Airports Around The World To Avoid

Ask a seasoned traveler about their least favorite airports and undoubtedly he or she can rattle off a list of places they recommend avoiding at all costs. Whether it’s an airport in a constant state of renovation, one that causes connection nightmares or is just outright dangerous, there are some airports that are best put on the bottom of your travel list if at all possible. 

Los Angeles (LAX)

The past few years have seen LAX in a perpetual state of construction. From the main international Tom Bradley terminal renovation to Delta’s lengthy redesign, LAX can be quite a headache. SkyTeam members will especially want to take note as Air France and KLM have now relocated to Tom Bradley due to renovations while some inbound Delta flights have been routed here, requiring passengers to sprint back to the Delta terminal for their connecting flight after clearing customs.

Chicago Midway (MDW)

While Chicago Midway might be a cool airport to hang out in, you may be there longer than expected. It consistently ranks as one of the worst airports for on-time departures.

Schiphol - Domestic only (AMS)

Without a doubt, Schiphol is one of the coolest and best laid out airports, but flying within Europe has become a bit more cumbersome for some travelers as of late. Take note, if you are traveling with photography and electronic equipment in your carry-on luggage, according to their security personnel, the new policy is that every single camera lens, gadget, camera, and cord of any type, must go through the x-ray machine individually. If you are short on connection time and traveling with a lot of gadgets in your carry on, be sure to allow an extra 20 or 30 minutes to clear security, maybe longer if you are not in a priority lane.

Charles de Gaulle (Paris) (CDG)

With its scattered terminal buildings, Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport is usually ranked pretty high for the worst airport in which to have a connection. The shuttles especially can be confusing if you have to switch buildings. France is notorious for regular transit strikes, leaving passengers to walk between buildings. And, if you are stuck overnight, you might be shocked to find out a lot of the seats outside security are occupied by the city’s homeless at night.

Manila International Airport (MNL)

Another airport that consistently ranks as one of the worst is Manila. Between ceilings caving in and air-conditioning failures to non-working toilet facilities, many travelers recommend avoiding Manila International if you can.

Gibraltar Airport (GIB)

If you get scared during landing or take off, Gibraltar Airport should be on your list of airports to avoid. The only runway is perpendicular to a major highway that connects to Spain. However, don’t worry; they put out flimsy little barriers when a plane is moving through! And, if that isn’t bad enough, it has a short runway that extends out into the harbor. Talk about scary!

LaGuardia Airport (NYC)

LaGuardia Airport is much closer to midtown New York than either of the other two major airports servicing the city, however it can often be more of a hassle to reach town from here. Busses and taxis are the only transport options from the airport to other terminals or into town, and these can often be overcrowded and expensive.

What are some airports you try to avoid?

Note: Available plans and coverages may have changed since this blog was published.