Adelaide Airport: International or not?
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Adelaide International Airport (IATA: ADL) is a fairly new airport. But wait a minute; did I really write “International” Airport? Did you spot the international part when you were there the last time? No? Well, believe it or not, this airport in down-under’s slightly sleepy state (no offense, but it’s apparently true) of South Australia is actually a, what I call, chameleon airport, or in more technical terms, a “dual airport”. It’s an International airport by morning for various flights from or to Asia and becomes a sole Domestic airport by the afternoon when all gates are allocated to Australian flights and the immigration zone disappears. Quite clever, hu? Indeed!
Sadly when I landed on my Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong for a short stop-over before continuing to Melbourne, the airport was divided into International and Domestic. Sadly that is, because this limited my ability to explore the entire airport as I wasn’t allowed to leave the small locked off area. But on the plus side there are still a few things for you to do, at least for the hour or so before your onward flight: You will find a duty free store which is surprisingly well stocked with, well, Aussie souvenirs, but also electronics and travel accessories, watches, toys and more. Next door you find a “Villa & Hut Kafé” with friendly staff. There is also a small news shop and a cash machine. For some reason the latter didn’t work when I tried it (maybe the coffee hasn’t quite kicked in for me at the time).
But that’s it then. Oh, one more, there is a Singapore Airlines lounge but no Qantas one as that one is on the domestic side of the airport.
| Airport Name | Adelaide (International) Airport |
| Website | http://www.aal.com.au/ |
| IATA Code | ADL |
| Design |  |
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| Overall | |
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AUD 175 |
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AUD 75 (with Ice Jacket) |
[Picture from Flickr]
read comments (0)Singapore’s Changi Airport adds fun slide
Can this airport get any better? Apparently it can! I’ve reviewed Singapore’s terminal 3 (IATA: SIN) a while back and gave it the highest marks in all areas. So listen to this, straight from their press release:
Expect to hear shrieks of fun and excitement at Changi Airport with the opening of The Slide@T3 – the tallest slide in Singapore and in an airport around the world.
How cool is that? There’s even more details:
At 12 metres tall, the jumbo twister slide is the height of four standard basketball hoops stacked on top of one another. Riders can expect to experience a top speed of 6 metres/second while going down the slide.
Pretty nice for an airport, hu? You bet! Below is the full text of the release. Now go, pack up your kids and board that Singapore airlines plane to Changi for a family weekend at the, err, airport 
SINGAPORE, 27 May 2010 – Expect to hear shrieks of fun and excitement at Changi Airport with the opening of The Slide@T3 – the tallest slide in Singapore and in an airport around the world. Open to Changi Airport visitors from today, the four-storey tall slide at Terminal 3 will provide thrilling fun to young and old alike.
The Slide@T3 is the latest addition to the diverse range of facilities at the world’s most awarded airport and heightens Changi Airport’s growing popularity as a family weekend destination. At 12 metres tall, the jumbo twister slide is the height of four standard basketball hoops stacked on top of one another. Riders can expect to experience a top speed of 6 metres/second while going down the slide.
With every S$30 spent at the airport, visitors can redeem tokens for two rides (up to a maximum of 10 rides per receipt) on the jumbo slide located at the public area of the Arrival Hall (Level 1) in Terminal 3. Visitors can enjoy a shorter, one-and-a-half storey tall slide located at Terminal 3 Basement 2, for which no tokens are required.
The Slide@T3 is open daily from noon to 10.30 pm. Riders must be at least 1.3 metres tall to try the four-storey tall slide. The height requirement for the shorter slide is 1.1 metres.
Update: Watch the Making-of video of how the Slide@T3 was built here: http://www.youtube.com/fansofchangi#p/u/2/mc9EuwKq96w
Dull, duller, dullest: Dubai Airport, Terminal 3
I’ve always admired the United Arab Emirates for their sense of business! With the world’s seventh largest oil reserves, it possesses one of the most developed economies in the Middle East.
Well, I guess you can say what you want about the recent problems resulting from the economic crisis and the UAE’s involvement but the fact is, some of the infrastructure they provide predominantly in the tourism sector and the subsequent transport industry does have a lasting, positive effect on people well beyond the Arabic state.
