1) Changi Airport, Singapore

Airport code: SNG, Passengers: Accommodated 46.5 million passengers in 2011

If there’s ever an airport to want to spend more time in, it’s Singapore’s Changi airport. Boasting three spacious terminals, Changi not only has free wifi and free lounge areas (called, fittingly “oases”) with comfy, cushioned reclined seats, but it also has restaurants to fit a myriad of budgets and palates. Have a long layover? Don’t just sit at the gate—there’s a free movie theater, a free butterfly garden, and a recreation area where you can play provided computer games. Artwork, orchid gardens and koi ponds make this one of the world’s most relaxing places to rest between flights. If you feel like paying for your entertainment, you can also have massages, toss your kids down a long slide, visit a bar for a quick drink, or take a dip in the rooftop swimming pool.

When you do finally have to leave Changi, gates and terminals are easy to navigate to your next flight. Or, going into the city? The mass rapid transit system will take you right downtown.

2) Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand

Airport Code: BKK, Passengers: About 53 million passengers each year

Bangkok’s main airport (Dong Mueang is now the budget option) is a beautiful, modern glass-and-steel structure that’s easy to navigate. Before security, ride the unique moving walkways between levels to access restaurants, cafes, and fruit vendors. After the security gates, hungry travelers who need some sustenance before they fly can also find a few restaurants and cafes in the mid- to upper-price range and a selection of fast-food joints.

To pass the time at Suvarnabhumi, passengers can ogle items on display for duty free shopping (though some of it seems just as expensive as the taxed goods you’d get in a mall in Bangkok), or try out the free wifi available past the security checkpoints.

To get into Bangkok or out to another city in Thailand, tourists have the option of taking the normal or express Skyrail train to the downtown, or hopping in a minivan or bus to destinations further afield. There are also a huge range of budget hotels near the airport which offer shuttle pickup as well, so check with your accommodation if they can get you after a long flight.

3) Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong

Airport Code: HKG, Passengers: About 53 million passengers in 2011

Flying in to Hong Kong International Airport, which is located on Lantau Island, offers dramatic views, so if you’re lucky enough to be headed to Hong Kong try to book a window seat.

Hong Kong’s airport is extremely busy for its size, and it runs efficiently despite the chaos of many arriving flights. For passengers killing time, there’s free Wi-Fi once past security, and a few paid options for it outside, for example at Pacific Coffee.

It’s a good airport for sprucing up in the middle of a long-haul journey: If you need a shower, there are a few traveler’s lounges that offer a reclined seat and amenities for a few hours, but they’re not the cheapest. There’s also a simpler showering option in the passage between terminals 1 and 2.

For long layovers or strange flight timings, you might be able to work in a movie or other entertainment while you wait. In Terminal 2, there’s an IMAX movie theatre, an arcade, and of course, some last-minute shopping opportunities.

To get into town with public transportation, take the express monorail or the bus. If you’re heading over the border to mainland China, from arrivals head toward the trains, then take the underground passage to Terminal 2.

4) Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Airport code: KUL, Passengers: About 37.5 million passengers in 2011

The airport is about an hour outside of Kuala Lumpur proper, so, when departing, make sure you have given yourself enough time to get there. There’s a high-speed train from town, but most people catch cabs. Be sure to check your tickets before you tell the driver where you’re going–most budget flights depart from the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT), which is about 20 kilometers from the premium carrier terminal.

Although the premium and Low Cost terminals are technically part of the same airport, they look and feel very different. The premium terminal has a shiny, shopping-mall feel and has more eateries and fast Internet available for travelers, while the LCCT is more focused on function than form, but is still clean and adequate for visitors passing through the region on budget airlines. For meals at the LCCT, try the food hall removed from the main building, past the buses going to town. If you have to switch terminals, there is also an inexpensive shuttle bus that goes between the premium terminal and the LCCT.

Check out where to stay in Southeast Asia.

