SIN wins Skytrax best airport award

[Melburnian1]

'Best' awards can sometimes be taken with a grain of salt because there's an inherent bias if only readers of a publication or viewers of a website vote.

This is the case with UK-based Skytrax's 'best world airport awards.'

Here is a summation ("Singapore's Changi voted best airport", "The Australian", 15 March 2017):

Nocookies | The Australian

If the paywall defeats you just type in the heading to Google.

Changi deserves to win. Incheon is also a very good airport.

I have not been to Qatar's airport so I don't now if it deserves number six.

London Heathrow is a strange choice for number nine.

Amsterdam and Helsinki (although the latter is smallish) are notable omissions.

Clearly no Australian airport deserves to be in the top 10.

Whether Hong Kong deserves number five is debatable. I could think of airports with generally friendlier staff: Manila beats HKG on that score, although not on many others.

Maybe Vienna should be in the top 10, although Frankfurt scrapes in at number 10. I view Frankfurt as better than London Heathrow. I have not used Stockholm but it sometimes receives good reviews.

Should San Francisco or Vancouver be in or close to the top 10? What about Atlanta or Dallas Fort Worth? Toronto is unexceptional but recently added a good airport train from 'downtown.'

Should Oslo be highly ranked?

As usual, the zoo-like, fourth class Changi imitation called Dubai (DXB) is nowhere to be seen and neither thankfully is Beijing. At least the voters got that correct.

I have not been to Abu Dhabi recently but last time I was there it was passable but far from special or innovative.

KUL must be disappointed to never feature, but again, to me it is nothing extraordinary.

BWN's omission (a smaller airport) is unsurprising as it is one of the most boring to which I have ever travelled.

As usual, no African or South (or Central) American airports feature in the top 10.

Skytrax claims to be representative and not to have voters of one country or nationality dominating, but it does not release data to back up its claim.

 

[dajop]

More details can be found at WORLD AIRPORT AWARDS | the Passengers Choice Awards

In SW Pacific the following airports get into the top 100:
BNE (16)
AKL (22)
SYD (23)
MEL (30)
OOL (50)
CHC (61)
PER (71)
ADL (73)

MEL does OK to rank 30, given that is primarily run as a giant car park with an airport attached to it

Unsurprisingly PVG ranked 100, and ORD didn't make the top 100.

 

[Melburnian1]

...MEL does OK to rank 30, given that is primarily run as a giant car park with an airport attached to it
.

dajop, all too sadly true. Non-aeronautical revenue exceeds aeronautical revenue at both SYD and MEL, and perhaps other mainland State capitals as well.

Unfortunately 355 of 555 rankings are unpublished. Perhaps somewhere in Africa was ranked as the world's worst airport, although low viewer responses may be a statistical concern.

 

[moa999]

SkyTrax not exactly the most credible source imho for rankings. I also don't think major airports can be ranked as a whole - terminals at LHR and LAX differ markedly.
Eg. I would think T2 and T5 at LHR and TBIT at LAX would rate well.

Almost all those on the list were built as brand new airports in the last 30yrs (think SIN opened 1980s)

 

[Melburnian1]

SkyTrax not exactly the most credible source imho for rankings...

It claims to have 'millions' of votes but never releases these disaggregated by nationality or current country of residence.

Because it's a Pommy site, there may be an historic bias towards UK residents and Europeans recording votes.

Perhaps few Africans or South Americans vote. And when one considers South Africa receives less than five per cent of the tourists that Thailand does annually, that also may introduce some sort of bias as well.

 

[yohy?!]

Changi continues to exert it's influence over skytraxx - I don't see it as deserved as long as the awful gate screening arrangements are in place.

 

[moa999]

You will be pleased with T4 then..
Less pleasing will be the fact that you will need to take a b*s to reach it from the other terminals.

I agree that I don't like the departure pens and security, but the fact that it is a single level airport adds to the arrival experience - as you arrive to a nice area with shops etc, rather than a drab corridor to funnel you to immigration

 

[dajop]

Changi continues to exert it's influence over skytraxx - I don't see it as deserved as long as the awful gate screening arrangements are in place.

Much debated point (gate screening). I vastly prefer the gate screening to central security points. As someone who travels at least 2-3 times a month out of Changi, I appreciate the certainty it gives. No coughshoot about how long the security queue is going to be unlike certain other major airports in the region. I can reach airport 1hr before my flight, take 5 mins to check in and walk to lounge and leave the lounge 20 mins before departure with high degree of certainty. Also when arriving in transit, as moa999 points out you're in the airport itself not some dingy corridor- which means straight to lounge, shopping or whatever else takes your fancy, without a long walk to a security screening points.

The only downside is when multiple flights leaving from same gate area, even then if your flight is close to closing just go straight to attendant and point that out, and they will let you through if it is genuinely close to closing.

 

[Melburnian1]

The only downside is when multiple flights leaving from same gate area, even then if your flight is close to closing just go straight to attendant and point that out, and they will let you through if it is genuinely close to closing.

There is one other downside: if one suddenly needs to go to the toilet, or the flight is delayed and one wants to go into the corridor or elsewhere (including back into the lounge) to relieve monotony, one has to then again eventually proceed through the at gate screening.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I don't see it as deserved as long as the awful gate screening arrangements are in place.

Each to their own - I think screening at gates in transit is by far best method - as for HKG's ridiculous rabbit warren scenario you need to go through - makes SIN look kinda smooth sailing IMHO.

 

[dajop]

There is one other downside: if one suddenly needs to go to the toilet, or the flight is delayed and one wants to go into the corridor or elsewhere (including back into the lounge) to relieve monotony, one has to then again eventually proceed through the at gate screening.

True - but a little tip here (which wouldn't work if everyone did it, and thankfully they don't) - is come back to security just before gate is closing. Never see queues during final stages of boarding, unless a shared security point.

 

[casanovawa]

Changi continues to exert it's influence over skytraxx - I don't see it as deserved as long as the awful gate screening arrangements are in place.

Exactly, until they got rid of that ridiculous 3rd world like nonsense of gate screening they'd get stuff all from me....

 

[casanovawa]

Much debated point (gate screening). I vastly prefer the gate screening to central security points. As someone who travels at least 2-3 times a month out of Changi, I appreciate the certainty it gives. No coughshoot about how long the security queue is going to be unlike certain other major airports in the region. I can reach airport 1hr before my flight, take 5 mins to check in and walk to lounge and leave the lounge 20 mins before departure with high degree of certainty. Also when arriving in transit, as moa999 points out you're in the airport itself not some dingy corridor- which means straight to lounge, shopping or whatever else takes your fancy, without a long walk to a security screening points.

The only downside is when multiple flights leaving from same gate area, even then if your flight is close to closing just go straight to attendant and point that out, and they will let you through if it is genuinely close to closing.

Getting people to board a plane is the time when things are most stressful and the stupidest time to be screening, screening when you first come into the airport is the way most airports do it and I'm pretty sure for good reason... Why have all those people sitting in the airport as sitting ducks for anyone who was wanting to do bad things that hasn't been screeened??

Also if you are flying a LCC and you want to bring a drink or two from the lounge to have on board have a guess what the result is of half coughd gate screening?? LCC's must love it...

 

[dajop]

Why have all those people sitting in the airport as sitting ducks for anyone who was wanting to do bad things that hasn't been screeened?

You can make the argument about every single shopping centre, hotel lobby, MRT station and public gathering place in Singapore. There are people sitting in those places, often at higher densities than at the airport. There is a strange obsession/fear associated with airports, where in more recent times those who want do grave harm have found plenty of opportunities to do so well away from airports.

Is the screening about preventing people doing things at airports, or preventing acts on planes, which tend to be absolutely catastrophic?

