Philippines airport bullet-in-bag scam hits travelers

By CNN Staff, CNN
2 minute read
Published 6:57 AM EST, Wed November 4, 2015
"If the 7th Circle of Hell were a place on earth, it would be 'Paris' Beauvais-Tille," said one traveler who responded to the Guide to Sleeping in Airports' 2015 best/worst airport survey. Why all the hate? According to the travel site, grievances generally revolve around the absence of chairs, kind staff, sufficient toilets and hygienic standards.
Worst: 10. Beauvais-Tille International Airport (Paris) —
"If the 7th Circle of Hell were a place on earth, it would be 'Paris' Beauvais-Tille," said one traveler who responded to the Guide to Sleeping in Airports' 2015 best/worst airport survey. Why all the hate? According to the travel site, grievances generally revolve around the absence of chairs, kind staff, sufficient toilets and hygienic standards.
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Ranked the world's "Worst Airport of 2014," Islamabad's international airport has seen improvements over the past year, said Sleeping in Airports. Washrooms have been upgraded, while a new lounge has been added. The airport also increased the number of check-in and immigration counters. Nonetheless, critics say it could still use a good scrub, better crowd control and friendlier staff.
Worst: 9. Benazir Bhutto International Airport (Islamabad, Pakistan) —
Ranked the world's "Worst Airport of 2014," Islamabad's international airport has seen improvements over the past year, said Sleeping in Airports. Washrooms have been upgraded, while a new lounge has been added. The airport also increased the number of check-in and immigration counters. Nonetheless, critics say it could still use a good scrub, better crowd control and friendlier staff.
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Numerous survey respondents made allegations of impropriety, says Sleeping in Airports. CNN's attempts to reach the airport for comment were unsuccessful. Lesser complaints included poor Wi-Fi signals, dirty bathrooms and a limited restaurant selection.
Worst: 8. Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) —
Numerous survey respondents made allegations of impropriety, says Sleeping in Airports. CNN's attempts to reach the airport for comment were unsuccessful. Lesser complaints included poor Wi-Fi signals, dirty bathrooms and a limited restaurant selection.
HOANG DINH NAM/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
"Given the current political state of Afghanistan relative to other nations on this global list, we're reluctant to criticize Kabul's international airport too harshly," said Sleeping in Airports, noting that the international terminal has undergone a number of renovations over the last decade, making it a little more friendly to travelers. Voters complained about overall cleanliness, a lack of comfort and the accountability of staff.
Worst: 7. Hamid Karzai International Airport (Kabul, Afghanistan) —
"Given the current political state of Afghanistan relative to other nations on this global list, we're reluctant to criticize Kabul's international airport too harshly," said Sleeping in Airports, noting that the international terminal has undergone a number of renovations over the last decade, making it a little more friendly to travelers. Voters complained about overall cleanliness, a lack of comfort and the accountability of staff.
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Sweltering heat, a lack of chairs and untrustworthy staff were the biggest complaints among travelers who gave Haiti's international gateway the thumbs down. "The good news is that renovations are said to be currently underway, giving a little bit of hope to the future of PAP," said Sleeping in Airports.
Worst: 6. Toussaint Louverture International Airport (Port au Prince, Haiti) —
Sweltering heat, a lack of chairs and untrustworthy staff were the biggest complaints among travelers who gave Haiti's international gateway the thumbs down. "The good news is that renovations are said to be currently underway, giving a little bit of hope to the future of PAP," said Sleeping in Airports.
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According to voters who responded to this year's Sleeping in Airports survey, Caracas International Airport is chaotic, uncomfortable and dull. "An absence of chairs and dirty bathrooms worsen the experience here -- to say nothing of the low quality of food." said the website.
Worst: 5. Simón Bolívar International Airport (Caracas, Venezuela) —
According to voters who responded to this year's Sleeping in Airports survey, Caracas International Airport is chaotic, uncomfortable and dull. "An absence of chairs and dirty bathrooms worsen the experience here -- to say nothing of the low quality of food." said the website.
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In spite of a few recent upgrades to the departures area, the queues and crowds at Tashkent International Airport continue to be a frustrating experience. "Worsening the situation is that these queues are often chaotic-verging-on-aggressive, and lack any form of crowd control," said Sleeping in Airports.
Worst: 4. Tashkent International Airport (Uzbekistan) —
In spite of a few recent upgrades to the departures area, the queues and crowds at Tashkent International Airport continue to be a frustrating experience. "Worsening the situation is that these queues are often chaotic-verging-on-aggressive, and lack any form of crowd control," said Sleeping in Airports.
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Though Nepal's only international airport gathered ample criticism over the past year, Sleeping in Airports stressed the country has been under considerable pressure following April's devastating earthquake that damaged its sole runway. "Given this, voters had understandably poor experiences at the airport, particularly within the domestic terminal," said the website. "The good news is that KTM is currently re-building the much-loathed domestic terminal."