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Diligence has been exercised in listing down the information available for each airport, but always check with the concerned airport authorities for any last-minute changes in their flight schedules, reroutes and anticipated delays.

The following are Thailand’s international airports:

• Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX). CNX is the major hub in the northern part of Thailand, and receives international and domestic flights from 21 airlines daily. There are scheduled passenger flights to international airports in Myanmar, Korea, Burma, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Laos, Singapore and Macau.
• Don Mueang International Airport (DMK). The first commercial airport in Bangkok to receive international passengers until it was replaced by the more modern Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in September 2006. DMK reopened in March 2007 after renovations, and is now receiving flights to and from regional airports of the following countries: Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea and starting December 22, 2012, China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, India, Macau, Cambodia and Singapore. From here, you can also reach other Thailand destinations via domestic flights.
• Hat Yai International Airport (HDY). Serving international flights from Malaysia and Singapore, HDY also receives passengers from Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Hat Yai is the commercial hub of Southern Thailand, and is the melting pot of Thai, Chinese, Malay and Muslim cultures.
• Krabi Airport (KBV). There are daily flights to and from BKK, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and direct flights from Singapore and Darwin in Australia. The airport allows travelers to go to the beaches of Had Yao, Ao Nang, Rai Leh and Koh Lanta.
• Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI). As the northernmost city of Thailand, Chiang Rai is an ideal jump off point to Myanmar and Laos as the airport sits in the area known as the ‘Golden Triangle’ (where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar converge). There are scheduled passenger flights to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi and Phuket on a daily basis.
• Phuket International Airport (HKT). Phuket International Airport is the second busiest airport after Suvarnabhumi Airport in terms of passenger (no cargo) capacity. Every day, 56 airlines fly to and from Phuket, processing passengers from capital cities of most countries in the world. The airport has also a landing strip from domestic flights. The airport sometimes experiences congestion, so some passengers might be rerouted from the nearby Krabi Airport.
• Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in Bangkok is Thailand’s foremost international airport, receiving 101 passenger and 28 cargo airlines daily, and processing 48 million passengers annually (as of 2011). This means that if you are an international traveler coming from cities/countries other than mentioned in DMK destinations, you are likely to land in Suvarnabhumi Airport. If you are in Bangkok and want to explore the outskirts of Thailand, you should head to DMK for connecting domestic flights instead.
• U-Tapao International Airport (UTP). The main hub for the Pattaya province, U-Tapao International Airport serves passengers going to and coming from China, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea and Cambodia. UTP also accepts chartered flights from Russia and services domestic flights from all over Thailand.
• Udon Thani International Airport (UTH). Udon Thani International Airport is both a civilian and military airport. It only serves international flights coming from and going to Laos, and all other domestic flights from Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. It is presently the base of Royal Thai Air Force.

The following are regional and domestic Thailand airports:

• Buriram Airport (BFV). There are scheduled passenger flights to Bangkok on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Buriram is an ideal jump off point to explore ruins of ancient Khmer civilizations in Prasaat Phanom Rung and Prasat Hin Muang Tam.
• Chumphon Airport (CJM) has flights coming in from and going to Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport.
• Hua Hin Airport (HHQ) has flights to and from Bangkok on a daily basis. Hua Hin is the gateway to quiet beach resorts and old and beautiful palaces and temples as these used to be the home of the monarchs, including the reigning monarch, King Bhumibol. HHQ flights to BKK only take up to 45 minutes.
• Khon Kaen Airport (KKC) has scheduled destinations to Chiang Mai, BKK  and Luang Prabang in Laos.
• Koh Samui Airport (USM) is served by one airline with flights to BKK, Phuket, Pattaya, Krabi and Singapore. Flight time from BKK to Samui is one hour, whereas flight time to Pattaya and Phuket are less than 45minutes. The airport is only 20 minutes away from Chaweng beaches.
• Lampang Airport (LPT). Lampang Airport is a good jump off point to Chiang Mai via public bus. LPT operates daily flights to and from BKK. Lampang is great for tourists who want to get a different feel of Thailand because the city is known to use horse carriages for transport even today. Lampang is also a gateway to Chae Son National Park where hot springs, caves and waterfalls abound.
• Mae Hong Son Airport (HGN) has daily flights to and from Chiang Mai and BKK. Flight time to Chiang Mai is 30 minutes. Mae Hong Son sits close to the Myanmar border, so the city architecture is Myanmar-influenced. The main attraction of the city is its multi-ethnic atmosphere, the most popular of which are the Padaung hill tribes. Padaung women ‘elongate’ their necks and limbs by using brass coils.
• Mae Sot Airport (MAQ) has scheduled passenger flights to BKK and Chiang Mai. Mae Sot is a great place for sightseeing Burmese-influenced temples and sampling Burmese cuisine.
• Nakhon Phanom Airport (KOP) brings visitors right in the middle of the Mekong River, which demarcates the border with Laos (Laos is on the opposite side of Mekong). Also a gateway to ancient religious monuments in Phra That Phanom, Nakhon is a great jump off point to see 1,500-year-old temples.
• Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport (NST) provides gateway to travelers to miles-long undeveloped beaches in Na Dam and Nai Phalo, where cobalt blue waters and white sand await intrepid adventurer. There are daily flights to and from BKK that allow passengers to reach both destinations in 75 minutes.
• Nan Airport (NNT) has flight schedules to and from BKK and Chiang Mai. Nan is one of the most tranquil Thai provinces and is home to a handful of ‘wat’ or temples. Nan also sits across the Laotian border and is home to many hill tribes like Yao, Hmong, N’tin and Khamu.
• Narathiwat Airport (NAW) is served by one airline with daily flights to and from BKK that take about 90 minutes. Narathiwat shares a border with Malaysia, and sits in the midst of jungles and mountains and a handful of temples. Travelers need to be cautious when traveling in the area because of possible conflicts with Muslim minorities in Thailand.
• Pai Airport (PYY) is served by two small carriers with flights to and from Chiang Mai (no BKK flights) which take about 30 minutes. Pai sits at the foot of the Mae Hong Son mountains near the Myanmar border. Hot springs, elephant camps and ‘wats’ are the highlights of this small town.
• Phetchabun Airport (PHY) is served by two airlines that have daily flights to and from BKK and Loei.
• Phitsanulok Airport (PHS) is served by one airline with daily flights to and from BKK.
• Phrae Airport (PRH) has two airlines servicing flights to and from BKK.
• Roi Et Airport (ROI) is served by one airline going to and from BKK on certain days of the week. Flight time is one hour. Roi Et is gateway to Central Northeast Thailand where Khmer structures and Buddhist temples abound.
• Sakon Nakhon Airport (SNO) is both a civil and military transport hub, and is served by one airline that flies to and from BKK on a daily schedule. Sakon Nakhon is in the Northeast Thailand where lakes and rivers dominate the landscape.
• Sukhothai Airport (THS) is served by one airline plying the BKK-Sukhothai route daily.
• Surat Thani Airport (URT) has three airlines serving the “City of Good People,” with daily flights to and from Bangkok. Flight time is about 70 minutes. Surat Thani is notable for its Roman Catholic cathedrals as well as Chinese temples. Surat Thani is more of a corridor for the many travelers going to and from the islands, and less of a destination in itself.
• Trang Airport (TST) is served by two airlines going to and from BKK on a daily schedule.
• Trat Airport (TDX) services passengers who fly to and from BKK on a daily basis. Flight time is a little more than one hour.  Trat sits on the border with Cambodia, and is gateway to 52 islands with offshore coral reefs and white sand beaches.
• Ubon Ratchathani Airport (UBP) is served by two carriers flying to and from BKK on a daily basis. Flight time is 60 minutes. Ubon Ratchathani is near the tri-country border of Cambodia to the south and Laos to the east. Four-thousand-year-old rock formations and prehistoric rock art serve as the main attraction of the region.

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