WARSAW AIRPORT   Passenger Reviews and Traveller Reports

WARSAW AIRPORT review :  8 January 2010 by M Griesinger   (USA)

Customer Rating :  2/5

Queuing

Cleanliness

Facilities

I just walked off an International flight from ORD to WAW and immediately we are sent through security screening. We have not even mixed with the normal populace and are already being screened. Before the screening, we have the chance to pick up tickets to any connections. My tickets was of course misplaced and since there is a line forming behind me, instead of printing me another one, they send me on a quest to find the next ticket center (which is unmanned, even though someone is supposed to be there according to the sign). Finally I am able to return to the original ticket center and get my ticket reissued after 30 minutes of walking in circles. However, even before my ticket quest, like I said we had to go through security before we entered the airport (again just stepped off the plane). My friend had his Duty free alcohol confiscated because it was over 100ml. Even though it was sealed and had Duty free all over it. He even had the Duty fre receipt for it. What added salt into the wound was 1) he bought this on the plane coming to WAW, and 2) There was a Duty fre shop right around the corner from the security checkpoint selling bottles of liquer over 100ml!

WARSAW AIRPORT customer review : 11 December 2009 by Chris Joynes

Customer Rating : 1/5

No C class check-in for SWISS Airlines although, according to SWISS, there should have been. Check-in staff extremely rude and unhelpful. Security checks : 5 people for one belt/machine. I inadvertently had two litre bottles of water in my hand-luggage, together with two toilet bags full of liquids that I forgot to take out. All these went absolutely unnoticed, which confirms the comments from a security agent on a previous trip, not to bother putting my hand- luggage on the belt as the x-ray machine didn't work. Warsaw is not for the faint-hearted.

WARSAW AIRPORT customer review : 22 September 2009 : by Robert Szocik

Customer Rating : 2/5

Return flight from T2 to LHR. Inward flight 15 minutes late due to delays at LHR, but straight through security with no queues, bags on the belt quickly, and on the bus into town just 15 minutes after landing. Returning to LHR was a different matter altogether. Check-in quick and friendly, but over an hour to pass through passport control and security. Huge queues everywhere, with inadequate staff throughout, especially at passport control. Several rude groups of pax who seemed to think it was acceptable to push in to the front of the queue, despite them clearly having plenty of time to get to their gate. Flight was called well before time, but due to ongoing problems at passport control, take-off was delayed by 25 minutes, waiting for the last passengers so we were stuck in the plane for almost an hour before finally taking-off. Facilities at the airport remain excellent, however the authorities still don't seem to want to do much about the Mafia taxi drivers, who continue to harass many arriving passengers.

WARSAW AIRPORT customer review : 18 August 2009 : by Robert Szocik

Customer Rating : N/A

In response to A Wroblewska's comments, there is a cash machine near the cafe/shop, which is located to the right of the check-in desks of T2 Departures. Additionally, the cash machines located at the lower-ground floor level of T1 (down the escalator) and at T1 departures, are still operational.

WARSAW AIRPORT customer review : 15 August 2009 : by A Wroblewska

Customer Rating : 2/5

We flew Amsterdam to Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin and back. The new terminal in Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin looks poor especially if you compare it with Schiphol. There are not enough toilet cabins (only 3!) for the number of visitors. There were always many people waiting in the line to the toilet. The second problem were restaurants - prices very high and quality of the food was bad. There was also no cashpoint available at the airport, which was very annoying. The only positive thing was that the terminal was clean and new.

