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Original poster

Worst airport you have been in

369 replies

disappointed101 · 27/12/2024 20:06

Travelling through BHX this evening. Looks like a building site, no staff to be seen at check in, then a poor guy turns up apologising for lack of staff. Security an absolute mess, lots of staff having a lovely chat whilst the queue moves at a snails pace, nobody taking control. Awful. It’s got to be up with the worst experience I’ve had. Luckily our flight is delayed due to fog, else we wouldn’t have made it. What’s your worst experience in an airport?

OP posts:
Tallerandtall · 27/12/2024 20:08

@disappointed101

all of them especially Manchester

WalterdelaMare · 27/12/2024 20:10

Luton.

FeegleFrenzy · 27/12/2024 20:11

Chamonix. Notorious for delays and is about the size of a large village hall. Was stuck there once when all flights were delayed for about 8 hours. You could barely walk anywhere due to people sat on the floor everywhere, having to step over people’s legs, etc.

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Flying Holidays
CouldntGiveAHoot · 27/12/2024 20:17

I was going to say Birmingham airport... but see you beat me to it, OP. I've flown from there 3 times and it's been awful every time.

Actually, I've flown from there twice. The last time my flight was cancelled, there was no one to talk to, the help phones didn't work, we waited 4 hours for someone to come and talk to us and then another 3 hours to be escorted out of the aiport/allowed to leave.

Never again.

FinnJuhl · 27/12/2024 20:18

Luton - worst I have experienced by far.

SharpGreenFawn · 27/12/2024 20:19

FeegleFrenzy · 27/12/2024 20:11

Chamonix. Notorious for delays and is about the size of a large village hall. Was stuck there once when all flights were delayed for about 8 hours. You could barely walk anywhere due to people sat on the floor everywhere, having to step over people’s legs, etc.

? There is no airport in Chamonix.

exLtEveDallas · 27/12/2024 20:19

Kos

CMOTDibbler · 27/12/2024 20:19

To be fair to BHX, it is an actual building site at the moment.
LAX is one of my most hated airports as it is always chaos there and the staff are so rude, but my worst airport ever was in Belarus where you constantly felt you would be arrested, it was freezing cold (-30'C outside), no food or drink to be had and the general vibe was soviet era police station.
My favourite airports are Linkoping, Sweden which basically only exists due to the Saab aerospace factory and is minute, but the same people check you in, do the security screen, let you out to the plane and load your luggage. There is free coffee on a trolley in the check in area.
Okinawa is my absolute favourite as it is both commercial and military so fast jets take off on the same runway. From the JAL lounge it is like an airshow with the backdrop of the pacific ocean

CRJ77 · 27/12/2024 20:20

Luton. Especially this year with the car park temporarily moved

MermaidEyes · 27/12/2024 20:22

Had crappy experiences in most airports but nothing beats standing on hot tarmac in 30 odd degree heat in Corfu queuing for passport control with planes landing practically 10 feet from your head because it's such a tiny airport.

biscuitsandbooks · 27/12/2024 20:22

FeegleFrenzy · 27/12/2024 20:11

Chamonix. Notorious for delays and is about the size of a large village hall. Was stuck there once when all flights were delayed for about 8 hours. You could barely walk anywhere due to people sat on the floor everywhere, having to step over people’s legs, etc.

There isn't an airport in Chamonix?

CeeJay81 · 27/12/2024 20:22

We must have been lucky. Recently went on holiday via bmx and it was really quiet, no queues.

EauNeu · 27/12/2024 20:22

Dublin. Horrible

reesiespieces · 27/12/2024 20:22

LAX

biscuitsandbooks · 27/12/2024 20:25

Grenoble was pretty dire when I was stuck there due to heavy snow as a student. Luton has never been much fun either.

On the other hand never had an issue with Stansted and I love Singapore Changi.

User346897543 · 27/12/2024 20:25

Heraklion

Missionimprobable · 27/12/2024 20:25

Marco Polo (Venice)
Absolutely horrendous.
Four times I've been through it, every time it's been chaos, massive queues, no structure, complete free for all, staff are rude.

UtterlyQuackers · 27/12/2024 20:26

Luton.

2 people on the desks at boarder control, flight was a chartered family resort flight that had been delayed by 4 hours. Everyone on the flight had children and children can't use the E-gates. It took bloody ages to get through!

batshitaboutcatshit · 27/12/2024 20:26

Kos. Without question.

Was over 20 years ago so they may have updated it but it still sticks in my memory.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 27/12/2024 20:27

@FeegleFrenzy - do you mean Chambery
?

Anonymus89 · 27/12/2024 20:27

Antalya 🤢 Luton next to it it's a luxury!

ElangaScores · 27/12/2024 20:29

User346897543 · 27/12/2024 20:25

Heraklion

Oh god yes. Flew through there this year. 4 gate changes within 30 mins, everything was filthy, the toilets had no locks, no paper, no soap. One grumpy woman manning a kiosk selling refreshments in the style of a PTA.

LivingColour · 27/12/2024 20:29

batshitaboutcatshit · 27/12/2024 20:26

Kos. Without question.

Was over 20 years ago so they may have updated it but it still sticks in my memory.

Went there a couple of years ago and they have not.

The only airport I’ve been where you check-in, then are asked to leave the airport and go to one of the bars/cafes/restaurants nearby as the area airside past security is too small to have people waiting.

Okaygoahead · 27/12/2024 20:29

O'Hare Terminal 5. Most of the flights from the terminal are international, many going to Europe, so leaving mid to late evening, and all the food services (crappy selection anyway) closed at 7 pm. Most in fact closed earlier. Abysmal place.

SqueakyDinosaur · 27/12/2024 20:30

Aleppo, in 2008. Dirty, disorganised and nowhere to buy even water. I ended up with the worst food poisoning of my entire life from the meal on the flight from there.