Best Airports in the World
- 2009 -

1. Singapore Changi

"WOW, its like a hotel!"

"Terminal 3 is wonderful with filtered natural lighting and garden walls."

"Terminal One upstairs in the viewing gallery has a wide open floor space which is popular and usually full of 'campers' at night."

For the 13th year, Singapore Changi has won our coveted top Golden Pillow Award. The airport sleepers have voted and it looks like Changi continues to have quite a grip on your hearts.....and your votes. If you've only ever passed through North American airports "Club Changi" is going to be a treat for you. Throw away those inflatable rafts for this trip, my friends, because you will find specially designed "snooze chairs" in the rest areas. In addition to those typical amenities that we rave about at other airports such as WiFi, internet cafes, prayer rooms, shopping, and good eats, add these upgrades available at Changi: city tours, a swimming pool and Jacuzzi, 24 hour massage and spa facilities, 24 hour business center, video games, music lounges, live bands, six gardens, a special "official" napping corner, and free movies -- all at the airport. There really is no reason to leave Club Changi. Several contributors have raved about Singapore's Changi airport and have suggested you stay a few nights there even if you have the money for a hotel. After all these years of handing out this award to Changi I have yet to visit it personally. I am still waiting for my invite. Maybe it's lost in the mail. Best of all, the airport is comfortable, safe, and quiet (so quiet in fact that students have gone there to study for their during exams).

All is not entirely well for Changi though, as it does seem to be falling from its once high pedestal. This year, the Budget Terminal has been getting some negative reviews. Toyotaboy95 writes that this no-frills terminal is "atrocious, a crime against all airports". While annaleighgiovinazzo commented that "descending from an Airbus A320 on a ladder" at the Budget Terminal clashed with Changi's "image of prosperity". That's not the Changi we have grown to love. Hopefully things improve there or maybe its time for another airport to step up and wow us again. Incheon, can you hear us???

2. Seoul Incheon
If only more people would vote and leave reviews about Incheon, I am sure it would top our list.
What you will like: Cultural Center where you can make traditional Korean arts and crafts, clean, comfortable benches and loungers, Jjimjilbang (hot tubs, showers and sauna), good temperature, dim lights in certain areas, telephone numbers throughout to should you be anal enough to want to "complain" about anything you find not to your liking, internet and WiFi at cost
What you will not like: expensive food and shopping (not unlike most other major airports)

• "Incheon has consistently improved over the years, and the new terminal, which was opened recently, makes a nice addition."
• "I'd stay here any time! This airport was BEAUTIFUL! State of the art, clean, comfortable, and with amenities galore! "
  

3. Hong Kong
What you will like: T2 offers more sleeping opportunities, comfortable sofas before security, free WiFi, clean, no boarding announcements and no sound on the tvs is an airport regulation to keep noise to a minimum, pay lounges where you can sleep, eat, watch tv and check email; spacious gate areas, clean restrooms, Free "Travellers Lounges" offer recliners, free internet kiosks, WiFi, Cushioned benches, overstuffed single chairs, showers, courteous staff, children's play area, tv lounge
What you won't like: temperature can be cold, food court closes at night

• "If there was a so-called 'HEAVEN'S AIRPORT' on this God's green earth, it has to be the HKIA. may the architects, designers, builders, fund raisers, and all personnels who work there and keep it squeaky clean and running smoothly live a thousand years."
• "Before security (check-in counter area), there was about 50 comfy sofas spread throughout the area (clusters)."

4. Amsterdam Schiphol
5. Dubai
6. Munich
7. Kuala Lumpur
8. Frankfurt Main
9. Zurich
10. Copenhagen

REGIONAL WINNERS

• Best Airport in Africa
  (1) Johannesburg
  This airport had a crapload of money invested into it in preparation for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. We don't have any current reports for new airport, so it be interesting to see if they've cheaped out on seating and passenger comforts. Features and facilities: internet cafes and WiFi, prayer rooms
  ....see full regional winner list
  
• Best Airport in Asia
  (1) Singapore
  ....see full regional winner list
  
• Best Airport in Central/South America + Caribbean
  (1) Santiago de Chile
  Having been to this airport myself, I was a little surprised it was selected as the best of the region. Maybe it had an overhaul. Features and facilities: seats without armrests on the first floor, plentiful seating beyond security. When they planned the domestic terminal, they were ambitious in projecting the number of seats and gates they would need, so you will find plentiful seating and abandonded gates.
  ....see full regional winner list
  
• Best Airport in Europe
  (1) Amsterdam
  Based on number of votes alone, Amsterdam would have been ranked our #2 airport in the world, but an alarming number or scams have been reported: huge operator assisted phone bills, wallets disappearing in scanners and possible credit card cloning at one of the "sweet stalls". Aside from those complaints here are just a few reasons what Amsterdam Schiphol has been voted the best airport in Europe: 4 hour guided tours of Amsterdam transit/departures area with long leather couches; sleeper rooms in transit area; WiFi; casino; art gallery; services to assist you get married at the airport; before security you can buy a day pass to use the fitness, sauna, showers and steam rooms in the Sheraton Fitness and Spa; beyond security there are additional massages and spas.
  ....see full regional winner list
  
• Best Airport in the Middle East
  (1) Dubai
  Not many options in this area, but Dubai tops the list. Features and facilities: free WiFi, comfortable chairs, sofas, long lounge sleeper chairs in departure area, open 24 hours.
  ....see full regional winner list
  
• Best Airport in North America
  (1) Vancouver
  After years of construction in anticipation for the 2010 Olympics, the Vancouver airport has already won the honour of best airport in North America. Features and facilities: the terminal is extremely quiet at night, use the showers/sauna/gym/luggage storage at the Fairmont Hotel in the airport (drop-in fee), padded benches, free WiFi.
  ....see full regional winner list
  
• Best Airport in the South Pacific
  (1) Auckland
  Not much in terms of bonus facilities here, but the seats in some areas are padded and comfortable and it is quiet at night.
  ....see full regional winner list
  

How the results are tabulated: To determine winners (and losers), I look at your votes from the online poll together with recently submitted reviews. This is a completely unscientific system and my math is bad, so who knows what all of this really means?