WARSAW AIRPORT customer review : 14 June 2009 : by Robert Szocik

Customer Rating : 4/5

I've flown to Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin many times in the past, but this was my first time use of WAW T2 for both arrival and departure. The difference is incredible, at least on departure. The new terminal is light, well-ventilated, and feels a little like a smaller version of LHR T5. The orange décor used throughout risks making the terminal feel like it's run by Easyjet, but one gets used to it. Passing through passport control couldn't be quicker, helped by the fact that the terminal has been divided into Schengen and non-Schengen areas by glass screens (passport control for the non-Schengen flights is about halfway along the terminal). Security clearance was quick, efficient and friendly. T1 and T2 are linked together both landside and airside, but one has to check-in at the appropriate terminal. Several airlines including LOT and BA now have long-overdue self check-in machines. T1 now looks increasingly tired and neglected, with reduced facilities airside, but retaining all its previous facilities landside. T2, however, has few facilities landside, but excellent facilities airside, all the way from just after security, to the far end of the terminal. Clearly this airport is finally making significant steps towards providing a quality service for passengers, with improvements in customer service and politeness throughout. However, it's not quite there yet. On arrival, my and another passenger's bags were placed on the wrong belt without any warning, which quickly stopped and hid our bags from view, meaning that we waited for almost half an hour for our bags. On both arrival and departure, there seemed to be plenty of free airbridges, yet we were bussed both to and from the terminal, as always seems to be the case at this airport. Why this is still the case is beyond me, and clearly needs to be addressed.

WARSAW AIRPORT customer review : 26 January 2009 : by G Standish

Customer Rating : 4/5

Most of the negative coments about Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin are about the low-cost Etiduda terminal. The majority of scheduled airlines now depart the large and very modern Terminal 2. It's clean and very efficient. The duty-free shops are good, though not too much variety. Most of the aircraft now board using walkways/gates. Some scheduled airlines do still operate from the smaller Terminal 1, though if do find yourself departing from there, you can still walk through to Terminal 2 (once through security) just to sample it for yourself.

WARSAW AIRPORT customer review : 10 October 2008 : by P Fobu

Customer Rating : 1/5

This was my first visit to Poland. The people, the welcome, the atmosphere were absolutely delightful! Then, on may way back, I had to go through Etiuda Terminal. Welcome to hell. All descriptions above are true, I could verify all details. This terminal is probably the best monument to the glory of communism : everything is done to make you understand you're just an element of the herd.

WARSAW AIRPORT customer review : 7 October 2008 : by Robert Szocik

Customer Rating : 1/5

Etiuda to Doncaster-Sheffield by WizzAir. Long queues, dreadful conditions, virtually non-existent facilities, minimal information. The so-called departure "lounge" had more people on the floor than on seats (due to lack of seats/space). Even Poland's PKS (national bus service) stations are more pleasant than this, and that's saying something. I had hoped that everything I'd read on here about Etiuda wasn't true, but it is. Diabolical.

WARSAW AIRPORT customer review : 29 July 2008 : by S McArthur

Customer Rating : 1/5

The Etuida airport is not a place you want to spend any time in if you can help it. When we arrived there was a massive queue leading out of the front doors and round the corner into the car park. Thankfully it moved fairly quickly. Then you get to the check-in desk. After your check-in luggage is weighed you then have to pick it up yourself and take it round to security and put it through the x-ray. This means that once you are in the queue for the check-in desk you are locked in to going through to the secure side. When I say "secure side" I mean a holding pen or some sort of converted (small) aircraft hanger with one make-shift kiosk. When we were there, planes were being delayed and the holding pen was packed with passengers from the delayed planes and boy was it hot. Now normally at Etuida once you are in the holding pen you can't go back through to the other side. I actually asked once and was threatened with having my ticket cancelled. But at this time they were forced to let people back out, so bad were the conditions - the smell of cigarettes from the toilets was also becoming overwhelming.

WARSAW AIRPORT customer review : 29 April 2008 : by Krzysztof Leski

Customer Rating : 2/5

Chopin Terminal 2 or how to lose a winning game. The new T2 is almost fully functional. Almost - I still had to queue for check-in at T1, then walk and ride a rolling path to T2. A really long journey: although at this time (11 pm) the airport is not very busy, three departures were gathered together in three adjacent gates at the end of the almost empty T2. Altogether 550 people flying LOT to Tel Aviv, LOT to Larnaca, and Atlas Blue to Agadir, crowded trying to find out which queue is theirs. Foreigners would try hard to understand the PAs from the loudspeakers, but they faced no chance. Some strolled looking for toilets, which are well hidden - apparently the airport likes to play Hide and Seek.

