Abu Dhabi Airport

The new Terminal 3 is a huge improvement on Terminal 1 with upgraded facilities and overall good passenger experience. Not much to complain about other than the limited seating provided for passengers at T1 and then some rude abrupt and unfriendly police at security checkpoints who has the ability to make any traveller feel most unwelcome for using this airport for travelling purposes.

After a 14+ hour flight I was looking forward to getting a hot shower and a relaxing nap in the airport hotel or at least in one of the pay-for-service lounges during my 8 hour layover. We landed in the new terminal (3?) and whilst at first glance its nice clean and new looking I soon discovered there were very few directional signs no shower facilities no airport hotel or lounge facilities (unless you're Etihad silver or gold member) hardly anywhere to sit nothing to do at all except buy duty free items or line up for 30 minutes of free internet and finding an open information desk was a huge achievement. I was eventually told I would have to go back though security and walk over to the old terminal if I wanted a shower but after having dealt with the rude security staff I declined. Its a real pity that the new terminal is so poorly outfitted will make me seriously reconsider flying Etihad if I have a long layover again.

I am surprised at how a major airport hub like AUH could run with no facilities whatsoever apart from the free internet. I had a very long 12 hour transit in AUH en-route to Cairo from Sydney and was ashamed at the service of facilities. I admit the new terminal 3 is a big push into the skies from the old terminal 1 but there's still more pushing up to do if they want passengers to enjoy their transit in AUH. I have also departed and arrived in AUH and would give them a thumbs up at the services offered during departure and arrival but check in is a nightmare with all Etihad flights checking in from the same line of desks.

Part of an airport's ranking and reviews should depend on how they deal with a medical emergency. I was flying from AUH 2 weeks ago and a passenger in his late 50's dropped to the floor in the duty free. It took almost 15 minutes for a doctor to arrive at which point the passenger had died. A person approached the airport manager about this delay and was told if he did not mind his business he would be detained by the police. Abu Dhabi airport is tiny compared to other major airports where medical staff reach the scene within 3 minutes.

Etihad staff nice but the equipment is dysfunctional. Then there's all the back and forth between the new terminal that is fairly nice and the old terminal which is a dump with a glittery paint job. There are some pluses though: a special business/first class check-in in a separate space and a dedicated immigration officer that covers all airlines. One staffer there was kind enough to go track down a lost sketchbook for me after I had already gone through immigration. The business lounge for BA and other airlines was too small for the number of flights served at peak.

In transit only although a change of terminals was required in both directions. Terminal 1 is the old terminal which is short on seating although architecturally interesting with the tiled mushroom in the centre. However seating is limited food choice is limited and the place is kept over-airconditioned. Terminal 3 is the new terminal and is more spacious with better facilities and a greater choice of eating places: if you are in transit it may be better to stay in Terminal 3 until an hour before your flight and then head across to Terminal 1. Security for transfer passengers changing terminals is reasonable with plenty of space and barriers to direct passengers. I was quite impressed.

Transited AUH both ways. Modern airport with what seems like miles to walk from arrival gate to security and back to departure gate. Long queue for transit security. Usual duty free shops but not very cheap. Free wi-fi signal very weak in food court area. Smell of tobacco smoke everywhere despite the airport being non-smoking in public areas the sliding doors to the smoking booths do not close fully allowing the smoke and smell to permeate through into the rest of the airport.

Arrived from LHR on BA at 8pm. Slightly amused by the "greeter" in local arab dress at the gate welcoming deplaning passengers. Didn't have the personality for it I suppose. Walked through aquarium-like central area (lime green and blue tiles) and off to surly immigration. All our information was manually entered into a computer painfully slowly (key-by-key) and then collected baggage. Was a pretty quick once past immigration though crowded. Airport also appeared to have the lingering smell of cigarette smoke. Airport seemed very crowded and is probably going to be expanded at some point. Car to city was as expected. Airport was not what you'd expect from an oil-rich city-state.

Flying through Abu Dhabi (Bangkok to Munich and back). Both flights with Etihad gave me only 2 hours transit. It was a nice experience from and to my destination. The new part of the terminal was clean crowd free and easy to navigate through. I guess I was lucky to bypass the rush hour. WCs clean fair amount of shopping and a couple of food venues. Security fast and efficient. A good airport to fly through.

In and out of Terminal 3 this week. Very poor facilities for food and drink. In duty free I looked at cameras and Ipods. Both seemed expensive and on checking my preferred items they are cheaper on the UK High Street than so called duty free in Abu Dhabi. Buyer beware!