Keflavik Airport

Not Verified | Iceland is a wonderful country but the airport is sheer madness. It was built small for a different time, but is now overcrowded, poorly staffed, and very uncomfortable. Long lines at duty-free purchases with only one harried woman working, being asked to wrap gifts, etc. There’s no place to sit and nowhere to escape hectic crowds. Boarding was a joke. The gates are shared and the space is tiny. No one knew which lines to get in, so we stood for over half an hour while nothing moved. There are lots of security who know nothing about the airport so it’s pointless to ask. Obviously they need a larger airport as Iceland is not only a hub, but also a tourist destination. Hot and crowded with too little staff to answer questions once you move beyond security.

Not Verified | This place is the worst organized airport I’ve ever been to. It’s consistently making you go upstairs and downstairs. You start at check in which in itself is oddly confusing for a simple task. You got up for security, down for something else, back up again, then back down. If you have an international flight, you got back down AGAIN and then back up to go on the plane. It’s very frustrating, it’s hard to find anyone around to help you, and I was even yelled at by a staff member. (I was worst organized airportnot doing anything wrong, I accidentally entered the wrong line.)

Not Verified | This airport is complete chaos. The signage is not clear at all. So they have one large check-in for all airlines. However, there is a check in that is in fact a bag drop off (don't be fooled when it says check-in). No one is there to help or redirect prior to you entering the line. If you prepaid for your checked in bag, you're doing okay. If you haven't, your nightmare begins. The kiosk won't let you pay and check in a bag. So after going through one line, I was redirected to the kiosk, which couldn't help. Then the staff pointed me to the check in to pay for bags. Got through the line and the woman told me she couldn't help me (despite it being icelandair) as there is a special check in for Canadians. It is one thing to get sent to the wrong line once, but three times. The check-in is electronic and then you have security, followed by another set of security. Suggestion: give yourself plenty of time to navigate the chaos. Everyone was feeling it.

✅ Trip Verified | Baggage drop off nightmare! Having checked-in online the day before my flight, I expected to turn up at Keflavik Airport (2.5 hours before my flight was due to leave) with plenty of time to drop off my luggage and make it through security. However I hadn't factored in the total lack of staff, lack of signage, lack of functioning self-service luggage tag printers and self-service baggage drop off points and overall completely unnecessary chaos that is Keflavik airport. I had a wonderful time in Iceland but next time I will seriously consider going by boat!

Not Verified | There is no excuse for the level of chaos, confusion, and disorder that exists at KEF departure gates. On multiple trips through here, the experience is always the same. Rotten. You have multiple international flights departing minutes from each other, from gates merely feet apart, no way to separate the queues, and no airline staff, signage, or physical barriers to provide direction. Close to 1,000 people jammed together in a milling herd, with the same questions being asked over and over, "Which line is this? Is this line for flight XYZ? Where are we supposed to be?" The clock ticks on, and flights are delayed and missed because of the confusion. This is totally inexcusable. It's not like comfortable, efficient, smooth running international airports don't exist. Well, apparently at KEF, they don't. The KEF airport authority really needs to take an in-depth and honest look at their operations, and make improvements as needed to passenger flow and movement.

✅ Trip Verified | Some staff members were quite condescending - we are not used to travel by air, so a little more service attitude would have been really nice. Rest okay.

✅ Trip Verified | The airport is small compared to many others, so there is not any long walks. It's quite easy to get around, the signs lead you where you are going. Some restaurants and shops. Big plus for me is that you can find your flight on their website and ask for status, and choose that you get messages about your flight in messenger, which was really nice - no need to find your info on the screens, you just get a message with your gate number and another message when it is time to go to gate - no need to download any app or anything. When you arrive at the gate and don't want any more updates, you just put them easily to stop.

Not Verified | Departure was overcrowded and not organised. People did not know that had to use automatic check in so everyone was sent back and the crowd moved in all directions. No help with self check in. When checked in we were sent to yet another queue, then the one on the board - once through security check things got a bit calmer. I have the impression most flights all take off at the same time early in the morning…

✅ Trip Verified | easyJet staff was completely unfriendly and unhelpful. We arrived 40 minutes before the check in was closed, as it was the earliest time we could arrive to the airport because of the transport. After being 40 minutes waiting in the line, no one called for our flight, so at some point I went to ask about our check in time and the staff told me "Oh, unfortunately we've just closed the gate". He did not move a finger to help us. If we had been late I would have shut up, but we were there on time and we were still able to take that flight if the staff had been active and helpful. The boarding gate was still opened and the suitcases were down (he said) but no in the plane. We've lost our second flight in London, so apart from arriving super late to our destination missing one day of work my parents, and me universitiy we had to spend a lot of money on the new two tickets for each of one of us. I'm very used to taking flights, but this never happened to me. I really feel furious for having this kind of passive attitude from the side of the staff who's supposed to be helping customers. You can't imagine how these consequences affect us both personally and economically. If I had been late, I would have taken the responsibility, so I really hope you take responsibility for this and do your job with all the customers you are attending in your future.

Not Verified | Even though airport staff were friendly and helpful, our experience at Keflavik was far below our expectations. The whole facility appeared overcrowded, disorganized and not very clean. Seating facilities were scarce, Our meal at the food court was a disaster and also overprized.