Istanbul Airport

Organised chaos thanks to placement of visa desk which was on the far side of long immigration lines. Not helped by the fact that many EU and US pax failed to read the signs saying they needed a visa and just lined up at immigration anyway! Immigration itself is painfully slow and of BKK standards. On the outward journey be prepared for three security checks - outside the terminal post immigration and finally prior to arriving at the departure gate. Easy public transport system into the centre of town even with 18kgs suitcase. Avoid changing money at airport on arrival as better rates offered in town.

I have been through many times. The passport/visa control is so bad that it brings my rating down from an 8 to a 0. That area is poorly manned confusing extremely slow with bored rude uncaring personnel: a poor introduction to Turkey for first time visitors. Obviously the airport authority doesn't read these ratings or more likely doesn't care. Another problem is knowing which baggage claim to go to after both domestic and international flights and there is a large number of belts to search for your flight.

Organised chaos thanks to placement of visa desk which was on the far side of long immigration lines. Not helped by the fact that many EU and US pax failed to read the signs saying they needed a visa and just lined up at immigration anyway! Immigration itself is painfully slow and of BKK standards. On the outward journey be prepared for three security checks - outside the terminal post immigration and finally prior to arriving at the departure gate. Easy public transport system into the centre of town even with 18kgs suitcase. Avoid changing money at airport on arrival as better rates offered in town.

The buildings are fine with plentiful seating an airy aspect and a fair range of shops cafes etc (though expensive by Turkish standards). The main problem is queuing on arrival one queues for visa (if necessary) and then to have it checked for immigration (an hour in my case). On departure you queue for security before you enter the building (a few minutes) for check-in (about 15 mins in my case but by the time I got to the desk the queue was about 4-5 times longer than when I joined it) and then for emigration and a second security check. Fortunately a friend had advised me to arrive at least 2 hours before departure I endorse that. I recommend the metro and tram to get to the city centre the price is a tenth or less of a taxi or the shuttle bus and the time is about the same given Istanbul's traffic. Be aware it does require a change if you have a lot of luggage and also there is not a metro/tram stop near all hotels but if there is one it is a reliable and cheap alternative.

I flew to Istanbul on business in Sept 2011. Flight over from Ireland was good and Turkish Airlines were good. Returned to the airport on a Saturday morning at 6.05 for a 7.45 departure and then the nightmare began. I lined up along with hundreds of others in a common queue to check-in until I was eventually called out of the queue with the rest of my flight because time was getting short. I have never seen such chaos at a check-in desk. Staff did not seem to care and there was no sense of urgency. Next step was to go to the passport control line and this was another disaster with really long queues. I have never in all my time flying witnessed airport police so obviously arguing with ground staff in front of passengers in an airport but saw this happen twice in this airport. I then made my way directly to the departure gate only to be faced with another series of horrendous queues to get through the x-ray machines it was organised chaos. I heard my name being called with other passengers for our flight. I pleaded with an official to let me through to get to the plane but he refused point blank saying that I had time. I missed the flight and had to go back out into departures and fight my case with Turkish Airlines. Eventually they flew me to London and I had to buy a ticket myself to get back to Dublin.

My transit at Istanbul for connection flight to Copenhagen was extremely painful. I was in the line for clearing immigration more or less 1 hr and 45 mins. Pity to those families travelling with babies. The airport authority should have provide a special counter/lane for families the same as most other airports do. However the immigration and check-in counter staff were good and able to smile or responded nicely although having such a busy and long morning.

Airport is well designed but queues can be long both at immigration and security. Departure is established with a number of shops and restaurants. I used the Star Alliance CIPS Lounge in the international terminal while flying Swiss and must say that this is one of the best business lounges I have been to. I am a frequent flyer and generally do around 100000 miles a year.

Landed from Kuala Lumpur early morning the immigration area was extremely busy. However almost all counters were manned. The luggage handling was efficient. Upon check-in for my next flight on the same morning I was surprised with the huge crowd of people at both island A and B. I was in the line for more than an hour. After clearing immigration and security check point I was bussed to the aircraft. It was at gate 308. Overall I was pleased with those airport's staff I have encountered. They were friendly and helpful.

On arrival we were faced with a huge queue for passport control. Our passports were taken away without any explanation and when asked they were very rude. They were returned some 25mins later without a word and a visa stamped in it. Departure was even worse. Horrendous queues for passport control meant a 45 min wait with only 4 booths manned and the rest empty and when we asked one of the so-called 'staff' if we could pass through the check first since our flight was about to leave he simply shrugged and said 'I don't care'. Flight left 20 mins late because we and others were caught in that line. Very poor image of the country. Horrible expensive airport with surly staff.

The airport itself seems fine - clean if not very well air conditioned. On arrival a very slow queue to get visas. I could not understand why it takes so long to take money and put a stamp in your passport. Then the even longer and slower queue at passport control. One reason they are slow at this point is that the available cubicles are never fully manned. Onto luggage claim - at the opposite end of the airport to the aircraft. You need a 1 Lira coin for a trolley. If you do not know this or do not have one you are stuck. I learnt the hard way during a previous trip. On exit you have to get all your bags scanned before check-in. Check in and join the ridiculously slow passport control queues. The food prices are extortionate - £14 for two burgers meals. If they could reduce the delays this would be a very nice airport.