My vote goes to Frankfurt for all the reasons mentioned by PJK - NOTHING to look at, NOTHING to do and NOWHERE to sit. Yikes.

Still, as long as the flight is on time and is safe and successful - I'm not too picky.

MollyB

Vienna. Twenty gates, one round concourse, 4 seats.

Another vote for CDG. Two non-EU passport control booths serving thousands of early morning passengers. However, they do have a well-staffed desk for people who have missed their connecting flights.

I was told when we made our Paris reservations that we need to be at CDG min of 3 hrs before fligt time. This is in effect for Rome, Paris and Heathrow.

Schipol is the best and most efficiently designed airport I've ever been thru. Brussels is ok if you are on United...Heathrow is my number one nemesis and I always try to avoid it......CDG is...well....Paris! Try and bone up a little before hand.

No one has mentioned the weirdest runway of them all...Gibraltar!!

In an auto, you MUST actually drive across the runways to get into town. I know, I've done it...not without severe trepidation and a wife whose eyes remained tightly closed for ten minutes!

Stu T.

I hate Heathrow for one reason - their incomprehensible need to display gate numbers mere minutes before boarding, requiring a person to run to their gate. Has anyone else noticed this? Have been through Heathrow twice, and same thing each time.

Oh it's all too weird and too depressing, especially as I have to use some of these maligned airports for several flights in March.

Yes, I would expect Fiumicino to be inefficient, because it's staffed by ITALIANS -- people I adore but on whom I would fain rely.

However, I've not yet (touch wood) had a bad experience at FCO and -- as long as your luggage arrives -- it is a dream of an airport for arrivals.

As in: 20 minutes from deplaning to luggage retrieval, immigration clearance and ticket purchase for the train to Rome Termini...

Contrast that with my usual 30-45 minutes to get a hearing with the immigration Nazis of my own beloved Canada, whenever I return from abroad.

Now, CDG: Who ever expected France to be simple or convenient? But the architecture -- those arching scallop-shell glass roofs in Terminal whatsis -- well, it's pretty chic isn't it?

I've never tried to learn my way around CDG, in 30 years of travelling through it. I just follow the signs or the non-signs and somehow I always get where I need to be.....

And if I get lost, I amuse myself watching the crowds assembling for their flight to Ouagadougou. Really, CDG has the MOST heterogeneous assortment of travellers!

Frankfurt? Never a bad experience but I've been there only 4 times or so. Only failing is their propensity to change gates for flights AFTER they have issued your boarding pass. Kinda unsettling, to put it mildly!!

Schiphol? No complaints there either. Love the link to downtown, too (just as in Frankfurt).

Well I guess I am screwed! We are flying to CDG this summer, our first family european vacation and out of CDG at the end, AND we don't speak French!
Well at least we will be in Europe!

girlonthego--

Don't let the comments about CDG scare you off. We've flown in and out of there numerous times and never had a problem. Yes, it is ugly, depressing, strangely laidout and lacking amenities compared to other airports. But, we have never gotten lost or had a problem there. Just be sure to arrive 3 hours early if you are flying home to the US from there.

Yes, julies. I think we should also caveat all of this with some perspective. CDG stinks. LHR is no picnic. FRA yadda yadda.

All of them serve over 50 million passengers each year. They are big and crowded and impersonal, but large numbers of those 50 million people manage these airports with minimal disruption, and the horror stories that we hear about should be considered in the context of just how many people actually fly through them.

Going home through CDG, we are flying Air Berlin from Vienna and are planning to spend the night before at a CDG airport hotel. So, we will be there in the morning!
Does anyone know off hand if the small inter country flights allow for carry on baggage? We are on Luftansa to Munich and then Air Berlin on return.

It was just funny that everyone here slammed CDG and that is our main entry and exit point to Europe. Also, not speaking French does not help I am sure. But we can deal with it. I will make my kids ask questions in Spanish and German. What is the worst that can happen, we wind up somewhere else in Europe instead of a flight back to the US...:) hmmmm... maybe I can work on that!

Both Lufthansa and Air Berlin have carry-on weight restrictions of less than 10kg. I do not know how strictly these will be enforced, but I have seen reports that Lufthansa is one of the stricter carriers about these weights.

While CDG is a huge airport, my most nerve shredding experience was in Feb when they took apart my bags...its was a slow day in security. While this was happening my hubby and I waited patiently as a truly ugly American came stomping up to the security area demanding to be be allowed thru at once as she had a flight to catch. I myself was there only for the entertainmment. No wonder people have such disdain for American travlers when we have such an attitude of entitlement. My husband and I truly hoped she missed her flight. But be warned: the EU is not fooling around when it comes to liquids (even Rx) in carryons.This includes items purchased at duty free.

Both Lufthansa and Air Berlin are very relaxed. They never weigh. I very often take a 18kg-suitcase on the plane, never had a problem. They are also very relaxed regarding the number of carry-ons. The general rule is: As many pieces as you can carry.

Thanks for the info! I bought everyone a rick steves 7lb suitcase. I purposely did that because of weight restrictions. Ijust hope we can fit two weeks in there :) I told DH and the kids we will pack lots of underwear and shirts!

I am surprised that no one has mentioned Florence. That is a hideous airport. Quite remarkable being that it is Florentine.

CDG is bad but it is far more palatable if you fly with Air France. That terminal is actually convenient. Also, it is unfortunate that San Francisco's new international terminal isn't mentioned. I think it is one of the best in the US

I disagree with the earlier disparaging remarks about DFW. I fly from and to Dallas-Fort Worth frequently and find it far superior to most American and European airports. There is easy parking, decent food, and places to sit where you can breathe and have several seats to yourself. The airport is clean and the new international terminal is very nice.

For me, Heathrow still is at the top of my European airport avoidance list.

In the US, sorry packed, but DFW and I do not work. In the last 2 years, all 7 of my flights through there have been delayed or cancelled. And so I walk out of the secured area to find out what is going on. Why there was no weather condition that would keep my last plane from landing but yet clear blue skies are keeping my connecting flight from departing.

What's outside of the secured area? Nothing! Absolutely nothing but a narrow walkway between the windows onto the street and the ticket counters full of stressed out AA employees.

"Hottest without Aircon - Limassol 48oC nearly died that day" There's an airport in Limassol?


Moscow Sheremetyevo I and II are very grim indeed

FRA confusing if you have to connect with long distances between gates

ZRH and MAD do not have the same no of passengers passing thru as CDG/LHR and are much smaller.

DFW terminal D(??) is very nice although duty free shops have very little in them.