NAIA Terminal 1 - Worst Airport in the World?

When the website www.sleepinginairports.net and Frommers called NAIA Terminal 1 as the 2nd World's Worst Airport, it seems only government officials are complaining.  Pinoys usually do not publicly say something bad about their country nor its countrymen.  But they know.  They know that NAIA Terminal 1 is really really bad, what they are not sure is if it is one of the world's worst.

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2012/01/19/frommers-10-worst-airport-terminals-in-world/

I had been at Terminal 1 twice in 2011 and twice more this year.  The sad part, it is not getting any better.  Arrivals are huge burdens, but departure is a nightmare.  I hope they do something about this, because Terminal 1 might just become #1 next year, since they are not doing anything about it.

What can be done to improve the Terminal 1 experience?

1)  The NAIA Terminal 1 is too small.  It can no longer accommodate the volume of people traffic, especially in the early mornings when there are 2 flights to the US, 4 flights to Asia and 3 flights to the middle east.  So the queue is just unbelievably long.  Can't we use Terminal 3 for some of the Regional flights to lessen volume?

2) Too many questions at the check-in counter.  What they had been asking since 1990, they are still doing up to now.  Who packed your bags? Did you receive gifts from unknown persons?  Where were these bags since you packed them last night?  Come on!  If these are FAA required then why are these questions not asked at check-in counters in the US or in Singapore or even in Malaysia?

3) The restrooms need serious overhaul.  They are old, dirty and not functioning.  As the terminal is more than 25 years old, the comfort rooms are becoming similar to restrooms in bus terminals.  Actually, even the restrooms at Terminal 2 are slowly becoming like Terminal's 1.  I don't think we invested in high-quality products that can withstand the times.  The counters are getting blacker and blacker and are starting to fall-off.

4) My nephew narrated their family's ordeal when they went home to the Philippines last Christmas.  He was with his wife and then 1-year old kid.  Terminal 1 is a nightmare for single travelers, I could only imagine how uncomfortable it is for families with small children, with more bags and not to mention the stroller.

5) Upon arrival, the Immigration Lines are unbelievably long.  After a 24-hour flight from the US, the last thing you want to do is to stand in line for 20-30 minutes.  They know the schedule of the flights.  For one, I know that there are 2 flights from the US arriving every night, together with 3-4 Asian flights and a couple from the Middle East.  Can they double or triple the number of Immigration officers at night?

The slogan it's more fun in the Philippines is getting traction worldwide.  Over the weekend, Luzon and Cebu were listed in the Top 10 of the World's Best Islands in the highly-prestigious Conde Naste Travel Survey.  But the first and last impressions on a country is formed at the airport terminals. Let us please do something about this.

Airports

When one travels to US, very likely the traveler gets to several airports.  Especially when the final destination is the East Coast or Mid West.  Let's look at some of the airports en route from Manila to the US.

NAGOYA AIRPORT

has improved a lot.  very big, very clean.  major problem, not many flights connect there.  so they have yet to establish the city as a major flight/tourist destination.  very few flights departed from the airport that day.

the Nagoya airport has vastly added a lot of amenities.  really nice rest rooms, wi-fi everywhere, plus this very nice children's playground.  not sure if there is any other kiddie playground in an international airport, if there is, probably not this big.

only in Japan, can a smoking area be this grand.  (sobrang sosyal!), carpeted floors, expensive furnitures.  It's like you are in an old gentleman's club or cafe - but in an airport.  cool!

This is the Detroit airport.  very cool company advertising in their automatic doors =)

This is the Chicago airport.  I have not been here for decades, so I asked directions from the counter on where the limousine station is.  They said it is in the other terminal and I have to cross this "funky" tunnel.  Now I know, what they mean.

Changes color every minute.

This is the Salt Lake City airport in Utah.  Very clean, very nice.  It is old, but still OK.

Still at the Salt Lake City airport.  There are tons of people here during rush hour, but afterwards the place becomes empty.

The snow-capped mountains is a delight to see.  still at Salt Lake City

This is at the Arrival section of the San Francisco International Airport.  Very tidy and organized

this is the view from the Departure section of the San Fo International Airport

This is the Tokyo Narita International Airport.  Hmmm.  my opinion, it becomes more and more crowded every year.  Plus the amenities have not improved significantly, commensurate to the number of people at the airport.  I have the impression that the airport becomes smaller and smaller.