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport by L Williams

15 April 2008  Customer Rating :

Thankfully I had not read reviews on Etiuda before arriving there today. Can an airport seriously get away with this monstrosity in the 21st Century? And with this your final impression of Poland, surely their tourist board would do well to petition for a shut down. Small, the one shop/kiosk was closed, and there was no service from the staff. Have to say we were lucky in that the flights were on time, and the shambolic queues did not get out of hand. But I can imagine on a bad day. Just watching people faces as they entered the departure 'lounge' proved to be entertaining in a sick sort of way, but if you didn't laugh, you'd cry.

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport by George Papadopoulos

23 December 2007  Customer Rating :

I just returned to Athens/Greece from Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin, flying Norwegian. We had to use the notorious Etidua terminal to fly out. I read so many bad comments on the internet that I literally lost my sleep on my last night in Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin, trying hard to hide my feelings from my wife as we were celebrating my birthday. Our flight was at 6am so we arrived at the terminal at 03h45am. We stood in a long but disciplined queue. After 30 minutes we checked in. Reasonable waiting time. We then dropped our suitcase as we were instructed to do and proceeded to the departure hall. A bit small to handle so many passengers but not suffocating. Shops opened at 05h something. Bought water and soft drinks plus two sandwiches. Though expensive (13 to 15 zlotys each) the food was delicious. We departed on time. Bottom line, no drama! We travel a lot and have been through different situations. And Etiuda was by far not the worst. Taking into account what we saved by flying Norwegian I found the terminal ok. The airline very ok and reliable too. Just be there well ahead of time, that's all. Or fly another airline and pay double or tipple. The choice is yours!

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport by Elias Hantzakos

11 December 2007  Customer Rating :

I was unfortunate enough to read all comments posted here on the Etiuda terminal after I have used it. Arriving from Athens to Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin with Norwegian Air Shuttle was a breeze, since the Terminal 1 was used. But leaving Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin for Athens through Etiuda was really my worst check-in ever. The terminal is very small to handle all low-cost passengers, and there are only 4-5 check-in desks, resulting in a total chaos. There was a huge queue, and not a proper one I might add, since the place is so small not even queuing lines work. There is no information and signs, people try to find their way into the crowd, going all directions with their baggage. Once you manage to check-in after an hour's waiting on the queue, you are required to stand another hour in the second queue for security scan, while also carrying your baggage for x-ray scanning (they don't take it at the check-in counters). Flying budget airlines is not an excuse, this is clearly the Chopin airport's problem. I have traveled with low-cost airlines in several airports (Athens, Berlin, Milan), and never faced this chaos before.

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport by D Pomeroy

17 October 2007  Customer Rating :

LOT from LHR and then to IST and found it quite efficient. There was a line up for imigration as only two non EU options out of six open, the wait for bags was not too bad although it is confusing when you come across the lost baggage option before the actual baggage claim area. The check in to Istanbul was quick with only 10 people ahead of us and 5 counters.

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport by Paul Finney

4 October 2007  Customer Rating :

I have just returned from Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin and used the notorious 'etuida' terminal. I thought it was going to be bad after reading these reviews but nothing prepared me for this horror. The queue outside the terminal stretched for miles right outside the door. It was freezing cold but at least it was not raining. After waiting for 30 minutes the check in staff casually strolled passed and took their time getting things going.Five check in desks opened and after about an hour I checked in my case and then had to carry it to be scanned .When finally in the passenger lounge which was the size of my bedroom with people lying on the floor because of no seats there was a vending machine serving hot chocolate, coffee etc and that was it. The gift shop was closed and another coffee stand was also closed .When the coach arrived to take us to the plane, people gathered round in a 'rugby scrum' pushing and shoving to get their boarding pass processed. Some old man ran from the back and just barged everybody out of the way the get on the coach first .There was no order and no queuing system .I have never seen anything like this in my life. It really needs to be shut down right away as this can not be allowed to continue like this. Its a wonder nobody started fighting in the chaos .

