ABU DHABI AIRPORT  Customer Reviews and Passenger opinions

ABU DHABI AIRPORT review :  15 November 2009 by Farouk Mogheth   (Czech Republic)

Customer Rating :  5/5

Queuing

Cleanliness

Facilities

Flying through Abu Dhabi (Bangkok to Munich and back). Both flights with Etihad gave me only 2 hours transit. It was a nice experience from and to my destination. The new part of the terminal was clean, crowd free and easy to navigate through. I guess I was lucky to bypass the rush hour. WCs clean, fair amount of shopping and a couple of food venues. Security fast and efficient. A good airport to fly through.

ABU DHABI AIRPORT review :  17 July 2009 by P Sims   (UK)

Customer Rating :  2/5

Queuing

Cleanliness

Facilities

In and out of Terminal 3 this week. Very poor facilities for food and drink. In duty free I looked at cameras and Ipods. Both seemed expensive and on checking my preferred items they are cheaper on the UK High Street than so called duty free in Abu Dhabi. Buyer beware!

ABU DHABI AIRPORT review :  3 July 2009 by A Patel   (UK)

Customer Rating :  4/5

Queuing

Cleanliness

Facilities

The view of this airport may depend on what terminal you arrive and depart from. I was a transiting passenger at the new Terminal 3. This is a terminal with plenty of seating, internet access points and adequate duty free. Security was quick and easy and the terminal had plenty of toilets which were clean. I'm not sure what the rest of the airport is like but if you are travelling through Terminal 3 it was a very pleasant experience.

ABU DHABI AIRPORT review : 25 May 2009 : by J Carters

Customer Rating : 1/5

I had the unfortunate pleasure of having a lay-over at AUH airport, Terminal 1 a while ago. The place is small and it was ridiculously crowded and there was no place to sit anywhere. It was in general a very uncomfortable experience, with a smoking area so disgusting that even after a 7h flight into AUH I passed up on the chance to smoke. I was glad to just go to the gate (located in between the shops) and wait there. Once the security check was starting, it was a men-first situation, and the women had to wait until the men had passed through. It was the flimsiest security check I have ever had, the metal detectors were beeping quite often but everyone was waved through anyway. Never been happier to get onto a crowded plane, just to get away from there.

ABU DHABI AIRPORT review : 5 May 2009 : by Fiona Cameron

Customer Rating : 3/5

Terminal 3 may be more unique than Terminal 1 which is like any terminal anywhere in the world, admittedly Terminal 1 is more spacious which is a plus, and there were numerous powerpoints which I saw a family use to plug in the portable DVD player to keep the kids happy. There were computers in Terminal 1 with free internet access which helped pass the time on my overnight stopover. Security checkpoints were not as traumatic as I expected and all in all it was as bad as I was dreading.

ABU DHABI AIRPORT review : 19 April 2009 : by R Bath

Customer Rating : 3/5

Just a transiting passenger both directions. New terminal is a vast improvement although long walks are required and it's kind of boring. Old terminal building with its interesting but terrifying decor is a shocker. Advice: Toilets upstairs are far better than those downstairs (the worst I've ever seen at any airport). Coming back, Business Class lounge and transfer hotel OK.

ABU DHABI AIRPORT review : 10 March 2009 : by A Newton

Customer Rating : 4/5

A lot better since the new terminal 3 has opened. a lot more spacious, and even at their busiest time between 11am - 3pm not a problem. a few duty free shops and places to grab something to eat. not bad at all compared to T1.

ABU DHABI AIRPORT review : 3 March 2009 : by P Nixon

Customer Rating : 4/5

A fine airport with all the mod cons, if a little cramped for the volume of customers currently using it. The unique architecture is a welcome break from the beige and glass structures so common in modern airports, and although the facilities are spartan, they fulfil the purpose. The staff are heplful and pleasant, with the exception of security. However I've had far more unpleasant experiences with security personnel at other transit hubs in the region, these guys should are par for the course.

ABU DHABI AIRPORT review : 26 January 2009 : by S Pathirana

Customer Rating : 1/5

Having the displeasure of using this airport a couple of times, I have now preferred using Dubai, and that is saying something. Extremely dull airport, ridiculously tacky terminal which has no space at all. Can get very crowded. Toilets are horrid. There's been talk of expansion, and the little expansion that has happened is barely noticeable (more check-in counters at departure). Rude officials at arrivals and I have had my bag searched every time I have come through here. Etihad is a nice airline to fly and it's a shame that it is served through this sad excuse for an airport.

