Korean Job Discussion Forums

[canale226]

Heathrow really does suck... in terms of massive international terminals, its arguably the worst I've ever seen (and I've seen alot). Its too spread out, its dingy, and the employees (that I've encountered) REALLY hate their jobs.

Good point about "late blooming" and nice airports - never really put much thought into it I guess.

Other fantastic airports - Helsinki, Vienna, Shanghai, San Francisco, Honolulu.

[bucheon bum]

[b-class rambler]

[chellovek]

Incheon is pretty nice, good for them.

As for the Heathrow-bashing, think it depends on what terminal you're at. Terminal 1 is a dump. Didn't much care for Terminal 2. Never been to Terminal 3. I once slept rough at Terminal 4 before they threw me out after asking me for a ticket. That terminal seemed ok. Terminal 5 looks reasonably nice as well.

[DeMayonnaise]

Incheon is great. I don't know what else you want from an airport..

- Great, cheap, reliable, wide reaching public transportation to get to the airport
- Relatively fast check in counters. These suck everywhere, but I've had decent times in Korea.
- Very friendly staff, from the check in counter, to security, to immigration, to the shops, to even the bathrooms.
- Free internet, and even free computers to use it on
- Plenty of seats for everyone to sit down
- Even Korean cultural shit to try out if you're really bored. Not my cup of tea, but it's at least something decent to walk past and look at.

Now let's compare this to American airports I've used in the past few years (O'Hare, HHH (Minneapolis/St. Paul), San Diego)

- Not much public transportation to and from the airport. If I didn't have anyone come to pick me up, I'd have no idea how to get home.
- Slow check in counters
- Underpaid, overworked, overstressed out staff who complain about everything. I definitely noticed this after being in Korea for a year.
- $10 or so for internet. WTF? I think the San Diego airport had free internet though. What a rip off...
- No seats! Seriously, they have a few dozen seats in the waiting area for a fully loaded international flight. Ugh.


Other Asian airports I've been to have been OK, but I think Incheon is the best. Narita is pretty nice. Hong Kong is pretty nice. I agree that Beijing's is big and cavernous, but it's OK. Incheon deserves this award.

[Felix the Cat]

Incheon is pretty good. So are Singapore Changgi, Narita, and Amsterdam-Schiphol.

Worst: Miami, LaGuardia, Montreal, Havana. Special mention goes to Paris-De Gaulle, which merits double-plus-bad rating. It even looks like a circle of hell.

[cj1976]

One of the worst aspects of flying home is getting in and out of Heathrow. All of the workers there seem to have a complete contempt for all humanity, and seem to revel in the tiny level of authority they have. People at Heathrow remind me what tossers the British can be sometimes.

[ticktocktocktick]

The best thing about Incheon is seen at 6am prompt. If you've got an early flight, hang around the Korean air check in desks just before 6am. At 6, to announce the opening of all the desks, the employees stand on the bit where you weigh your luggage, and then bow in unison, with that gayageum tune they sometimes play on the subway. Their timing is impeccable. Quite a sight for bleary eyes looking forward to a long-haul flight.

I did the Korean cultural activity too. Relaxing and a nice little touch. Beats the squaking kids and parents running around Manchester airport!

[Yaya]

I'd say the Singapore airport would be the best but then again, I'm not an industry expert (like the rest of the people on this board). Still, Changi has a movie theater, something which Incheon doesn't.

[gelynch52]

[KimchiExplosion]

Only complaint about ICN is the annoying taxi drivers constantly trying to con you into a way too expensive ride. Overall it's the best airport I've ever been to, by far. De Gaulle in Paris was the worst.

[blackjack]