Let’s look at Dubai and its home carrier Emirates Airlines which set itself up as a “hub” airport mainly serving as a link between Europe and Asia. It’s probably become the 2nd most profitable route after Europe to North America and Emirates Airlines and Dubai are taking a large share of that, whilst providing service that challenge the far more established carriers such as Cathay Pacific or British Airways.
With that you would think Dubai’s airport (IATA: DXB) with its newest addition of Terminal 3 must be quite the landmark and that spending time there would be something to very much look forward to.
Sadly … it’s quite the contrary. I found the airport terminal 3 one of the dullest I’ve ever seen, despite being new and fairly well designed from a usability point of view. Structurally it’s similar to Heathrow’s Terminal 5 where all gates are directly located along the main building to allow passengers to spend more time shopping & dining and less time transiting to the gates. BUT the airport doesn’t offer much of anything beyond the shops and restaurants you see in all other airports.
Upon entering the terminal you are wowed by the sense of diversity and at first glance engaged in the difference but you’ll quickly discover that all the shops are the same; they just have a different name! As disappointing as it was, with an open mind & a bit of creativity you’ll always find things to do if – oh yeah – you suffer a LateDeparture.com!
So, here you go readers – my top selections if you get stuck in Dubai:
- Indulge on a “pain of chocolat” from the French bakery, Paul, near gate 212. Think of where you’d rather be at the moment. Did I hear Paris?
- Missing the Pulp Juice brand from your stay in Australia a few years ago? Even though this brand no longer exists down-under, you can still find an outlet in Terminal 3, near gate 219. This is certainly a very nice (healthy and refreshing) option between flights.
- Go crazy and stock up for your Arab themed return party: buy cheesy souvenirs from the shop in the middle of the terminal
- Get the most from your Emirates economy ticket and race to the free meal deal from 12am upstairs from Burger King near gate 212 (only passengers with a stop-over of more than 2 hours are eligible for a voucher). Oh yes people, l said FREE meal – Wicked! Hmmmm, let’s think .. Could it be possible that you paid for it in your ticket price somehow? As my economics professor would say, “there is no such thing as a free lunch”. Keep that in mind as you chomp into that meal & squeeze a few extra mini sandwiches into the remaining centimeter of your open mouth!
- Lastly, boring but essential to know – Spark up with your favourite coffee at one of two Starbucks (near gate 205 & near gate 231)!
| Airport Name | Dubai International Airport, Terminal 3 |
| Website | http://www.dubaiairport.com |
| IATA Code | DXB |
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DHS 448 (£82.60) |
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DHS 172 (£31.70) |
[Picture from Wikipedia]
Space at last: London Gatwick, North Terminal
I’ve been to London’s Gatwick airport (IATA: LGW) a few times now but so far all my flights departed from the South Terminal from where there isn’t much to report from. It’s actually probably one of the most boring terminals on this planet. Yes, there are a few shops and eateries, but there’s nothing really exciting there. Mind you, there are still things you can do at the airport in such a situation, check out some of my more creative suggestions here, here and here.
But now, let’s rather focus on the North Terminal. First of all, getting there was a bit of a hassle on this April’s fool’s day as the connecting shuttle that normally runs between the two terminals wasn’t working because they are currently upgrading it. A new shuttle should be ready by this summer. I therefore had to cue up and board a bus. Once in the North Terminal, however, it’s actually quite a pleasant experience. This building seems to be the quieter and more airy terminal. This is simply about the ratio of space to people one would accept for an airport.
Then, once through security, you’ll get to a large open space with shops all around you. There are 2 levels, the ground floor containing mostly shops such as Harrods, Dixons Travel, Accessorize, WH Smith or Boots among the more general ones. Upstairs you’ll find mainly restaurants and bars, however luckily there wasn’t as single McDonalds or Burger King in sight, sadly no Starbucks either.