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport by Mike Wilson

6 September 2007  Customer Rating :

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Etudia - this "terminal" is a joke! Inadequate size, shabbiness, lack of facilities, chaos and complete disregard for passengers. The queue of several hundred people to get into Etudia stretched back down the road along the unfinished pavement. People were jumping the queue, after nearly an hour, still not inside the terminal and with the flight about to close, so did I. At the head of the queue there are about six or seven check-in desks. As everybody has to carry their checked-in luggage to the luggage scanner in the security point at the end of the line of desks, the desks are choked with people and luggage. Fortunately it was not raining. Fortunately there were no delays, cancelled flights or security scares. Fortunately I can fight my way up a queue if I have to. How dare they allow this "terminal" continue to operate the way it does?

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport by M Grainger

25 June 2007  Customer Rating :

If you can afford to fly Lot or a none budget airline, do so. Flying out of Etudia with Wizz Air is one the worst experiences of your life. The first time I did it, hated it and vowed never again. Stupidly I did it again, in order to save my company £100 in expenses. The flight was delayed by 2 hours with no word from the staff why. To be honest, your lucky if you ever do find a member of staff. Iv always said Id try anything twice. What I will also point out is that there is no queing system whatsoever when you first get into the terminal and no staff to manage it. So people are pushing in left right and centre. What made me laugh (which is hard in the circumstances) was how the ignorant girl working in the kiosk (there are no shops or cafes here) decided after the flight had been delayed and people were hot and bored to start stacking the shelves and close the shop. It beggers belief!! At one point I felt there may be a riot on the cards. Then 30 minutes later she calmly opened up again to a half mile long queue. The conditions are terrible, service none existant, toilets appalling.

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport by Ian Waddell

19 February 2007   Customer Rating : n/a

Even if you're departing from the rough Etudia Terminal and you have waiting time before your flight take the 4 minute walk up the ramp to the Marriott Hotel. The lobby is just like a Business Class lounge, they have internet facilities for next to nothing and comfortable sofas.

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport by Damian Fraczkiewicz

27 December 2006

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport has just gotten a new Terminal, so maybe disappointed passengers will now have a chance to experience something better than before. About Etiuda - if you're travelling with low-cost airlines the conditions are bad. It's not airport's fault, that airline doesn't want to pay more for the better terminal.

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport by Dirk Visser

2 November 2006

Travelled to and from Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin airport 25-27 October. Arriving at WAW is like taking a step back in time, but not in a good way. Bleek airport - many flights do not have access to gangways - it's all via stairs and busses. Terminal itself is really grey and very outdated. Departures is worse. Left on a Friday afternoon and it felt like all of Poland was trying to escape to the West. No seating anywhere. Shops were full and it was more because there is nothing else to do. As a business class passenger I was given access to the business class lounge (used by *ALL* airlines), only to find a small, cramped room with even fewer seats. Plenty of drinks, yes, but other catering was miserable. Also no good ventilation, thus making it seem like a sauna. They are building a new terminal, but looking at the rest of Poland, I don't know if this will be any better. Poland, especially Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin, has a long way to go to catch up with the rest of Europe. In any case, beware of travelling through Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin.

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport by Tony Holloway

26 August 2006

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport seems to be one of the few still operating the strictest rules with respect to carry-on baggage. Travel from LHR on LOT carrying on a briefcase with computer and expect to check that into the hold on return from Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin, with confiscation of any pens etc carried in jacket. Information management on this was very poor and some staff were very surly.

