These airports test the patience of swiss travellers

Summertime is travel time, and millions of holidaymakers set off in all directions. For many, the adventure begins on the plane, en route to foreign cultures, snow-white beaches and spectacular landscapes.

But before take-off, the journey runs into its first obstacle: the airport. Endless queues, jostling crowds and hours of waiting can quickly sour the mood. Delays are common in the high season – and when poor service, outdated infrastructure and steep prices are added to the mix, holiday anticipation evaporates fast.

At worst, the dream start to a trip turns into a nightmare. No wonder rankings of the «worst airports» cause such a stir. The same destinations appear again and again among the flops: Crete, Rhodes and Antalya.

For Swiss travel agencies, it pays to know these weak points. When planning connections, they can choose the most convenient option, saving travellers unnecessary hassle. Advisers can also warn of pitfalls in advance – or suggest upgrades like lounge access to ease the pain.

Which airports truly test the patience of Swiss travellers – and where does the check-in process shine as an example of efficiency? Travelnews asked the experts: where do customer complaints pile up, which airports make even agents despair – and which ones leave surprisingly positive impressions?

Nathalie Hirt, managing director of Passage Reisen in Zurich, doesn’t mince words: «Frankfurt is terrible – big, confusing and boring. Miami, with its endless immigration queues, and Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle, with its long distances and last-minute gate changes, are just as stressful.»

She regularly receives negative feedback about Frankfurt in particular: too sprawling, with baggage often lost. Amsterdam and Heraklion in Crete also feature heavily in complaints. According to Hirt, Heraklion is «always in chaos, and you can never find a seat.» For many professionals, the Greek island hub is the ultimate flop – every respondent cited it as a frustration hotspot.

Oliver Gartmann, office manager at Engel Reisen in Chur, adds his own list. «Doha is ultra-modern, but confusing layouts and endless distances make it exhausting,» he says. Milan Malpensa, in his view, is chaotic, overcrowded and dirty in parts. Customers most often complain to Engel Reisen about Mallorca, Basel, Milan and Hurghada.

Other pain points are flagged by Evelyn Schäli, managing director of Feriezyt in Sarnen. Mykonos is «tiny, with hardly any catering options,» while Madrid overwhelms with its sheer scale. Even Zurich, usually praised, is not immune. «Sometimes we hear complaints about dirty toilets,» says Schäli. Johannesburg, too, is regularly criticised as confusing.

Jonas Sulzberger of Sulzberger Reisen in Neuhausen remembers a particularly maddening day at Tivat Airport in Montenegro. «On 31 August, a peak travel day, all flights were delayed at least half an hour – simply because half the passengers were still stuck at security. The airport is outdated and hopelessly overloaded.»

«As an agency, I welcome any airport where fast-track services can be booked,» says Sulzberger. In the Orient and Central Asia, places like Baku lead the way. Dubai also earns praise for its Marhaba service, which supports passengers with special needs.

Singapore is a perennial favourite. «Many customers genuinely look forward to stopovers there – some even consider it the highlight of their trip,» Sulzberger notes. He personally enjoys every departure from Zurich and also commends Tallinn, Warsaw and Addis Ababa, where Ethiopian Airlines keeps schedules remarkably stable.

Jasmina Stajic, managing director of Pink Travel in Basel, is equally enthusiastic about Zurich. She also singles out Abu Dhabi. «When I flew in March, I was impressed – modern, quiet, very well organised. Perfect for transfers.»

Gartmann, meanwhile, praises Rabat. «Small, efficient, easy to navigate – and staffed by genuinely friendly people,» he says. But his top choice is Johannesburg, despite others’ criticism. «Well-maintained facilities, clear signage, helpful staff, clean toilets, good restaurants, fair prices – for me, everything fits.»

Hirt also highlights South Africa, especially Hoedspruit on the edge of Kruger National Park. In North America, she was pleasantly surprised by Toronto, where «everything ran smoothly – immigration, baggage, everything.» Even Los Angeles, notorious for bottlenecks, impressed her this spring: entry took less than five minutes.

Schäli, for her part, remembers positive experiences in Warsaw and Hamburg. Her undisputed favourite, however, remains Singapore. «Everything is well organised. Even with long distances, you reach your destination quickly – and the cleanliness is outstanding.»