For the second year running, London’s Heathrow Airport has been voted the worst airport in the world by the Priority Pass program. Each year, Priority Pass ranks the major airports in cities around the world by surveying over 14,000 frequent fliers. The survey participants are all part of the Priority Pass airport lounge program, thus they can attest to flying to and experiencing different airports around the world. The average survey participant has taken about 17 flights in the past year.
In an article published in TheAngloAmerican.com, many people consciously avoid Heathrow airport by planning alternative ways to get to London. Many airlines such as Lufthansa fly to London’s City airport, just six miles from the heart of London. Since Heathrow is run by a private company, the British Airports Authority (BAA) has limited input into operations and cannot help passengers with common issues such as lost luggage, poor customer service and delayed flights. Heathrow airport is often congested and deals with chronic overcapacity problems.
According to the 2009 Priority Pass survey, the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris is the world’s second worst airport, next to the Los Angeles International Airport that has been named the world’s third worst airport. Charles de Gaulle International Airport is reported to be among the busiest airports in Europe. Travelers frequently report flight delays, long wait times between connecting flights, difficulty getting through the check in process, and long wait times to get through customs.
The Singapore Changi airport made it to the top of the list, and the favorite airport in Europe was Amsterdam Schipol. Both of these airports reportedly offer acceptable levels of customer service, are easy to navigate during rush hour, and make it easy on travelers on domestic and international flights.
