In the often maddening, even degrading, world of modern air travel, check-in and security screenings can provoke as much ire as flight delays or lost luggage. The disgruntled check-in clerk who refuses your humble request for a window seat, the surly tax agent who insists on inspecting your every purchase before issuing a refund, the lewd security officer who delights in asking women to disrobe down to their underclothes, these characters and others have turned many a passenger sour on the prospect of flying.

But as a recent survey by Geneva-based Airports Council International points out, there are still some airports that seem unusually invested in the happiness of flyers. From thermal baths in Nagoya to free movies in Singapore to children's play areas in Kuala Lumpur, some airports offer dazzling amenities that make travel far more pleasant. And while the world's top five-ranked—all in Asia—are a long flight away from the U.S. and Europe, each region of the globe has its own star performers as well.

The annual survey, called the Airport Service Quality Awards, polled 200,000 passengers waiting at the gate in 90 airports on 34 indicators ranging from the availability of luggage carts to restroom cleanliness. South Korea's Incheon International Airport took first place for the third year running, followed by Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Changi Airport in Singapore, Hong Kong International Airport, and Central Japan International Airport in Nagoya.

Guayaquil Is Latin America's Top Airport

Regionally, Portugal's Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto took the prize for Europe; Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport again came in first in North America; Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, its first year in the survey, ranked first in the Middle East; O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg scored top marks in Africa, thanks in part to an overhaul for the 2010 Soccer World Cup; and José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil, Ecuador, won the top spot in Latin America and the Caribbean after major renovations.

In Asia, the drive to please customers is linked to national pride, says Mark Adamson, project manager for the Airport Service Quality benchmarking program. These airports get a lot of international traffic and want tourists to see their country in a positive light. "A light, airy ambiance" is also essential, Adamson says. But while Asian countries have been expanding airports or building bigger ones to replace, old, overcrowded hubs (BusinessWeek, 1/23/07), European airports such as Heathrow have immense difficulty expanding on account of urban sprawl.

Speedy Security Clearance in Israel

A lack of financial resources also may lead to a lower ranking. Even airports with the most courteous staff will come up short if they cannot afford enough people to clean the bathrooms frequently. Technological upgrades, too, can work wonders for efficiency and dramatically improve travelers' moods. Israelis flying out of Ben Gurion undergo a biometric handprint check that speeds them through passport control in five seconds. If they purchase duty-free products before departure, they can leave them behind at the airport and retrieve them for use at home upon their return.

While most airports can't regulate the behavior of passport control agents and security officers, who are usually not airport employees, the Israel Airports Authority does, and it invests a lot of time and money in keeping the security screening process short and courteous without sacrificing quality. "Security doesn't mean that you have to be rude to somebody," says Zeev Sarig, managing director at Ben Gurion.

Airports Where Passengers Are King

Fed up with brutish immigration officers and surly gate personnel? Or wish you could spend some of those hours at the airport not waiting in line or in search of a restroom? Perhaps you're flying to the wrong places. In the third annual survey of airport service quality by Geneva-based Airports Council International, airports in the Asia-Pacific region were found to be the most passenger-friendly. The agency polled 200,000 travelers at 90 airports on 34 criteria such as cleanliness, courtesy, and restroom availability.

The results: Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Nagoya all took the top spots.

Incheon International Airport

Seoul, South Korea

Incheon has placed first for the third year in a row, thanks to staffers' exceptional pride in welcoming travelers. Visitors just passing through can book tours of a nearby temple, a nature reserve, pottery factories, the local Chinatown, or the set of a Korean television drama. A one-hour tour costs $5. The airport also boasts a billiards hall and electronic game room, while the nearby Sky72 Golf Club welcomes players day and night. The airport also runs nightly excursions to Golden Gate Casino, a foreigners-only gambling oasis two minutes away.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The 216 check-in counters ensure passengers make the most of their time at the airport without waiting in line. There's indeed something for everyone here: free Internet kiosks for e-mail addicts, play areas for tots, luxury shops for big spenders, an observation gallery for airplane enthusiasts, and a Transit Hotel for the weary. For $11, visitors interested in seeing Kuala Lumpur can hop on the KLIA Ekspres for a 28-minute ride to the city center.

