HERAKLION AIRPORT customer review :  9 October 2009 by M Flatscher   (Austria)

Customer Rating :  2/5

Queuing

Cleanliness

Facilities

Heraklion Airport is definitely showing its age and a bit dirty. The ground staff is pretty slow. We had to wait for nearly one hour to get our bags! We returned on October 5th and once again the airport seemed to be pretty chaotic. At check-in counters your bags are weighed and labelled but you have to carry your luggage to a bag drop-off counter yourself, which was quite confusing. Security controls quick and professional - no complaints about that. But the departure area is very small and narrow for an airport of this importance. All in all I am not very impressed with this airport. They get their job done, but its quite chaotic.

HERAKLION AIRPORT customer review : 9 October 2009 by G Robins

Customer Rating : 1/5

We arrived in time at Heraklion airport to fly back to Norwich. First of all the check-in desks were late opening and we had to queue for 30 mins. After checking-in we had to take our cases for scanning and then queue for Passport Control. We queued at Passport Control for 45 minutes and hardly moved. There were about 50 people waiting at this time. We were aware that one security person was letting a few people through at a time - we were also aware that people were getting through quicker by pushing in from the left and centre and were allowed through, the authorities thus ignoring the proper queue. It was so hot and people in the proper queue were getting frustrated at being ignored. The officers on the "other side" of the barrier thought it was a huge joke and didn't hide their amusement at our frustrations. We queued for over an hour and a half before a Thomas Cook rep took control of the situation and when we finally got through we looked back across the concourse and there must have been well in excess of 400 people waiting to get through Passport Control for various flights. The annoying thing was that being EU Nationals the security officer didn't even want to look at our passports as we were English! We have never experienced such disorganisation at an airport before - never again!

HERAKLION AIRPORT customer review : 22 September 2009 by Lisa Evans-Kalaitzi

Customer Rating : 2/5

Heraklion airport has been a busy international airport for over 25 years and apart from increasing in size it has not been updated at all. It is expensive, the hire car parks are almost impossible to find unless you have been given strict instruction and dangerously situated across a busy road. The rest rooms have not been updated in over 25 years when I was a rep for a UK holiday company, making the job of the hygiene staff difficult and often quite impossible. It is very disappointing when one realises how many people pass through its doors annually leaving large amounts of money not to even install new toilets that flush!! Is that too much to ask in the 21st century? However, I have to give credit to the check in staff, even under huge pressure and a sea of people, they are quite efficient. As a hotelier on the island I hear comments about the two airports and neither are flattering. Food for thought for the powers to be maybe?

HERAKLION AIRPORT customer review : 10 September 2009 by A Boehm

Customer Rating : 1/5

Heraklion is the worst airport I have been to! Arrival was ok, luggage belts a mess, but finally we got our things. Departure was the horror! Besides the temperature, the airport was packed with people with literally not a centimeter space between each other and their luggage to walk trough. To get from one counter to the other we had to leave the airport building at one exit to enter it at another! There were no proper signs, nobody to ask! Finally other passengers told us where the x-ray for the luggage is. That's a scandal, I am sorry! A passenger has really to queue 4 times minimum until reaching the plane. First you queue at the check in (if you are lucky: in the building), then you queue at the x-ray (so you finally have found it and could get rid of your bags), then you queue at the passport control and then you queue at the security check. Then you reach a completely overcrowded waiting area with one duty free (where we bought some wine and oil and the cashier graciously handed us a plastic bag - not even thinking about making any extra effort to put the goods into the bag - I had to do it on my own - that's real service congratulations). We found two really friendly people helping us, the rest was either arrogant, bored, annoyed or overstrained. This airport is a service desert! Crete was nice but our holiday mood was gone that moment entering this airport. Improving this fully underdimensioned airport would cost a fortune - true, but I don't see any will for change at all reading the comments dating back to 2004. There is not enough space for everything, but clear and correct signs are not expensive. More and competent personnel should also be no miracle to find as so many are working in the tourism industry.

