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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:
MrsTerryPratchett · 27/12/2024 20:31

reesiespieces · 27/12/2024 20:22

LAX

This.

Richest city in the richest nation on earth. LAX is a shitty shitty crap hole. Rude staff, terrible organisation, awful tech. They randomly close TSA in places they are still flying from. The bus is dreadful and slow. Dirty, disorganised and smelly.

The only thing that helps is avoiding anyone well-paid in a uniform. If you ask cleaners, retail staff, anyone paid shit wages, they are unfailingly polite and lovely and helpful.

I HATE LAX and they should make T-shirts that say that.

JC03745 · 27/12/2024 20:32

Heraklion!

Our taxi driver gave us a fantastic tip that there is a cafe type little shop within the carpark used by the taxi staff and anyone that knows about it. They had fresh sandwich rolls and drinks and were much cheaper than within the terminal. This was 8yrs ago, so might have changed though.

HansHolbein · 27/12/2024 20:33

Reus - only because there is nothing to do!

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Midlifecrisisxamillion · 27/12/2024 20:33

Never had an issue with any airport and I've been to lots. Don't get me started on train stations though 🤣

Missmarymack2 · 27/12/2024 20:33

EauNeu · 27/12/2024 20:22

Dublin. Horrible

I’m from Ireland and I agree . It’s horrific and always absolutely packed in summer. Dublin needs another airport. It’s not enough for a growing population.

CharlotteStreetW1 · 27/12/2024 20:34

LivingColour · 27/12/2024 20:29

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.

Show quote history

I think a lot of the Greek island airports are like that. I was going to say Santorini before they rebuilt it. It's lovely now although I miss the airside smoking terrace.

orangecreamdream · 27/12/2024 20:34

Taba international airport, one of the smallest international airports. On the way home from a holiday years ago I had a dippy tummy. When I got the the loo there there was no toilet paper in the cubicles but men sat outside of the loos with a roll charging $1 per piece!

Also because the runway was so short they had to half fill the plane with fuel so it was light enough to take off. We had to land in Cyprus for a top up!

Folkwhore · 27/12/2024 20:35

Came on to say Heraklion. Hot, dirty, no refreshments, everyone sat/laid on the floor..

UpToonGirl · 27/12/2024 20:36

I see it's been mentioned a few times but Heraklion is not great.

Withatraceofmisty · 27/12/2024 20:36

Agree Heraklion was atrocious. Also the Ryanair shed at Bordeaux.

2025Y · 27/12/2024 20:36

I flew from Luton a couple forays ago. It was great!

Although flying home tomorrow so hope I don't eat my words!

Zimniy · 27/12/2024 20:36

Heraklion

HermioneWeasley · 27/12/2024 20:37

Antalya - endless queues, very limited facilities and way too small for the amount of people using it.

Ribenaberry12 · 27/12/2024 20:37

Oh, I hate Luton.

MontyNojangles · 27/12/2024 20:38

BHX - it's been a building site for at least 2 years and shows no signs of getting better. Even the staff are utterly sick of it. Queues outside in marquees in all weathers. Dire.
Paphos - tiny and disorganised, the stupid EES passport machines don't work and there is nobody to talk to about it.
Sharm - duty free was cash only, which the workers very obviously pocketed in front of us! Security was brutal. They left us in the airport taxi for 30mins in 40° heat, a lady fainted and they wouldn't open the doors to get her out.

Nicknacky · 27/12/2024 20:38

Am I the only one that thought Heraklion was fine? 😂

But Columbo Airport. Dear god that was hellish. And an 8 hour delay and Paula Yates had just died and it was on a loop on sky news the entire time.

Bluevelvetsofa · 27/12/2024 20:38

Years ago, so it may be different now, but Ryanair flew to obscure airports and we were unfortunate enough to be taken to one about an hour away from Venice. It was a she’d with absolutely nothing in it, aside from police with guns.

OverthinkingOlive · 27/12/2024 20:39

Zurich. Awful

BoobyDazzler · 27/12/2024 20:40

Luton is a horrible airport. Birmingham is our local and we’ve always found it bloody brilliant! Nice to get off a flight and be at home in bed in half an hour, too.

Worst was probably Dalaman but it’s been some years since I went so it may have improved.

Nicest was Bahrain. It had white carpets and a posh car show room in the terminal.

Edizzler25 · 27/12/2024 20:41

Corfu

Camembertcufflinks · 27/12/2024 20:41

Bergamo without a doubt. Disorganised, chaotic and hot as hell even in November!

NoraLuka · 27/12/2024 20:41

Nicknacky · 27/12/2024 20:38

Am I the only one that thought Heraklion was fine? 😂

But Columbo Airport. Dear god that was hellish. And an 8 hour delay and Paula Yates had just died and it was on a loop on sky news the entire time.

I thought Heraklion was fine too! It has terrible reviews online and I don’t travel much so I was really worried about going there but it was actually just a normal airport.

EcoCustard · 27/12/2024 20:42

Mumbai, twice I’ve been. Awful.

ALunchbox · 27/12/2024 20:42

We used Heraklion airport once out of season for a really early (quiet) local flight. We turned up and... There were locks on doors! We eventually found a side door to get into the terminal and check in but it was just bizarre.

I can't say I am particularly impressed with those out-of-the-way airports Ryanair fly to ( Charleroi, Beauvais etc). They just weren't designed for those numbers of passengers.

hamsandyams · 27/12/2024 20:42

Carcassonne. Literally a portakabin with a vending machine.