Even the most passionate of travellers can have the life sapped out of them by unexpected delays at airports.
Late connections, lost baggage, mechanical troubles, any number of things can result in an excruciating wait shuffling about on those notoriously uncomfortable gate lounge seats covered in glorious synthetics.
So this may be the most practical guide of them all if you are planning a trip and have more than a few hours to kill between flights.
Every year, the quirky Guide to Sleeping in Airports conducts a global survey to find out what airports travellers rate as the best – and worst – for ‘sleeping’, ‘overall experience’ and ‘layover’.
The survey asks travellers to rate:
- Designated rest and quiet zones where tired travellers can relax and enjoy some stress-free time before their flight.
- Availability of transit hotels and sleep pods
- Plentiful, comfortable, arm-rest free seating
- Cots, blankets and pillows provided to travellers stuck in the airport overnight due to flight cancellations
So for starters, Saudi Arabia’s soon-to-be-replaced Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport was voted the worst airport of them all to try and sneak a nap.
Any guess on which one received the top gong for the third year running?
Frequent travellers to the northern hemisphere know Singapore’s Changi International Airport very well and would no doubt agree this constantly upgraded, clean and efficient transit hub is a worthy winner of all three categories.
Australia’s New World City, Brisbane took top honours in the South Pacific ahead of Adelaide, Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch.
Of Brisbane International Airport, the verdict was: “Plenty of comfortable couches are scattered pre and post security, and in a few areas, you’ll even find dimmed lights and soothing music. Some travellers this past year were even directed to these areas by helpful airport staff who realised they were in the airport for the long haul. Superior shower facilities further delight those who spend hours here, as does the free Wi-Fi”.
Travellers have declared the “World’s Best Airports for Sleeping” in 2016 are:
- Singapore Changi International Airport, Singapore
- Seoul Incheon International Airport, South Korea
- Tallinn International Airport, Estonia
- Tokyo Haneda International Airport, Japan
- Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, Finland
- Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan
- Osaka Kansai International Airport, Japan
- Munich International Airport, Germany
- Vancouver International Airport, Canada
- Vienna International Airport, Austria
Changi and Incheon were also first and second in the “best overall experience” category. Full results here.
And the list of the worst airports for sleeping …
- Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport, Saudi Arabia
- London Luton International Airport, England
- Reykjavik-Keflavik International Airport, Iceland
- Pisa Galileo Galilei International Airport, Italy
- Venice Marco Polo International Airport, Italy
- New York City La Guardia International, USA
- Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal
- Honolulu International Airport, USA
- Rome Ciampino-G.B. Pastine International Airport, Italy
- Berlin Schoenefeld International Airport, Germany
Do you agree? Do you have a “sleeping in airports” experience or recommendation to share?