And finally, the arrival section (where passengers are asked to wait at the area corresponding to their last names).  No need to explain, the pictures speak for itself

The next day, I had to fly back to Cebu.  This is the NAIA PAL Terminal.  It really looks good in pictures.  In fairness to PAL, that day, our flight departed on time, arrived on time.  And as we were walking to the baggage carousel, the bags are already out.  I was thoroughly impressed.  Hope it continues.

This is the Mactan Cebu International Airport.  Getting older, and outdated.  Don't get me wrong, it serves its purpose.  But I don't think it can stand travel traffic in the next 3 years...time to upgrade.

Best Airline at Best Airport

Happy thoughts tungkol sa airplane.

Eto ang personal na listahan ng mga pinaka-OK na airlines at airport.  Kasama na ang mga experiences sa airplane at airport.

1.  Favorite Airlines
(Economy Class) Singapore Airlines.  Ang ganda kasi ng eroplano nila e.  Merong TV sa bawat upuan at puwede kang maglaro ng videogames.   Maluwag ang legroom.  OK ang food. 

(Business Class) Emirates.  1990's pa lang, meron ng on-demand video sa Emirates.  At nung early 2000 sila ang unang nag-introduce ng upuan na talagang nakahiga ka na, so mas masarap matulog. 

On-Time - Lufthansa.  Mga 3 beses lang akong nag-Lufthansa pero never silang na-delay.  OK din ang Singapore Airlines never pa nila ako dinelay sa flight.  Sa local naman, for me PAL is the best.  Marami nagsasabi na PAL = plane always late.  Pero in my experience, once pa lang nila ako dinelay.  Tingin ko sila pa rin ang most reliable airline sa Pinas.

Service - Favorite ko ang Philippine Airlines, iyong sa loob na ng eroplano ha.  (Ibang usapan sa check-in at baggage counter).  Ang babait kasi ng stewards at stewardesses.  Sobrang bait nila sa mga senior citizens.  Grabe din ang service ng Philippine Airlines sa Business Class.  What they lack in terms of amenities they make up in terms of service. 

Airline Food - Cathay Pacific Business Class, especially their US to Asia leg.  Wow!  para kang kumain sa isang gourmet restaurant.  Kung Business Class actually OK rin ang Air France (grabe ang kanilang wine at cheese selection).  Pag economy, gusto ko ang PAL lalo na kung galing kang ibang bansa for a long time  tapos kakain ka ng Bangus o kaya longganisa, sarap!

2.  Interesting Airlines
TAM - nag-fly ako ng Sao Paulo, Brazil papuntang Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Economy lang ang flight namin, tapos binasa ko yung emergency guide namin.  Eto ang sabi:  "in the event of an emergency, your seat acts as flotation device".  Ayos!  Ibig sabihin pag may emergency, tumayo ka kunin ang upuan mo at yakapin ito.  hahaha.  Ang matindi dyan may picture pa sila.  On the way back, business class ako.  Aha!  Meron na silang lifevests - grabe nga naman ang service merong pang-mayaman at pangmahirap.

3.  Celebrity Sightings
First flight ko pa lang sa US, kasabay na namin si Gary Valenciano. May concert sya nun sa US.  Mabait naman siya at nagpapa-picture sa amin

Nakasabay din namin si Moira Kelly sa isang domestic US flight.  Nakita rin namin sa airport sa Leonardo di Caprio (nung di pa sya sobrang sikat), si Tom Hanks.  Nakasabay din namin sa plane si Gustavo Kuerten sa Brazil at si Adriana Lima yung model.

Last flight ko sa Cebu, kahilera namin si Marvin Agustin.  Iyong cliente ko pa nga ang nakapansin, "Darwin, is that guy a celebrity?".  Maporma kasi.

4.  Favorite Airport
Dubai International Airport.  Grabe naman kasi sa laki.  Parang Megamall sa laki.  At grabe ang shoppingan.  Puwede ka ring bumili ng ginto na tinitimbang.  Meron ding shower room at sleeping rooms. Tapos ang mga restaurants, puro Pinoy.  So ang babait nila at dala ng dala ng pagkain.  Kaso 2003 pa ko last andun, di ko alam kung nagbago, sana hindi pa.

OK rin ang Schiphol Airport sa Amsterdam, Netherlands.  Maraming magagawa at may casino pa =)