travelling-blogger

comments

When it comes to modern-day travel, the long waits at airports and cramped flights are considered a necessary evil.

But some airports, it seems, are very much worse than others. 

While Islamabad Benazir Bhutto International Airport, in Pakistan, is often cited as the worst in the world, there are a surprising number of complaints form travellers about well-known hubs ranging from LAX in Los Angeles to London Luton. 

Scroll down for video 

Queues are never a holidaymaker's best idea of fun, but it appears some airports don't help themselves when faced with these kind of situations (pictured is Los Angeles Airport)

From the long queues for security, to paying for internet connectivity that doesn't work and fighting for a seat in the terminal, the allegations against these well-known airports are varied, infuriating travellers while they await their connection.

So, which airports top the list when it comes to passengers complaining about their experience? These are the hubs that appear to disappoint holidaymakers the most...

The layout at Los Angeles Airport has been criticised by many visitors

Los Angeles International Airport, U.S. 

The San Francisco Chronicle once described LAX as 'eight terminals connected by a traffic jam'. 

Complaints generally revolve around the convoluted and unsigned layout, the lack of restaurants, activities and services for the layover traveller, and the general uncleanliness of the airport in Los Angeles (LAX). 

Writing on Google +, passenger Tim Dascomb described the airport, that handled almost 80 million visitors last year, as looking like it 'hasn't been maintained since 1973.'

He continued: 'TSA was horrible, no surprise there. Wifi is spotty when it isn't non-existent. When returning internationally, customs was the slowest I've ever encountered in my life.' 

Nick Ross was similarly scathing in his one-star review when he wrote: 'This is the absolute worst airport I've ever been to. It's like the Walmart of airports. 

'My flight was delayed. Then you have to wait in line for almost two hours for them to give you a re-booking for the next day.'

LAX is America's second busiest airport in terms of passengers handled each year, beaten only by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta international airport.

So perhaps it is no wonder passengers become frustrated with long queues for security, immigration and customs.

There is good news though. In the latest Skytrax World Airport Awards, LAX crept into the top 100, making 98th place from a previous position of 102.

Hurghada International Airport, Egypt 

It is a favourite hotspot with European travellers, especially those looking for some winter sun.

However, travellers complain that there is reportedly no air conditioning in the departure lounge and an expensive duty free shop.

Holidaymaker Ash Tulett told MailOnline Travel: 'Lack of places to buy food, surprise card charges when buying duty free make all in all a miserable and depressing looking airport.'

Hurghada International Airport is an important check-in to explore Egypt's holiday resorts, with queues like this experienced by many 

Enormous queues gather at Hurghada Airport in Egypt

The opinion was similarly shared by Hannah Davis who left a Google review saying: 'Just flew in and out of this airport. The worst I have ever had the displeasure to use.

'Herded into the security area like cattle by extremely rude and abusive staff. There was one belt working although there were about 10 areas that could have been opened. 

Barney Ashworth wasn't too happy with Hurghada Airport, and shared his views on Twitter

'After finally getting through there and checking in yet more queues and abusive staff at passport control. My passport was literally thrown in my face after being stamped.' 

The airport has undergone massive renovations to accommodate dramatically rising leisure traffic, with officials stating they can now cater for around 13 million passengers annually. 

Seemingly many of these passengers wouldn't agree. 

LaGuardia Airport, New York, U.S. 

New York LaGuardia has been named as the most frustrating airport in North America.

Taking into account the time it takes to get there, the security processes, the quality of the terminals and facilities, and how many flights get delayed, LaGuardia takes the crown that nobody wants.

Visitors to LaGuardia New York describe the airport as being underwhelming with less than helpful staff

To be delayed at LaGuardia is 'mind numbing' according to research attained by sleepingatairports.net

The research, conducted by businessweek.com, used data from a user survey, airports' on-time performance, and information on the ease of getting to and from the airports.

It's location, beyond Subway lines, means long taxi queues for arriving passengers and the airport scored an abysmal 91 out of 100 in BusinessWeek's survey.