HERAKLION AIRPORT customer review : 8 June 2009 : by Colin Bushell

Customer Rating : 1/5

Had no problems at all with arrivals baggage came quickly, However departure was a disaster. We had my partners parents with us who are both in there eighties. Check in was bad enough but it then took 2.5 hours to get through security control. The main system keeps calling your flight but there were a couple of hundred people in front of you trying to get through passport controls. We managed to find seats for my partners parents thanks to the kindness of other passengers. This is the worst airport we have ever flown from which is a shame because Crete is lovely. Would not return until they sort it out

HERAKLION AIRPORT customer review : 16 May 2009 : by John Wadley

Customer Rating : 3/5

Having read other reviews on Heraklion Airport, it was with some worry that we approached the arrivals area. No need to worry at all - the luggage arrived quickly and on the belt designated. Departure went smoothly a week later but the public address system is not efficient or loud enough to be helpful.

HERAKLION AIRPORT customer review : 5 March 2009 : by E Ross

Customer Rating : 1/5

Arriving from London our luggage did not arrive at the carousel but was in another hall on the wrong belt. Departure was bedlam - no order, queues going all over the place and security a joke. Chania airport is far more pleasant but has less flights to and from the UK. The fairly new Athens Airport is (in my experience) excellent. Why can the Greeks not improve Heraklion which is used as a gateway into the truly wonderful island of Crete.

HERAKLION AIRPORT customer review : 30 November 2008 : by N Wells-West

Customer Rating : 1/5

Without a doubt the worst airport I have been to. Once through security (which is a bit of a joke given the number of people all jostling to get through), you come out into what can only be described as a huge bus terminal-style waiting room. There is one, yes ONE departures screen way up high and absolutely NO airport staff available to answer questions if your flight is not shown. The facilities are dirty and food and drink is unbelievably expensive. I went into the gents and then turned around and walked out again, deciding to 'hold it' until we got on the plane. Crete is a wonderful holiday destination but Heraklion airport really lets it down. It is the pits.

HERAKLION AIRPORT customer review : 21 October 2008 : by G Griffin

Customer Rating : 1/5

On arrival the carousel has luggage from several flights it's a free for all. Heraklion is the dirtiest airport I have been to - toilets are horrid and smelly, cafe is alongside the smoking area so nicotine is in abundance with your snack! Going home you queue to check in your luggage and get boarding passes, you then have to queue again in another area with your suitcase and put it through the x-ray security after that they finally take the hold luggage off you. Then you have to queue again in another area to go through security with your hand luggage and go through passport control. Crete is a beautiful island but Heraklion airport is something else it desperately needs replacing with something 21st century. I felt sorry for the aged and disabled trying to get through this dire airport.

HERAKLION AIRPORT customer review : 18 September 2008 : by David Himan

Customer Rating : 2/5

It is more user friendly when arriving/departing on internal flights - travel off season and the airport is a dream! The restaurant if very overpriced and the food is poor. If you have the misfortune to get delayed in the 'package' departure hall, you can pass away the odd hour watching people negotiate the bottom step coming down from the duty free! Interesting to note, that if you look like a rep (carry a clip board and where a name badge) you get 20% discount at the cafe bar!

