Which Airports Are a Destination in Themselves?

[Trilby]

Tegel is great - very small and close to the city centre. Sheremetyevo is horrible, but Domodedovo is actually not bad.

I wouldn't call either place a destination in its own right, though.

 

[PARTY]

BWI. It keeps getting better and better.

 

[JetBlast]

Originally Posted by PARTY

BWI. It keeps getting better and better.

What do you like about BWI, PARTY? As a part-time employee I could get some brownie points by passing this on to the airport customer service staff

JB

 

[sho'nuff]

Originally Posted by JetBlast

I have a bias for Dulles International Airport in Washington, probably because I fly from there 10x more than anywhere else. Just the main terminal itself is a work of art, and no doubt my favorite piece of Saarinen architecture. The mass of the building really has a presence as you drive in. It's too bad I'll be done work there in a week

As far other airports I've visited just to go and see the airport itself:
Suvarnabhumi International in Bangkok-

Princess Juliana International in St Maarten-

Kansai International in Osaka-

Haneda National in Tokyo-

Chek Lap Kok International in Hong Kong-

Dubai International in Dubai-

King Khaled International in Riyadh-

JB


Jet those are some nice photos

 

[dpw]

Riyadh Airport , Royal Terminal in Saudi Arabia is worth a mention. Airport in Kiev, Ukraine is absolutley in need of makeover. Charles de Gaulle in Paris is worst "important city" airport in the world.

 

[PARTY]

Originally Posted by JetBlast

What do you like about BWI, PARTY? As a part-time employee I could get some brownie points by passing this on to the airport customer service staff

JB
I actually think it's gorgeous inside. Also, and I don't know if this is because its my airport of choice or not, but it's simple to get around. I've never had a problem navigating the hallways. Which does kind of strike me as amazing, considering how big it is. Also, at some airports I've literally had to complain about employees (esp. the airport in Boston. That one sucked, whatever it is.) But at BWI, everyone is straight and helpful.

 

[JetBlast]

Originally Posted by PARTY

I actually think it's gorgeous inside. Also, and I don't know if this is because its my airport of choice or not, but it's simple to get around. I've never had a problem navigating the hallways. Which does kind of strike me as amazing, considering how big it is.

Also, at some airports I've literally had to complain about employees (esp. the airport in Boston. That one sucked, whatever it is.) But at BWI, everyone is straight and helpful.

I am a big fan of the International Terminal especially, if I happen to be working the information desk there I like to draw the geometric shapes in the ceiling when I'm bored

JB

 

[robin]

Not as great architecture wise as some other airports, but I used to spend a lot of time hanging out and exploring the Frankfurt airport as well as the Rhein Mein air field across the runway when I was a kid. You probably couldn't do much of either now.

My friends and I would try to buy cheap liquor at the stores a lot.

 

[JetBlast]

You could probably get around FRA fine, Rhein-Main is closed and no longer operational.

JB

 

[robin]

Originally Posted by JetBlast

You could probably get around FRA fine, Rhein-Main is closed and no longer operational.
Are the Rhein Mein facilities no longer in use then? I was under the impression that the Frankfurt airport took control of them. That would a shame if so, they had some great buildings (as far as stark 1950 era military buildings go).

 

[JetBlast]

Originally Posted by robin

Are the Rhein Mein facilities no longer in use then? I was under the impression that the Frankfurt airport took control of them. That would a shame if so, they had some great buildings (as far as stark 1950 era military buildings go).

I'm not sure if the buildings themselves are all still there. The US Air Force gave control of the tarmac, etc to Frankfurt Airport. Last I heard, Lufthansa was going to build maintenance hangars there.

JB

 

[yfyf]

I'm always pretty happy to go through HK's airport, free wifi is such a wonderful thing.

I actually kind of miss the old HK airport too, especially the rubberized rounded check-in counters and that huge ramp for arriving passengers to come out of. Made everyone look like they were coming down a runway while the peons beneath them looked up in awe and fascination.

LHR has great shopping and if you're ever lucky enough to go into their executive lounges, they're wonderful places to be. Last time I went, there was an old couple with a middle aged son having a domestic in there and berating the son. In the end, the son just started throwing back whiskeys and telling them to shut up. O how we laughed.

Tokyo's airports are surprisingly lame. I find most airports in China extremely useless and even frustrating. WHERE IS MY WIFI.

 

[PARTY]

Originally Posted by JetBlast

I'm not sure if the buildings themselves are all still there. The US Air Force gave control of the tarmac, etc to Frankfurt Airport. Last I heard, Lufthansa was going to build maintenance hangars there.

JB
I must say, your airport knowledge is amazing.

 

[JetBlast]

Originally Posted by PARTY

I must say, your airport knowledge is amazing.

Working in them as both a job and a hobby has its advantages

JB

 

[PARTY]

JetBlast -

Only if you don't mind my asking, what position do you hold?