What are the world's worst airport terminals? Here's a hint: five of them are in the U.S.
That's right, half of the world's worst, most decrepit terminals bear the stars and stripes - and three of them serve the nation's largest city, according to a recent survey from Frommer's.
For many travelers, an airport terminal provides both the first impression and the final word about a destination.
Frommer's created its list based on cleanliness, services, on-time departures, navigation, and the ease of getting to and from a city's center.
Terminal 3 at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) took top honors as the worst terminal on the planet. Terminal 3 serves Delta exclusively and is known for endless immigration lines in a dank basement, for an utter lack of food and shopping options, three crowded and confusing entry points, hallways that could have been designed by M.C. Escher and for vomiting international travelers out onto an underground sidewalk with no cabs available, according to Frommer's.
Built in 1960 for Pan American Airlines, the Worldport, which looks like a grand, flying saucer, is not the shining glory it once was. Even Delta acknowledges this and is tearing it down and replacing it with a giant glass structure connected to nearby Terminal 4.
It wasn't all bad news for JFK. JetBlue's Terminal 5 was listed on Frommer's list of the world's best air terminals.
Here's a look at the other terminals that were voted the 10 best airport terminals in the world:
Curiously, Frommer's top pick, the Hajj Terminal at King Abdul Aziz International Airport, is open just six weeks of the year during Hajj when millions of Muslims make the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Press Start to see those who won the dubious honor of being on the list of the 10 worst airport terminals in the world.
Terminal 3 serves Delta exclusively and “is known for endless immigration lines in a dank basement, for an utter lack of food and shopping options, three crowded and confusing entry points, hallways that could have been designed by M.C. Escher and for vomiting international travelers out onto an underground sidewalk with no cabs available,” according to Frommer’s.REUTERS/Joshua LottNot only did the ceiling at Manila Airport’s Terminal 1 cave in last year, it’s a frequent target of criticism with travelers and the business community who complain that it’s congested, run-down, and filthy with toilets that don’t even work.REUTERS/Romeo RanocoOne of just two airports rated "two stars" by global consulting firm Skytrax, Terminal B/C got especially poor marks for the rude and slow airport staff.creative commonsThis airport aspires to be an international hub, but more than twice as many people flow in and out of the doors than the building was made to handle. The government announced plans to update the airport back in 2005. So far, not a thing has changed.REUTERS/Antony NjugunaDe Gaulle is a massive airport where many people have to transfer but few know how to find their next plane. With frequent strikes and a growing homeless population, Charles de Gaulle’s Terminal 3 got low marks.REUTERS/Pascal RossignolThis is the other airport rated “two stars” by Skytrax. Queen Alia got particularly low marks for bathroom cleanliness, places to rest, children’s play facilities, and service counters.REUTERS/Muhammad HamedBoth JD Power and Associates and Zagat Survey rated LaGuardia the worst major airport in America with no rail links, frequent congestion, overcrowding, and delays. Frommer’s calls the US Airways terminal “dull and sad.”REUTERS/Peter FoleyNewark is America’s worst airport for on-time arrivals according to recent Bureau of Transportation Statistics data. Terminal B scored poorly because the airport puts security before individual piers, which means that rather than have a whole terminal’s food and shopping, you’re stuck out on a single, quiet pier.REUTERS/Lucas Jackson50 miles north of Paris, this airport lacks seating and services. Frommer’s says it has a “half-tent, half-warehouse atmosphere.”creative commonsChicago’s Midway Airport made the list mostly because of its ranking as the nation’s worst for on-time departures, according to recent Bureau of Transportation Statistics data.REUTERS/Frank Polich