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport by John Humberstone

22 August 2006

It must be the worst terminal I had the misfortune to use, its luggage handling is hopeless, check in beyond a joke everyone in the same queue for different flights, you still have your luggage with you even though you have supposedly checked it in. I felt exhausted before I even got on the flight, the parking is totally inadequate and uncontrolled.

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport by Marcus Bowman

24 July 2006

I transit through Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin airport frequently. They are expanding the airport, but at present the facilities inside are few- insufficient toilets, one restaurant (usually empty), one bar (usually overcrowded), no defined smoking area (so people smoke in toilets), no ATM cash machine. However, this can be overcome by passing through customs (which is quick) and into the arrivals hall. Departures is on the floor above. It is then possible to use the restaurant on the mezzanine above the departures hall, to find an ATM and to smoke. I would also recommend going out from departures and into the Marriott opposite, where the lobby cafe is very good and reasonably priced. The x-ray screens are at the gates rather than after border control when re-entering the airport, so this causes minimal delay.

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport by Christian Hodson

24 July 2006

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Okecie airport for me is a mixture of pros and cons. I used Terminal 1 and on the plus side it is very close to the city centre, taxis are reasonably priced and are plentiful outside the arrivals hall, and immigration / baggage delivery is quick. The downside for me was the departure - we had to be bussed to our aircraft even though there were airbridges available, the gate area that we waited in was for 4 flights but with barely enough seating for 1 flight and had no toilet facilities, and the airside cafe / bar was extremely expensive. However having read previous comments I realise this is a walk in the park compared to having to use the low cost Etiuda Terminal. The airport is no Budapest or Prague, but there are a lot worse airports in Eastern Europe. Maybe things will really improve with the opening of the new terminal ?

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport by D Harlow

24 May 2006

For the flights that leave from there you only have to arrive around 40 mins before the flight leaves. Granted, the queues to check in are sometimes rather long, but when the clock is ticking down and they know that people still haven't checked in for a particular flight they start asking passengers from that flight to make themselves known. I did this once and they simply pulled me to the front of the queue and I was through in seconds. All very friendly and helpful staff. Facilities (food/drink) are lacking a little bit and the toilets are limited. There are vending machines to cater for basic needs and no restaurant unfortunately. If you're using the terminal it's because you are on a budget flight, so people really shouldn't be disappointed.

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport by Gareth Diggle

8 April 2006

A terrible airport for transiting. On leaving the incoming flight, you will be required to pass through an x-ray machine in the transit corridor and show your passport. The most bizarre thing is the men on the x-ray machine totally ignore the machine, probably to keep the over-growing queue down. Then when you are lucky enough to pass, there is just one solitary bar/cafe which is always too busy for you not to get a table. Finally before the gate as is increasingly becoming the norm, you wait in another long queue to pass through another x-ray machine to reach your gate. Frustratingly they have 3 gates grouped together so you must wait with passengers going on other flights. As transiting is supposed to be quick and easy, unfortunately in Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin it is anything but.

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport by Gareth Bronkhorst

7 April 2006

We were unfortunate enough to pass through Etiuda Terminal in Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin. I was just left flabbergasted the entire time I was there. I cannot see how people in this day and age would build such a horrendously bad terminal. The Terminal is so small, it makes my house look enormous, and I am sure if could accommodate more people actually!! They have one shared toilet in the baggage arrival hall. The speaking of the baggage hall, you are harassed by taxi drivers on your way out, that is after you have had elbow your way through the tiny arrivals to get to the outside! The planners must not be educated to a very high degree if they think they can shove 3 planeloads of people in a room not much bigger than my living room. If you are claustrophobic - stay clear of this terminal! If you can avoid travelling through Etiuda Terminal, please do, its an absolute joke!!

