KEFLAVIK AIRPORT  Passenger Reviews and Traveller Reports

KEFLAVIK AIRPORT review : 12 February 2010 by Steve Thorogood

Customer Rating : 5/5

Excellent experience at this small but well planned airport. Used automatic check-in which works well - if you ignore the instruction to enter your passport into the machine with your photograph uppermost. The reverse applies. Icelandair staff available to assist with the process. There were four flights scheduled to leave at 5.00pm, two of which were to the USA and a long single queue snaked around the departures hall. There were eight desks open and all passengers processed quickly. Security excellent with friendly and thorough staff. Airside there are plenty of shopping opportunities and several refreshment options. Short walk to the departure gates. Slightly chaotic boarding process with two queues bearing down on just the one agent at the gate.

KEFLAVIK AIRPORT review : 8 November 2009 by Paul Harvey

Customer Rating : 5/5

A compact modern airport about 60 minutes from town. Check-in via a booth was the fastest I have ever had at any airport although the seat allocation was poor. Duty Free and other shops are immediately after security although non schengen passengers then have to go through passport control which can be slow (in the afternoon when many US flights depart) and gloomy. Whilst hand baggage trolleys are freely available, they cannot (for no obvious reason) be taken through passport control and used as you get towards the gates. Equally for no obvious reason, there are only about 20 seats available at Gates 25 and 26 (may also be other gates) and therefore you sit on the floor or stand. In summary, a stress free airport.

KEFLAVIK AIRPORT review : 27 June 2009 by J Garrido

Customer Rating : 4/5

It's very modern and pleasant looking airport with what seems to be a lot of shopping areas. However, they don't seem to announce flights over a loudspeaker. At least my two flights weren't. So stay by your gate and pay attention.

Keflavik Airport review by A Johnson

18 February 2009   Customer Rating :

Just wanted to share some information regarding the security regime at this airport: All arriving passengers from North America must proceed through a security checkpoint, even if their final destination is Iceland. This setup is in-place because it is not possible to walk from the non-Schengen gates to baggage claim without passing through the secure area of the main terminal. Therefore, passengers cannot bring duty-free liquids purchased airside in North America into Iceland (though the arrivals duty-free store is quite well stocked). On the way back to North America, despite signage to the contrary in gate areas, there are no supplemental security procedures after the initial checkpoint, so any liquids purchased once airside (or, in the case of passengers connecting from elsewhere in Europe, at the point of embarkation) can be brought onto the plane without restrictions such as the need to place them in tamper-proof bags.

Keflavik Airport review by J Kenner

18 February 2009   Customer Rating :

The terminal architecture is bright and airy and high ceilings keep noise down, but it's a bit of a hike from one end to the other and there are no moving walkways, so make sure you leave yourself enough time to catch your flight. The retail space is given over mostly to expensive duty-free shopping. There is one restaurant/bar and 2 cafe kiosks, all with mediocre food. This airport has the friendliest, happiest immigration/customs agents I've come across. Getting to the airport from elsewhere in the country is easy as there are plenty of signs in English and the Icelandic road system is excellent.

Keflavik Airport review by Niels Jansen

15 November 2008   Customer Rating :

This is a great airport. It is one of the few airports offering the opportunity to do tax free shopping on arrival. Both arriving and leaving was a breeze (as we were still within Schengen area). Staff friendly and competent and in arrivals a lot of useful information material on Iceland and Reykjavik is available. When leaving we spent some time in a very pleasant atrium-like space where all shops and eateries are concentrated. I must say that with the devaluation of the kronur, price levels were friendly for visitors from euro-countries, so we did some shopping. Quality of the shops, in our opinion, was really good. Keep in mind that many Icelandic shops offer the possibility to get a refund of VAT (almost 25%!) . Ask for the special coupon when making a purchase. If the sum exceeds 5000 kr you must get it stamped by customs first. After this you will get the refund from the landsbanki office in the departures area. You can choose between a cash refund in kronur or a refund in euro/GBP/USD to your credit card (which may take some time). The only problem with the airport is transport to Reykjavik. Most visitors who are not being picked up, will depend on the Flybuss. Even though this was adequate for us it got really full and was not too comfortable. I have the feeling that it left when all seats were occupied, without picking up everybody who needed transport.

Keflavik Airport review by D Kohner

28 May 2008   Customer Rating :

Small airport, but easy to find your way around in. Very modern and very clean. There are many shops and the duty free area is large. The staff was very friendly.

Keflavik Airport review by A Mulder

10 May 2007   Customer Rating :

Nice airport, and they offer free internet through a WIFI access point in the duty free area.

Keflavik Airport review by Morten Larsen

26 February 2007   Customer Rating : n/a

Nice clean and small airport. I found the check-in very unorganised, confusing and poorly signed though. Apart from that it is quite nice and easy to find your way around.