So here are a few suggestions of what to do:
- Get your last minute flip flops from the well stocked “The Shoe Studio” on the ground floor
- Stock up your miniature travel essentials from Boots
- Check out the English old school, but fairly well stocked toy store “Hamley’s”
- Treat yourself to a few innovative cosmetic solutions from “Rituals…”
- If you’re hungry, go upstairs and check out Café Rouge which offers a nice seating area both facing inside and outside the terminal. Or grab a bite to eat at my favourite “sandwich franchise”, Eat. If you’re a bit more adventurous, go to the Lloyds bar and try one of their Bitters with a great view towards the runways. And finally, if you’re the milk shake & hot dog kind of person, then checking out “Shake-a-Hula” is a must. They serve, you guessed it, milk shakes and hot dogs. But don’t worry; you don’t have to have them in one go necessarily.
| Airport Name | London Gatwick Airport, North Terminal |
| Website | http://www.gatwickairport.com |
| IATA Code | LGW |
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£62.20 |
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£32.99 (incl. Ice Jacket) |
[Picture from Flickr - some rights reserved]
Aisle or Window?
Aisle or a window seat? I’m sure many of you think about this question already at home weeks before your actual flight. All of us passengers have to make a choice at some point though and I’ve seldom heard anyone saying they are indifferent about their seat selection. I, for example, have a rule where on short flights of 5 hours or less I will always want a window seat, but on long-haul flight I prefer the aisle.
Mark Vanhoenacker will always choose the window seat though. Mark is pilot, but that’s not the point, obviously in the cockpit he has a window in front of him, but Mark goes for the window seat every time he sits in the back of an aircraft too. And no, not for safety reasons, simply because he enjoys the magnificent views one is often presented on landing at many of the world’s airports.
In the New York Times, Mark recently wrote about his experience in the window seat and what you can view on what destination:
While all frequent fliers will have their favorites, some cities are perennial winners. Passengers flying to San Francisco, for example, are regularly treated to marvelous views of its bridges, hills and microclimates.
Read everything in the full article. You can also submit your own window seat views here. A selection of pictures will be published on the 25th April.
Picture by LateDeparture.com – all rights reserved.
Chocolate Fest at Zurich Airport
Well, this isn’t actually news as Zurich Airport’s Chocolate Fest has been going on since the 19th February. But it did catch my eyes this time while travelling through the airport. Why? No, not because I felt a sudden chocolate rush and would have had to try all the yummy offerings from Lindt, Toblerone, Frey or Sprüngli (honestly!), it was because I discovered this chocolate art creation you see in the picture: Australia in chocolate. I’m actually emigrating to this country next month, so it fit very well. Next to the Australian icons you can also discover other countries’ themes made of, you guessed it, chocolate. It’s worthwhile going for a quick tour so that you then at least have an excuse to try those “god forbidden” Sprüngli truffes…
The exhibition continues until the 5th April and you can find it in the transfer & shopping area A at Zurich airport. The Sprüngli truffes can be enjoyed even beyond that date at their airport store in A and E.
Up and close at Sydney’s Domestic Airport
Usually the inner sections of airports are closed to non-travellers. I often think that modern airports with their great offers miss out on opportunities when they restrict access to people with tickets on that day only. Imagine: you could go inside London Heathrow’s Terminal 5 and dine a last meal at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant with your close friend who visited you from Far-Away-Land before their long flight back home. Or imagine the family from Singapore that could enjoy some last moments in the Butterfly garden of Changi Airport’s Terminal 3 with their son departing for an exchange year at a university in the United States.
Well, the good news is that there are airports that do allow non-travellers into their inner core – the post security zone; domestic airports that is. The slightly bad news is that they are often not the most aspiring of places. Nevertheless, they do allow you to drop off or pick up your loved ones directly at the gate.
One such airport is Sydney’s Domestic Airport (IATA: SYD) on the North-East corner of the runways. There, once through the security check, you come down a set of escalators and can then either turn left towards the Virgin Blue gates or right in direction of the Qantas and JetStar boarding gates. Turning right will first lead you to a food court with some usual suspects such as McDonalds, Krispykreme, a Middle-Eastern Outlet, Subway, Sumo Salad and the Australian institutions of Red Rooster and Boost Juice among others.
There are, however, a few more exciting things to do beyond stuffingfilling yourself up prior to your cheap flight where you don’t plan to spend any money on their dry sandwiches. Here are my favourites:
- Check out some serious outback clothing from R.M. Williams at the “And Beyond” store
- Buy your kiddo (or some random kid you happen to know…) one of those cool dinosaur eggs that you have to submerge in water for 10 days before a little, wait for it, yes, you guessed it, Dinosaur pops out. You can find them at the well stocked “Kaboom” kids store.
