Frequent fliers rate LAX the third-worst airport in the world
Turns out that a $1-billion overhaul of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) (Bradley Terminal, above) can’t come too soon for 14,526 frequent fliers, who rated it the third-worst airport in the world in a just-released survey. The most hated airport? London’s giant Heathrow (LHR), followed by Paris’ Charles de Gaulle (CDG).
The online survey was conducted in September among members of Priority Pass, a program that charges an annual fee for access to airport lounges.
As for LAX: My colleague Christopher Reynolds has a suggestion or two (actually 10) for improving that place. Interestingly, it did not rank as the worst airport in the U.S. among American members of Priority Pass. That dubious honor fell to Chicago’s O’Hare (ORD), with LAX pulling up second and Atlanta (ATL) third.
Commenting on the worldwide results, program officials suggested that “anyone wanting a romantic break in Paris should avoid the Heathrow – Charles de Gaulle route if they don’t want to kill the mood.” I suggest Eurostar travel between the two capitals: nice terminals, romantic landscapes, pretty decent food and you arrive downtown, saving transit time into the city.
Singapore (SIN) topped the list of the world’s best airports, followed by Hong Kong (HKG). I’ve been to both, and they’re fabulous.
— Jane Engle, assistant Los Angeles Times Travel editor
[Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX in summer 2008. Photo by Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times]
10 Comments on “Frequent fliers rate LAX the third-worst airport in the world”
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October 22nd, 2009 at 1:06 pm
I have not been to many airport but the Tom Bradley terminal is horrendous, old, crappy, and well the Hong Kong airport is new modern, clean, easy, lots of ameneties. Love it.
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Sadly, I agree with frequent flyers. As an Australian traveling to the USA, LAX was the first symbol of America that I made a judgment about. It is most UNWELCOMING to visitors. Seriously, the USA needs all of the money it can get from visitors, so if officials want to reverse the trend of declining overseas visitors, make LAX more user friendly. Every Aussie that I know who has traveled through LAX has a negative image of both the airport and most of Southern California in general. It appears so very unsafe compared to Sydney or Melbourne and oh so many rude peoples. Sorry, but I would not take my loved ones there, so our next trip will be to Canada.
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:41 pm
LAX is an armpit.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:24 pm
The Tom Bradley terminal has to be ranked even lower than ‘3′. No places to shop or eat once you clear security and, more importantly, it is physically hideous.
As for the rest of LAX, the American terminal has all the charms of a cattle feedlot. It’s crowded, ugly and just unpleasant.
I don’t understand why CDG was rated second worst. The new terminal (the one that the roof fell in on, killing some people) is attractive, and has good shopping. Heathrow’s problem is its size, and the delays that arise from it. Good buys on single malt scotch, though.
But, the worst have to be Benazir Bhutto International in Islamabad and Indira Gandhi International in Delhi. I don’t think explanation is needed for either.
Too bad Tempelhof in Berlin is now closed. Interesting, if creepy, Nazi art-deco design, in addition to its great historic interest.
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Have any of these people flown out of JFK or La Guardia? Those are horrendous airports full of delays. I am quite confused by this survey.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:49 pm
LAX is much worse than Paris or London. Trains go directly into those airports and take you into the city. LAX has a train that ends about a mile south of the airport. Not too smart.
October 23rd, 2009 at 8:41 pm
LAX is one of the dumpiest airports in the world. I wish it wasn’t as I fly out of it on a regular basis. It really is an embarrassment to the City Of Los Angeles.
October 24th, 2009 at 12:08 am
LAX isn’t an airport. It’s a slum with planes.
Decrepit, dirty, inadequate seating, lousy and overpriced food.
Having to ride a bus on the taxiways to get from one terminal to another … and then having to go through security a second time because of how badly thought out this little bus ride is. Unbelievable.
LAX is the airport from hell.
October 24th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Not sure about the Heathrow smack. Terminal 5 is wonderful, and it is an airport in transition as they tear down and rebuild other terminals. CDG is not as chic as one would expect, but at least it has great transit. I will put in a positive plug for Barajas in Spain, especially the new sections As others have said, LAX is an armpit, showcasing to the entire world our lack of investment in public facilities.
October 24th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
In relation to US airports, LAX rocks for in/out, esp for curbside pickup/dropoffs- can’t speak for the Bradley terminal as far as inside as never have used it… have frequently used terminal 1,2,3,4, and 7 and for the most part, no major troubles… nice people working there, though a bit chaotic for AM check-ins.
Having said that, any American airport compared to a “Western” international airport blows esp Sydney and Melbourne. After 9/11, hanging out at airports in the US really is a bummer, so I try to time it so that I have the minimum waiting time before boarding.