Amman Queen Alia Airport

Passed through here on a World Business Class ticket with KLM en route to Amsterdam. Upon arrival the first impressions weren't good. The place looked shabby and worn and the immigration was a little disorganised though mercifully didn't take long compared to places like Dubai. One tip you have to buy a visa which costs 10 JD but the little money exchange counter in immigration didn't seem to be open when I passed through. I'd get your JD's before arriving to prevent big delays if you pitch up when it's closed. The Departure terminal is better but is a far cry from the slick Beirut airport. The duty free section however is very good and the business class lounge is pleasant if a little understocked with food and drinks - the selection is basic. I became a little annoyed at the immigration queues which moved painfully slowly and then the officer closed the desk as I reached the front of the queue!

Most of the comments from other people are accurate. I passed through the airport a few times this month mostly at antisocial times so I was not in the best of moods. There is certainly very little to do in the airport with only basic facilities. The duty free shopping area is good though. I also found the staff to be helpful and efficient. I used the business lounge which was very good and clean (it looked new) with a good snack selection and Internet access. The airport is about 20 minutes from Amman by taxi. The airport runs a fixed fare scheme. Someone near the taxi area should give a ticket with a list of prices so that the taxi drivers cannot con you. The price should be in the region of JOD15-20. Taxi drivers will often try to con the unwary. Journeys inside Amman will cost the locals less than a dinar normally.

I visited Queen Alia Airport in Amman in Sept and flight from London to Bangkok. I agree with Hugo Duran's comments on this site. This airport is an absolute dive. Most people only come here to connect another onward flight. If you have the choice to go via another route and avoid this place - do it.

We spent time in Queen Alia Airport in April 2004. The shopping area is clean and bright but limited in choice. The sitting areas are limited uncomfortable and not very clean. The toilets I found were smelly dirty and really unpleasant to use (Locks still broken.) Thankfully we were taken out of the airport to a hotel as our flight was delayed by about 6 hours. On our return the "checking in" procedure was chaotic. The one good thing I can say is that security is tight.

On our flight change from Amsterdam to Bangkok with Royal Jordanian Airlines we were forced to spend some hours on this airport. I must say this was not a pleasant stay because there is very little to do apart from the brightly illuminated small tax-free shopping area which looks OK. There is enough to see to spend some time. Outside the shopping area there is hardly any thing to do save for some coffee selling points a pizza counter and a France Delight counter where you should think twice to order something to eat or you must be starved in this case anything will help to fill your stomach. The only comfortable seating facilities are situated in front of the France Delight counter but with only about 30 chairs available you find yourself lucky to get a seat. The other places where you can seat are situated close to the gates but these are very uncomfortable and dirty. The local’s are disregarding the non-smoking signs and when you comment to their behaviour they just ignore you and keep on smoking. The male and ladies restrooms are incredible dirty and not well kept. Almost all locks on the doors are not functioning; at the washstand the soap dispensers are out of order you may dip your fingers in the soap containers which are open standing for this purpose on the sink. The faucets are not fixed and rotate in all directions allowed by their flexible connection to the water pipes and in one of the restrooms the electrical cable of the hand- drying unit was inadequately repaired. They just twisted the live wires together and did not insulate the connection thus very dangerous in this wet environment. Although we did spend our waiting time at night in the airport the coolest part of the day it was sticky hot. Our conclusion: Try to avoid this place if possible.

With regard to the shopping facilities I support earlier comments about the poor and limited range. In addition even though the prices of international goods appeared fair those of local Jordanian goods are ridiculously high. I noted a recent improvement in the catering facilities that of the Blue Fig counter. The young and very helpful female assistant was pleasant clear and very competent. The capuccino provided was excellent and the price comparable with other international Airports.

Queen Alia is a clean airport but lacks in shops and restaurants. The two terminals are identical making somewhat confusing between the arrivals and departures terminal. The airport is well known for delays that last five hours and Ihave been caught in them. When this happens staff are least helpful lines of people fill the airport and it is hectic.