- Stock up on your SPF 30+ sunscreen for your island trip to Vanuatu (oooops, okay, if you are in the domestic terminal heading for Vanuatu, then you’re seriously in trouble, as that flight most likely leaves from the International terminal, a $5.50 bus trip away). So let’s say your Magnetic Island trip then… You’ll find it in the Pharmacy next to the Kids store.
- Browse through the ubiquitous Peter Lik Australian landscape photography books and postcards
- Try on some new boardies in the “Beachculture” shop towards the 31-40 gates
- The ladies among you might also want to pop into the Mimco store close-by (while we lads wait in the Pub & Winestore called “Taphouse” across from it)
- Finally, browse through the rather good selection of iconic Australian films at the Virgin Media store
| Airport Name | Sydney, Domestic Terminal |
| Website | http://www.sydneyairport.com.au |
| IATA Code | SYD |
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| Overall | |
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n/a |
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n/a |
[Picture from Flickr - all rights reserved]
Singapore, Changi Terminal 3 – designed with a true traveller in mind
Where do I start?
Well, the question you first have to ask yourself before coming to Changi Airport, Terminal 3 (IATA: SIN) is: how much time do I have? This could be one of the few airports you actually wish to be delayed in. Of course many passengers (37.7 Million passed through the airport in total in 2008) transit through Singapore between flights so typically have between 2 – 6 hours to spend and, oh boy, can they be spent well!
The next question is, what mood are you in?
Tired from your previous flight? Go to one of the many quiet zones throughout the terminal or chill out while getting a foot massage in one of the countless, free foot massage chairs throughout the terminal. Or watch a Koi feeding at the Koi pond which you find on the runway side of the terminal.
Need to spend the remaining cash? Visit the only FIFA store in an airport anywhere in the world and stock up on 2010 World Cup merchandise.
Interested in nature and the environment? Go to the butterfly garden and watch 1,000 butterflies of 47 species swirl around the outdoor exhibit. You’ll find it roughly in the middle of the Terminal on the runway side (see the interactive map for more details on how to get there).
Changi’s Terminal 3 not only gives you a wonderful experience, it thinks on a much bigger scale!. The airport’s flagship terminal, opened in January 2008, also puts a mark on its environmentally friendly approach. For example, the ceiling includes 919 panels to direct the incoming sunlight, therefore, reducing the need for artificial lighting thus conserving massive amounts of electricity. Furthermore in the middle of the massive terminal you will see a 5 storey high and 300m wide live green wall, made of plants (see picture). The green wall is visible from both the departing and the arriving side of the structure making the airport green in the truest sense of the word. That and the meticulously designed sound proofing elements of the airport make your travel experience a truly calm and enjoyable one.
Okay, let’s do the top list but other than my usual ritual of giving you just one list, here are 3 depending on how much time you have at hand:
Under 2 hours
- Grab a quick espresso and a chocolate treat from the only Guylian Belgium Chocolate cafe in an airport
- Men: Enjoy the views from the urinals in the pristine toilets of the main section of the terminal
Women: Check out the “powder room” and work on your soon to be pretty faces. You will find the entrance just below the escalators to the SilverKris lounge - Grab a quick foot massage in one of the many free massage chairs
- Go to the butterfly garden and watch the beautiful creatures feast on the flower and fruit nectar provided- a must see!
- Quickly check your new email messages on one of the 500 free internet kiosks across the 3 terminals (and decide to answer them later)
2 to 5 hours
All of the above plus
- Go shop-aholic and check out the numerous retail outlets neatfully aligned in sections by category
- Grab a movie in the terminal’s own and free movie theatre (tipp: go there first and check out what movie you’d like to see and plan your time around that)
- Retrieve to one of the quiet zones and nap for a bit
- Check out the sculpture in the “A gates” zone arrival hall called “coming home” (it’s visible from the departure section too)
- Find all the “green elements” of this clever airport design (challenge question: what are the nuzzles you see throughout the airport, above head hight and why are they where they are?)
- (Re-)check your email and decide to respond to a few this time (see “under 2 hours”, above)
More than 5 hours
All of the above and/or
- Consider purchasing lounge access at the Ambassador Transit Lounge (which also contains sports equipment for your immediate workout needs)
- Book yourself into the Transit hotel upstairs; they sell rooms in 6-hour blocks
- Go on a free City tour around Singapore (they depart in 2 hour blocks from 9am to 4pm and you won’t have to go through immigration)
- Cross over to Terminal 1 for a swim in the rooftop pool (you didn’t forget to pack your swimsuit, did you? Don’t worry if you did, there are plenty of retail shops selling you a new pair!)
