"clear that they are understaffed"
Susan Palmer (United States)
Not Verified | Its criminal that this airport puts travelers into such an impossible situation. It is clear that they are understaffed and yet they continue to attempt to run business as usual. We arrived 4 hours before our flight and immediately got in the security line but still missed the flight. Everyone around us missed their flights as well. There were only 3 security check points open out of at least 15. It was madness. This airport should be held accountable in some way.
Experience At Airport | Departure Only |
Date Visit | July 2022 |
Type Of Traveller | Family Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | N/A |
Wifi Connectivity | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"The lack of organisation in any type or form was shocking"
Rafael Lozano (United Kingdom)
✅ Trip Verified | German efficiency? My worst experience at an airport ever. We missed our flight because of the massive queues for the security check. As the flight departure time approached, we contacted the security personnel and the airline. The security personnel would only send us back to the end of the queue and even told us to speak to the police - which we also did. In addition, we had paid for the Fast Track Security that was not available at the airport. Once we had helplessly missed our flight, the only option suggested by the airline was to book another flight two days later at our own expense. Therefore two days later, there we were again, five hours before our flight at the endless queue for the security check. The lack of organisation in any type or form was shocking. On top of that, the security personnel would just say "yes" when asked "so I'm going to miss my flight". They even pretend they don't speak English to avoid questions. No one cared about the situation.
Experience At Airport | Departure Only |
Date Visit | July 2022 |
Type Of Traveller | Couple Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"What I experienced at the Cologne airport was like a nightmare"
Metin Önder (Turkey)
Not Verified | My flight number was XC 1815 on July 18th 2022. I was at the airport almost 4 hour before the flight. Checkin started 2.5 hours before the flight. There were thousands of people in the security queue and, as airport staff said, it would take more than 3 hours to reach security gate. How am I supposed to reach gate on boarding time, 30 minutes before the flight? Can the airport manager solve this million dollar math problem for us? What I experienced at the Cologne airport was like a nightmare. I had not seen any authority around who were supposed to solve or mitigate the problem. Thousands of passengers and inadequate numbers of staff were in chaos. I condemn airport authority and Corendon Airlines who made us experienced such a nightmare.
Experience At Airport | Departure Only |
Date Visit | July 2022 |
Type Of Traveller | Couple Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | N/A |
Wifi Connectivity | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"Absolutely shocking experience"
Conor Callanan (United Kingdom)
✅ Trip Verified | Absolutely shocking experience, 2 hr queue to get to security. Queue from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1. Less than half the security gates were staffed. No information given to passengers, no airport staff to manage the queues with people jumping the queue constantly. If I flight wasn’t delayed, we would have missed it, so much for German efficiency.
Experience At Airport | Departure Only |
Date Visit | July 2022 |
Type Of Traveller | Couple Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Wifi Connectivity | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"I have never experienced anything so poorly organised in my life"
B King (United Kingdom)
✅ Trip Verified | Absolutely awful experience. The worst airport I have been to. The security line was at least 7 hours. The “security” staff were rude, unhelpful and very unfriendly. The police were also very unhelpful and rude. I would have expected more. I have never experienced anything so poorly organised in my life. When I asked if we could get help as to not miss our flight, after waiting for 3 hours in their terrible queue, I was told by police they couldn’t help me unless I had children. Luckily we pleaded with a lovely German couple who helped. But the staff at this airport were so so rude.
Experience At Airport | Arrival and Departure |
Date Visit | July 2022 |
Type Of Traveller | Couple Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Wifi Connectivity | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"Airport staff were not helpful"
Amit Patkar (India)
Not Verified | Airport location is very close to Cologne city, cleanliness is good. On 9th July, due to summer vacations there was huge crowd which was not properly managed by airport. Queue for security check was for more than 1km. Airport staff were not helpful. They were not allowing for prior security check even if are going to miss you flight. They didn't bother about it. Its an international airport but most of the staff are not speaking English which is really a problem.
Experience At Airport | Departure Only |
Date Visit | July 2022 |
Type Of Traveller | Business |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Wifi Connectivity | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"an insanely bad experience"
Sami Makhlouf (United States)
Not Verified | Longest line ever to get into customs and to the gate. The line went, inside the building, around the contours of the whole airport and then it continued to swirl outside. Probably 2.5km long! No crowd assistance. Does this happen everyday here? For a Traveller, it is an insanely bad experience!
Experience At Airport | Departure Only |
Date Visit | July 2022 |
Type Of Traveller | Solo Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Wifi Connectivity | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"Seating was near non existent"
N Overton (United Kingdom)
Not Verified | Only one man on the boarding pass check for thousands of people and even then when he wasn't chatting. For many the 4 hour delay was a blessing as they were still trying to get through security long after we were do to leave. International flight area (D gates) resembled more a prison camp then an airport, no stores open, no working vending machines, the two kiosks open were charging up to 8 euro for a coke. Seating was near non existent. Considering how organised Germany is, they seem to be lacking with airports
Experience At Airport | Arrival and Departure |
Date Visit | July 2022 |
Type Of Traveller | Solo Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"Shockingly poor organisation at this airport"
Alex Robertson (United Kingdom)
Not Verified | Shockingly poor organisation at this airport. Totally chaotic. Three hour queue to get through security. Queue going round the terminal, outside along the front and back in the other end. Ryanair advised us to be there 3 hours before flight, but if we had done that we would have missed the flight. Luckily we arrived four hours early so we made the flight. German efficiency?
Experience At Airport | Departure Only |
Date Visit | June 2022 |
Type Of Traveller | Couple Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | N/A |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"4 to 5 hours waiting for security"
João Costa (Portugal)
Not Verified | I arrived to the airport 3 hours before my flight, but I found a 4 to 5 hours waiting line for security clearance. I lost my flight, contacted the airline EasyJet to place a claim, but they didn't accept. I then contacted the airport but they told me to contact an e-mail of the police. Unbelievable.
Experience At Airport | Departure Only |
Date Visit | June 2022 |
Type Of Traveller | Business |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Wifi Connectivity | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |