MEL reportedly best airport in Australia

[DC3]

LGA is La Guardia, New York …

In a Queens Miracle, New York LaGuardia Airport Goes From Loser to Winner

Throughout a troubled 2022, the pandemic exposed many fragilities in a troubled U.S. airline industry, but it also enabled a widely recognized miracle in

airlineweekly.skift.com

Yes, certainly nowhere near LGW

 

[RooFlyer]

LGA is La Guardia, New York. Closest to Manhattan but was a hellscape from inception but has had some serious TLC.

In a Queens Miracle, New York LaGuardia Airport Goes From Loser to Winner

Throughout a troubled 2022, the pandemic exposed many fragilities in a troubled U.S. airline industry, but it also enabled a widely recognized miracle in

airlineweekly.skift.com

D'oh!

Yes, I saw a program on the progressive upgrade - looked quite an impressive project.

 

[sudoer]

That’s the same as Sydney domestic - if you want to be picked up by a relative, the area is almost a km away, and your relatives have to pay a fee to get into the area where all the suckers are waiting…. Piss poor….

Small correction - it's free to enter and wait at the Express Pickup zone (designed for the general public) for up to 15 minutes. But then it gets extortionate.

 

[Daver6]

Have to agree. Besides being incredibly busy DOH is very poorly signed; I've given examples in my TRs. Its very efficient for transfers though - I've landed, gone through transit security and put my backside on my next flight in 25 minutes.

SIN is like a comfy pair of slippers - DOH like patent leather shoes.



AMS Schiphol the same. Burn, baby, burn!

Good point about signage at DOH. It's really terrible, especially for directions to the various lounges.

I'll have to disagree with you though about transit security. I've found it incredibly slow, especially the one for premium pax.

 

[Randel]

AMS Schiphol the same. Burn, baby, burn!

Had to look that one up - thought Schipol was code for Sh*thole

 

[justinbrett]

LGA is La Guardia, New York. Closest to Manhattan but was a hellscape from inception but has had some serious TLC.

That’s an understatement. It’s effectively a brand new airport.

I’ve used it quite a few times, I definitely prefer it to JFK. It’s a really nice airport.

 

[dajop]

In 80 logged flights in and out of London, I've only ever used LHR (and have the scars to prove it). Tried to diversify last year, but had urgent change of plans and it was LHR again.

LGW/LGA confusion aside, I’ve flown about 60 flights into/out of London and managed to use all of the five nearest airports (but not “London” Southend or “London” Oxford.)

I like LCY best (doesn’t mean it has the best facilities, but not really needed) then LHR, LGW. Distant 4th would be STN and my single experience at LTN would rate it at just about the worst major airport I’ve departed from. Awful. But maybe I was at the wrong time

 

[anat0l]

LGW/LGA confusion aside, I’ve flown about 60 flights into/out of London and managed to use all of the five nearest airports (but not “London” Southend or “London” Oxford.)

I like LCY best (doesn’t mean it has the best facilities, but not really needed) then LHR, LGW. Distant 4th would be STN and my single experience at LTN would rate it at just about the worst major airport I’ve departed from. Awful. But maybe I was at the wrong time

LCY is about as awful looking airport as you can get.

But its overall speed for departures, arrivals and transfer to/from the key parts of London city centre is unmatched in the London area. Definitely wouldn't pick LCY for a luxury experience, especially when it lacks lounges.

Not sure what the nicest looking London area airport would be. My money is on LHR T2 (duh, the newest one....)

 

[SYD]

LCY is about as awful looking airport as you can get.

But its overall speed for departures, arrivals and transfer to/from the key parts of London city centre is unmatched in the London area. Definitely wouldn't pick LCY for a luxury experience, especially when it lacks lounges.

Not sure what the nicest looking London area airport would be. My money is on LHR T2 (duh, the newest one....)

Definitely a good choice for arriving into London! Not my first choice leaving - unless I was at an Expo at ExCel.

 

[dajop]

But its overall speed for departures, arrivals and transfer to/from the key parts of London city centre is unmatched in the London area. Definitely wouldn't pick LCY for a luxury experience, especially when it lacks lounges.

Yes designed to get people in/out quickly and just for point to point traffic (or point to hub), not a place designed for people to linger. Very quick and short distance from ground transport to gate and vice versa. More like a train station than an airport, and as such probably doesn't fit the sensibilities of what most see as an airport (with no lounges). Good for those who want to arrive and go, but not good for those who feel the need to get to the airport 3 hrs before their flight. Also seems pretty good if you're leaving from anywhere east of Trafalgar Square.

 

[tdimdad]

Yes designed to get people in/out quickly and just for point to point traffic (or point to hub), not a place designed for people to linger. Very quick and short distance from ground transport to gate and vice versa.

Sounds like the ideal airport, then. Just add a nice and spacious enough lounge & food and we're all set.

 

[fly2earth]

Sounds like the ideal airport, then. Just add a nice and spacious enough lounge & food and we're all set.

cairns domestic airport. utopia in a nutshell.

 

[Blackadder]

cairns domestic airport. utopia in a nutshell.

The view across to the Mountains is very nice.

 

[fly2earth]

The view across to the Mountains is very nice.

Surprised only Qantas has the only lounge in the airport. One company domination. Same with other regional airports.

 

[DC3]

Surprised only Qantas has the only lounge in the airport. One company domination. Same with other regional airports.

Virgin Australia chose to close their CNS lounge:

Virgin Australia lounge in Cairns

Hi guys Has anyone heard any rumours about VA re-opening their Cairns lounge? Surely they can’t fly their newest route with their newest planes and no lounge access? We are travelling this route in December but I guess given the lead times for lounges and no announcements thus far it is...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[SYD]

Just noticed this over on FT…. This has been my experience in DOH most of the time. Yes, J might get a seperate bus but it’s still a PITA. There’s a whole thread on remote gates….

 

[RSVKanga]

Largest city in the continent but can't even get a train to the airport.

 

[RooFlyer]

FWIW here is OMaaT's picks of best airports.

What Are The Best Airports In The World? Here Are My Picks...

What makes an airport great, and what are the best airports in the world? Here's my take on this question, and my favorites.

onemileatatime.com

I agree with the ranking:
SIN Changi
HKG Hong Kong
DOH Doha

MEL isn't amongst the 9 also-rans.

 

[aikman]

SIN is nice but it has some flaws. I don't like security being done at the gate. Also, distances between gates, lounges and exits can be vast and can involve very long walks.

 

[SYD]

FWIW here is OMaaT's picks of best airports.

What Are The Best Airports In The World? Here Are My Picks...

What makes an airport great, and what are the best airports in the world? Here's my take on this question, and my favorites.

onemileatatime.com

I agree with the ranking:
SIN Changi
HKG Hong Kong
DOH Doha

MEL isn't amongst the 9 also-rans.

His “Favourite” airports but I wouldn’t argue with the list.