Asia’s strangest airports

Popular Mechanics magazine has recently featured eighteen of the world’s strangest airports – including five located in Asia. As the magazine noted, there are many challenges to building an airport as there are often few places to build that are ideal. Moreover, they must ensure what they build is as safe as possible in a variety of situations. Hence, Popular Mechanics survey of airports includes those that range from being dangerous to just plain unique.

For Asia though, the magazine cited the following airports: 

Kansai International Airport (Osaka, Japan). With land being scarce in Japan, Kansai was constructed on an artificial island that is 2.5 miles long and 1.6 miles wide. Hence, engineers had to contend with Earthquakes, cyclones, an unstable seabed and even sabotage attempts from protestors. 

Don Mueang International Airport (Bangkok, Thailand). A mid-sized airport, Don Mueang has an unusual feature smack-dab in the middle of its two runways: An 18-hole golf course. Hence, the only two taxiways are located at the end of the runways.

Hong Kong International Airport (Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong). Besides the fact that the airport was built on two islands that were combined together, Hong Kong International Airport has a luxury golf course and a massive expo center within walking distance of its runway. The airport is also one of the busiest cargo hubs in the world.

Macau International Airport (Macau). With no space for large aircraft, the Macau International Airport was opened in 1995 on a strip of reclaimed land that is just large enough for 747s to land safely on. A set of highways then links the runway with the small island of Taipa where there is an air traffic control tower and a terminal.

Qamdo Bangda Airport (Qamdo, Tibet). At more than 14,000 feet above sea level, Qamdo Bangda is the world’s highest airport. Moreover, the airport boasts a nearly 3.5-mile-long runway.

So the next time you are passing through any of these airports, just remember that they rank among the world’s strangest.

More tips on how to pack a carry-on bag

With security increasingly tight at airports leading to delays and airlines charging more and more fees on checked-in baggage, knowing how to pack everything into a carry-on is increasingly important. Hence, a recent Forbes.com article about packing for portability is well worth reading.

According to Forbes.com, there is another reason to pack for portability: Theft or lost checked-in bags. The article noted a 2008 report from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) which revealed that over a three-year period, an estimated 42,000 travelers in the USA alone have reported missing items from their luggage with a total estimated value of more than US$31 million. Missing items would include things such as clothing, jewelry, laptops and medicines and the article even quoted Doug Dyment, the creator of OneBag, a travel blog that offers advice on how to pack, as saying: "There are only two types of luggage: Carry-on luggage and lost luggage!”

Hence, here are five essential packing tips to remember before your next business trip:

• Have a packing list and consider it to be a “contract with yourself” to NOT put items into your suitcase that is not on it.
• Never travel with a suitcase that can’t also be carried instead of wheeled.
• Carrying a garment fresh from the cleaners that is still on the hanger is ok as usually it won’t be counted as an additional piece of luggage. In fact, the flight attendants will likely hang it up in front of the cabin.
• Women need to be aware of the weight of all of their products – especially cosmetics. Moreover, they should be aware of the amount of water in their products both for weight and security concerns
• Look for solid versions of liquid products. For example: Powdered toothpaste weights less than tooth paste that comes in a tube and there is less risk of it ruining your clothes should it explode or leak.

At the end of the article, Dyment noted that organization is the key as there is no secret to traveling light because all that is in your suitcase is a very large number of very small things – an excellent point worth remembering.

The world's worst airports for delays

If you are a frequent traveler in Asia, a recent Forbes.com article about the world’s most delayed airports has both good news and bad news for you. First, the good news: Some of the world's least delayed airports are in Asia. These include airports in Japan and South Korea. In fact, it was noted that flights at Osaka's Itami Airport were 94% on time in 2009 while flights arriving at Seoul's Gimpo International Airport were 91% on time and those departing were 93% on time.

Now the bad news: Many of the world's most delayed airports are in China and India. These include the following airports:

Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL):

• Worst-arrival rank: 1
• On-time arrivals: 44.5%

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM):

• Worst-arrival rank: 2
• On-time arrivals: 55.9%

Chennai International Airport (MAA):

• Worst-arrival rank: 4
• On-time arrivals: 63.9%

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK):

• Worst-departure rank: 1
• On-time departures: 38.3%

Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)

• Worst-departure rank: 10
• On-time departures: 62.4%

Hence and if you are traveling to some of the above airports, you should probably anticipate the possibility of having a delay either when arriving or departing.

