flickering pictures

The very neat Guide to Sleeping in Airports provides detailed info on the varying levels of comfort, cleanliness and security guard grumpiness at airports around the world, as well as tips for hassle-free napping.

The Guide also ranks the airports for hospitality, and there seems to be a distinct leaning in favour of Asian airports over Western ones.

The five worst, according to their reviews:

• Paris (Charles-de-Gaulle) (review)
  The Guide’s reviewers complained mostly about dirty washrooms, rude staff and sparse, uncomfortable seating. The staff seemed fine and I didn’t find it dirty, but I’m with them on the comfort — trying to sleep while sprawled across four bucket seats on a 13-hour layover is not a pleasant experience.
• Moscow (Sheremetyevo) (review)
  Complaints centre around dimly lit, dirty conditions and requests for bribes from the staff. One reviewer wrote: “[My wife] moved from her bench after a woman nearby vomited. Several hours later my wife passed the spot and the vomit had not been cleaned.”
• Paris (Beauvais) (review)
  Aside from apparently being “so far from Paris that it may as well be Belgium,” reviewers complain that nappers are booted out at night and that the bathrooms are helpfully placed outside.
• Los Angeles (LAX) (review)
  The biggest issue here is apparently the rudeness of the staff. One reviewer recalls customs officials calling passengers “stupid idiots” because of the crookedness of the immigration line, while another says: “Security wanted me to chuck out my belt because the buckle set off the metal detector and they made an elderly German woman throw out her medication because the directions were not in English and therefore the container may have held explosives, not medicine.”
• New York (JFK) (review)
  I’m not sure this one deserves its “Welcome to Hell!” rating.

And best airports to sleep in, by continent?

• Asia: Singapore
  Winner of the Guide’s “Golden Pillow” award 12 years running. “Sleepers worldwide will be brought to tears of joy when they discover all of the wonderful amenities available at Club Changi. Throw away those inflatable rafts for this trip, my friends, because you will find specially designed “snooze chairs” in the rest areas. In addition to those typical amenities that we rave about at other airports such as internet cafes, prayer rooms, shopping, and good eats, add these upgrades available at Changi: free WiFi and internet, free city tour, a swimming pool and Jacuzzi, 24 hour massage and spa facilities, 24 hour business center, video games, music lounges, live bands, six gardens, a special “official” napping corner, and free movies — all at the airport. There really is no reason to leave Club Changi.”
  Runners-up: Seoul Incheon, Hong Kong
• Europe: Amsterdam
  “In transit/departures area you will find long leather couches and sleeper rooms in transit area, WiFi”
  Runners-up: Istanbul, Munich
• North America: San Francisco
  “Cushioned seats without armrests at some gates, WiFi (but not free), undergone a renovation in recent years, clean, 24-hour subway with padded seats”
  Runners-up: Vancouver, Orlando
• Caribbean, Central & South America: Rio de Janiero
  “The security guards were nice enough; they asked me to move but only so they could keep an eye on me while I slept,” “The new terminal looks like a palace.”
  Runners-up: Buenos Aires Ezeiza, Sao Paolo
• Middle East: Dubai
  “Free WiFi, comfortable chairs, sofas, long lounge sleeper chairs in departure area, open 24 hours.”
  Runners-up: Tel Aviv, Abu Dhabi
• Africa: Johannesburg
  “Friendly staff, limited comfortable seating”
  Runners-up: Cape Town, Cairo

The site also reviews bus and train stations and even ferry terminals.

Thanks, FT!
Image via Jaunted.

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