KRAKOW AIRPORT review : 26 June 2008 : by J Fox

Customer Rating : 1/5

One of the worst airports I've been to and it's a shame as the city of Krakow is fantastic. The security lines are shambolic and chaotic and inadequate to deal with passenger volumes. No one to point nor direct queues - it's a free-for - all particularly when it comes to a point that passengers are going to miss flights. We queued for nearly 1hr30 mins to be screened and as we neared the end more people just pushed past and jumped ahead. No staff whatsoever around to keep everything under control. On other occasions some staff did then seem to escort certain passengers to the front of the lines which is wrong when you have people queuing for ages. It's time the whole mess was sorted out. I begrudge giving 1 star to this airport. One piece of advice get there early to ensure you don't miss your flight.

KRAKOW AIRPORT review : 6 May 2008 : by Paul Smith

Customer Rating : 2/5

Small and basic airport. Nothing special. Gloomy & surly staff. Not many smiles here. Immigration is slow and surly. Dont expect to get anywhere in a hurry. No shops after security when departing (except one perfume & booze shop). You have to wait in gloomy lounges with no facilities (bar, food etc). You are taken by bus to the plane, so dont buy any speedy boarding or priority boarding tickets here. Krakow is a great city to visit just a shame about the shoddy airport and gloomy staff.

Krakow Airport by H Lee

10 January 2008   Customer Rating :

Very small but functional airport. Perhaps we were expecting worse (because of Warsaw airport), it was a pleasant surprise for us. I guess this airport serves mostly smaller regional planes, therefore less logistic nightmare of handling passenger load of any wide-bodied Boeing or Airbus. One drawback was that the security check was very thorough and slow which created a bit of a line up. Transfer to the city was very easy, there are bus and train connections to near old town. Taxi to city centre is not too expensive. Overall, we had a very pleasant experience with this airport.

Krakow Airport by G Lloyd

27 December 2007   Customer Rating :

Airport fine and functional, although definitely not the place if you want to do much shopping ,as this is minimal. The only drawback really was getting through security was very slow indeed, with the queues barely moving.

Krakow Airport by David Mludzik

24 May 2007   Customer Rating :

Krakow is a small airport about 15 km from the city. The traffic is high in the afternoon, but people manage to get through the crowds. When International or heavy flights come in, then the airport becomes very full. The lines make it almost impossible to get through. The airport is also fairly clean and modern. There are some restaurants and duty-free shops but some are very expensive. I flew on LOT from KRK-EWR last summer and I was happy with the service. The baggage check takes a while, because many people fly LOT and also the airport doesn't have many employees. Also getting from the terminal to the plane takes a bit, because buses drive the passengers to the airplane.

Krakow Airport by Iain Leitch

10 April 2007   Customer Rating : n/a

PIK-KRK-PIK. Arrival was fine (mid morning). Off plane, through immigration and collected luggage within 15 mins even though it was a full flight and there was plenty of other activity as could be seen from aircraft movements and crowds in the main terminal. Bus or walk to the small train station right into the centre of town - ideal. Returning was just as painless although clearly made easier by the relative lack of other flights on a Sat evening. It certainly wouldn't take much for the security gates to get overwhelmed and backlogs to develop. Like most small regional airports, you take your luck with timing. Worst bit was getting on the plane but that's just due the usual Ryanair 'scrum down' at boarding time. One thing that struck us everywhere in Krakow was how little litter there was. Whilst waiting, sitting outside the terminal, we watched 2 guys diligently sweeping and picking up every single bit, including butt ends. No complaints inside either. People must get a real shock when they arrive in the UK and really see what unclean means!

Krakow Airport by P Wojcieszyn

4 April 2007

KRK-DUB-KRK. Long queues, rude staff, unclean terminal! I know that this is an airport using most by low-cost airlines but this airport is a nightmare! Krakow is a beautiful City, but I much prefer using Katowice Airport which is just 80 km from Krakow!.

Krakow Airport by M Talbot

5 February 2007

Airport is expanding as more budget flights are operating to and from Krakow. It’s a base for SkyEurope airlines amongst others. On arrival, security and luggage was fast. From the plane to car park in about 15 minutes. On departure, check in was quick, there were no queues at security and there are even some small but nice cafes in the gate areas 3 and 4.

Krakow Airport by Brian Hill

10 December 2006

Unlike the previous views; we experienced no problems or delays completing security and immigration at KRK when returning yesterday on the BA LGW flight at about 13.30 even though my wife hand carries a nebuliser complete with syringes and needles. Admittedly there were few other flights.

Krakow Airport by Dave Houlihan

27 October 2006

Just back from Krakow, I will never moan about Dublin airport again. Krakow is the worst airport I have come across, absolute bedlam, huge queues out of the door and 2 hours to get though first security and then customs - flight delayed due to this. Staff rude to the point being totally unbelievable.

Krakow Airport by Mike Thompson

22 September 2006

Forget earlier comments about leaving it until the last minute before you go through into boarding and the departure lounge. We have just come back from a brilliant trip to Krakow but it did take us 2 hours to get through airport security. Our plane eventually took off one hour late. First there was a mad 'crush' to get to the boarding area, followed by long queues to the baggage x-ray machines. This took about an hour and twenty minutes. We then had to queue through passport control. Because all flights were being delayed because of security priority started to be given to certain flights meaning we were being queue jumped making us even later. We didn't clear passport control until 5 minutes after our flight was supposed to leave which caused us a lot of concern, especially as there were no announcements telling us the flights were being delayed. Once through passport control we then had to queue to go through another security check during which they checked our hand luggage all over again. I've no problem with all the security but the time to get to the departure lounge took us by suprise. Yes there is nothing in the departure lounges, make sure you take something with you to eat/drink and keep occupied with but go through boarding just as soon as you possibly can after checking in. Krakow is wonderful, don't be put off by the leaving arrangements, incoming was superbly efficient.