Airport security humor

With the recent underwear bombing attempt on an airliner still fresh in everyone’s mind, we have an an important message from Transport Canada (A division of the US Department of Homeland Security) to repeat should you be traveling to Canada or from Canada to the USA as new “rules” are in effect:

Moreover and if you are traveling to and from the USA, just remember that the Transportation Security Administration is there working hard to make sure you enjoy a safe flight and you can count on them to do what they are trained to do: Overreact to tiny threats while ignoring the really big ones….

The world's oddest airport attractions

The November 2009 issue of Travel & Leisure (T+L) recently had an article about the world’s strangest airport attractions. Some of the odder airport activities include killing time on a Sony PlayStation 3 at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle International Airport and getting your teeth cleaned at the São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport.

In Asia, three airports had “strange” attractions that made the list:

• Inhale cinnamon-scented oxygen at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (Terminal 1, Oxygen Lounge Juko). Travelers may hook themselves up to self-serve tanks that pump exotically flavored oxygen for either a 10-minute (600 yen/$6) or a 20-minute (1,200 yen/$12.50) sessions.
• Experience a “4-D” movie at the Hong Kong International Airport (Terminal 2, 4D Extreme Screen). Travelers will view Asia’s largest 4-D projection screen in a 360-seat theater where films come with 3-D glasses and special effects such as wind, fog, water spray and bubbles.
• Admire butterflies at the Singapore Changi International Airport (Terminal 3, Butterfly Garden). Travelers will find 47 species of butterflies that roam freely among hanging plants, including carnivorous pitcher plants. Plus the Butterfly Garden has a butterfly breeding and feeding area.

In addition, frequent road warriors may also be interested in checking out T+L’s smart guides to the world’s top airports.

2009 Business Travel Awards: Top 10 best international airports

Conde Nash Traveler has recently released their twelfth annual business travel survey which included a section ranking the best international airports around the world. Frequent travelers to or around Asia will not be surprised to learn that Singapore’s Changi came out on top in all survey categories followed by Hong Kong International (Chek Lap Kok). Other Asian airports making it into the top 10 included Seoul’s Incheon and Tokyo’s Narita.

Top 10 Best International Airports

The top 10 rules of the road for air travel

Travel can be both exhilarating and a real pain at the same time – especially if you travel frequently and internationally. Scott McCartney, the author of "The Wall Street Journal Guide to Power Travel: How to Arrive with Your Dignity, Sanity and Wallet Intact" has come up with the top 10 rules of the road or basic principles for air travel that are meant to help travelers avoid problems and better enjoy their business trips or vacations. These rules or principles are:

1. Travel is difficult.

2. Book smartly.

3. Plan for trouble.

4. Learn something.

5. Enjoy perks that pay.

6. Stay loyal.

7. Never check anything you cannot live without.

8. Play the upgrade game.

9. Ask nicely.

10. Be kind to your fellow traveler.

Scott also outlined these rules or principles in a Wall Street Journal article earlier this year that is also well worth reading.

Asia's best travel brands

Smarttravelasia.com, an independent online travel magazine dedicated to Asia, has just released the results of its 2009 Best Travel Brands readers’ poll and you may or may not agree with all of the results.

Here are some of the top picks for each category as reported on CNNgo.com - which also noted that Singapore and Hong Kong, the two major English speaking destinations in Asia, were generally rated in top place (a readers' bias perhaps?):

Best World Wide Airlines

1. Singapore Airlines

Best Airports Worldwide

1. Singapore Changi Airport

2. Hong Kong International Airport

3. Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok

Best Business Class World Wide

1. Singapore Airlines

Best Cabin Service World Wide

1. Singapore Airlines

Best Budget Airlines Asia

1. AirAsia (Mention AirAsia X)

Best Holiday Destinations

1. Bali, Indonesia

Best Cities for Shopping

1. Hong Kong

2. Singapore

3. Bangkok

Best Cities for Business

1. Hong Kong

2. Singapore

Best Business Hotels Asia

1. The Peninsula Hong Kong

2. The Fullerton Hotel Singapore

3. Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong

Best Leisure Hotels and Resorts in Asia

1. Amanpuri, Phuket

Best Spa Hotels in Asia

1. Conrad Maldives, Rangali Island

Best Conference Hotels in Asia

1. Grand Hyatt Hong Kong

2. The Fullerton Hotel Singapore

3. The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore

Get the best airfare deals from Bangkok to anywhere

Do you live in Bangkok and do you travel frequently? Then you probably know that finding the best airline ticket deals to your preferred destination that also fits your travel needs and your budget is a real challenge! That's why we are offering a new airfare email alert service to help you find the latest airfare prices from Bangkok to destinations around the globe.