ABU DHABI AIRPORT review : 13 January 2009 : by J Song

Customer Rating : 1/5

I had to go through this airport during my flight from KUL to DUB. Inbound at 8-45pm and outbound at 2-55am - horrible. It took me 30mins from bus to the terminal, and once the bus had set down, the crowd of people in the bus were lost - where was the exit? The alley used to enter the terminal was also used to go on board and there were no signs, dividers. We managed to find our way through by asking for directions to other passengers who were going onboard. As for the terminal itself, like all reviews below, avoid it at all costs. No seats, and if any very uncomfortable seats plus annoying announcements every minute - it gets more annoying if you can't find a place to sit. The duty free shops are a rip-off too. It takes 10 mins to get around the airport, and with its dome shape and tiles on the walls, the noise echoes throughout and with the announcements its a nightmare! The security checks were over- secured, and literally for every passenger they took about 5 mins to interview, asking why did you transit in AUH, why are you going there, how long did you stay in your destination etc.

ABU DHABI AIRPORT review : 6 January 2009 : by Pasindu Karunaratne

Customer Rating : 1/5

I recently had to go through this airport on my way to CMB on QR and once again it was an utterly horrible experience. The airport was crowded and the smell of smoke was all around the airport. The seating is not enough for the volume of passengers it handles. Try to avoid AUH at all costs.

ABU DHABI AIRPORT review : 31 December 2008 : by Alex Bell

Customer Rating : 2/5

Hanging around in any airport is to be avoided and in Abu Dhabi all the more so. It is a deeply boring place to have to spend any time, there being nothing much to do. The seating – what there is of it – is comfortable. The airport seems tiny. The mosaic dome makes a change, but it allows voices to echo, so is noisy. This is exacerbated by the continual – and I mean continual – announcements, which are also impossible to understand. There is a Costa so you can get a good cup of coffee and pay in £ if you wish. I didn’t particularly notice the smoke that so many people have complained of. Crowd control is southern, ie long queues and lengthy processes. The toilets are reasonably unpleasant. Shopping is very limited to the usual Duty Free fare of watches, perfumes, cigars and alcohol. There are no quiet places to sleep, so if you have an 8 hour stop-over during the night, as I did, you are going to have little fun. You can get a little sleep on the carpeted floor in the passages to the gates. All in all, an experience that is not recommended.

ABU DHABI AIRPORT review : 30 November 2008 : by S Sharma

Customer Rating : 1/5

Etihad was a pleasant experience travelling between Sydney and Manchester, but the stopover in Abu Dhabi was a big disapointment. Had 2 hours to spend here in either direction and found the airport to be small, crowded, noisy and smelling of cigarette smoke. Finding a seat and getting comfortable was next to impossible and hearing the announcements over the humdrum was difficult too. Hopefully the new terminals and expansions will do justice to the airline that the airport serves.

ABU DHABI AIRPORT review : 7 November 2008 : by T Vincent

Customer Rating : 1/5

I flew with Etihad from BRU to BKK with a 2 hours stopover in AUH. At first sight, I found the terminal quite original and nice (the green mosaic); but tiny and really overcrowded. The terminal is non smoking but this is theory as it smells cigarette smoke everywhere. In fact, there are smoking areas in bars but no smoke extractor so the whole terminal looks like a smoking room. Going from the 2nd floor to the 1st one using the stairs is hazardous as smoking is not prohibited in the piano bar between the 2 floors. Toilets are on the 1st floor. There look really old fashioned and are not so clean (lot of water on the ground). So what to do when you are in transit? There are 3 bars/snacks but it's almost impossible to find a seat. Prices for drinks are OK. Not so many duty free areas. Ideal for short stopovers as it takes only 5 minutes to go from one gate to another but probably the worst airport I've ever seen for people in transit. I expected much better for a city like Abu Dhabi.

ABU DHABI AIRPORT review : 29 September 2008 : by Pasindu Karunaratne

Customer Rating : 1/5

I went through this airport a few weeks back on my way to London from Abu Dhabi on Qatar Airways, and to be honest it is one of the most disgusting airports I have been through. My flight was at around 11:30 pm and the airport was crowded, and finding a place to sit was out of the question. It is way too cramped, and crowded. It is a real shame that a fast developing country like the UAE does not have a decent airport to go through, it is not as if Dubai is any better.

