WARSAW AIRPORT 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 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 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 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 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 Airport by George Papadopoulos

23 December 2007  Customer Rating :

I just returned to Athens/Greece from Warsaw, 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, 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 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 with Norwegian Air Shuttle was a breeze, since the Terminal 1 was used. But leaving Warsaw 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 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 Airport by Paul Finney

4 October 2007  Customer Rating :

I have just returned from Warsaw 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 Airport by Mike Wilson

6 September 2007  Customer Rating :

Warsaw 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 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 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 Airport by Damian Fraczkiewicz

27 December 2006

Warsaw 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 Airport by Dirk Visser

2 November 2006

Travelled to and from Warsaw 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, has a long way to go to catch up with the rest of Europe. In any case, beware of travelling through Warsaw.

Warsaw Airport by Tony Holloway

26 August 2006

Warsaw 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, with confiscation of any pens etc carried in jacket. Information management on this was very poor and some staff were very surly.

Warsaw 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 Airport by Marcus Bowman

24 July 2006

I transit through Warsaw 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 Airport by Christian Hodson

24 July 2006

Warsaw 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 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 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 it is anything but.

Warsaw Airport by Gareth Bronkhorst

7 April 2006

We were unfortunate enough to pass through Etiuda Terminal in Warsaw. 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 Airport by Michael Letzmann

8 January 2006

Warsaw 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 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 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.

Warsaw Airport by Russell Edwards

13 September 2005

Etiuda Terminal. What a welcome to Poland!! My lounge at home is more accomodating and a darn sight more friendlier. Why on earth they built this in the first place beggars belief. Such close proximity to the main terminal, it would make sense to raze it to the ground and integrate it in the main terminal. Maybe with the extension of the terminal going on, then this will happen on completion. Doesnt help when Wizz Air have a free seating policy, as when the gate opens, it is a free for all, to see who can get on to the bus (to the plane) first. Just one big cattle market, and as the Poles seem to not like queueing anymore, then elbows are poised and stress levels rocket. Not a good experience at all.

Warsaw Airport by D Osimowicz

28 February 2005

Etiuda Warsaw Terminal is cramped and far from being perfect. Still, bearing in mind that this unwanted child for LOT managed to install departures and arrivals screens, news agent and machine with drinks in just a month time within its 'premises' gives travellers some hope. It matches and represents Polish society perfectly as grows somewhere bordering with the monopolist and proudly fights it. Yes, it is nothing luxurious. It is flat, simple and imperfect. However, so rare, exotic and true that worth visiting. It's unique in its imperfectness and so typically Polish. Give it some time and you will see it growing further. And in the end, Chopen's airport is just three minutes away.

Warsaw Airport by J Elierson

16 February 2005

The Etiuda terminal is ridiculous and cramped - this is low cost travel at its very worst. You have to carry your luggage through security after check-in and place it on a mega conveyor belt. It's a totally over crowded area and airport staff (not Warsaw Air Services) are horrendous with poor manners (e.g. shouting 'SHOES, SHOES!!!' because the screening machine started beeping. The so- called 'shop' in the departure area has to be Europe's most overpriced store, selling goods at absolutely ridiculous prices (scents and chocolate at least 50 % more expensive than in Sweden of all places!). Warsaw has to do more if it wants to accommodate the low cost airlines in the Etiuda terminal - Etiuda's the size of a shoebox and totally crowded with just one flight to depart. WAW, get your act together!

Warsaw Airport by Robert Dunford

1 November 2004

Looks like things have improved at Etiuda - there is now a small kiosk selling newspapers and a little duty free shop past security. And even the vending machines work since my last visit. I also visited the main terminal, it's small compared to other airport such as London STN, but it's modern enough, reasonably airy. The Relay cafe isn't too bad for airport standards price wise, and is quite pleasant. Staff speak good English. One thing, the airport departure/arrivals board could do with more constant updates - it was announcing a flight leaving at 1430 had departed. All very well, except it was 1600 when it was still on the board.