How does it work? Subscribe to our airfare email alerts on www.bangkokbestflights.com - it takes less than 1 minute to sign up and receive email alerts about the latest deals from Bangkok to your favorite cities.

In addition, our Bangkok Best Flights blog offers the latest news about airports and the airline industry here in Asia and around the world.

The best and worst airports for sleeping in

Should you travel often enough where you often find yourself stuck in and even sleeping in airports due to flight delays or long layovers, you may want to consult “The Budget Traveler's Guide to Sleeping in Airports” to find out what the best and the worst airports are for sleeping in (and plan accordingly).

According to votes received on the Sleeping in Airports website, the best airports for sleeping in for their amenities, friendly staff and comfortable seating are the following:

1. Singapore Changi
2. Seoul Incheon
3. Amsterdam Schiphol
4. Oslo Gardermoen
5. Hong Kong
6. Dubai
7. Frankfurt International
8. Munich
9. Vancouver
10. Denver

And the worst airports for sleeping in where you simply DO NOT want to get stuck in transit (or better yet, you should plan on getting a hotel room nearby) are:

1. Paris Charles de Gaulle (this is a MUST read review)
2. Moscow Sheremetyevo
3. New York JFK
4. Los Angeles
5. Delhi
6. Chicago O'Hare
7. Mumbai
8. Manila
9. Rome Fiumicino
10. London Heathrow

What is great about the website are the more than 6,400 up-to-date airport reviews by readers. In addition, the website has a handy tips guide (How to sleep in an airport 101: Airport Sleeping Tips), the Sleeping in Airports Blog, an airport cartoons section with cartoons inspired by some of the airport reviews and an Airport Photos section where travelers can submit photos of their favorite and least favorite airports. 

Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Awards 2009: Best airports

Conde Nast Traveller has recently announced the results for its Readers’ Travel Awards 2009 for the world’s best airports. Topping the list of the best airports for cleanliness was Singapore’s Changi (no surprise there) and the Madrid Barajas (whose new terminal also helped to put it in first place for design/layout). Hong Kong International scored the highest for luggage handling, Kuala Lumpur International was rated tops for flight information/clarity of signs and Tokyo Narita came in number one for shopping/duty-free facilities.

1.	Madrid Barajas	87.60
2.	Vancouver	86.10
3.	Changi, Singapore	85.63
4.	Tokyo Narita	83.12
5.	Helsinki-Vantaa	83.03
6.	Auckland	82.55
7.	Schiphol, Amsterdam	82.15
8.	Hong Kong International	80.78
9.	Kuala Lumpur International	79.27
10.	Dubai International	78.86
11.	Zurich	78.18
12.	Athens	76.82
13.	Frankfurt	76.22
14.	Copenhagen	74.98
15.	Manchester	73.34

Asia’s most on-time airports

Business travelers who travel frequently around the world will already know that some airports in some contries have better reputations than other airports in other countries for on-time arrivals and departures. Hence, a recent article on ForbesTraveller.com (along with a slideshow) which ranked the world’s most on-time airports may confirm what many frequent travelers already know. Moreover and probably to no-one’s surprise, 6 out of the top 10 best airports for punctuality were in Asia. These airports included:

• Haneda Airport (Japan) – For the second year in a row (On-time flight average: 91.4%), Japan’s Haneda Airport took the top spot for on-time arrivals with 88.6% of its flights arrive on-time and 94.3% of its flights depart on-time.
• Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Indonesia) – Jumping from sixth place to second place (On-time flight average: 86.7%), Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport had 84.2% of its flights arrive on-time and 89.2% of its flights depart on-time.
• Narita International (Japan) – In third place (On-time flight average: 86%), Narita International had 84.8% of its flights arrive on-time and 87.1% of its flights depart on-time.
• Incheon International Airport (South Korea) – In forth place (On-time flight average: 84.85), Seoul’s Incheon International Airport had 86.8% of its flights arrive on-time and 82.8% of its flights depart on-time.
• Suvarnabhumi Airport (Thailand) – In fifth place (On-time flight average: 84.4%), Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport had 82.9% of its flights arrive on-time and 86% of its flights depart on-time.
• Kuala Lumpur International Airport (Malaysia) – In sixth place (On-time flight average: 83.6%), Kuala Lumpur International Airport had 81.5% of its flights arrive on-time and 86.1% of its flights depart on-time.