- If you’re in a group – challenge each other on who can make a full round tour around the 3 terminals quicker (one group clockwise, one anti-clockwise)
If you do have more time and don’t mind queuing the 20 or so minutes it took me both times for immigration, then do go into Singapore. The city is only a 30 minute, very affordable taxi ride away. Let’s face it, you have to be able to tell your friends you’ve enjoyed a Singapore sling in the world renown Raffles Hotel on your stopover!
| Airport Name | Singapore Changi Airport, Terminal 3 |
| Website | http://www.changiairport.com |
| IATA Code | SIN |
| Design | |
| Shopping | |
| Toilets | |
| Overall | |
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S$ 168 (£74.20) |
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S$ 95 (£41.95) |
[Picture from Changi Airport Group - all rights reserved]
BBC’s Top Gear tests airport vehicles
BBC’s top rated car motorshow “Top Gear” ran an interesting feature about airport vehicles in their latest show on Sunday (series 14, episode 4). There, Richard Hammond, one of the hosts of the show alongside Jeremy Clarkson and James May, conducted a race of various airport vehicles in order to determine which one the fastest is and therefore which one the model for all other airport vehicles should be.
If you know the show, then you also know that they don’t take tests like this very serious in terms of “accuracy”, but rather make it very visual and entertaining. It’s definitely worthwhile watching.
When little airports grow up, they become…: Hong Kong International, Terminal 1
Did you miss me? Well I’m back!
It has definitely been a while since my last post. Don’t worry, I didn’t run out of interesting airport stories, but l did run out of time.. As a little treat, you’ll get a whopper of an airport reviewed now: Hong Kong.
I guess everyone has heard of the dangerous, yet spectacular approach at the old Hong Kong International airport (commonly known as Kai Tak Airport). I personally experienced two landings there back in 1991 where my window seat proved to be the best allocation ever. It was simply spectacular!
So, the first time I flew into the then known, newly built airport, Chek Lap Kok (赤鱲角機場), I was quite disappointed as l didn’t get any of that great view l remembered. However, on a recent trip to Hong Kong we flew over this magnificent city with a perfect view of the spectacular Victoria Harbour and all of Kowloon! My tip is – try to sit on the right hand side of the aircraft and chances are good you’ll get the “wow factor” on your next approach to Hong Kong International Airport (as it is known today).
On the ground, terminal 1 is the flagship building and home of Cathay Pacific and it’s code share partners including British Airways. Overall, the airport is very spacious and the check-in hall reminded me of Kuala Lumpur, which is similarly generous in terms of space.
Before you pass security you have a good selection of stores (Wing Wah, Newslink, Canton Market, Kee Wah Bakery, Toys & Games, Okashi land, Ying King tea house, etc.) and restaurants (Popeyes, Fairfood and Maxim’s upstairs).
After security the airport is split into 2 levels, upstairs you’ll find a food court, a few shops and a multimedia lounge with free internet plus more stores downstairs.
My must-check-out- things are:
- Aji Ichiban on the North side of the terminal. Go crazy and buy from their funny, sometimes strange selection of Asian and Western sweet and savoury snacks. A perfect surprise for a co-worker or friend
- Check out the big spenders in the posh shops (Tiffany’s, Chanel, Hermes,, etc.) on the lower level
- Indulge on one of the seasonal Latte’s at Starbucks opposite Gate 20
- Stock up your travel care gear at the “Travel Care Express” store after gate 27
- Go on a hunt for the Airbus A380. Yes, you should be able to see one as Singapore Airlines flies them between Hong Kong and Singapore. (For a video of the first A380 I spotted a while back in Hong Kong, click here).
- Lastly, send a few emails from your iPhone through the free WiFi connection throughout the airport
| Airport Name | Hong Kong International Airport |
| Website | http://www.hongkongairport.com |
| IATA Code | HKG |
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| Shopping | |
| Toilets | |
| Overall | |
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HKD 950 (£73.40) |
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HKD 450 (£34.75) |
[Picture from Hong Kong International Airport's official website]
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