Faro Airport

Not Verified | Horrendous. We’ve travelled through Faro frequently over the past 10 years however based on our experience at the airport both inbound and outbound this was our last trip for some time. On arrival having been bussed to the terminal building we had the same experience that many others on this site report taking 1hr 20 mins to get through passport control. Marginally better on the return home as it ‘only’ took 40 minutes. There is minimal organisation, few staff to assist and a general impression that visitors are an inconvenience. It’s a shame because the local tourist industry will suffer as visitors will not return. We will go elsewhere for the next few years.

✅ Trip Verified | As we entered the terminal we witnessed a hall full of people queueing all around the terminal even up the staircase. I estimate 2000 people with British or American passports. Irish and EU were selected for fast tracking. There were 4 officers manually checking passports. There were no announcements, no apology. It took over 2 hours to reach the desk. Completely ruined my first trip to Portugal. I would never return to Faro airport. It was also hot and stuffy while we queued

Not Verified | What a shambles passport control is at this airport. There must be 2000 people queuing to get through a tiny number of control desks. All these people are holiday makers looking to spend money on the Algarve. I very much doubt any will return after being treated like this

Not Verified | Disgraceful people handling, won't come back through Faro again. Over an hour getting in through crowds herded through hot corridors, queuing on stairways, expected leaving to be better but actually worse. Lots of people saying they won't come back.

Not Verified | Flight at 07:00 so arrived at rental car drop off at 05;00 hrs. Got through security in about 10 minutes. Got to passport control, another depressing story. The whole hall was packed with British people all queuing for the 2 desks available for UK passports. There were a few EU nationals who did not know that they could miss the queues and go to the EU passport desk. The queueing was up the stairs to the security area. People were queueing on the stairs (health and safety no-no). The queue doubled back under the stairs in a dark alley with no air conditioning. There were no staff to help with the queueing so people were queue jumping and other passengers had to organise the mayhem occasionally with some sharp interactions! The time from start of queueing to getting through passport control was 55 minutes. So you always have to get to Faro airport 2 hours at least before your flight because nobody in Faro Airport cares. There is just no Health and Safety commitment from airport staff. From May to September on 3 occasions this has been the same entering and leaving Faro airport. As we travel to Spain we will be looking at Seville airport in future.

✅ Trip Verified | Over an hour getting through passport control. No separation of EU and non EU passengers. Nobody guiding the massive crowd. Two desks open and then after about 45 minutes two more added. A complete shambles and a national embarrassment to the country. We love Portugal but quite honestly this could well be our last visit. For a "modern" EU country it's appalling. No excuses. Unacceptable. Surprised people didn't faint in the heat or worse still have a heart attack. Deeply embarrassing for the airport authorities.

✅ Trip Verified | The airport is easy accessible and there is no problem getting to the check-in counters. Facilities like restaurants, waiting area and toilets are clean and easily accessible. Check-in is organised and there is enough room to accommodate all guests lining up for check-in. Security control is run smoothly although the employees are a bit miserable and unhelpful. I had to walk around on my socks for several minutes which was quite humiliating, because my shoes somehow ended up in the special search area and were just left sitting on the side for 10 mins. I just had to fish them out myself as nobody reacted to my repeated questions whether I can have them back. The boarding area was a bit crowded but, eventually, boarding run smoothly and efficient.

Not Verified | Dreadful airport, long queue at passport control, unhelpful staff, no seating, staff were calling forward EU passport holders and making all others wait. No organisation or control people coming from different locations of the airport, absolute chaos.

Not Verified | When we arrived at Faro Airport the passport control was horrendous, it took over 50 minutes to get through and there was no organisation, loads of pushing and shoving from people as there is no queuing system. On departure day we was picked up by Jet2 private transfer and arrived at the airport 2 hours 30minutes before our departure time. There were 5 Jet2 planes all leaving within 5 minutes as each other so check in was extremely busy and took 50 minutes. Security checks were very quick but then we then had to join a massive queue for passport control. Everyone was pushing in front of each and again there was no organisation from airport staff. After about 50 minutes of queuing security removed some barriers and everyone at the back of the queue ended up pushing in front of us that had been queuing for all that time. Our gate had been announced and the plane was being boarded but we was nowhere near the passport control. We felt like a herd of cattle just being pushed along and we had small children. We had 20 minutes until our flight was due to set off and we were still in the queue for passport control ago with a group of gentlemen, we had to get the attention of a security guard to explain that we was going to miss our plane through no fault of our own, they let us cut the queue but we then had to run to the plane as our gate was the furthest away, we didn't have chance to buy water for the children or let them go to the toilet. Horrendous experience.

Not Verified | Rental car drop off was super easy. Check-in easy. Security was ok, limited queues. Passport control was chaos. Total chaos. Completely overwhelmed capacity in the passport hall. It required additional staff to manage the queues. Outside of the formal lines it was a free for all. Not all booths were open. Total 40-50mins to get through. And then through to the main departures lounge which is obviously too small for the volume of passengers at peak times. The airport needs extending and revamping.