Worst: 3. Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu, Nepal) —
Though Nepal's only international airport gathered ample criticism over the past year, Sleeping in Airports stressed the country has been under considerable pressure following April's devastating earthquake that damaged its sole runway. "Given this, voters had understandably poor experiences at the airport, particularly within the domestic terminal," said the website. "The good news is that KTM is currently re-building the much-loathed domestic terminal."
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"From smoking in non-smoking areas to the bathroom odor wafting out into the lounges, few people sang praises after spending time here," said Sleeping in Airports. A number of voters suggested booking layovers elsewhere -- at all costs. There is some positive news -- the new Jeddah Airport is scheduled to open mid-2016.
Worst: 2. Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport (Saudi Arabia) —
"From smoking in non-smoking areas to the bathroom odor wafting out into the lounges, few people sang praises after spending time here," said Sleeping in Airports. A number of voters suggested booking layovers elsewhere -- at all costs. There is some positive news -- the new Jeddah Airport is scheduled to open mid-2016.
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Unpleasant and unhelpful staff, a lack of seating, broken air-conditioning and the fact the arrivals hall was inside a tent were among complaints listed by Sleeping in Airports about Port Harcourt International.
Worst: 1. Port Harcourt International Airport (Nigeria) —
Unpleasant and unhelpful staff, a lack of seating, broken air-conditioning and the fact the arrivals hall was inside a tent were among complaints listed by Sleeping in Airports about Port Harcourt International.
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Zurich's International airport is precise, efficient and tidy, said Sleeping in Airports. The low lighting and impeccably clean surroundings make it a calm and soothing place to navigate.
Best: 10. Kloten International Airport (Zurich, Switzerland) —
Zurich's International airport is precise, efficient and tidy, said Sleeping in Airports. The low lighting and impeccably clean surroundings make it a calm and soothing place to navigate.
Courtesy Zurich Airport
Kuala Lumpur's main terminal received high marks for being clean, spacious, comfortable and organized. There are plenty of restaurant and shopping options as well as free Wi-Fi. <br />"That said, the airport's KLIA2 Terminal drops the airport's overall score by a number of points," said Sleeping in Airports. "Noisy, cold and uncomfortable, this terminal is a far less impressive counterpart to the main terminal."
Best: 9. Kuala Lumpur International Airport —
Kuala Lumpur's main terminal received high marks for being clean, spacious, comfortable and organized. There are plenty of restaurant and shopping options as well as free Wi-Fi.
"That said, the airport's KLIA2 Terminal drops the airport's overall score by a number of points," said Sleeping in Airports. "Noisy, cold and uncomfortable, this terminal is a far less impressive counterpart to the main terminal."
Malaysia Airports
"Ultra-welcoming, thoughtfully designed, extremely comfortable and fantastically friendly, YVR topped our North American charts for another year running," said Sleeping in Airports. Highlights at Vancouver International Airport include the giant aquarium in the international departures lounge, dozens of art and museum exhibits, self-guided tours and a decent variety of shops and restaurants.
Best: 8. Vancouver International Airport (Canada) —
"Ultra-welcoming, thoughtfully designed, extremely comfortable and fantastically friendly, YVR topped our North American charts for another year running," said Sleeping in Airports. Highlights at Vancouver International Airport include the giant aquarium in the international departures lounge, dozens of art and museum exhibits, self-guided tours and a decent variety of shops and restaurants.
Courtesy Larry Goldstein
Though innovative and transit-friendly Helsinki International Airport continued to impress travelers, this year it was their introduction of sleep pods in March that really generated the most positive feedback, said Sleeping in Airports.
Best: 7. Helsinki International Airport (Finland) —
Though innovative and transit-friendly Helsinki International Airport continued to impress travelers, this year it was their introduction of sleep pods in March that really generated the most positive feedback, said Sleeping in Airports.
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Efficient, speedy and impressively organized, layovers through Munich International are delightfully straightforward and reliable, said Sleeping in Airports. These precise terminals are not without their comfort and frills either. The airport has its own brewery, spa, casino, cinema and mini-golf course.
Best: 6. Munich International Airport (Germany) —
Efficient, speedy and impressively organized, layovers through Munich International are delightfully straightforward and reliable, said Sleeping in Airports. These precise terminals are not without their comfort and frills either. The airport has its own brewery, spa, casino, cinema and mini-golf course.
Flughafen München GmbH
Hong Kong International Airport was praised by Sleeping in Airports voters for its diverse list of amenities, including gardens, sleep rooms, spas and showers within a naturally light and airy space.
Best: 5. Hong Kong International Airport —
Hong Kong International Airport was praised by Sleeping in Airports voters for its diverse list of amenities, including gardens, sleep rooms, spas and showers within a naturally light and airy space.
Courtesy Hong Kong International Airport
Themed chairs, a red carpet and a free travel library keep passengers entertained as they explore each gate, eventually finding their own, said Sleeping in Airports. Other perks include free 15-minute showers and a number of art and museum exhibits.
Best: 4. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (Taiwan) —
Themed chairs, a red carpet and a free travel library keep passengers entertained as they explore each gate, eventually f