In general, I think we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. I've made over 100 flights from Changi in the last 3 years, and I love that there is gate based screening. It brings certainty to my travel. I would need to allow more time if it went to central screening, and it is nice to not end up in some dingy corridor on arrival.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

On balance, I prefer Changi with its gate screening (especially if able to skip the queue with a priority security lane). They also do security on arrival from some destinations, which can be irritating but is tolerable.

Being able to intermingle and transit easily on arrival are major pluses, and I'm not the type who stays in the lounge until the last minute (not that there's anything wrong with that). Also like having the option to dart out and dart back in if in a trivial mood to collect a passport stamp.

My perceived confidence in SIN security procedures and competent response is probably higher than any other airport I've been through. I don't know whether SIN has been tested in a serious situation, but my unscientific feeling is that they would do better than for example JFK, JFK (again) or SYD. But you never know.


Upcoming Changi T4 to have centralised security checks, Singapore News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

But arriving and departing passengers will be kept apart from one another, unlike at existing terminals where they can mingle.

Explaining the logic behind this, Mr Tan said: "This is to mitigate any potential risks. For example, we do not want arriving passengers passing items that may be prohibited or dangerous to those who are departing on our flights."

While there may be some concerns that centralised screening could lead to bottlenecks and long queues, Mr Tan said: "The terminal needs to be properly sized to ensure there are enough security lanes and processes put in place to allow for effective and efficient screening."

Even with centralised screening, there will be instances where travellers are screened just before boarding, if necessary.

He said: "For example, there may be flights to particular locations where specific screening measures are needed and these can still be done before boarding. There is no compromise on security."

Airlines that will use T4 include Cathay, Korean, Vietnam, AirAsia (AK/FD/QZ) and Spring Airlines.

 

[Dannyism]

More details can be found at WORLD AIRPORT AWARDS | the Passengers Choice Awards

In SW Pacific the following airports get into the top 100:
BNE (16)
AKL (22)
SYD (23)
MEL (30)
OOL (50)
CHC (61)
PER (71)
ADL (73)

MEL does OK to rank 30, given that is primarily run as a giant car park with an airport attached to it

Unsurprisingly PVG ranked 100, and ORD didn't make the top 100.

BNE?! Are you kidding?
Any airport where domestic and international are completely separate shouldn't be in the running at all. Waiting for the bus to intl terminal from your connecting domestic flight while stressing as to whether you'll make the plane or not is the worst. Can't even deal. I'm stressing about an upcoming flight just thinking about it. Ugh.

 

[Melburnian1]

On balance, I prefer Changi...My perceived confidence in SIN security procedures and competent response is probably higher than any other airport I've been through. I don't know whether SIN has been tested in a serious situation, but my unscientific feeling is that they would do better than for example JFK, JFK (again) or SYD....

I reckon many of us would agree. Singapore as a whole looks to be very competent in these matters, and way ahead of Australia. Look at our ham-fisted response to "that" December 2014 "incident" (rather more than an "incident") in Martin Place, Sydney. Those "responsible" have spent a lot of time since then trying to evade all blame, or shift it on to others.

 

[seanpodge]

Originally I disliked security at the gate, but I've slowly come around on that. It seems to work well enough at SIN. While I do like to be able to relax after getting security and immigration out of the way, at least at SIN, the security is reliably less than five minutes rather than at some places where you wonder if it'll take 5 minutes or 50. One of the reasons may just be that the Singaporean government might actually be spending the taxes and fees included in airfares on making sure that the checkpoints are actually properly staffed. :shock:

My perceived confidence in SIN security procedures and competent response is probably higher than any other airport I've been through. I don't know whether SIN has been tested in a serious situation, but my unscientific feeling is that they would do better than for example JFK, JFK (again) or SYD. But you never know.

It was a while ago and not quite about screening at SIN, but there was the case of SQ117.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Changi is the only airport in the world I could live in.

I'm a big fan of gate security. Wait times are always minimal and I find the whole airport experience better because of it.

 

[JohnK]

Don't have a high opinion of Skytrax or the lobbying of votes that goes on but have to agree SIN is a really nice airport.

Personally I like the layout and the other week walked around all 3 terminals passing time after midnight.