ABU DHABI AIRPORT review : 2 September 2008 : by Steve Unsworth

Customer Rating : 2/5

I have travelled through Abu Dhabi between London and South East Asia several times over the last few months. A layover here is, as recorded elsewhere, deeply unpleasant when it is overcrowded (typically 10pm to 2am). Use Qatar or Emirates to their hubs rather than Etihad. The only good thing I have to report is that a critical comment left in their suggestion box, stimulated an e-mail apology and promise of better things post the completion of new facilities, which arrived before I got back home 12 hours later!

ABU DHABI AIRPORT review : 7 August 2008 : by Mark Donnelly

Customer Rating : 1/5

Apart form this airport being an architectural abomination and a glorified cattle market, we experienced the worst customer service from airport security. Obeying current rules on liquids, my wife carried a 50ml perfume and a 25 ml hairspray in the clear plastic bag provided by the airport. We succesfully made it through security at Glasgow and Manchester, but in Abu Dhabi my wife had this bag snatched from her by a security guard with no explanation. My wife pointed out out that we were well within the limits even pointing out Abu Dhabi's own information sheet on such regulations. The security guard grabbed it from her throwing it and the contents of her clear plastic bag in the bin. This was a £40 bottle of perfume which had hardly been used. Despite being at the gate and being shaken by the guards threatening behaviour we stormed out of the gate holding area and went back in to the airport to find the airport manager. She arrived and came back through security with us after agreeing that we had not contravened any rules. On arrival at the gate the security guard in question had gone. The airport manager managed to get him on the phone but he refused to come back. The very apologetic airport manager apologised for the way we had been treated but said there was nothing she could do if the guard in question would not back down. Another guard who witnessed this told the manager the we had been within the allowed limits but the guard who confiscated it was a senior security guard who had ' been in a bad mood that day' was not to be crossed. We will avoid this airport at all costs in the future.

ABU DHABI AIRPORT review : 8 July 2008 : by Peter Harrison

Customer Rating : 5/5

As Etihad uses AUH as its hub airport like many others I had to endure a stop over of a few hours enroute from MAN to BKK. I had read the horror stories in the reviews and I must admit that I arrived with some trepidation. Internally I thought the space to be architecturally very pleasing with the curved lines covered in bright ceramics. However I can't deny that there were a lot of people - generating quite a lot of noise and congestion. Get a seat and keep it is my advice! The male toilets I found to be OK - but I did observe that many of the female toilets were closed for renovation.

Abu Dhabi Airport review - T Owens

24 June 2008    Customer Rating :

Abu Dhabi airport terminal however did leave a lot to be desired. They definitely need a lot more western toilet facilities in the ladies and even though they have designated smoking areas the smell permeates the entire airport, not pleasant at all. I think smoking should be banned in the terminal altogether. My suggestion to fellow travellers is make sure you have plenty to occupy yourself while waiting. I look forward to experiencing the new terminal.

Abu Dhabi Airport review - S Wilson

17 June 2008    Customer Rating :

Entered premium checkin area where luggage screening before check in was a little chaotic, though check in itself was a breeze. Used premium immigration which was easy. All in all a little shabby, interesting shaped buildings like mosaics, but few places to sit (clearly many Etihad passengers in transit between flights). Used Ghazal lounge, but this was pretty dire. Smoking section downstairs saw that smell drift throughout the lounge, food and drink selection rather basic. BA supplied newspapers for its passengers. Toilet was akin to a basic service station facility. Finally when called for boarding had second security check, which seemed rather relaxed. I plan next time to spend minimum time there, checking in as late as possible to avoid the smokey lounge and rather uninteresting and crowded terminal. Arrivals had been far better, immigration friendly, very quick arrival for baggage and easy to find pre-booked taxi. 4 stars for arrival, 2 stars for departure.

Abu Dhabi Airport review - Brian Corrigan

8 April 2008    Customer Rating :

Spent 4 hours there in Business class lounge which was a huge disappointment, seating limited, food very average and the poor people who had to sit in the main terminal which was smoky and smelly from age. They really need to get their act together on this one and speed up the building of the new terminal. I flew Etihad which was okay, but no service offered by ground crew telling us if boarding had commenced and their attitude left a lot to be desired towards Business/First class passengers.

