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Confirmed: Singapore's Changi Airport Is Absurdly, Famously Decadent

A new survey is out on travelers' favorite airports, this one claiming to be among the most comprehensive to date. 14,500 frequent travelers representing 160 countries from around the world were polled, and after everything was tallied the winner was Singapore's Changi Airport. Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok and Amsterdam's Schiphol were 2nd and 3rd respectively.

We're not sure how actually legitimate these results were and if there was any campaigning in the background. Whoever's responsible for the airport's PR seems to have an ambitious streak, and someone has gone so far as to insert copy into Wikipedia: "the designer airport is one of those anomalies where the phrase 'I spent all my time in the airport' is likely to be a positive."

So maybe this was a commissioned survey. But as the old saying goes, if you've got it flaunt it. And the Singapore Changi Airport certainly seems to have it.

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Tags: Living in Airports / Airport Heaven / Hiroshi Nohara / MEX / → All Tags

Airport Lover Hiroshi Nohara Headed Home

Japanese Tom Hanks Hiroshi Nohara is headed home, after spending 117 days in Mexico City International Airport and then shacking up with a mysterious woman known only as Oyuki for close to two weeks.

Nohara reappeared at MEX on Sunday, carrying three plastic bags full of clothes and blankets. His flight back to Japan left Monday, with a stop scheduled for San Francisco.

While Nohara never fully explained why he was living in the airport, we like to think that he was part of some Illuminati super-plot or was at least wrapped up in some kind of real-life Bourne scenario. 'Cause really... "The Terminal"? Honestly, it wasn't that good.

Related Stories:
· Man Returns to Japan after Mexico Airport Stay [AP, via Google]
· Japanese Tom Hanks Moving On Up [Jaunted]
· Japanese Tom Hanks Can't Get Enough Of Mexico City [Jaunted]

[Photo: China Daily]

Tags: Airport Hell / Airport Heaven / Curbside Check-in / → All Tags

Ranting and Raving: A Love-Hate Relationship with Curbside Check-in

Like most convenience-loving Americans, I welcomed the introduction of curbside check-in at airports around the world. There's nothing better than checking your bags and getting your boarding passes immediately upon stepping out of the taxi, and even though there's a fee for the service, it's worth it for that easy-breezy feeling of dumping your luggage and proceeding directly to the gate. But lately the curbside check-in guys have become more churlish. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like they used to be a lot more helpful than they are today, actually carrying your bags from the curb to the scale and cheerfully booking you on an earlier flight if one was available. But the past three times we've flown, we were lucky to get so much as a grunt from the curbside dudes, who watched lazily as we struggled with bags, stroller, and wiggly baby. A little help? Forget it.

They unfailingly tell us about the curbside check-in fee, though, making sure we know that the tip is not included in that fee. The last time I heard that, I was left thinking "a tip for what?" If you don't do anything more than the regular check-in people do inside the terminal - if I wrangled all my own bags while you stood idly, joking with your co-workers - why should I tip you?

Of course I keep my mouth shut and fork over a couple of bucks, lest my bags end up in Timbuktu. It doesn't seem like I've got much of an alternative. What do you think about curbside check-in? Jam it or slam it? Sound off in the comments.

[Photo: Associated Press]

Related Stories
· Airport Heaven Coverage [Jaunted]
· Airport Hell Coverage [Jaunted]

Tags: Living in Airports / Airport Heaven / Hiroshi Nohara / MEX / → All Tags

Japanese Tom Hanks Can't Get Enough Of Mexico City

A former Tokyo janitor named Hiroshi Nohara has been living in Mexico City International Airport since September 2. Why? He hasn't said, though he did tell reporters recently, "My life is 'The Terminal 2.'"

Camping out in Terminal 1, which serves both domestic and international destinations, he relies on donations from airport restaurants and transiting passengers to get by, content to sleep in a chair. Despite the freebies, he is not, the Associated Press says, in good shape:

During his stay, Nohara's wiry goatee has grown into a scraggly mass. His red-tinted hair is speckled with dust and dandruff, and his cream-colored jacket and fleece blanket are dingy with overuse. He smells like he hasn't had a shower in months.

