Bishkek Airport

✅ Trip Verified | Tiny airport in the middle of nowhere. Rude security and immigration staff. Lots of completely unnecessary passport checking long before security. There are a few coffee outlets but the staff were mostly fast asleep behind their counters. There are a few small gift shops but nothing is priced so presumably you're supposed to bargain. Overall, an amateur airport. Wifi wouldn't connect.

❎ Not Verified | Small airport which seemed a bit chaotic. Flew with Turkish airlines their first flight was delayed so check in for mine was busy due to 5 counters checking in two full flights. Immigration was quick didn't ask to many questions. Security metal detector doesn't work they just pat down everybody coming through. After security, not much food places on one end can get busy in the departure area. Boarding was a mess no queuing system for two flights with desks close together so people kept getting into the wrong queue. Fine airport for a short time.

❎ Not Verified | A small and basic airport, which is rather difficult for transit passengers due to the long wait times at security. I flew through Bishkek on a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Ulaanbaatar which has an hour stop in Bishkek before you rejoin the same plane. The problem with Bishkek is it takes a good 30 minutes to get though the security check as there is only one scanner. Once through though, there is a smoking area, several shops and a small bar, but you won't get much time to avail of these facilities! The departure screens don't seem to work, and when it is time to board, an airport staff member simply shouts the destination of the flight.

Simple clean and functional airport. Check in and security ws doe with ease. The food vendors are on the expensive side and do not accept credit cards. Seeing as most passengers rid themselves of local currency prior to leaving this presents as a problem.

It is a small airport with standard facilities. Need more Jetways as most of the time the aircraft is forced to park far away from airport building. However the officers' attitudes in the CIQ area are amazingly modest compared to the ones from the other neighbouring Central Asian airports such as Almaty and Astana.

Small functional airport. No frills. Arrived at about 3.30am from London. Not many passengers on the flight. Everything went smoothly and we were through immigration baggage and customs in no time. Once landside I realised my cell phone had fallen out of my pocket probably on the plane. A member of the BMI ground staff called the plane who found the phone and brought it to me. If arriving at Bishkek always make sure you are being collected at the airport by someone you trust and don't rely on taxis at the airport. Check in on the return trip at about 5.30 am was trouble free if a little slow on account of no online check in for my Turkish Airlines flight and painfully sluggish check in and security check staff. Travelled Business Class. Don't expect much from the BC lounge. Tired sandwiches and cake very limited choice of beverages and staff who were more interested in keeping up their conversation with each other to be bothered with the customers. Overall the airport did its job. Don't expect much and you won't be disappointed.

Overall the airport does the job and is an adequate small international hub but travellers beware of a dangerous scam by unregistered taxi drivers here. My driver was touting for custom with the rest of them as I came out of customs and immigration but turned out to be working with a fellow "passenger" who stopped the car between the airport and the city and extorted money from me to complete the journey. Two young men to one older man no contest here. Foolishly I only spotted the warning signs that the two of them were trouble too late and am grateful that it was only my pocket that was dented. Only ever take a registered taxi with the yellow taxi sign on top or better still have someone meet you. It sounds obvious but as most flights arrive here in the middle of the night it is possible to be caught out as I was.