Incidentally, while the Hong Kong International Airport improved its performance from an on-time average of 79.7% last year to an on-time average of 82.25% this year, it was knocked out of the number 10 spot by the the George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Nevertheless, the on-time flight performance of several of Asia’s major airports gives frequent travelers to and within the region something to cheer about.

“What a shame!” Swine Flu comes from America video

In case you have not flown to or around China lately, you may find this Civil Aviation Administration of China's swine flu warning video both helpful and absolutely hilarious! The cutesy jingle with the cartoon reminds passengers that:

Swine influenza comes from America… spreads around the world… its true name is A(H1N1)… what a shame!

Actually and according to the Wall Street Journal’s China Journal blog, the Chinese lyrics make a broad reference to the American continents and uses the word “mei zhou” rather than the word “mei guo” (for the USA itself) but the the English subtitles simply say America. Either way, passengers are sure to get the picture!

 

Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport arrival videos

Should you be planning a visit to Jakarta or passing through Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (often called Cengkareng by Indonesians), you will find that the official website for the airport is largely in Bahasa Indonesian. Moreover, the airport actually consists of three terminals which could confuse first time visitors. Hence, travelers should keep in mind the following terminal information:

• Terminal 1 is divided into 3 sub-terminals. Terminal 1A, 1B and 1C are used for domestic flights by various Indonesian airlines.
• Terminal 2 is also divided into 3 sub-terminals. Terminal 2D and 2E are for international flights while Terminal 2F is for domestic flights of Garuda Indonesia and Merpati Nusantara Airlines.
• Terminal 2D is for all international airlines serviced by PT Jasa Angkasa Semesta (one of the ground handlers for the airport).
• Terminal 2E and 2F are for all international airlines serviced by PT Gapura Angkasa (another ground handler for the airport).
• Terminal 3 Pier 1 was opened in 2009 and current flights operated by AirAsia and Mandala Airlines operate from the terminal. Eventually, Terminal 3 will include five piers.

In addition, Japan Airlines has created two videos that are posted on Youtube that show the international arrivals area to help assist passengers upon arrival. The videos includes subtitles in both Japanese and English and will further help to orientate first time visitors.

 

How to speed through airport security

Like it or not, longer lines at airport security checks is a fact of life in the post 9/11 world. However, airport security need not slow you down if you are well prepared for it in advance.

Hence, a recent article from ForbesTraveler.com entitled 10 Tips to Speed your Security Check along with an accompanied slideshow are well worth reading by any business traveler who does not want to experience unnecessary hassles and delays the next time they are at the airport. Although some of the tips are USA specific, many of the general tips mentioned are relevant to frequent travelers to and within the Asia Pacific region. These tips include:

• Emptying Your Pockets Early – Waiting in line is a good time to start emptying your pockets and placing the contents into your carryon bag or a handy shopping bag. After all, some of the contents in your pocket won’t be needed until after you have already landed at your destination.
• Pick the Right Time to Travel – Business travelers need to speed through security and hence, you will experience less hassles when traveling on a Monday or another work day than you will on the weekends when more infrequent travelers are traveling.
• Find the Fastest Checkpoints – Some airports have implemented multiline security programs where travelers are divided according to whether or not they are traveling with families or how frequently they travel. However, if you are in a real hurry, the line with the frequent travelers or the shortest line may not be your best option. Hence, ask an attendant which line is faster and consult either the airport website or the TSA website (if traveling from a USA airport).
• Checked-in Luggage – Some airports in the USA are requiring travelers to escort their checked baggage through additional security screening. Hence and if you are just on a short-term trip, pack everything into a carry-on bag.
• Appropriate Dress – A clean-cut business traveler will likely clear security faster than someone resembling a backpacker while conservative dress is probably the best option when visiting certain Asian countries in particular. In addition, wear coats and shoes that are both comfortable and easy to remove during security checks.
• Always be Friendly – Never give security personnel a reason to pull you aside and give you extra treatment by being unfriendly. This is especially important for Westerners visiting Asian countries as inadvertently offending someone or not being friendly could lead to more than just a delay at the security checkpoint.
• Boarding Passes and Passports – Always keep your important identification papers within easy reach and remember, while not all countries require visitors to have a passport valid for three to six months after an arrival date, a security official might – especially one having a bad day.
• Careful What You Pack – Always check with the airport, your airline or the relevant security agency website for the latest information as to what you can and cannot take on board an airplane. After all, just because you were able to take that 100 ml container of liquid on board your last flight does not mean you can take it with you the next time you fly. Moreover, security procedures may be more strict depending upon the airport you are in, the airline you are flying and your destination (like the USA).