Changi Airport

Singapore

Any airport that gives out candy at passport control deserves high standing on this list. But Changi Airport goes above and beyond. With five gardens, a free, 24-hour movie theater, napping areas, and more than 300 retail outlets, Changi is a destination unto itself. The Balinese-themed swimming pool is free for guests at the Transit Hotel, but for $9.70 anyone else can dip in, too. (The price includes a complimentary, non-alcoholic drink from the bar.) Visitors with at least five hours to spare can book one of three free, two-hour sightseeing tours.

Hong Kong International Airport

Hong Kong

This airport thrives on efficiency. Its user-friendly Web site lets time-strapped passengers book a valet to collect luggage from the baggage claim and deliver it anywhere in the city. At check-in, designated "packers" armed with bubble wraps, protective filler, and cartons of various sizes box fragile items and anything else that may need repacking. Travelers who fly to Hong Kong three times in 12 months can receive a frequent visitor card to quicken the immigration process. The fatigued can freshen up or nap in the 2,000-square-foot Plaza Shower & Relaxation Lounge. Both terminals have free Wi-Fi access.

Central Japan International Airport

Nagoya, Japan

Here, passengers can watch planes come and go from the comfort (or awkwardness) of a communal bath. Centrair, as the airport is known, also boasts an indoor garden, replicas of old Japanese and European streets, and a 300-meter sky deck for those who prefer to view air traffic with their clothes on.

The place is also very child-friendly, with nurseries, rental strollers, a play area, tyke-size toilet seats, and even a free boiling hot water service for caregivers who want to disinfect milk before a feeding. After all, "It is a big, wonderful, and heart-beating event for small children to fly," declares Centrair's Web site.

Africa: O.R. Tambo International Airport

Johannesburg, South Africa

The Feb. 25 confiscation of 265 lb. of cocaine on its way to Durban notwithstanding, O.R. Tambo International Airport has a lot going for it. Already the busiest air transport hub on the continent, O.R. Tambo is undergoing a $400 million overhaul to prepare for growing passenger traffic, newer planes, and the 2010 Soccer World Cup. It was renamed two years ago for a former president of the African National Congress and anti-apartheid politician, Oliver Reginald Tambo.

Europe: Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport

Porto, Portugal

Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, named for a Portuguese politician who was killed in an airplane crash, has placed first in Europe, up from a third-place tie with Helsinki-Vantaa Airport last year. Its festive atmosphere and recent renovation may have something to do with it. On World Tourism Day in September, the airport greeted arriving passengers with flowers, port wine, and optional organized tours. The arrivals hall often hosts exhibits, such as a recent collection of cartoons from around the world. Visitors can take the subway to the city, less than seven miles away.

Latin America & Caribbean: José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport

Guayaquil, Ecuador

This is the first year Airports Council International has created a separate ranking for airports in Latin America and the Caribbean, and José Joaquín de Olmedo took the prize despite competition from Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José, Costa Rica, and Mexico City International Airport. Named for an Ecuadorean poet, José Joaquín boasts modern stone and glass architecture, 13 eateries with a variety of international fare, good shopping, and a snazzy Spanish-language Web site.

Middle East: Ben Gurion International Airport

Tel Aviv, Israel

No longer do visitors to the Holy Land disembark outside on a mobile staircase and schlep onto a bus for a ride to the dinky arrivals hall. Since 2004 travelers have stepped out onto jetways and walked—and walked and walked—down glimmering hallways of Jerusalem stone to a sleek, airy hall for a thorough passport check before retrieving their bags. The first time Ben Gurion was surveyed, in the third quarter of 2006, it placed first out of 40 European airports and fifth among 77 worldwide.

North America: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas

Southern hospitality is a staple of this Texan transport hub. Volunteer airport ambassadors greet visitors, direct them to connecting flights, and provide information on local attractions and hotels. The artwork of more than 30 artists from around the world graces the international terminal and the waiting areas of the Skylink train, which connects all five terminals. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the picnic tables in the Founders Plaza, and then walk over to the observation area for some prime aircraft viewing.

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