What travellers really want at airports

[harvyk]

What travellers really want at airports | News.com.au

"It's interesting that the majority of respondents opted for watching movies and sleeping before a flight when they are the two things you're most likely to do on a plane," he said.

So if you didn't have lounge access or even if you do but you like to keep your options open, what activities would you like to see at airports?

I know that airlines typically offer movies on board, but a somewhat comfortable area to watch movies would be good (don't know about a cinema, you'd still need to be able to keep an eye on the time)

 

[eric2011]

A quiet place where you can sit and just vege out without all the suits and DYKWIA's yelling into there mobile phones.

 

[simongr]

A quiet place where I can make a few calls before heading off on a trip - if travelling by myself.

With the family some areas for kids to play.

 

[Intra]

Somewhere to veg out, charge my iPad/Laptop, relax.... And without seeming like every Man, Women & Child is around you....

I'll just stick to the lounges.... and then avoid the DYKWIA's...

 

[Fifa]

Comfy seating with free high speed wifi.

 

[UP4014]

Enough seats!
All airport businesses to remain open until the last passenger has left the building!
Cheap parking!

 

[cgichard]

Somewhere to fill my own (emptied) water bottle with cool water. Cold water taps are not to be found in the toilets/washrooms.

At LHR T3 departures I know of only one water fountain and it's a the very furthest end of the 'concourse'. Singapore Airport (i refuse to call it by the name of that ghastly prison camp) is good in that respect: there is even a water fountain in the gate lounge, at two levels so that even children can use it.

 

[sjd]

Somewhere I can max out my credit card on purchases of dubious quality whilst paying a premium for parking.

 

[vertisol]

Somewhere I can max out my credit card on purchases of dubious quality whilst paying a premium for parking.

I do believe your wish has been granted..

 

[scaredeycat]

Immigration counters that are fully staffed.
Baggage collection areas that don't descend into chaos.
Orderly, efficient taxi queues.
Rapid public transport.

 

[Hvr]

Smartgate to exit Australia and once cleared walk straight into the F lounge.

 

[11sjw]

A cold water source to fill up our bottles prior to boarding seeing as security won't let full bottles through. Failing that a regular priced bottle or two ($5 for a 600ml bottle is a bit of a joke). Lounge access tends to take care of other needs (snack, internet and a drink or two).

 

[cgichard]

Already requested. See post #7.

 

[Skyring]

Comfy seats with a view of the tarmac. Sea-Tac has a section with rocking chairs and a great view in all directions.

Starbucks. American terminals have this pretty well covered, but we could do better in Oz.

Posting boxes. I often have some last minute mail to post on leaving, and I like to send souvenir postcards home. Easy enough to buy a postcard, harder to buy a stamp, almost impossible to find a place to post the blessed thing! There was some place - might have been Miami - where the only option was landside. I had to leave my stamped postcard on a cafe table and hope that somebody nice would post my card. 'Cos I was only there for transit and I wasn't going to go out and hassle with the nudeoscopes and the TSA folk.

Good bookshops. Compass Books in SFO is an excellent example. So often the bookshops are chains that sell, well, airport books. Moleskines and fountain pens - is that too much to ask?

Chewing gum. You ever try to buy gum at an Aussie airport? I like to chew through the pressure changes in flight.

More dunnies.

 

[erkpod]

Posting boxes. I often have some last minute mail to post on leaving, and I like to send souvenir postcards home. Easy enough to buy a postcard, harder to buy a stamp, almost impossible to find a place to post the blessed thing! There was some place - might have been Miami - where the only option was landside. I had to leave my stamped postcard on a cafe table and hope that somebody nice would post my card. 'Cos I was only there for transit and I wasn't going to go out and hassle with the nudeoscopes and the TSA folk.

Earlier this year, I went directly from a cruise ship to MIA then flew to MEX via ATL. I had a parcel that I wanted to send home from the ship. No post office at MIA - I would have had to go downtown. Nothing resembling a freight or parcel service. I ended up sending it from my hotel in Mexico City.

 

[horseman]

An outdoor area of some sort, like a beer garden

 

[Awesom Andy]

They should make catching flights like catching buses. Just turn up 10mins before departure, and walk straight on.

 

[robw0910]

Consistency at security checks especially when things allowed at one are not at another. Find this more so at others and quite often involving items that are given as J freebies

 

[Mal]

Reasonable priced food + drinks.
Toilets that are clean.
A bar always helps while away time.
Somewhere safe to charge the phone or laptop.
Internet access.

 

[Natalie_B]

If I don't have lounge access, I'd like free wifi access that is faster than snails pace, which has already been mentioned.


Majority of my flying is Y or Y+ so I'd like to see more seating with foot rests to help my swollen ankles.

Clean toilets are always welcome in my book!