HERAKLION AIRPORT customer review : 5 September 2008 : by C Joshua

Customer Rating : 1/5

Horrible airport. Arrival was OK, we did not wait too long for baggage claim. Departure was just a nightmare. Queuing all over the airport in lines you could not identify, counters used by staff that was unable to speak a single word English or German (flight went to CGN) and had to use a travel assistant to translate everything we said. Airport was horribly overcrowded. There was no space, not a centimeter left. After we thought our baggage was checked in we were told to take it back, go to another counter and have it x-rayed there. This never happened to me before and I have been flying quite frequently in my life. What a stupid organization. People around you were quite rushy. The security check is just a joke. I left all my jewelry and belt on, had liquids in my bag but they just did not care. No one was interested, we could have easily taken anything into security area. The "gates" are funny, too. It is unbelievable how easily people manage to get out (for a walk?!) on the runway, they probably search for their airplanes themselves. Flight was delayed, we were not informed. There were two monitors in the whole hall, one suddenly went out of order. The hall was overcrowded, no place to sit, very uncomfortable light, no facilities to go to except for a duty free shop and a sandwich store, and there was just not a single person feeling responsible for telling us something about our flight. It was not even orally announced delayed when it would have been time for boarding already. The staff controlling the tickets and letting the people walk outside the terminal to the planes seemed extremely swamped, several planes were delayed by many hours, there was one flight that had a delay of far more than ten hours. They were just unable (or unwillling?) to control who went outside the building. Most of the time, staff was busy giving final calls for noshow passengers calling them again, and again... and again. Up to ten times. TAfter all this chaos we found it quite surprising our baggage arrived with us in CGN, we did not really expect them to manage this in HER.

HERAKLION AIRPORT customer review : 26 July 2008 : by P Scholey

Customer Rating : 1/5

Worst airport I've seen in Europe. Cramped, badly designed, half the size it needs to be for the number of departing passengers. Smoky, to boot (airport staff standing next to the food counter checkout, smoking).

HERAKLION AIRPORT customer review : 3 July 2008 : by D Matravers

Customer Rating : 1/5

Worst airport I have ever used. Arrival not too bad, except waiting ages for luggage to come through. Departures, however, are your worst nightmare. If there are several flights leaving at close intervals, the airport becomes clogged. You have to queue outside. We were out there for over an hour. Luggage has to be checked in, then taken off the scales and taken to a scanner. In Departures you will be lucky to get a seat. There is one cafe, and that has people smoking at the end where you get your sugar, etc. There is one monitor for flight info. It is so small that if ten people stand in front of it, you can't read the information. Really dreadful airport, it must be due for an upgrade soon, and a big one at that.

HERAKLION AIRPORT customer review : 29 April 2008 : by Alex Jansen

Customer Rating : 1/5

Crete is a great destination but Heraklion airport is pretty worthless. Arrival was quite straightforward, even though there was no info on which carousel our luggage would appear. Departure was horrible though: first of all two chaotic queues were formed in front of one check-in desk. After some minutes the checking-in was moved to other desks! As you can imagine this involved a lot of pushing - I do expect airport staff to manage such situations more efficiently. Staff worked very slow. We finally got our boarding card but after this everybody had to move their luggage to the one scanner that was working, at the other side of the departures hall. Again chaotic queuing and pushing. After this another queue for the security check - the whole ordeal took more than an hour. Facilities in the departure lounge are extremely limited, just one very small shop and 2 bars. We went through this airport in low season (April). I guess it will be complete hell during the summer months.

