
Author: swimmer

New Delhi, I am an assertive person, OK, so yeah, I''ve been called worse, but I simply could not keep my place in line to check in on my last flight home. Somehow approx the entire population of New Delhi cut in front of me. I finally broke down and started crying, a man had peed on me off of a rickshaw that morning (which was totally an accident and not normal) and my legs had gotten covered in goat blood since it was Eid. My day was just awful and I was going to miss my flight. So a tiny elderly woman pushed me up to the front and I managed to get checked in on time. Old ladies rule. And I love love Asian and African countries that really show respect for elderly folks.


ETA: I have to give a shout out to Toronto, when I got stuck there overnight a guard showed me the area where people go to sleep, it was totally safe and he gave me a candy bar. So sweet!

Oh man, your trip to Delhi does NOt sound like fun at all. I know what you mean about Indian people and cutting into lines, bugs me so much. I just bitch at them in Hindi

Aww, Torontoooooo. So nice to see someone mention it, Canada rarely makes it on the map!

 

[Shopaholic]

I've been to many - my favorite intl. airport would have to be Tokyo's Narita, the stores are fantastic there, so many interesting things to buy and the United Lounge there has really nice shower suites and delicious sushi - perfect for those hours long layovers.

My least favorite intl. airport is Frankfurt's, they stopped me because of my universal plug converter! Come on! You are at an airport and you are telling me that you have never seen this travel accessory??

Fav. domestic airport is Washington Dulles, lots of little costume jewelry shops and kiosks, the girls that work there and I have so much fun trying on all the jewelry in between my flights.

My least fav. domestic is the Atlanta Georgia airport - full of inept people and poorly designed! Good luck if you have only half an hour between flights, you will most likely miss it if you have not trained for a marathon recently.

 

[justginger]

Sounds like most of us are on the same page with preferences. CDG *is* the armpit of the world! For such a gorgeous city, you''d think some planners would sort out their airport.

I had kinda forgotten some things about the good ones -- Denver, Amsterdam, etc. Seems like only the really bad things stick out for more than a year or two!

On the other hand, the woman peeing in JFK would remain with me for many, many years.

 

[onvacation]

Hehe, yeah, swimmer''s story is right up there with elledizzy5''s recent camping trip horror tale! Eww, blood + pee does not sound like a fun day at all.

I''ll be hitting up four airports this week for an anniversary trip - I hope everything goes smoothly and I witness no public peeing. *fingers crossed*

 

[UCLABelle]

I love JFK---I used to get my nails done there and they have pretty good food places; but my favorite in terms of comfort/ease is Orange County, CA (John Wayne)

 

[zoebartlett]

It depends on what I''m after. If I''m looking for convenience, I''ll fly in and out of my local airport. If I''m looking to save money, I''ll fly out of Logan in Boston.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I am sure other airports have this too but I really like Milwaukee''s b/c you can get to the restaurants before security (which comes in handy if you want one last meal with someone who is not traveling) and they have play rooms in the terminals. AMAZING when you are traveling with an energetic toddler.

 

[DMBFiredancer]

I love Charlotte and Philly - Philly has lots of shopping, Charlotte is just nice and clean and has cute little rocking chairs to sit on. (Philly does too in some areas I think) I HATE Vegas airport and will avoid it at all costs (unless Im going to Vegas of course)

Its toooo smokey in there.

 

[jstarfireb]

I like Pittsburgh - free wi-fi, lots of nice shops and places to eat. Not a bad place to spend a layover.

I don''t like Philadelphia - other than some nice stores/restaurants, there aren''t too many pluses. You have to pay for wi-fi unless you''re a student, and for some reason almost every single flight is delayed. I''ve heard of similar experiences at Miami as well regarding delays, but I''ve only been there once and it was ok.

 

[iheartscience]

Did anyone mention the Madrid Barajas airport? That is a sweet airport-I absolutely love the design of it. I''ve only flown in and out of the newer terminals so I''m not sure if the older ones are as cool.

 

[onvacation]

Date: 8/9/2009 10:19:32 PM
Author: DMBFiredancer
I love Charlotte and Philly - Philly has lots of shopping, Charlotte is just nice and clean and has cute little rocking chairs to sit on. (Philly does too in some areas I think) I HATE Vegas airport and will avoid it at all costs (unless Im going to Vegas of course)

Its toooo smokey in there.

Don''t you love the rocking chairs? Even when they''re just simple hardwood rockers, there''s something so soothing and unexpected about them when you find them at airports.

 

[bee*]

Date: 8/7/2009 7:06:01 AM
Author: indecisive
Singapore Airport is amazing! It makes the shops in Narita look like a strip mall. There are gardens and koi ponds and high end shops. They also have free internet and free massage chairs. If your layover is over 5 hours they also give free bus/boat tours of the city. It was our best layover ever!

I agree, you could nearly holiday in that airport. I adore it.

I also adore the airport in Amsterdam. Barcelona''s one is fine too.

Having just flown back from CDG yesterday, it''s still one of the worst airports. I hate flying there. Not a fan of Heathrow either.

 

[Delster]

I love Munich airport, the place is actually relaxing!

I've flown through Atlanta a few times and found it fine. Same for Orlando.

Dublin is on my hate list at the moment - I'd choose to fly out of Shannon rather than Dublin any day

Also not much of a fan of Heathrow, Stansted, or O'Hare.

 

[Clio]

Of my home airports, I much prefer National. It''s easy to navigate and security is generally a breeze. Plus, even though I live in MD, it''s the easiest to get to for me (and getting there from work is a snap). And it''s so cool to come in over the water. Dulles and BWI are much more difficult in every way.

In general, among US airports, I prefer the smaller ones like Charlotte, but if I have plenty of time, I don''t really mind Atlanta, Chicago, DFW. It only becomes a problem if I''m rushed.

I hate Charles de Gaulle with a whitehot passion. There''s never enough room to handle the volume of people that need to go through. Plus, last time I went through passport control there, there were 4 lines for EU and 2 lines for everyone else (including at least one very large plane from Asia). That''s fine, except the guy at one of the "everyone else" windows was only taking passengers with French passports. There were tons of us backed up waiting and really not enough space for us all.

 

[Laila619]

Airports I like:
O'Hare (lots to see and do while you're waiting to board)
Tampa (ditto)

Airports I didn't like:
Miami (boring, and bad food choices)
Honolulu (same thing, plus everything is crazy expensive)