2024 Recapped: Best and Worst Airports in the World

Over the last week, I have reviewed my 2024 destinations and rated the best and worst airlines. Today, I want to focus on the best and worst airports after flying to or from 65 airports in 2024 and 289 in my lifetime.

Whether you’re starting your journey or connecting at an airport, several factors can significantly shape your experience. Are you a regular flyer, a new flyer, or an occasional traveller? Do you prefer driving to the airport and parking or other transport options? How much time do you need to spend at the airport, do you have access to lounges, and will you need to go through immigration or security? Each of these elements will lead you to vastly different impressions of the same airport, depending on the circumstances of your visit. This is what, I believe, makes an airport truly stand out:

1. Queue Management and Processing Times

Lines ruin our travel experiences, waste our time, and create irritation and stress. Standing in long lines, I find myself doing two things before pulling out my book and reading it. Yes, I am that nerd you saw reading in the immigration line. I first estimate how long I will be in line (and then check to see how accurate I was) and try to estimate how much this wasted time costs our economy in dollar terms!

Great airports are well-staffed to reduce delays, and simple signs throughout the airport to guide travellers. Greeters assist with queues. Advanced technology, like Abu Dhabi’s facial recognition system, improves experiences. Singapore’s queues are generally well managed along with Abu Dhabi, Canberra, Doha, Helsinki, Hong Kong, and Seoul. The world’s worst airport for queues is reportedly Grenoble Alpes Isère (where 98% of passengers last year described the airport as disastrously slow). I also nominate Denver, JFK, Las Vegas, LAX, all the London airports, Orlando, Sydney as bad for queuing times.

2. How Travellers Are Treated

The way staff interact with passengers makes or breaks an airport experience. Immigration officers, security personnel, and customer service staff all contribute to creating a welcoming environment.

Airports like Haneda and Singapore Changi excel here due to their polite and respectful approach. Travellers feel valued and respected, making stressful procedures like immigration much smoother. LAX and JFK have some of the rudest, unhappiest staff I have ever seen in an airport. If you want to be screamed at, bullied, ignored and sighed at, choose here!

3. Ease of Navigation

Airports must be easy to navigate, including compact terminal designs, e.g., Abu Dhabi has all gates located off a central concourse, minimising walking. Clear, multilingual signage, strategically placed to guide travellers, is essential, as seen in Amsterdam, Helsinki and Reykjavík. Simplified transfers between gates and terminals are crucial.In this. Hong Kong International Airport excels, while London Heathrow and Manila are logistical jumbles with multiple unrelated, poorly connected terminals.

4. Airport access and Transport Links

Direct public transport, especially rail or metro links, is crucial for easy access, with airports like Doha and Zurich leading the way. I appreciate the ferry connections at Male and Venice. Convenient free drop-off and pick-up points for taxis and ride-shares are key, with Amsterdam and Singapore excelling, while Melbourne and Sydney in Australia fall short. Easy-to-navigate roads around airports are another factor, with Amsterdam and Zurich standing out for their smooth accessibility.

a group of people standing on a train platform

5. Visual Appeal

A visually pleasant airport leaves a lasting impression. Airports like Singapore (Jewel Complex with the waterfall surrounded by lush greenery, Doha (lovely spaces and gardens) and Abu Dhabi (Incredibly light and airy) exemplify how thoughtful architecture and design can transform a space into a calming and welcoming environment. The worst airports visually are London Stansted (uninspired and utilitarian), New York JFK (outdated and chaotic design), Manila (poorly maintained and unappealing) and LAX (disjointed and bland).

a glass roof with plants and a large pool

a glass roof with trees and people inside

6. Facilities and Amenities

A good airport, of course, provides more than just a place to wait for a flight. Today, many are shopping malls! Amenities must enhance comfort and complement the journey without overwhelming it, however. I want to get to my gate quickly and efficiently without sliding through shops selling duty-free Lego, luggage, and chocolate.

