Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Best International Airports: Readers' Choice Awards 2015

   

                             10. Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

Readers' Rating: 70.227
Highest score was for easy access to the airport via the rapid transit Canada Line—taking less than half an hour from city center to terminals for under $10. Second only to Toronto as Canada's busiest airport, Vancouver International Airport offers multiple routes across the Pacific to Asia, as well as polar routes to Europe. Construction of the original airport in 1930 was partially inspired by Charles Lindbergh, who famously said the city was unfit for landing. He'd be surprised to know that 19.4 million flyers now think otherwise.


9. Zurich Airport (ZRH)

Readers' Rating: 70.601
Highest score was for the airport's VIP Lounges, which have five for SWISS International Air Lines alone (including an arrivals lounge), and an opulent sanctuary for passengers on Emirates. Browsing the duty-free shops for chocolate here isn't half bad, either.


8. Abu Dhabi International Airport (AHU)

Readers' Rating: 70.948
Highest score was for the airport's VIP Lounges (seven in all), including a handful exclusively for the largest carrier, Etihad Airways. In addition, there are 24 Finnish-designed GoSleep sleeping pods in Terminal 3: Comfy chairs that convert into fully enclosed lay-flat beds. There's also the option to use free shower facilities.


7. Hamad International Airport (DOH)

Readers' Rating: 71.374
Highest score, again, was for Doha Airport's VIP Lounges—notably those for the state-owned airline, Qatar. There are eight in all for premium class passengers, an Unaccompanied Minors Lounge, and a handful of Quiet Rooms available for all travelers. Another nice touch is the Activity Nodes, which keep kids entertained with TVs, computers, and games.


6. Tokyo Haneda (HND)

Readers' Rating: 71.628
Often overlooked, highest score for Haneda was for its easy access, which is so much closer to the city center than big sister Narita (it's only a 13-minute connection to the Tokyo subway system on the Keikyu Line or Monorail). Delta and ANA (All Nippon Airways) fly nonstop from Los Angeles daily, but Haneda's strongest point is its multiple domestic routes. By passenger counts, it's the third busiest airport in Asia and fourth busiest in the world, able to handle 90 million people per year after its expansion in 2010. JAL (Japan Air Lines) dominates.


5. Seoul-Incheon (ICN)

Readers' Rating: 72.355
Highest score was for the airport's VIP Lounges, especially those that are bigger than most, offered by Korea's two major carriers: Korean Airand Asiana Airlines. The sleek airport is open and efficiently laid out, but it can be over an hour-long drive in dense traffic to the center of Seoul from the coastal port city of Incheon.


4. Ben Gurion Airport (TLV)

Readers' Rating: 73.414
Named after Israel's first prime minister, this airport's highest score was for easy access from downtown Tel Aviv, nine miles to the north west. Known primarily for being one of the world's most secure airports, 15 million passengers passed through here in 2014 and it has consistently won awards for best airport in the Middle East. The country's national carrier, El Al, is the top dog here.


3. Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)

Readers' Rating: 75.735
Despite having a stellar Airport Express train (with free Wi-Fi onboard), this airport's highest score was for its VIP Lounges. Home to Hong Kong's own award-winning airline, Cathay Pacific, it accommodates another 99 carriers and serves an astonishing 50 cities in mainland China (a far cry from the capacity the city's old airport, Kai Tak, was able to handle until replaced in 1998).


2. Dubai International (DXB)

Readers' Rating: 77.889
Home base for the ever-growing, highly-rated Emirates airlines, the airport's highest score was for its many lavish VIP Lounges. First and Business Class travelers departing from the A Gates can board their planes directly from each lounge. With a Zen Garden, free Wi-Fi, and complimentary showers, it's one of the nicest hubs to connect through (and there are more than 6,500 flights per week to every conceivable corner of the globe).


1. Changi Airport Singapore (SIN)

Readers' Rating: 83.356
Voted #1 airport in the world, for nearly as many times as Singapore Airlines has been voted #1 airline, Changi Airport Singapore's highest score was for easy access with an army of metered taxis to and from the city center for around $30. There's free Wi-Fi throughout, and more than 500 internet stations. If you have a layover of at least six hours, there are two free city tours to choose from–City Lights or Heritage. Best of all, however, is The Slide, an all-ages-friendly, four-storey wonder to scoot down in Terminal 3.

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