Kuwait Airport

Changing planes on a connection from DXB to JFK this seemed very much a third world airport or like a regional Chinese airport. Signage was ok but transit passenger walking distances were long and a the gate security there was no organization at all except to find a long line and hope it was the right one. There was no separate accomodation for Business or First Class at boarding and not even an announcement - everyone just headed for the door when it seemed ready to load. The facility seemed old dusty and tired (like Kuwait in general) and ground staff was not at all helpful. The process seemed to be run by three unhappy guys in baggage handler uniforms and at the last moment an overdressed female gate agent appeared but said nothing. This is not at all in the same class as nearby Doha and Dubai if you have a choice of a connection point.

The international side is a disorganized dump - especially if you happen to fly in on United Airlines. I arrived on Tuesday and due to an incredibly inept ground staff I was unable to leave Kuwait until Saturday. Do not under any circumstances allow yourself to be taken to the "airport hotel." It is a smelly disgusting place. There's no hot water or toiletries. The airlines refused to release my luggage because it would have been a hassle for them to retrieve. Advice - Buy a visa and demand the airline put you up in a real hotel. If your flight cancels don't leave the airport until you have replacement tickets in hand. If they refuse get angry and cause a scene. It's crazy but it's the only thing that works. Also don't wait in lines. Ground staff is happy to point at any line that is far away in order to escape helping you. Also don't assume that anyone knows what they are talking about - they likely don't. Nothing is settled until you have a paper ticket in hand. It took me twelve hours to book a flight out and even that flight required that I be stranded for three days. This is truly a third world airport. As such be sure to pack toiletries and a few changes of clothing. Better yet seek connections through Europe; this place is a joke.

Kuwait international airport is a dreary place to spend more than an hour in with poor lighting rude ground staff and filthy facilities. Overall the airside portion of this terminal was a drab and in poor condition with missing panels wear tear. Coming off of a 12 hour flight from IAD and waiting for a late departure to DXB the airside portion of the terminal was rather uncomfortable to wait in. The only dining options consisted of a McDonalds a Pizza Hut Express and a chocolate and coffee shop. Airside those are your only choices. Seating isn't very plentiful and fill up fast (especially when flights to India begin to board). Boarding in KWI is also disorganized as there is no fixed procedure involving cabin boarding rather it's an every man for himself type of procedure where a boarding call is announced and passengers dash towards the jetway entrance creating confusion and chaos. Above all first class passengers get shafted by not getting priority boarding. The ground staff at KWI seriously need to learn about providing friendly organized and efficient customer service. On one occasion returning home through KWI I was practically yelled at by a ground staff member for not following a certain procedure correctly it was a simple mistake that I easily corrected within minutes. From an airport that promotes itself as a premier Middle Eastern airport this type of behavior was unacceptable and classless.

For Business and First class passengers there is now a dedicated departure immigration counter which is very useful with the usual queues. Unfortunately the same doesn't exist on arrival although if you get the visa on arrival you bypass the normal queues anyway. The premium lounges are spacious clean reasonable (well cheap) food and the Costa Coffee is great. Shopping isn't good at the moment (it never was) but looks like some serious renovations are going on so we'll wait and see. Largest selections on sale are perfumes which seem quite well priced.

Kuwait airport is fairly nice but make sure you get directions on where to go since it's not very clear what to do when you get there. After clearing customs downstairs it can be quite daunting taking the long walk out to the exit as there are crowds of people on either side of the barriers watching you. And it is not clear where to go at the end of the walkway. Taking a flight out can also be somewhat confusing as the airlines are grouped in zones but not well marked and it's also not always clear which counters you should go to within the zones. Make sure to ask for passes to one of the business/first class lounges. They are very nice. Lots of shopping available but very expensive. Porters are readily available and very insistent on handling your luggage then demand a large tip (ask how much first). Aggressively wave them off if you don't need them. They also only take your luggage to the zone then some other porter will want to help after the x-ray machine for another tip. Watch out for taxis going out of the airport as they will try to overcharge you so know how much is the typical fare and negotiate up front.

If you are in need of baby changing facilities at Kuwait International Airport be warned there aren't any! On a recent journey alone with my 11-month son I noticed to my (supposed) relief that there was a Nursery Room. Signs indicated that I had to go downstairs; about 40 stairs with a pram in tow (no other access)! Got to the bottom to discover that the Nursery Room was closed and had been for 2 years! Had to use the adjacent old and tired (although clean) ladies toilets and lie my son on the narrow basin surround which resulted in him wiggling backwards into the basin. Kuwait is a country full of young children and I cannot understand why no-one has woken up to the fact that baby facilities are required. Primarily because prior to motherhood I did not enjoy the sights or smells of a mother changing her child in the ladies. Yes Kuwait International Airport has/continues to undergo huge improvements but it's the little things that are constantly overlooked that drive me crazy. Additionally Kuwait International Airport is a smokers paradise. There are smoker's rooms but hey why use those when you can smoke wherever you like. No-one is going to stop you!

I have to say that Kuwait International has gone through major upgrading over the past 18 months which has left it much better spacious and efficient than before. Before the terminal used to be drab. Lacked character and enthusiasm. It was just a concrete building with bridges. Nothing more or less. With the recent expansion that took place the whole building is alive now and makes flying into and out of that airport a MUCH better experience than before. The airport mall is superb to walk around. The plethora of shops/cafes/restaurants/banks makes it totally self-sufficient. The addition of a new airline lounge by the new ground handling agent has made a significant plus factor to this airport. Before only Kuwait Airways was allowed to own and operate lounges there and those lounges were small old and required upgrading. With this new competing lounge it has simply made it much better for us all to see KU run and start fixing up their own lounges. Kudos to KWI and their recent improvements and their recent decision to allow competing ground handling agents to operate. Simply made service there grow a few notches up.