The best facilities must include clean, accessible, well-signposted lavatories, ample seating, power plugs, outdoor patios, free water stations, and free and fast Wi-Fi for seamless connectivity.

Shopping and dining need to have both affordable and luxurious options. I object to high watering prices because an airport has a captive audience. $US7 for water? $US16 for a plain croissant? $US10 for a tepid coffee?

My Twenty Favourite Airports

Hong Kong International Airport – Efficient with excellent dining options, a simple, well-organized layout, great passenger flow, and lovely views. Outstanding lounges and exceptional transit. Lacks express lanes at security and immigration for frequent flyers and business passengers.
Doha – Hamad International – State-of-the-art facilities, captivating artworks, and beautiful greenery, with great metro connections to downtown. Its reputation was tarnished when it detained female passengers in 2020. I have friends who still fear transiting here.

a glass dome with trees and buildings in the background

3. Abu Dhabi – -International is a brand-new (November 2023) stunning, cutting-edge airport with streamlined passenger experiences with its one-terminal structure. Its Etihad first-class lounge is beyond fabulous. Transport options to the city are limited as Abu Dhabi does not have a metro.

4. Singapore – Changi – World-renowned for leading the world with the Jewel, which contains a fantastic waterfall. The other terminals have a pool, gardens, cinemas, great lounges and food options and smooth immigration. Terminal 4 is a logistical nightmare, though; travelling by MRT to the city isn’t seamless.

5 Seoul – Incheon – Incheon blends modernity with a welcoming, functional design. The airport is spotless, with spacious lounges and fast immigration, making arriving or departing stress-free. Despite its efficiency, the sheer volume of passengers can lead to bottlenecks, especially around central areas, making transfers a bit cumbersome.

6. Vienna – Vienna Airport feels like an extension of the city’s renowned efficiency and charm. With its compact design, you’ll be at your gate in no time, and the convenient transit options whisk you into the city’s heart without delay. Its no-frills approach makes travelling a breeze.

7. Istanbul – New Airport – The new Istanbul Airport is a grand spectacle of modernity, designed to cater to millions of passengers while offering many amenities and services. While its vastness creates a sense of awe, expect lengthy walks between terminals, a trade-off for its impressive scale and design. The Turkish Airlines lounge is fantastic!

8. Munich – Franz Josef Strauss – Overall experience is positive as it’s a great hub for international travel. The signage is excellent. It offers incredible transport links both into the city and throughout Germany, but transfers between terminals or to the planes can be a hassle.

9. Copenhagen–Kastrup is known for its exceptional design and seamless connections to the city. At the same time, the airport’s layout is incredibly well-designed and convenient. Security and immigration can get congested during peak periods.

10 Dubai – International – incredible shopping, dining, and entertainment offerings setting it apart from other airports. The vast global connectivity makes it a hub for international travel, but be prepared for crowds, especially during peak hours, which can feel overwhelming.

11. Geneva – Geneva Airport offers a serene, stress-free atmosphere, complemented by stunning views of the Swiss Alps. The convenient train, trolley bus, car and bus options make getting to the city easy. Though queues can sometimes be challenging, the airport’s smaller scale gives it a more relaxed and personalized feel than more significant international hubs.

12. Zurich Airport – Excels with its trademark Swiss precision, cleanliness, and robust public transport connections. It is mega-expensive!

13. Helsinki – Efficient, easy to navigate, and ideal for connections, with quick transit options to the city. However, its limited dining and retail options, especially at night, are notable drawbacks.

a building with a curved wall and a person sitting on a bench

14. Bangkok – Suvarnabhumi – I know it well after almost 200 times into and out of this airport. An impressive hub is known for its striking design and large-scale operations. A remarkable number of excellent lounges. It offers various dining options with a strong focus on local flavours. Check out the magic food court for great Thai food at local prices. Suffers from extremely long immigration lines.