Heraklion Airport review by L Cadwallader

29 October 2007   Customer Rating :

We must have passed through Heraklion airport at much the same time as your previous correspondent, but our experience was much easier - perhaps things were quieter because of our late evening flights. We last used Heraklion 6 years ago and remembered little apart from the crowding - until we read the reference about the entertainment value of the bottom step from the duty free, as we'd been entertained, too! Obviously Heraklion has been redeveloped since then because there's much more space and no longer an irregular bottom step from the duty free. On arrival, we, too, did have a long wait for our bags and I would agree that it was not easy to find which carousel was to be used. While I waited for the suitcase, my wife went through to process our car rental pick-up and had it all sorted long before our bag came through. Leaving from Heraklion was far easier than departures we've had from other Greek airports. BA check-in opened early so that only took us about 10 minutes, there was no queue at all for the separate baggage drop and there was plenty of seating in the pre-security departure area. We didn't even have to queue to go through security, either time (more of that later!), though we're not sure how searching security actually was, as the visible screen didn't seem to recive much attention. Lots of space in the departure lounge and much cleaning going on. We didn't try to buy anything, as we tend to avoid airport food anyway, so I can't comment on price or quality. The only problem that arose was when our flight was called - we were in the wrong depature lounge! We had to go back through security, right through the check-in area, through more security, to find Gate 1 at the other end of the terminal building. We don't think we missed any signs or information, but most other passengers for the flight seemed to be in the right place, so we assume that it is something to do with "Schengen" which is a mystery to us who are more used to shorter journeys with low-cost airlines. By the time we reached the gate, the buses to the plane were being loaded, but we weren't the last by any means so perhaps we weren't the only ones in the wrong place. Otherwise the "new" Heraklion came as quite a pleasant surprise.... though we did miss the entertainment of that bottom step! Score: 4

Heraklion Airport review by Tom Maule

28 October 2007   Customer Rating :

This has to be one of the worst airports in Europe! On arrival passport control was very quick, but that was the end of any efficiency. After a wait of about 15 mins, the monitors (which are badly positioned), showed the carousel for my BA flight. However, after another 15mins - still no baggage and it was only when another passenger went into the other baggage area did we find all baggage delvered on another belt. Departure was equally chaotic as check in staff took forever to get themselves organised. When you eventually check in you have to take your bags back and stand in another line for security checks. Heraklion always seems busy and it is difficult to know which line is for what check in desk or security point and there are no staff around to organise anything. As it was a BA flight to the UK the extra schengen gates are used - this was the only flight so that part was quick and the lounge comfortable because of low numbers. Buses to the aircraft again - for about 50 feet. Catering is poor with little choice - weak coffee and stale cheese pies!

Heraklion Airport review by Allan Thomson

4 July 2007   Customer Rating :

I've passed through between 20 & 30 times now (always in summer), so I feel able to comment. Be prepared - arrivals are hot and sweaty, you'll have a very short bus journey to the terminal, and you should get through passport control fairly quickly. The luggage reclaim is something else! Information can be hard to come by, but things do seem to be improving (unless several holiday flights arrive at the same time!). Departure involves long queues often starting outside the teminal, efficient security checks, and a packed, hot and usually uncomfortable departure "lounge". Our flight was once a couple of hours late, and we were offered complimentary soft drinks - either Coke or Fanta. I requested water - but that wasn't allowed! Toilets can be very clean or disgusting - blame the tourists. If the gents toilets are out of action - just use the ladies! But Crete is worth this minor inconvenience!

Heraklion Airport review by Colin Seeney

20 November 2006   Customer Rating : n/a

A really terrible airport. Visited in August 2006, perhaps the Schengen terminal was better but I doubt it. On arrival the baggage hall was chaos with poor signage and clearly no capacity for the number of flights arriving. It took over an hour from arrival in the baggage hall for us to leave with our bags and it was packed with nowhere to sit down and elbow room only at the carousels to see your bags. Even though most people seemed to be at the wrong carousel because of the poor information. The return flight was no better. If you were travelling independently there is almost no way you could work out which desk to check in at, with huge snaking queues managed by the travel operators. There were no worthwhile facilities before the 'security check'. The friend I went with has metal pins in his body and triggers the metal scanner you walk through. The red light flashed and a bell rang but he was waved through without a search. This was just after the liquid bomb threat in the UK. When you got to the waiting area by the gates it was no better. The seating area was full with people even sitting on stairs. We waited upstairs near the duty free. The departure boards were not visible so when, unbelievably, our flight was called 45 minutes early you didn't know and were treated like a drunkard who had stayed too long in the bar (if there is one). Overall Crete is a great holiday destination but Iraklion Airport should be avoided if possible.