Abu Dhabi Airport review - J Sabaduquia

2 April 2008    Customer Rating :

A 5 hour layover in Abu Dhabi - my flight was from MNL-JFK and it needs a layover in Abu Dhabi when we arrive there was no assistance not even 1 staff guiding us were to go. When we arrived at the airport, waiting near the duty free it smelled like cigarette and very uncomfortable,. Airport was very crowded but seats in the waiting are were comfortable. When we boarded the plane there was no priority boarding for first, business and passengers with children. All in all AUH airport is one of the worst airport, glad they are making a new terminal.

Abu Dhabi Airport review - J Wright

12 March 2008    Customer Rating :

4 hour stopover connecting on Eithad Airways between SYD-AUH and AUH-LHR flights in the early hours of the morning. One plus is that the terminal is very small so not too far to walk (though I was subjected to a long bus ride from the aircraft to the terminal on arrival) and staff available to assist and ask questions once inside the terminal. There are also free internet terminals and plasma screens showing BBC World, however, it really is a boring and very small airport to spend a few hours in - there really is nothing to see or do. Take your iPod or a good book and be prepared for a crowded and noisy experience. I was relieved when I found my next flight was boarding. I found Etihad Airways to be excellent but I'd consider flying another airline to avoid Abu Dhabi airport until they've completed the new terminal.

Abu Dhabi Airport review - S Cooke

7 March 2008    Customer Rating :

A spectacular mosaic work of art doubles as the International terminal. A dozen free Internet terminals are available, and free wireless Internet - but unfortunately my browser was unable to make a connection. If I have one serious complaint it is the non-stop tannoy - so loud it was difficult to hold a conversation. Plenty of plasma screens advised when our connecting flight was boarding. All the gates are visible from each other and only a short walk away.

Abu Dhabi Airport review - K Burnie

30 January 2008    Customer Rating :

We spent 2 hours on the way to Sydney in Abu Dhabi airport and then 4 hours on the way back, it is small, only one place to get a drink or food. There is not enough seating. When you then go to the boarding gate it was a joke, there was not enough seats. I will not be using Abu Dhabi airport again.

Abu Dhabi Airport review - Ziyad Khan

2 January 2008   Customer Rating :

AUH-JED. Had an 8 hour layover, which was awful. Airport is too small for the volume of passengers it is handling. Many flights leaving after 0100; all to destinations with extremely high loads like Munich, Toronto, New York, Dhaka, Karachi etc. All these flights leave within couple of minutes of each other creating havoc in the airport for couple of hours.

Abu Dhabi Airport review - D Fay

23 October 2007   Customer Rating :

Had a 2-hour layover at AUH in both directions flying with Etihad DUB-SYD. The airport is OK for about 2 hours but the facilities are pretty limited: the Piano Bar has about 10 seats! It seems small and congested for the volume of passengers being handled and I would not have fancied a longer stay.

Abu Dhabi Airport review - David Allan

24 May 2007   Customer Rating :

Arrived in AUH last weekend - spotlessly clean; efficient and friendly immigration with no queues - perfect welcome. Spent a few hours in the airport while waiting to board my Etihad flight back to CGK - spotlessly clean, sufficient if not expansive shopping facilities available. A bit crowded around 1.00am (many in transit en route to EU/SE Asian destinations - many flights departing around 2.00am), but not intolerably so. In brief - a nice, compact airport which is hassle free unlike DXB.

Abu Dhabi Airport review by Leonard Haid

14 May 2007   Customer Rating :

I had a 13-hour layover, and unfortunately my airline couldn't provide a free hotel room. The transit hotel is expensive, so I thought I'd hang out at the airport. I lasted about 4 hours. The seats all have immovable armrests, so you can't stretch out, and I didn't see anyone sleeping on the floor. That's a no-no, I guess. So, if you face a long layover and need a good sleep to stay sane, and don't want to pay big bucks for a hotel, and want a little adventure, get a free tourist visa at Immigration and take a 20 dollar taxi to the city. Stay at a reasonably- priced hotel, which you can find beforehand on the Internet, or ask about at the airport. Explore the city for a while after you rest up, then head on back to the airport in time for your plane. In summary: The airport's just fine, but not a great place for sleepyheads on a tight budget.