15. Taipei – Taoyuan International – Its older terminals feel outdated compared to the modern facilities of other global airports, but it functions brilliantly. Passenger flows are exceptional. Staff are some of the friendliest I have encountered in an airport. The metro and high-speed rail access are excellent.

16 Charlotte Douglas International Airport – I enjoy connecting through here. It offers a solid overall experience with many amenities like lounges, dining options, and a good range of shops. It can be busier and has some dated areas in the terminal.

17. Christchurch – An incredibly friendly and efficient airport. I always feel welcome here—quick access to New Zealand’s scenic South Island and friendly, straightforward facilities.

18. Atlanta – Hartsfield-Jackson – Unparalleled connectivity and a vast flight network. However, its immense size and frequent congestion make it a challenging airport for many to navigate.

19. Madrid – Adolfo Suárez, Barajas – Spacious and beautifully designed, with an award-winning terminal and splendid transport options to the city. Signage can be confusing, and staff may seem gruff.

20. Amsterdam – Schiphol –A large and efficient hub, Schiphol stands out as a well-oiled machine, effortlessly handling the hustle and bustle of global travel. It’s a practical choice with a solid range of food and retail options, plus seamless transport links to the city. The long immigration queues dent an otherwise smooth experience.

My Worst Airports

Here’s a look at the worst airports I have experienced, ranked from 279 to 289.

279: London Luton Airport – often faces overcrowding and long wait times, especially during peak hours. The facilities are outdated, and security procedures can be slow, leading to a frustrating experience for passengers.
280: John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York) – JFK is notorious for long queues, delays at security, and outdated terminals. While it handles a high volume of passengers, the airport’s infrastructure struggles to keep up, leading to long waits and poor passenger flow.
281: Newark Liberty International Airport –often deals with overcrowding, inefficiency, frequent delays, and a lack of good signage. Expect to be shouted at by security staff
283: London Heathrow Airport – Despite being one of the busiest airports in the world, Heathrow frequently suffers from long immigration lines, overcrowding, and delays. The layout can be confusing, and security can be a hassle, making for a less-than-ideal experience for many travellers.
284: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – LAX is regularly criticized for being congested and challenging to navigate. The layout of the terminals can be confusing, and long lines at security, immigration, and baggage claims remain a persistent issue. The rudest airport staff in the world, it’s a horrible welcome to the USA. It would be interesting to see what it’s like by the Olympics.
285: Dammam: King Fahd International Airport – The airport struggles with outdated facilities and poor organisation, leading to long security lines and a less comfortable travel experience. There are also limited amenities for travellers, which further detracts from the experience.
286: Colombo: Bandaranaike International Airport – looks a mess with outdated facilities and inefficient operations. The lounge is truly underwhelming. There are long wait times at immigration, and as for the taxi services- they are a hassle!

a group of people walking in a large hallway

287: Manila: Ninoy Aquino International Airport – my deep philosophy is that this airline is designed to make passengers snap! It is a genuinely awful airport. Crumbling buildings, disjointed terminals, long lines and overcrowded cupboards posing as lounges. I won’t let them break me and travel through smiling as much as possible at everything. Two-hour security lines? Smile! No connection bus between terminals for 70 minutes? Smile?

288: Cairo International Airport – overcrowded and disorganised terminals. The airport struggles with long delays, especially at immigration, impacting the overall experience. Passengers often encounter people asking for payments through the terminals.
289: Lagos: Murtala Muhammed International Airport -I nominate this one as the worst airport on the planet. Notorious for long queues, queue-jumping, poor customer service, outdated facilities, and corruption with customs officers, immigration staff, and check-in agents all asking for bribes. A year, ago, frustrated passengers vandalised airline counters.

The best airports keep things efficient and stress-free, ensuring flights are on time and passengers are well cared for. Conversely, the worst airports show how much a lack of organisation and poor management can sour an entire trip. What are your favourite and your most hated airport?