Krakow Airport by John Whitehead

1 July 2006

I arrived to check-in 2 hours prior to my flight on 29/06 and yet had still to clear passport control at the scheduled time for my aircraft departure! The departure hall was completely full of people and luggage check-in took over an hour. The check-in lady having to physically lift the luggage off the scales. I have never seen such a slow performance. But worse was to come - absolute chaos at the security section. And when I finally got within 1 meter of the security machine it still took 10 minutes to get through. At this stage I had 15 minutes before my depature time (so 105 minutes from arrival to clearing security. My only comfort in these hot crowded conditions was seeing fellow travellers on my flight in the same predicament. Then to join the Passport clearance queue. Cleared that 2 hours after first arrival and at time of my scheduled departure. Plane finally took off 45 minutes late having waited for all its passengers to get through the "airport from hell". Never again for me, which is a great shame as Krakow is a beautiful city.

Krakow Airport by A Hazizi Hazemi

24 May 2006

The airport is small but little inviting. It really fulfils all the basic requirements for all international passengers. Check in staff extremely friendly and helpful but unfortunately the immigration officer was a bit weird in a way, but he didnt give a hard time. Wide selection of bars and restaurant with reasonable price. Departing from Krakow airport is an unforgetful memory. The best part is going from Krakow city centre to the airport where you have to pay for your luggage too (reminds me of recent Ryanair policy).

Krakow Airport by M Talbot

24 May 2006

Have been through this small and efficient airport many times in the last 6 months. Upon arrivals, baggage is usually on the belt within 10 minutes. Staff are courteous, fast and efficient. Prices in the shops and cafes are quite reasonable. Getting through the security checks when there is more than 1 flight departing can take its time. After security there is still not much to do except sit and wait for your flight, so as mentioned previously, try to hold on for as long as possible. Anyhow, its always a pleasant experience at this soon to be expanding airport.

Krakow Airport by Graham Brack

2 April 2006

As of March 2006, there is still not much past security, so don't go through until you have to. It can get incredibly crowded there, especially if flights are delayed. In our case, there was no announcement that our Ryanair flight had been delayed, so we all trooped through as instructed. The check-in staff were very courteous but overwhelmed. The snack bar is quite small for the number of passengers passing through, but inexpensive. Baggage handling was quick. Ladies note that the toilets in the baggage hall are very limited, so you may have quite a queue. My wife says in future she'll go there as soon as we arrive and by the time she's out the bags should be there.

Krakow Airport by Simon Summers

24 November 2005

The renovations in the terminal building have been completed, and that the "other-side" through security checks is much larger and more spacious. However, there is still far too little to keep a traveller entertained or occupied - one lousy duty-free shop with a poor selection, and a couple of coke machines. Also note that there are no screens displaying your gate - check your boarding pass.

Krakow Airport by Nathan Fotheringill

2 August 2005

This airport seems to be suffering from the success of Krakow as a city break destination. It is ill equipped to deal with multiple departures with not many check-in desks and a barely adequate gate area where seats are at a premium. There are a couple of reasonable restaurants and a few shops landside but hardly anything once you have passed through security and immigration. It doesn't pay to be early at the gate as all the chairs will be taken by those waiting for eralier flights and there is nothing to help you pass the time. To be fair, I was there on a Friday lunchtime in the middle of summer - at quieter times the airport would be a pleasant enough experience. Everyone is bused to the aircraft despite the fact that your plane might only be a few yards from the terminal. I suspect that with Krakow marketing itself as the new Prague, airport expansion will be not long in coming.

Krakow Airport by L Jacks

8 March 2005

Unless it's been changed since November (2004) you might have a small problem finding the easyjet check in. There were no signs to direct you, also the staff did not have on the usual easyjet uniform. It's not a large airport, but if you are tight for time (NOT a good thing on easyjet flights!) you could have a problem. As you go through the departure's entrance, turn left and go right to the end, the check in is on the left.

Krakow Airport by S Summers

6 March 2005

Fantastic regional airport located a short bus ride from the city. Check-in is generally quick and efficient (there are only transatlantic flights once a week in the summer) and there are enough amenities to keep you busy until your flight leaves. There is a nice observation deck which looks out across the apron, however it costs 3zl. A final note; there is nothing to do once you've passed passport control, so hold out as long as you can in the main area, or on the mezzanine level where there are shops, cafes/restaurants.

Krakow Airport by A Krolas

5 September 2003

Small and efficient, a nice regional airport. It becomes crowded at times of a widebody transatlantic service departure/arrival (daily service during the summer). Check-in staff friendly and helpful. The business class lounge is on the small side. There is a small snack bar and a duty-free shop in the departure area. A few other shops, a restaurant, a bank and car rentals in the general public part of the terminal. Boarding is done by busses, often they use both front and rear doors to board/de-board a Boeing 737-500 which makes it incredibly fast and easy. Parking is just in front of the terminal, frequent public bus service to downtown Krakow (about 12 km, the trip on the bus takes 20-30 minutes). Also, the airport is 0.5 km away from a motorway exit, the A4 motorway brings you into the city of Katowice in about 40 minutes (less than 70 km). This makes the airport a good choice for both Krakow and Katowice bound travellers.

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