Kathmandu Airport

Used the airport twice for short says in Nepal on the way too and from Kathmandu. The main problem is the lack of departure boards. Every now and then some people would start going through a departure gate and everybody else would follow them in case it was their flight. Arrival was a lot easier though and the baggage appeared quire promptly. The airport staff were about the most friendly and helpful I have encountered anywhere once you manage to find somebody.

What a shame that this airport serves this wonderful country. I had some Indian Rupees on me but managed not to be detected. Departure was a nightmare. Extremely rude men at immigration asking questions which they had no right to ask. I have a complicated passport history with many visas - but their right is to stamp me out and not to inquire whether or not I had the right paperwork to board the plane - that check was done at check-in! Flight was delayed 10 hours as inbound flight could not land (bad weather). This is fairly out of my control but we were not allowed to leave back into the terminal to stretch our legs instead having to wait in a crowded waiting room served by one atrocious toilet. Food was given after a few hours; thanks go to Air Arabia's handling of the situation.

Our visit to Nepal was soured by my experience at Kathmandu Airport. We were leaving to return to Delhi I had checked all our luggage though and went through for a personal security check. While in the cubicle the guard checked my pockets and asked me if I had any money I said I did not have any Nepal money as we were requested not to take any out of the country. I had 100 Indian rupee notes he stated ranting "give me money" "give me money" "200 200" . In shock I handed over 200 Indian rupee and he pushed me out of the cubicle. I just felt so intimidated this is assault and robbery. We had intended going back to this beautiful country but we will give it a miss now and tell others of our experience.

Second time flying through this airport. Large improvement since I was there in 2005 even with the notable increase in traffic. Toilets seem cleaner and immigration more efficient. In general staff seem more professional. The range of duty free shopping is still disappointing.

I flew out of Kathmandu airport - on one of the final security checks I was asked to empty my pockets. I had some amounts of Euro and Sterling (about 50 of each) and about 100 euro worth of Indian money. I had Indian money as I had been in India prior to Nepal and was returning for another week. When the security checker saw the Indian money began ranting and raving about it. I did check later what I had was well below what can be legally taken out. This guy wanted the lot - all 3 currencies - I asked for his supervisor which made him worse. I kept the Euro and Sterling but he pocketed the Indian money. I heard other similar stories of money being taken off left a bad feeling after what had been 4 great days

A quick update on KTM; the Thai-Star Alliance lounge has been significantly improved (purple "thai" design flat screen television sets sandwiches and vol-au-vent pastries departures are called) and while customs procedures upon departure still hover between the sublime and the absurd check-in has certainly become faster and more efficient.

I arrived from India so I found the airport an improvement on what I had seen previously. On arrival the staff were very helpful. However beware of corrupt security staff. They threatened to confiscate all the gifts I had bought in India unless I paid them. Fortunately a senior member of staff was nearby and must have sensed what was going on and let us through. They did confiscate my camera batteries though.

I was quite impressed with the airport. Many things were manual however airport staff were helpful and courteous. It was simple and easy to clear get the immigration clearance customs baggage claim and get out of the airport. Overall given the economic standard of the country the Kathmandu airport is a good airport!

Not a great airport really. Firstly long queues to pay your departure tax then long queues to check in. Ambiguous information at check in that you could not take cameras and video cameras in your hand luggage which turned out not to be true. Getting through immigration was not too bad but security queues were enormous. The only saving grace was there was a much shorter women only queue. Hand baggage was hand searched as well as scanned and one of my group was asked for baksheesh (bribe) to let her take toiletries on board. (she refused). After security there are just 2 departure lounges with no shops or cafes and uncomfortable seats and very smelly toilets. There were no departure boards and fuzzy announcements so it was difficult to know if it was your flight was going and everyone was asking everyone else! Nepal is lovely but Kathmandu airport is hard work.

Surely Christian Kracht is refering to a different airport! The airport at Kathmandu is anything but clean or efficient - one queues on entering to have baggage screened - then security taped - then humps bag to the departure tax window to pay - tip - dont go to the long check in queues for gulf air before doing this - they wont accept your checkin without the required receipt. After check in there is the dire immigration queue upstairs - takes about 15 mins each and god help you if you pass the red line before being called. Then the further x ray screening and full bag search - again god help you if you dont get a stamp on boarding card when they have pulled everything out of rucksack - then a dire waiting area with screwed down plastic chairs. Before final security check is a waiting area which has two duty free shops - a " hatch where one can buy tea coffee and a snack - this is an International Airport - and Toilets are dire!