tl;dr – Thanks, but no thanks.
Every frequent traveler has an airport (or airports) they enjoy visiting and others they absolutely despise. Whether it be the airport’s layout, amenities and offerings, connectivity, or simply design and decor – if you travel enough, you’re bound to form some sort of opinion on at least a few ports of aerial transit. We live in a world where it’s easy to complain about anything and everything, and while it would be easy to list each and every airport where you can be even mildly inconvenienced – I’m not going to do that to you all. Instead, I’m charging all my angst into just three airports:
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
One day, I’m going to write a tell-all book titled – “Anything Is Possible: Life Lessons Learned While Transferring from CDG’s Terminal 1 to 2G.” Quite possibly the worst-designed airport in the world, it’s wild that such a busy, prominent airport can have you dash through one terminal, only to take a train and then a 10-minute bus ride through a cow pasture in order to catch your next flight. I’m a proponent of the belief that Paris is wildly overrated, but for me the BS begins the minute you land at CDG.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) – I was going to simply list Newark without comment, as you all likely already understand, but I decided against this as the hate here is too strong, and I need to say my piece. Finally, no longer billing itself as a NYC airport, if the question is ‘Newark?’, the answer is always ‘No’.
Giving off major pre-renovation Laguardia vibes, I’m curious as to whether Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. ever shared thoughts on the New Jersey airport. I’m sure he’d have a lot to say.
One weird thing about Newark airport is that there are always people lying on the floor. I’m not exaggerating. Every time I’ve been blessed (cursed) with flying out of there, there are folks laid up at the sides of every hallway listening to podcasts while eating munchkins from Dunkin Donuts. I’m glad you’re relaxed, but throwing me a menacing glare as I’m walking through the airport minding my own business, while you treat the hallway as your own personal 1:37am-face-deep-in-blue-light-screen-insomnia-induced-pre-flight-experience, hardly seems fair.
Newark, a few years ago, debuted a renovated Terminal A. There are plans for updating B and C as well, which perhaps will include nap loungers for all those
Ninoy Aquino International Airport – (MNL)
I love the Philippines. The next time I visit, I’ll be sure to do everything in my power to fly in and out of a different airport than Manila. (Perhaps Cebu City) – (CEB)? It has to be better than MNL. Here’s a legit piece of advice – never attempt to transfer from the domestic terminal to the international terminal (or vice versa) at MNL. The necessary shuttles that you’ll need to get between the two terminals seem to operate on a ‘eh, I’m not feeling it right now’ type of schedule. Also, did they ever fix the AC?
