With Beijing's T3 now online, CW flies off in search of Asia's best airports.

by Michael Engstrom

Beijing Capital Airport Terminal 3 | Beijing

Terminal Bliss
When is an airport more than an airport? When it's the biggest one in the world constructed in a record-breaking four years at a cost of US$3 billion. Stats-wise, Beijing desperately needed the T3. It doubled the number of boarding gates and added nearly 300 check-in stations. It boasts a state of the art baggage handling system that can turn over 20,000 pieces of luggage in an hour. When fully flexed in 2012, T3 will be able to shift 90 million passengers a year, putting it squarely at the top of the charts in terms of volume. T3 is also loaded with symbolism. Seen from above, the twin halves form up the character “人” (people) while pundits have noted the overall resemblance to the dragon (reptilian, certainly). For us, though, T3 finally puts Beijing on the same footing with other major world capitals. It doesn't have the shopping of Chek Lap Kok, the natural embrace of KL, lacks exciting food options and, despite the profusion of young women in beauty pageant gowns, service is nowhere near world class, but it's a clean and efficient place which aims to put China's best foot forward just in time for the Olympic hordes.

Chek Lap Kok | Hong Kong

Top of the Pops
Chek Lap's reputation for stellar service and amazing shopping preceded its newest glory being crowned as the World's Best Airport by Skytrax in 2007. Efficiency is the name of the game here. Hasty passengers go online to book personal valets, who fight crowds, collect your luggage then deliver it to you wherever you are in the city. Forgot to pack that precious Ming vase? The airport maintains a small army of specially-trained “packers” with armfuls of bubble wrap, protective filler and boxes for time-pressured passengers. Seasoned flyers rave about the HKG's frequent visitor card, which makes immigration a breeze. With the trials and tribulations of packaging, ticketing and customs solved, you'll happily wander the Skymart in Terminal 1 or Skyplaza in Terminal 2. If it's R&R you are after, kick back with your laptop in the Wi-Fi enabled bliss of HKG's Plaza Shower and Relaxation Lounge. Chek Lap also boasts Asia's top-rated airport hotel, the Regal International.

Incheon International | Korea

Air City
Though recognized internationally for friendly staff and futuristic design, we love Incheon International Airport's totally unique tours. Anyone with several hours to spare can hop on a guided tour to the set of the Korean TV drama Full House. For a mere US$20, sit on the sofa in the home of Rain and Song Hye-Go. Or go beyond your pin-up pop-star fetish with one of their eight other tour packages. We recommend the Sukmodo tour, a nature experience where you feed seagulls; a ceramics tour where you can take a pottery class and the night special-a foreigners-only casino. For gamers in transit, ICN also has a pool hall and arcade, while golfers head to the Sky72 Golf Club open 24 hours. Tired from your back nine, whack-the-gopher and K-pop indulgence? Check into one of Incheon numerous budget class hotels. For US$40 get a single room, a hot shower, Jacuzzi, bathrobe, towel and a good night's sleep. Layovers have never been so good.

Changi International | Singapore

Destination Changi
Singapore's Changi Airport is a destination unto itself, loved by travelers all over the world for its surfeit of freebies. There are themed gardens, leather snooze chairs with built-in alarms and a Rainforest Lounge where you can get a massage 24 hours a day. If you're a techie, SIN's got plenty of geeky stuff. The Explorers and Nexus Lounges feature plasma screen TVs, while the free 24-hour movie theater and battery of Xbox consoles puts it in the running for “Least Productive Layover of All Time.” Shop-a-holics will drop some plastic at any of the 300-plus retail outlets, while US$9.70 gets you a swim at the Transit Hotel's Balinese-style swimming pool. If you are super hip, you'll schedule your stop-over to coincide with Changi's many events. Last year, Changi hosted performances by Jet, Hoobastank, the Powerpuff Girls, the Sesame Street Stars and Spongebob. For real.

Kuala Lumpur International | Malaysia

Premium Lounge
Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur International is a miniature version of Changi, and is one of the most peaceful airports in Asia (mainly because they operate way under capacity). It's so peaceful, they liven things up with piped in classical music. KLI is known for rapid service (216 counters ensure that passengers sit longer than they stand around waiting) and the ultra-progressive “airport in the forest and forest in the airport” concept, which transforms the natural environs of KLI into nature-enhancing activities and functions. There are also free internet kiosks, play areas for kids, luxury shopping and a gallery devoted to plane observation. But what truly sets KLI apart is its famous Plaza Premium Lounge. For as little as US$25, get two hours of food and beverage, bottomless brewskies, massage chairs, films, international newspapers and magazines, a mini-putting green and amenity-laden showers. Night packages run even cheaper, allowing you to bask in comfort for up to six hours while waiting for your connection.