Sleepinginairports.net says that the airport has 'drab décor, poor restaurant selection, lacklustre cleanliness, counter-intuitive layout and the notoriously unhelpful staff.' 

They add: 'While a departure from here is manageable, a delay here becomes the definition of mind numbing.' 

The airport was once likened to a 'third world country' by U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden. 

People take to social networks on a regular basis to complain about LaGuardia Airport

Islamabad Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Pakistan 

The 2014 Guide to Sleeping at Airports named the Pakistan airport as the very worst after tourists were asked to rate their airport experiences based on comfort, facilities, cleanliness and customer service.

One customer likened Pakistan's Islamabad Benazir Bhutto International Airport to 'a central prison' adding: 'Many of the touts and taxi drivers loot people at the airport and outside'.

Tourists also criticised the absence of crowd control, 'pervasive corruption', inconsistent security checks and the overall lack of cleanliness and technology. 

Some visitors to Islamabad Benazir Bhutto International Airport have described it as more like 'a prison'

The customer service aspect of the airport in Islamabad has been highlighted as a growing concern

London Luton Airport, Luton, UK

The biggest gripe for tourists when travelling here is that they are not actually in London but Bedfordshire.

However, while that should be looked into pre-flight, a host of elements at the airport leave customers angry.

A favourite with the budget airlines, crowds can become problematic both arriving at the airport and in the terminal.

Luton is a favourite with budget airlines, and this can lead to long queues for customers

Some of customers' biggest complaints are that everything from Wi-Fi to the bags used to put your liquids in are chargeable.

Writing on the review section of Skytrax, Bob Daniel described Luton airport as an 'absolutely ghastly place.'

He added: 'As others have noticed they charge you for anything they can think of. 

'The 'short term' car park is so far away heaven help you if it is raining. 

'Security is a farce at the best of times, at times of minor demand it is appalling.'

Omar Chaudhuri didn't go into detail about his Luton Airport Experience, but was confident in his opinion

And in her zero-star rating on the site, Julia Gilson wrote: 'Luton airport security is a shambles. Be warned long queues causing passengers to miss their flights.

'The whole Luton experience is extremely poor.' 

Which? Travel has also waded in to the fray, branding Luton the UK's worst airport for the second year running in 2014 in its annual survey of 'holiday hassles'. 

Of the 8,000 people surveyed, it received a satisfaction rating of just 37 per cent, six per cent lower than the previous year. And one Which? member went as far as describing the airport as a 'hell hole'. 

Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, France

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is the world's seventh-busiest airport, and one where it's best to give yourself plenty of time to navigate the terminal.

Passengers claim sandwiches and snacks are overpriced, complaining that a simple baguette can cost as much as €6, while terminal corrections can mean over an hour spent navigating by shuttle.

Be prepared for a terminal transfer once checked-in at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris

An89Go writes in their Google review: 'In general it feels much better when you know you finally leave the airport - check in rush, security rush and everything else that's in rush at the CDG (basically everything) makes you stressed out.'

Tom Jeffs was similarly depressed with his experience at the airport in the French capital by writing: 'The toilets are small and cramped, cubicles have no hooks. The only clothing shops here sell jeans that cost over 150 euros.' 

Witness Europe's 3rd worst airport's awful baggage handlers

Reviewer Timo Rantanen, writing for airlinequality.com, did spot some improvements though.

Last month he wrote: 'Improved signage, still difficult. I have regarded CDG as one of the most confusing airports to change planes. Since my last experience there has been significant improvement in signage. It is still not an easy or fast airport for changing flights but added signage makes it a bit better.' 

Although not everybody is a fan.

B Cohen, from the US, described Charles de Gaulle as an 'abysmal excuse for an airport'.

He wrote: 'Be prepared to miss your flight, because that is the likely outcome of the complete and utter inefficiency and disorganization. Be prepared to have no one care whatsoever about your plight.'

The airport also squeezed into the top 50 in the latest Skytrax World Airport Awards - not bad for a hub that used to be ranked as one of the worst in the world.