With a valid tourist visa that won't expire until March, authorities can't really toss him out of the airport. But he has left on his own at least once: Nohara went to see the Estadio Azteca, one of soccer's most storied venues.

Related Stories:
· "The Terminal 2?" Japanese Man Makes Airport Home [AP, via Google]
· The Japanese Tourist Won't Be Tossed Out [Expreso.com.mx, in Spanish]

[Photo of another long layover at MEX: 00ucci]

Tags: Air New Zealand / Airports / Airport Heaven / → All Tags

Bragging About A New Check-In System

Air New Zealand thinks it’s pretty clever. During the next month or so the national Kiwi carrier is introducing a bunch of so-called innovations which they say are world firsts at cutting check-in times at the airport.

Now, we do agree that Air New Zealand is good at doing new stuff: They were the proud hosts of the first perfect flight and they’ve got their flying concierges, too. But the changes they’re making to reduce check-in times all kinda sound like stuff we’ve heard before.

There’ll be lots of online options for advance check-in and seat selection, and you’ll be able to use a bar code on your cell phone as a boarding pass. A new array of check in kiosks and luggage handling systems will cut wait times, too.

The $30 million super system is meant to make it 40 percent faster for passengers and we’re definitely happy with that. We just think that claiming a “world first” might be blowing your own trumpet just a bit too loudly.

Related Stories:
· Air New Zealand’s World First Check-In System to Cut Queues [The Age]
· Perfect Flights: Only Air New Zealand Knew There Was Such a Thing [Jaunted]
· Air New Zealand Concierges Almost Ready [Jaunted]

[Photo: code_martial]

Tags: Airport Heaven / Airports / → All Tags

Coming Soon to JFK: Edible Food

Complaining about airline food - or what's left of it - is an age-old pastime, but we've always had a soft spot in our hearts for those dried-up beef medallions and tiny iceberg lettuce salads with two radish slices and one lonely cherry tomato. After all, if you're eating an airline meal, it means you're on your way somewhere, and everything tastes better when you're traveling. We hold no such love for the restaurants in most airports, which is why efforts to bring "humanity" to the dining options in JetBlue's new Terminal 5 at JFK are most welcome.

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Tags: Airport Heaven / Travel Tech / Continental / Delta / Chris Elliott / → All Tags

Adventures of Link: Delta Introducing Cell Phone Check-in

You'll only be able to try it at LaGuardia for now, but Delta has rolled out its first e-boarding pass. You'll now be able to check in and get past the TSA screeners using nothing more than your web-capable mobile.

Of course, a few airlines already have this service--including Air Canada, Continental and Japan Airlines. But it looks like it's really starting to catch on in the States, which begs an important reminder: Charge those phones before you head to the airport!

Related Stories:
· Delta Testing Cell Phone-Based Airline Check-in [Crave]
· Delta Partners with TSA to Launch Paperless Mobile Check-in [Official Site]
· TSA and Continental Airlines Expand Paperless Boarding Pass Program [Official Site]
· Paper Is Out, Cellphones Are in [NYT]
· The Problem with Paperless Boarding Passes? [Elliott]

[Photo: NYT]

Tags: Airport Heaven / Hotels / ARN / → All Tags

HOWTO: Fly Without Taking Off, Part Two

If you can never seem to get any sleep on a flight, the newest hotel coming to Stockholm may not be for you. Officials at Sweden's largest airport have approved a scheme to convert a retired 747 into an 80-bed hostel right next to Stockholm Arlanda.

Area businessman Oscar Diös plans to rip out the aircraft's 500 seats and put in 80 beds; the cockpit will be turned into a suite. Of course some of the interior will remain in place to add that aviation flavor. A potential opening date hasn't been announced, and rates are still a mystery.

