Beauvais Airport

Beauvais is the worst airport I have ever experienced anywhere, and I was departing from the new Terminal 2. Extremely poor facilities, very little seating, smelly toilets, long queues for security and now there are departure passport checks even though you are flying within the Schengen area. However you can drive into Belgium or Germany from France with no checks at all.

First I booked a ticket to Paris and I really didn't know this airport was not in Paris. It took me more time to travel to the center Paris from the airport than my flight duration. Besides, the airport lacks basic facilities. It is just a big hall. Security officers were not friendly or helpful. They took some of my wife's cosmetics while they were complied with the code (-100 ml) and nothing had ever happened at any other airports.

Dirty, cramped airport. Stood outside airport 30 mins after plane arrived as doors were jammed. Incredible. It took someone that long to find a key to open the door. I recommend Ryanair but not Beauvais. No facilities and terminal 1 has not been updated in 8 years. Went to 3 different toilets, massive queries for the first one, the second lot were out of order and the final lot were dirty and smelly.

I am a well seasoned traveller and I am writing this review in Beauvais airport, while I wait. This is the worst airport I have ever used, for the following reasons. Overcrowded with masses of "economy travellers". Zero class or luxury, massive queue to clear security. It's like a public transport bus depot. Shuttle buses to get here are uncomfortable and have no leg room. Limited facilities. Traveller Beware - this airport is nowhere near Paris and some companies like Ryanair call this airport Paris Beauvais, which is misleading. This is the first and last time I ever use this airport and will gladly pay whatever it takes to fly from Paris CDG next time.

I have flown with Ryanair into BVA twice now from DUB and SNN. The airport is not great. Security is slow and all the restaurants and shops are outside security so there is hardly anything to see when you go through security. There isn't enough seating either. The bathrooms smell horrible and the airport isn't clean.

Be warned when getting the shuttle from Beauvais to Paris. Firstly it is a full five or six minute walk from exit door of new terminal building to the bus point (not just outside door). Secondly despite some websites saying buses leave 20 minutes after each flight arrives it was about 50 minutes after my flight with no busses leaving at two departure times shown on the display board during that period. This meant that I missed a train connection in Paris by two minutes. Also one should always assume that the bus will take up to 90 minutes to get to Porte Maillot from the time it actually starts to drive at Beauvais. On a good day it might do it in 60 minutes. Then at Porte Maillot allow full 15 minutes to get suitcase out of bus compartment (no facility for airline "carry on" inside bus) plus walk to Metro buying metro ticket and finding platform for metro train.

I am fairly well travelled but I can say with confidence that this is the worst airport I have ever been to. I was on time for my flight and queued with the rest to get my boarding card scanned before proceeding through to security. There was only one staff member scanning so the queue moved very slowly. Considering there were 4 flights leaving within an hour of each other one would have expected more staff given the volume of passengers. I was concerned that it was getting closer and closer to the time for the gates to close but at no point was my flight called to the front nor was there a warning on the TV screen so I continued to wait patiently. When I finally got to the front of the queue at 10.02 (the gates officially closed at 10.00 and flight was due to leave at 10.30) I was refused entry. I tried to explain that I had been waiting but was ignored. Knowing how small this airport is and the fact that all the gates are in the same area it would have taken me only a couple of minutes to walk through and make my way onto the plane with my hand luggage but absolutely no regard was given to my situation and not a single staff member even attempted to try and assist me. After speaking to my friend who lived in France for some time she told me that the same thing happened when she took a flight late last year. 10 or so passengers missed their flight the same way that I did so clearly there are real issues with how they manage things at Beauvais. I have used Ryanair and this airport many times but after that experience I vow never to again. Worst customer service I have ever experienced.

Incredibly it's getting worse. Our flight lost its take-off slot because of insufficient security personnel. After a decade still no bus link to Rouen Dieppe or Amiens. Seething queues milling in all directions including passengers for Poland lost in the wrong terminal. Even the staff admit to being ashamed of the whole hideous mess. This airport has now been used by Ryanair for a quarter of a century - how long does it take to get it up to par? Why doesn't Ryanair move to Rouen-Boos airport which is just as near to Paris (ie an hour) and currently empty?

I use this airport (Terminal 2) on a monthly basis because of the cost of flying. The shuttle service from Paris is good but allow extra time during peak season. Seating in the departure lounge is very limited so I tend to delay my entry there to the minimum. If you have children then you have a problem as there is nothing here for them worse still if your flight is delayed. I've not really had a problem here as I travel solo but this weekend gone I was refused a beer at the bar inside the departures area as I did not want food this is a first for me not just at this airport but anywhere in the world. I obviously was not aware of this before going through. I agree with previous comments on here that it is expensive to buy food snacks and drinks also consider the seating area at the bar/restaurant is cramped.

I would have to agree with D Parent 's comments on this airport. I have travelled Ryanair a lot but I have never set foot in what must be the worst airport they fly into. We fly out of Terminal 1. The airport is well sign posted from the road. We took the bus and it dropped us beside it. The check-in area was basic but efficient. My tip to anyone is do not go though security until about an hour before your flight is due to leave as once you get though security there is nothing there. Only enough seats for around 50 people in the departure lounge. We stupidly thought that maybe there would be better food in the departure lounge. All there is is a small Illy cafe which cost us 12 euros for 2 bags of crisps and 2 cokes. I know airport prices are bad but that took the biscuit. The departure lounge is so small and there was around 600 people there with only seats for 50 of them. One other poster said this airport reminded him of a barn I'd agree with that. If you can use Orly or De Gaule. The toilets were filthy too my wife refused to use them when she saw them.