Heraklion Airport review by K Thomas

3 August 2006

It may not be the most modern airport in the world, but the staff are friendly and it allows us to get from A to B. Every time I visit, I am glad they do not weigh the bags to charge ludicrous amounts for excess baggage which does happen at most other airports. I am extremely suprised to hear about personal belongings being stolen as the Cretan people are very honest, however, Mr Olden (above) did say his wife was silly to put an expensive item in the case. Personal items can be stolen from any airport, including those in the UK! You may be please to hear that they are currently building another airport further to the South East coast although the road links will not be as good as we have now become accustomed to in Crete, although I have no idea when it will be completed. It seems such a shame to moan about an airport, which in reality, we spend very little time in, when we could be looking forward to/reminiscing about our holiday in beautify Crete.

Heraklion Airport review by Alison Thornhill

29 August 2005

I love Crete but hate Heraklion Airport. Departure lounge very small and very crowded. The steps from the duty free shop provide people sitting at the side with endless amounts of fun as each year I have been I never remember that the last step is deeper than the others. When we go back in September I am waiting until the last minute to go through to the gates and will stop on the otherside after check in and keep an eye on the departure board.

Heraklion Airport review by Nik Xomik

17 August 2005

Flew in and out in the last week of July and the first week in August. My first impression was how small and confusing. You get on a bus from the plane to go 20m to some steps into the luggage hall. Waited no more than usual. Plenty of trolleys. Although after midnight has passport examined quite detailed. Outside was very confusing as you exit into the car park full of coaches. Going back to the UK was OK. Arrive early as all luggage is x-ray'd before checking in. We made a mistake and went in the intra-schengan lounge (gates 1-6) rather than the extra (gates 7+). This proved quite a find as it was very quite and the duty free shop was very empty. Only found out the mistake when they asked us to go to gate 10. The other lounge was very busy and noisy. Most staff we met at the airport spoke English. Not the best airport but better than Heathrow on a strike day!!

Heraklion Airport review by Neil Baldwin

25 January 2005

Been to Heraklion twice. Going to Crete again this year as I love it. Heraklion airport may not have the nice things we are used to in UK airports but even though it can be crowded etc, I got on with it. Queuing outside in the sun beat waiting in a cold Newcastle departure lounge.

Heraklion Airport review by Joanne Payne

1 November 2004

Crowded beyond belief, no departure lounge apart from the terminal itself and the rudest people I have ever met. Our luggage was damaged to the point where it is not secure enough to use again and the food pricing was expensive as well as the fact that they advertise different products to that they sell - I'm a vegetarian and bought what was advertised as a vegetarian pizza only to find a thick slice of ham in it. Awful place.

Heraklion Airport review by Phil Olden

21 October 2004

Heraklion is indeed an awful airport, off-peak flight but still a massive queue on departure. Although my wife stupidly put an expensive watch in the luggage, it was stolen. Are security staff looking out for explosives, etc. or are they just looking for things to steal from passengers' luggage? Is it safe to fly from Heraklion airport?

Heraklion Airport review by Liam Connolly

9 August 2004

A truly hideous place - expensive and desperately overcrowded - catching an early Sunday morning flight, I expected a quiet wait - but there was barely a place to sit in the departure lounge as it was so busy. And the line waiting for the toilet was around 30 people deep! Refreshments were prohibitively expensive and the queue for the gate was ludicrously disorganised. Dreadful.

Heraklion Airport review by Robert Luff

25 June 2004

This has to be the worst airport in Europe. Its just a giant soulless concrete structure. Maybe I was unlucky, but on arrival in HER, baggage reclaim was delayed by one hour, and after travelling all night from UK, the last thing you want is standing around waiting for luggage. Anyway, departure was even worse. Flight was delayed by 4 hours. Queues outside terminal building and over the road. People sleeping, sitting ANYWHERE they could find due to large number of delayed flights. Seating very uncomfortable/non-existent. Duty free/shopping also non-existent, staff very rude and unhelpful. I hope they've improved it since!!