Keflavik Airport review by Xuess Wee

29 August 2005

My first impression of Iceland was that of the airport - modern, chic and clean. Learning that it was used as a military airport, I was expecting something else. I arrived in Keflavik almost past midnight and the place was already deserted. Clearing customs was a breeze (entering the EU countries, except for the UK, does not require a landing or entry card, which was unheard of in Asia-Pacific) and then it was all through to the catch the Flybus into Reykjavik for 1150 ISK (1 way). Effortless. Everybody, especially returning Icelanders invaded the DFS for cartons of beer (and seeing the price of beer in Iceland, I could understand why). Do note, that during summer, the first Flybus at 4.30am from Reykjavik to Keflavik is FREE.

Keflavik Airport review by Marybeth Richards

5 December 2004

Some people have wondered why flights from the UK land and take off at the gates farthest away from the main terminal building - it's because of Schengen. There's an extra passport check as well. Having said that, KEF is a great airport for three reasons: a no-commission currency exchange that's open for all flight arrivals (even the 2310 from LHR), duty free for passengers arriving in Iceland (very civilised), and it's the gateway to wonderful, lovely Iceland!

Keflavik Airport review by Sasun Vartanyan

4 December 2004

Having flown in and out of there more than a dozen times (either transfering or arriving for a stay in Iceland), I have gotten quite familiar with this pleasant airport. Schengen to non Schengen (and vice versa) connections are weird though, as you need to go up or down the stairs in between the passport control. Very curtious, pleasant staff, variable duty free shops but few options of eateries.

Keflavik Airport review by Arun Kandasamy

16 July 2004

Keflavik airport is a very nice, and clean airport, and yes it is small. Transited through KEF on my way to London, so didn't spend much time there, but I had enough time to see what I need to see at the airport. There is a small eating place in the center of the terminal, but other than that there is not much. The shops were good, but prices seemed a bit too steep. Icelandair staff is generally very courteous, unless you arrive there early in the morning, when everyone is still half asleep, but overall a good experience.

Keflavik Airport review by Mike Stringer

22 April 2004

Generally very pleasant airport - they are most of the way through modernising the terminal. The oddest customs people I have ever met though - myself and several other people from my Good Friday flight were picked for security inspection. The first thing I'm asked is 'Do you smoke pot?' by the customs officer, before having everything searched (down to even having all of the cards emptied out of my wallet - very annoying!). I know the Scandinavians are generally strict about drugs but Iceland Customs verges on the ridiculous.

Keflavik Airport review by Liam Campbell

18 March 2004

Keflavik Airport has a stunning Scandinavian style design, with lots of wood, rock and stone, and everything is immaculately clean. It's a small airport so walking distances are relatively quick, as is baggage claim, customs and immigration. There are just a few shops and one cafeteria-style restaurant, but they are all together in an attractive atrium area. One great plus is that you are able to use the duty free shop just before baggage claim, a very necessary thing to do considering the prices of alcohol in Iceland. Once outside customs there are a few car hire desks, and every flight is met by the Airbus which takes you to Reykjavik city centre. This costs around £15. A taxi will cost about £70. Both take around an hour but the views into the landscape en route to the city are comfortably distracting.

Keflavik Airport review by K Leung

26 February 2004

Very great airport for transit. Small with everything in one piece. But any transit longer than 2 hours will be very painful before it is really small. Downside: Too far from Reykjavik, and also quiet a walk from the end of the terminal to the immigration with no people mover. But generally speaking, very nice!

Keflavik Airport review by Stephen Eeley

26 January 2004

The only downside to Keflavik Airport are the prices in the shops and cafes, but then that is not surprising I suppose, given typical prices of most things in Iceland in general.

Keflavik Airport review by John Glasscock

15 July 2003

KEF is nice, small and friendly. The one criticism I have is that there is a very, very long maze from deplaning to the front of the airport. I've been there six times and there is a real consistency in the operations. Nothing glamorous or fancy, just pleasant and efficient. The staff really try to help you out, too.

Keflavik Airport review by John Hendle

25 February 2003

I made a little mistake. When I said it takes 15 minutes, I meant Reykjavik City Airport - apologies. The bottom comments are correct, from Keflavik airport it does take 55 minutes.

Keflavik Airport review by B E Miles

4 February 2003

John Hendle's comment on only 15 minutes into Reykjavik must be a world record, one for the Guinness book of records, as generally it takes 45 to 50 minutes

Keflavik Airport review by George Prager

19 November 2002

While I agree Keflavik is a superior airport, the bus ride into Reykjavik actually takes about 45 minutes; slightly less by car. The distance between Keflavik and downtown Reykjavik is about 60 kms.

Keflavik Airport review by John Hendle

20 September 2002

Keflavik airport is really a stunning airport. It is small, yet still extremely modern and very comfortable. The Icelandair crew in Keflavik is helpful and kind. The floors are almost spotless and the Icelanders are always a welcoming people. Flying in from the states is easy, and connections into Europe is a synch. I had a pleasant experience in Keflavik. I got my luggage quickly, had a nice bus ride (very convenient), and the best thing, it is less than a 15-minute ride to Reykjavik City.