Keeping the above useful tips in mind the next time you fly will allow you to speed through rather than be slowed down by airport security.

Beijing Capital International Airport: Finding your way around the dragon

The new US$3.5 billion Terminal 3 at the Beijing Capital International Airport is not only the second largest airport building in the world, it also has an unusual design. Unlike other airports which generally follow similar and fairly straight forward designs, Terminal 3 is shaped like a dragon with domestic flights located in the dragon’s “head” and international flights located in the dragon’s “tail.” Hence, visitors may find navigating around the airport a daunting task while official English language resources available online still remains limited (For example: Airport maps on the official airport site are in Chinese).

However, Air China has posted a 10 minute video guide on Youtube.com that visitors to terminal 3 may find helpful. The video itself has no voice narration but it does contain plenty of English subtitles along with images to help visitors at least familiarize themselves with the airport layout.

Tokyo Narita Airport Terminal 2 video

Should you find yourself passing through Terminal 2 at the Tokyo Narita Airport, this helpful (although somewhat dated) video posted on Youtube would be worth watching. Just in case you are not familiar with the Narita Airport, Terminal 2 is home to Japan Airlines, several Oneworld carriers plus Air New Zealand, EgyptAir and China Southern Airlines. It consists of a main building plus a satellite building that are connected by concourses and a shuttle (people moving) system. Check-in, departures and Immigration are on the second floor while the baggage claim and customs are on the first floor.

Finding your way around the terminal should not be much of a problem but just in case you think that you might be in a hurry, watching this helpful video before you arrive might save you some time and from getting lost.

Flying to the Shanghai Pudong International Airport

Travelers planning to fly to China will find a relative lack of information available to them in English and online about Chinese airports and the Shanghai Pudong International Airport is no exception to this. The official website has some information plus there is an online airport guide with further information that includes a diagram of the facilities and services while Japan Airlines has also created and uploaded an arrivals video onto Youtube.

In addition, travelers to Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport will find that taking the Maglev high speed train into the city (Pudong) will definitely save them time (the ride lasts roughly 7 minutes and 20 seconds) and probably money as well since airport taxis will tend to be expensive (travelers should also be careful when using taxis from the airport as some cab drivers have been known to take advantage of travelers new to China). A single trip ticket can be purchased for 40 Yuan by presenting an air-ticket from the same day while a round trip ticket that is valid for seven days can be purchased for 80 Yuan. Further information about the Maglev train is available on their website plus a promotional video about the train is posted on Youtube that some travelers may find helpful.

Travel Advisory: Bangkok airport duty free scam

The BBC and the Times are reporting new allegations about passengers being detained every month in the duty free area of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport on suspicion of shoplifting, and then held by the police until large sums of money are paid to a middleman to buy their freedom. This time, two British IT experts were targeted but other recent targets have included two Danish nationals and an Irish scientist and her husband and one year old son.

Apparently, all were victims of a classic Thai scam called the "zig-zag” and the scheme has targeted Asians for some time already. In fact, a letter back in April to The Nation reported that an Indian national was recently a victim of such a scheme. However, it now appears that westerners are also being targeted.

Hence, the British Embassy has issued a warning to passengers at the Bangkok Airport to take care in not moving items around in duty free shops before paying for them as this could result in arrest. Moreover, other variations of the scheme include someone telling a group of travelers to place all duty free items in one bag or that its ok not to declare duty free items. Customs will then pounce on the traveler when they reach arrivals.

However, it should be noted that millions of travelers pass through the Bangkok Airport every year without incident but nevertheless, business travelers should take note and take basic precautions in light of the incidents being reported above.

Terminal guide for the Hong Kong International Airport

Youtube has a short video guide uploaded about arriving at Terminal 1 at the Hong Kong International Airport. The video uses an airport diagram to show where arriving passengers need to go if they have another flight to catch or if Hong Kong is their ultimate destination and hence, will be needing to clear immigration and customs. Since the layout of Terminal 1 is fairly straight forward, arriving passengers should not have any problems finding out where they need to go. Nevertheless, watching this video prior to arrival will certainly be a help to any traveler who expects to be in a hurry when passing through the airport.