MARRAKECH AIRPORT review : 5 March
2010 : by A Flood
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Customer Rating : 1/5 |  |
Magnificent structure. Immigration and Customs on a par with world wide. On departure "check
In" delay totally unacceptable, each passport detail keyed into computer, why ? No boarding
gate details shown on boarding pass and no electronic notice board. Information desk unmanned
(at busy period) and other staff dismissive and unhelpful. Announcements inaudible due to
background music and general noise, no provision for diverse languages. Despite heightened
alertness only found boarding gate by observing aircraft on ramp, almost missed flight. No
currency exchange facilities. First airport where payment indicated for toilet use. Airport
not generally passenger friendly. I suggest you add a "0 Star" to your "Quality rating"
MARRAKECH AIRPORT review : 2 March
2010 : by P Conrad
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Customer Rating : 3/5 |  |
Last Friday we had to spend 6 hours at Marrakech airport. My main complaint was the musak. We
had to endure the one and only song for all those hours - it was incessant and there was no
way of escaping the sound. After 6 hours of pan pipes playing Lional Ritchies "Hello, is it
me you're looking for" I was on the verge of being sick. I do not know who is responsible for
organising the musak but please let them know we would rather have nothing than the repeated
cd over and over again. I hope I help others by complaining thus.
MARRAKECH AIRPORT review : 13 October 2009 : by A Obee
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Customer Rating : 3/5 | |
Travelled through here in October 2009.On arrival there were long queues for immigration and
not many people had a pen to fill in immigration cards which were not given out on the plane,
we had to collect them and fill them in on arrival. On our return journey although we had
checked in on line everyone was made to queue and check in again causing very long queues and
many frayed tempers as the staff tried in many cases to say baggage was oversized or
overweight. We pointed out that the scales already read 1.8kg before we put our hand baggage
on there and that was the only reason we appeared to be overweight, in fact our bag was
weighed on another scale and was only 8.7kg, well within the 10kg limit. He then tried to tell
us it was oversized until we placed it in the sizing basket where it fitted quite easily! Be
aware that you must fill in an embarkation card before checking in or you will be sent to the
back of the line to do so. Once through to airside the 2 cafes take dirham but the shops do
not so at least you can buy drinks and snacks with any loose change. Water was 10dh, similar
for a croissant. Taxi from the airport to centre was 120 in a grand taxi (couldn't bargain any
lower, he started at 150) and on the return was 80 in a petit taxi from Jeema el Fna to the
airport (we did not even try to haggle lower as felt it was reasonable)
MARRAKECH AIRPORT review : 1 October 2009 : by Alasdair Brooks
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Customer Rating : 4/5 |  |
Arrival and immigration is a bit on the old-fashioned side, but effective. If travelling from
the UK, don't change money before arriving as the rate at the banks at Marrakech Airport are
much more competitive than at Gatwick. You can probably find a slightly better rate in town,
but it's nice to have a few Dirham in your pocket before reaching the Medina. We had a minor
problem with our boarding pass on leaving which we put down to the boarding passes being
handwritten, and the check-in desk staff forgetting to write down all the relevant details.
Family who have just returned from an even more recent trip, using the same airline, report
that they had ordinary printed boarding passes. It's possible that our problem was specific
to that day, or that new procedures have just been introduced. Airside is one of the older
parts of the airport, and looks a little tired. There can also be a mad scrum for the gates
as (or just before) boarding is announced. The 'standard' duty free shops were slightly
better than anticipated, but food, drink and reading material options are poor. Summed up,
renovations have helped improve the airport, and the overall experience was positive, with
smooth, straightforward multilingual service (though we speak French, which doesn't hurt) in a
relatively uncrowded environment. Individual subsections, however, could still do with some
sprucing up.
MARRAKECH AIRPORT review : 21 June 2008 : by M Wheatley
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Customer Rating : 4/5 | |
All the flights in to Marrakech we have taken in the past 18 months, have been on time, and we were
amazed how quickly we got through passport control and customs. There are major renovations in
progress, so we always travel out of peak season and mid day, which helps. The airport is spotless,
and staff friendly.
MARRAKECH AIRPORT review : 11 June 2008 : by B Brown
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Customer Rating : 4/5 | |
Impressive architecture from the outside. Customs and security were very efficient both on arrival
and departure. Straight through security and immigration took around 5-10min. Terminal is cool,
clean and calm. Good selection of shops at reasonable prices for last-minute souvenir shopping.
Several cafe's at reasonable prices. Beware though that Taxi's into Marrakech try to exploit
tourists. They should cost around 60 dh (£5) but they tried to charge me 150, managed to get them
down to 100. Make sure you bargain them down and agree a price before you get in the taxi.
Marrakech Airport review by D Hart
8 April 2008 Customer Rating : 
Awfully slow and frustrating. Passport control took almost an hour and so our and other flights were
being delayed as so many passengers were stuck in the queue. The check in desk closed half way
through check in when the clerk walked with no explanation. They didn't advise us so after a while
we asked if someone was coming back. No they were not, so we then had to re-queue at another desk.