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport by Michael Letzmann

8 January 2006

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Terminal Okecie can be compared to smaller airports in Western Europe, a bit small for a capital of almost 2 millions. There's a second Terminal, "Etiuda" for low cost airlines like Wizzair, Germanwings, EasyJet and more. It's there that you learn why flights are so cheap. The size is good enough to check in for a Greyhound bus, but not for planes, and even less for several of them at the same time. We had to queue for 3 open counters, some 100 passengers. The service is as poor as can be. I complained several times, but the staff just shrug their shoulders. The only hope for the future is the fact that the main terminal is being extended, and maybe some day "Etiuda" will be torn down. It's a shame for the capital of a European country and a nerve for passengers.

Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport by W Nokes

12 October 2005

WAW Airport has undergone a lot of changes in the 3 years I have been traveling through. They have added more shops and even travel agencies selling some good cheap last minute trips. There are phones inside, but you must by a special kind of phone card which are sold in a couple stores in the front of the Terminal on the International Departure Level Floor. If you are continuing your journey by rail, here are some simple instructions. Go to the newspaper store in the front of the International Arrival area, just after you clear customs. It will be the last one on the left just before you exit the building. You will need to buy a bus ticket for 2 Zloty and 40 Grosze. Then go outside the terminal, walk straight across the street to the bus stop. You will take bus number 175 to Warszawa Centralna (Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Train Station). It's a little difficult to tell where to get off the bus, but there is a map in the middle of the bus that lists the order of the stops with Warszawa Centralna clearly listed. Each time the bus stops, there is a display screen at the front of the bus that tells the name of each stop. When you get off the bus you will see a huge tall building across the street and you know you're at the right place. What you do is, walk for a few meters in the direction the bus is going and you will see some steps that look as if they might lead to a subway. Just walk all the way down and take a left. Walk straight for probably a hundred meters and up some more steps - this is Warszawa Centralna. If you don't have a ticket yet, you will need to go up the steps on the right of this hallway all the way to the top, then take a left and enter through the glass doors. The lines to buy a ticket will be on your right in the opposite direction you are walking. Tickets are very cheap compared to US prices. And first class is usually only a few dollars more and it's well worth it for the upgrade. It's pretty simple. If you should need to get back to the airport from Warszawa Centralna, just follow these directions. When you start to go down the steps to the tunnel (which looks like it might lead to a subway), there will be a small newspaper stand on the left, it's the last shop on the left. Here you will buy a bus ticket for 2 Zloty and 40 Grosze. Then go down the steps into the tunnel and a few meters on the right you will see some steps leading up. This is where you need to go because the bus back to the airport is on this side of the street instead of the other side like the arriving bus. Go all the way up and walk a few meters straight in front of you to the bus stop. You will need bus number 175. The airport is the last stop on the route. It's about a 30 minute ride each way. It's pretty simple. The only real problem I had at WAW was the first time I flew in there - I couldn't find the domestic terminal for my connection to Wroclaw. There are signs in the Arrivals area written clearly in English that say, "Domestic Terminal" with an arrow pointing straight ahead. The problem is, if you go straight ahead, there is nothing there but a concrete wall with no doors. I couldn't find anyone that spoke English to ask. I finally got a Passport Control Agent to understand what I meant and she took me there. For anyone visiting Poland their first time with a domestic connection anywhere else in Poland leaving from WAW Airport - after leaving passport control, you will walk into the baggage claim area. If you have a domestic connection, your baggage will be transferred automatically. Find the green sign on the left hand side (the front) of the terminal that says, "Customs Clearance Nothing to Declare" and walk through this door. This is where you will possibly be swarmed by Taxi drivers. Just push your way through them and head for the glass doors that lead to the sidewalk in front of the terminal building. Once on the sidewalk, turn right and walk approximately 40 or 50 meters or yards and the domestic terminal will be on your right. Once you enter, you will be required to show your passport and boarding pass or ticket for your domestic flight. You will have to go through security once again. The waiting area is small, but does have a concessions area which is not too expensive and a restroom which the International Departure Gate Areas do not have. Not a good place to spend the night, because there is really no where to sleep.