The New York Times-20080127-Letters- Bad -and Good- Airports- -Letter-

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Letters: Bad (and Good) Airports; [Letter]

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To the Editor: Regarding the Journeys column Europe's Worst Airports: Congestion and Other Terminal Illnesses (Jan. 13): Thirty years ago everyone lamented the annoying change of planes at Hartsfield airport in Atlanta. It was said that in order to get to heaven, even God had to change planes in Atlanta. Heathrow, near London, is the new Atlanta.

Millions of travelers headed to Europe, Africa, Asia or the Middle East have to change planes at Heathrow. It is the most diabolical, dehumanizing, inconsistent and frustrating experience transferring from terminal to terminal. The insufferable lines and the need to be rescreened at security even though you have never left a secured area is unexplained. There is a solution to the madness and the extreme delays: make sure you are routed through other airports. I avoid Heathrow, even if my alternative route requires slightly more time or slightly more cost.

Burt Richmond Chicago

To the Editor: Just finished the airports article in Travel. I offer a slightly different view. I just returned from a trip out of Sarasota, Fla., that included Atlanta, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Hanoi, Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Atlanta and back to Sarasota. The trip included the Christmas-New Year's holiday period.

Every plane was on time, all luggage properly handled and delivered. Employees were not only polite and helpful but also smiling and pleasant in the midst of the holiday crowds. I would have to dig to find things about which to complain.

I know there are plenty of things that may at other times go wrong, but for this traveler, an 84-year-old man, it certainly was not the case.

Gordon Rubin Sarasota, Fla.