Warsaw Airport by Robert Dunford

10 August 2004

Flew into the tiny Etiuda terminal with Sky Europe. It's OK, though drink dispensers that work might be a good start. Also needs somewhere that sells newspapers, magazines etc (even somebody with a trolley with them on) - although the main terminal isn't far away, I would prefer if I didn't have to walk to get one. The terminal itself is clean, not shabby and even at 5am when it's packed out it's not too bad. Perhaps it's cutting back a bit too much on basics.

Warsaw Airport by Peter Dowling

5 July 2004

My wife and I had an unplanned transit stop in Warsaw last month when SAS "lost" our business class reservation from Copenhagen to Nice and the only alternative available at the time was via Warsaw! (SAS to WAW, then LOT to NCE - must say it gave us an opportunity to sample LOT's European business class, which isn't bad at all - better than SAS!). Warsaw airport struck us as quite "quaint", in a bit of a time warp, still in the communist era 60's. The duty free shops sold everything imaginable (a bit like Moscow's GUM store) and everything was priced in zlotys (what's a zloty worth? - certainly my wife had no idea). The business class lounge was a bit like you might imagine a communist era cheap hotel to be, dark, small and with lots of "interesting" characters around. Staff were friendly, though. Also, there was a good supply of Polish vodka (and other alcohol) available, together with a range of nibbles. Really, a place with lots of character, which I fear is destined to disappear into a standard sea of blandness in due course. Visit it while it's still available!

Warsaw Airport by Steve Siegel

4 April 2004

Warsaw Airport is pretty outdated compared to other European and US Airports. There is no where to check your email, the pay phones are located in strange corners, the cafe is too small (the restaurant is OK). The staff is friendly and you'll be glad since the screen system and the voice announcements are unreliable (inaudible and unreadable). Overall - If you have to stay longer than 3 hour, I'd advise leaving and checking out downtown...although, don't take a taxi until you've negotiated a price, they like to rob you blind.

Warsaw Airport by Stephen D'Arcy

19 March 2004

Old-fashioned, dated (reminded me of the disused Terminal C in Brussels Airport), but friendly staff and with at least four different tax-free shops. Ground staff generally polite and helpful, coping with our five hour delay in waiting for the plane to Brussels to be repaired (14/3/04). BUT the screens don't all function and the PA announcements were not audible in the restaurant. Journey time by hotel bus/taxi to the Marriott (opposite Central station) only 15 minutes. Hotel bus PLZ 22 / €6 each - taxi PLZ 50 for 2.

Warsaw Airport by Stephan Neuhaeuser

26 February 2004

Positives: Regular city busses run from downtown straight to the airport. Cheap bus tickets can be bought at the airport. So you can use your time to take a look at the scenic "old town" of Warsaw. Negatives: rude staff, crowded, expensive and security checks are not very efficient: traveling through Warsaw to a camping holiday recently, I had forgotten my camping knife in my backpack. the knife was not detected in any of the three (!) screenings - (in fact I myself detected it only when I unpacked my backpack after the flight).

Warsaw Airport by Freddy Suls

30 July  2003

I fly to Warsaw every six-seven weeks from Brussels, but untill now I haven't seen that arrival Duty Free Store, so please let me know where is to be found ?  Warsaw Airport is not bad, the arrivals area though is much to be desired for, still lots of mafia taxi drivers around and far too many people smoking. Overall it is a safe place and the border guards & other staff are friendly and helpful.

Warsaw Airport by M Devor

10 July  2003

Int'l terminal is new and impressive, domestic terminal (quick visit) is old but doable. I didn't find the staff all that friendly. The attendant at the lounge had a problem smiling. I was lucky that I had my onward boarding pass when I went landside. The lines for check in were outrageous and I never would have made it if I hadn't gone to the transfer counter upon arrival, airside. They have an arrival Duty Free store, brilliant concept, as in Asia and Australia. I would like to see more of this in Europe and elsewhere.

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