Beijing Capital Airport

Perhaps the worst and most disappointing "new" airport in the world! Landed at T3 gates took 30 mins to get through immigration then you inexplicably have to jump on a train for 5-6 mins to get to the main terminal. The extremely few shops were closed and it was 11pm. Then stuck in an awful taxi queue for 1 hour. Overall it took me nearly 2 hours to get out of the airport then you can add another 40 mins to the city. By the time I checked in to the hotel it was 1.30am - 2.5 hrs after touchdown! Flying out was just as bad T3 is huge biggest terminal I have ever seen and completely empty of anything bar check-in desks - there's nothing to do no shops or bars or anywhere to relax and everywhere is closed by 10pm. The satellite terminal where all the departure gates are is even more desolate and so dark you can't even read a book to pass the time.

I live in Beijing and dread going to the airport and I travel 3 times a month on average. Taxi queues are messy (up till recently) and can be extremely long especially late night. Lounge has limited service offering. Immigration line for foreigners (inbound) are extremely slow (but this is the same for almost all Chinese immigration). Baggage claim is slow. T3 is huge but there is nothing much in it (restaurants shops services etc) especially at further gates. Flights are often delayed.

PEK-PVG Xian-PEK SVO-PEK PEK-SVO. Arrivel at PEK very efficient clean with good information good ground services very efficient ground service (electronic self check-in) and good restaurants.

I think PEK has improved. Landed at Terminal 2 with China Southern from Hanoi and departure from Terminal 3 to Singapore. Immigration and security staff are friendly and efficient luggage arrived quickly. Airport express train is easy to access and only takes 20 minutes to get to city. More shops opened at terminal 3 staff are friendly and helpful. Airport business lounge has plenty of food choice. Check-in and boarding are smooth free wifi available through PEK.

Agree with the comments on cleanliness. Disagree on some signage - not clear where you transition from domestic to international - there is a sign but you have to be looking for it. Staff English skills are hit and miss if you ask them the same question they hear many times a day they can handle it but the slightest deviation and they struggle but they are friendly. There is lots of walking security is long and laborious. Had a long layover outbound and a short one on the return my opinion is 2.5 hrs between flights is the minimum.

We had a 3hr 30mins stopover in T3 and were very impressed by this terminal. Signage was good terminal was immaculately clean shops were decent and there were several relaxing areas with long chairs two 'Temples' with a small pond and a few benches. Finding an ATM was hard but there were several Bureaux de Change. The only annoyance was that we had to go through a separate immigration queue on arrival even though we had an international connecting flight outside of China.

Very good impression on arrival less than 30 mins from aircraft to taxi. Unfortunately taxi drivers don't speak English. On departure check in counter open 3 hrs before flight very good no queue at security checks or customs. duty free area - not enough shops. Quiet airport.

Newly built and looks pretty good. If you have to stay in the airport for more than an hour you will quickly become bored. Very limited in both shopping and eating. Staff are not very friendly and security is a hassle even in transit. English speaking personnel is rare.

We flew through Beijing on our way to Delhi and then back to YVR. The new terminal is big and clean. You have to walk a lot. The airport seemed deserted even at 8 pm. Limited eating facilities close to gates with no international flavour and choices. There was a small tea shop near our gate and it had one piece of cheese cake and had just ran out of milk/cream for coffee. The map showed the restaurants were 10 mins walk from my gates. I tried to use the automated phone using my credit card but the instructions were not clear and I just gave up. The terminal was cold so were the personnel working there. Take note: I was advised at a duty free shop at YVR not to buy any alcohol because it will not be allowed to go through Beijing. It is best to buy liquor there if you are in transit. But the choice is limited shops don't operate 24 hrs a day.

So many vehicles were blocking the drop-off area at the entrance of the terminal which was a mess. The airport offers no directory of shops and restaurants. Food selections are so limited and none of the restaurants are charging a reasonable price. The train transferring passengers to terminal 3E shakes at departure and arrival is like a roller coaster.