Waiting Might Not Be Too Bad After All!

If you ever have had to wait at an airport for a connecting or long flight, you will know the frustration and boredom. Some of the airports you wait in may not have much to offer in the way of a bit of shopping or bars/restaurants to bide away your time. There are of course some airports which have more things to keep you going. Might just be people watching, or shopping or a meal however, some of these airports have an awful lot more.

Here is the list of the “supposedly” top airports which you may end up in!

Tokyo’s Haneda airport gets high marks for cleanliness and efficiency, there is a hotel connected to the international terminal too if you wanted to book a room and get some shut eye.

Mumbai (Bombay) has been transformed in recent years from an aging, overcrowded facility to a gleaming international hub. The new Terminal 2, open since 2014, has won praise for its airy, open design and its wealth of dining and shopping options.

Helsinki airport has some of the fastest transfer times in Europe (worth noting). Despite its relatively small size, serving about 17 million passengers a year, the airport offers fliers a variety of services. I have never been here – anyone enlighten me on the “variety of services “please?

Zurich airport has  more than 80 shops to browse in and an outdoor observation deck with sweeping views of the action on the runways. Lots of chocolate shops that I remember!

Hamad airport in Doha has a fitness centre with squash courts and a indoor pool!

Hong Kong international airport offers fast connections to the city via an Airport Express that whisks you from terminal to city center in 24 minutes. Not been to Hong Kong, I bet it has more then just this!

Now for the top three.  Dubai is the world’s 3rd busiest airport and has one of the world’s biggest duty-free shopping centers ( I remember it well!) It is a very clean airport, as you would expect.

Seoul-Incheon in South Korea takes 2nd place. There’s an indoor skating rink, a spa, and a “Cultural Street” with local cuisine and dance performances. While it’s 30 miles from the capital, a high-speed rail link makes the trip from terminal to city center in 43 minutes.

So, who is top? Singapore! The airport is practically a resort in itself, with an indoor waterfall, butterfly garden, and open-air decks and restaurants. Passengers with at least six hours to spare can take a free city tour or lounge by the swimming pool, or watch films at the free 24-hour cinema! Wow it sounds great, and would you know your waiting 4 hours plus? Probably not!

There are of course always more facilities in airports if you are travelling in business or first class. Some of the lounges have showers to refresh in and some fantastic restaurants too.

Of course, there are always going to be the not so good airports like Kefalonia where we were subjected to hours and hours delay with nothing at all there! However, these are not international airports, only open for the mass market for say 6 months of the year so we should not compare.

I would say if you are going to have a long transit it is worth remembering you can leave your luggage in the left luggage facility and get yourself off for a few hours.

You know, Singapore airport sounds so good, it makes me want to book something from there! What are you waiting for !!

Till next time x