How to Choose an Airport for a Transfer
Some airports are better suited for connecting than others, both in terms of lower airfares and overall comfort and convenience. (And some airports should just be avoided if possible.) When I had a couple of hours to kill at Honolulu airport, for example, I could relax in their tropical garden (shown above) rather than in a crowded waiting or forgetfulness area. airport bar.
Of course, not every trip you book will provide you with multiple transfer options – and it might not be worth the energy planning and research if transfer times are less than three hours – but if you have a choice, here’s what you should think about. before. booking.
Consider standard factors
Before diving into what makes an ideal airport for a transfer, consider the standard factors first:
- Airfare: Obviously, you will see this when you search for air tickets.
- The airline support service of your choice: Better Business Bureau , Trip Advisor, and Consumer Affairs have decent reviews that you can read to get an idea of it.
- Weather conditions for each airport (for example, flights to the northeast in winter may cause delays due to weather conditions)
- Frequency of flight delays for each airport: The Federal Aviation Administration has information on flight delays.
If you have several options after considering the above factors, you can figure out which airport will give you the best connecting experience. Sometimes the above factors can be close, for example, the difference between the two flights can be $ 50, which can be low enough to choose a slightly more expensive airport if it offers a better connecting experience.
Find out what you will spend your time on
Sitting at the airport bar is, of course, a great way to while away the hours of waiting to board the plane. If you don’t want to change trains, you should see what other options the airport has to offer. Some possibilities to get started:
- Cultural exhibits : There are artistic or historical exhibits scattered throughout the airport for you to do to learn more about local artists, history, or culture.
- Exercise : Could be a gym, yoga room, or some other place where you can pump your blood before you get stuck on a plane.
- Open Spaces : As I mentioned above, some airports have wonderful places where you can enjoy being surrounded by plants and small creatures rather than the stale air of the airport. Conde Nast Traveler has a good list of outdoor seating areas, while Cheap Flights has a list of airports with outdoor seating areas .
- Great food : some airports have well-known local restaurants that you can sample without going through security. Food & Wine has an extensive list of delicious places to grab a bite to eat.
- Go outside : If your stopover is long enough, you can think of a “city tour” and head outside the airport to admire the sights.
- Kids Activities : If you are traveling with your kids, some airports are friendlier than others. You can find ones that have play areas or other places to keep your kids entertained.
Find these details of the airports you are planning by visiting their website and looking at their reviews (other flyers are your friends!).
Check comfort
Besides the fact that you have a couple of ways to pass the time, you want to feel comfortable during the transplant. Decide which two or three comfort-related things are most important to you so you can see if the airport will do them. A few examples:
- Lounge access (you may be able to get there for free )
- Wi-Fi connection
- Workplaces and access to outlets
- Airport layout
- Quiet areas
You should keep records for future travel, even if you just scribbled a score from 1 to 5, so you quickly know if you should transfer again at this airport.