Baggage security check was also chaos and the attendent rude - throwing our bags into the Xray
scanner before we could close it! Felt the taxis were a rip off at 200 Dirhams for a 15 minute ride
from our hotel by the medina. They won't let you use your last Dirhams in the airport shops so you
then have to take them home and convert back at a terrible rate loosing maybe 25% of the value.
Allow plenty of time and patience.
Marrakech Airport review by Stephen Lloyd
3 April 2008 Customer Rating : 
When the redevelopment is complete the external vista of this airport will be staggering. It
suggests a far grander scale than it has on the inside. The check ins did suffer problems when we
were there. Staffing not a problem and the small lounge we used had a range of alcoholic drinks for
a short stay and local nibbles.
Marrakech Airport review by D McKelvie
31 March 2008 Customer Rating :
In mid-december 2007 the new building was nearly complete, and looks great. Was good to have police
outside the building only allowing travellers in to the airport thus stopping the haggling typically
received everywhere else in the country. Queues were short and customs quick. As stated by others
Dirhams are not accepted in the terminal shops though we even had success shopping with Pounds!
Marrakech Airport review by A Houghton
28 November 2007 Customer Rating :
A small terminal undergoing refurbishment which will be good when its finished. Cleaner than any
terminal I have flown from in the UK, toilets were spotless which was commented on by my fellow
passengers. There were quite long lines at immigration but they went down quickly. I was also
surprised you could not spend your remaining local currency at Duty free. Cafe's were fairly priced
and accepted local currency.
Marrakech Airport review by Rob Wallace
28 November 2007 Customer Rating :
There is a lounge for Business class passengers - it's the Royal Air Maroc one airside - BA
passengers can use it. Not much there - free booze and the foulest soft drinks I've ever
encountered but comfortable. The airport in general is OK and would be a lot better if
Immigration/Emigration had machines that read your passport rather than having to type in
information but delays are nowhere near as bad as, say, Dubai. Note you can't buy things with
Moroccan currency airside - all prices are in Euros. The new Terminal will open in 2008.
Marrakech Airport review by David Pryer
18 September 2007 Customer Rating :
Terminal 1 was fine and, with only two other flights due to leave around the time of our departure,
we found it pleasant and welcoming. What a joy to see just two happy policemen sat outside in the sun
and within the terminal none of the stresses to be found nowadays in European airports.
Marrakech Airport review by L Evans-Hunter
20 May 2007 Customer Rating :
Marrakech airport at the one and only time we used it was undergoing an
upgrade. There was no business lounge for passengers flying business or
first class and no provisions for these passengers. We were told by the
staff at the duty free shop that we could purchase alcohol from them and
take it into Europe as they would put it in a clear plastic bag and that
would be okay at Madrid. It wasn't and our 2 bottles were seized. We
were not impressed.
Marrakech Airport review by Michael Mulholland
27 April 2007 Customer Rating : n/a
If you are on a morning flight out of RAK to Europe, allow plenty of
time. On the 11th April, there were long queues for each of the check
in desks and not enough space in the hall so the queues wound around
each other. Then, the Thomsonfly flight to Manchester was re-allocated
in the space of 15 minutes to 4 different check in desks, causing chaos
all round. Add a huge queue going through the same hall to get to
customs and security and you have a recipe for creaming adults, let
alone children. I see there is going to be a new terminal - that cannot
open too soon.
Marrakech Airport review by David Caudwell
5 February 2007
A decent and clean small sized airport but the lack of a great amount of
seating provides good opportunity after checking in to wait outside in
the sunshine before crossing through to immigration. The shopping there
isn't worth mentioning and the small amount of food available isn't
cheap but it was an easy and stress-free departure. On the day I
travelled, they also announce the flights quite early. For some reason
everyone then lines up at the gate and stands in the queue for 40
minutes before actually boarding, despite the fact that everyone has
assigned seats! Further, if you're looking for something to do, see if
you can find Gate 4, which has mysteriously disappeared from the terminal.
Marrakech Airport review by Gregory Martinez
12 October 2005
Very important point for departing passengers. The duty free does not
accept Moroccan currency (can you believe such a thing!). You must use
euros or credit cards. Amex cards are charged in dollars. Makes sure you
use your local currency before you get to the airport as money cannot
be changed back and is worthless outside Morocco.
Marrakech Airport review by Simon Albury
24 November 2005
Arrival 17 November pm Atlas Blue. Immigration lines did not take too long and luggage appeared
quickly. Currency exchanges visible at immigration exit - controlled taxi fares clearly posted
outside. Departure 24 November. Atlas Blue check in lines moved quickly. Adequate and reasonably priced snack
bar. No problems at all. Aiport is simple and fine and pleasant to use.
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