Hurghada Airport

I can't wait for the opening of the new terminal. The old one looks okay. There must be at least one lounge for business class. It has a nice apron view with sunset appears behind the bulky mountains. The services are okay. Staff are okay. Needs some improvements in facilities and entertainment.

The last time I was at Hurghada Airport (some 6 years ago) it was a building site and it still is although now all building work has stopped. Arrival was chaos to say the least with long queues to pay for a visa and even longer unmanaged queues to get it stamped. The price you pay seemed to be somewhat variable depending on where you paid for it $20 at the official desk (for the visa stamped $15) or cheaper from some of the tour guides. Our baggage had arrived by the time we got to the baggage hall (45 mins from arrival) but had been dumped off the belt onto the floor in the general area of a belt – finding it was difficult. The security queue on our return was long and fast track was on offer for €10 but this really would have been a waste of time because the queue moved fast. Check-in was very fast with short queues for my flight (not sure why it was so good) and the subsequent queue through emigration and then security again was fast. The bazaar designed to relieve you of money beyond security was doing a good trade but the duty free alcohol prices were more than those payable on our plane only cigarettes being cheaper. The departure area was large with plenty of seats a little warm and no free wifi. Burger King have a stall but all other food areas were limited in choice and very expensive – water £3.25 for 0.75litres. We were bussed to and from our plane efficiently and without too much delay. Overall this airport experience was not frightful.

Airport rebuild taking place - overcrowded and queues everywhere no room at any of the Cafes landside or airside. Although we had 'Meet Greet and Assistance' service which made our progress a lot easier other passengers were treated appallingly over luggage and other issues. There was to be polite some very 'sharp' practice going on from shop staff to public toilet attendants with the prime objective of relieving as much money as possible from passengers. Such conduct bordered on intimidation - when challenged staff lost the ability to speak anything other than arabic. Facilities were dirty shoddy and unkempt. We will not use this airport again. If you do ensure you have 'local' assistance to represent you - it will be worth every penny.

The airport is close to the town and is currently undergoing a continuous rebuild. Initially you pass through a general screening x-ray security gate (bags passports etc). There were very long queues because they were also using the baggage screeners (at a peak time of the day) to screen cases of duty free being taken through to the shops and also crates of milk. Check-in was fast but the check-in staff tried to convince many passengers that their baggage (which was within weight limits of the way out) was now over weight and surcharges would have to be paid. Perhaps the fact that some of the scales read 3 kg when unloaded and others read 12 kg might have had something to do with it! Immigration and further security was efficient. Once airside it resembles a bazaar with numerous shops adopting the hardsell approach to things you did not know you wanted. The toilets have clear signs saying "No Tips" but the view of the attendants is that the notice only applies to staff. Food and drink is available (very expensive water is £3 per 500ml) and duty free prices are in dollars and are also very very expensive. The gate areas are large with bussing to the planes. Smoking seems to be allowed everywhere.

Arrival was very chaotic the whole place seems to be incredibly run down arrival hall was outdoors with no light. The departure hall was a glorified tent and they were incredibly strict about luggage allowance. We had to pass through numerous security scanners before we got to the aircraft.