If the plan, uh, takes off, Diös says he'll try to start up more of the airplane hotels around the world. After all, why take just a short ride in a flightless plane when you can spend the whole night?

Related Stories:
· Airport Check-In: Jet-as-Hostel [USA Today]
· HOWTO: Fly Without Taking Off [Jaunted]
· Best Geek Hotels in the World [HotelChatter]

[Photo of a 747 at DEN: Wikipedia]

Tags: Jaunted Travel Awards / Airports / Airport Heaven / PDX / WiFi / Free WiFi / → All Tags

2007 Awards: Best Domestic Airport

We've spent a lot of time this year digging up airports with free WiFi. And though lots of smaller airports have wireless--and don't get clogged with too many flights--we have to give this year's award to a major airport that's just great: PDX.

Portland International goes so far to let you set up a VPN so you can handle secure data. The airport also has plenty of plugs and seats around; you won't have to set up shop on a dingy patch of floor. Add in the fact that we have fond childhood memories of PDX and that it's so close to great skiing and you've got a winner.

[Photo: web_guy94301]

Tags: Airport Restaurants / Airport Food / Airport Heaven / → All Tags

Airport Dining 101

There are few skills more valuable than mastering airport dining. A post on New York magazine's Grub Street blog, did a fantastic job of breaking it down clean and simple. Pay attention, we'll review.

If you have the cash to spare, by all means travel first class, and not just for the cushy seats. With that ticket you get access to the First Class Lounge and all the delicious treats there. (Caviar bars, anyone?) Second, pick the quick dining option. Those sit-down celeb chef restaurants aren't anywhere near as good as they promise.

Next, go with what you know, as it's hard to mess up simple breakfast foods, hot dogs or corn dogs. Sure, corn dogs aren't the best thing for you, but all that deep frying will kill any lingering germs. Plus, you know you want to indulge.

Other tips are more obvious, like staying away from anything spoilable (ie. chicken salad, sushi) that looks like its hardened and been re-heated or re-anythinged. And also, follow the crowds, lines are long at certain snack spots for a reason, the food's probably good and not illness-inducing. Or do what we may do, and pack extra leftovers this Thanksgiving. Sneaking into the lounge to re-heat the mashed potatoes may be tough, but well worth it!

Related Stories:
· How To Master the World of Airport Dining [Grub Street]
· A First-Class Sandwich [Budget Travel, via MSNBC]
· Airports coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: su-lin]

Tags: Airport Heaven / Airports We Love / → All Tags

Airports We Love: BUF

An ode to the secret traveling oasis that is Buffalo/Niagara International. Don't laugh, just read:

· We love how the airport's glass structure and enormous windows makes the building feel bright and sunny even during the depths of Buffalo winters.

· We love how it never takes more than 10 minutes to pass through security.

· We love how luggage actually reaches the baggage claim soon after arrival.

· We love how the two terminals, no more than a few hundred yards each, both have moving platforms.

· We love how visitors can stock up on necessary souvenirs like hot sauce and stuffed bison in the gift shops.

· We love how there's a miniature art museum located before security. Exhibits at The Gallery change regularly. Now on display -- a photo exhibit of architectural masterpieces in the region.

· We love how the airport has eclipsed Toronto Pearson International in popularity. While Buffalonians once flocked across the border for cheaper flights and better options, Canadians now come down to avoid the congestion and ensure reliable travel.

Related Stories:
· Airports We Love [Jaunted]

Tags: Jaunted Field Trip / Pellston / Mackinac Island / Airport WiFi / Airport Heaven / → All Tags

Airport Heaven: PLN is not Just For Bear Trappers

This is PLN baggage claim.

Before you dismiss this place as a backwoods hunting and trapping airport know that WiFi signal is strong and free throughout the airport and they recently installed cellular antennas to the building so our Cingular cell phone signal is stronger than it is on Pine St. in San Francisco.

More semi-live blogging to come from Mackinac Island (aka "The Rock") tomorrow.

Related Stories:
· Pellston Airport [Official Site]