Keflavik Airport

We approached Keflavik International Airport as we landed Icelandair cabin crew announced for the first and only time that all arriving passengers must go through security screening before immigration and checked baggage pickup. We had all gone through airport security before boarding this overnight flight in Toronto but no matter. Do it again before entering the country. No liquids allowed. None of the other prohibited things either. So we exited the aircraft stomped down two flights of metal stairs and lined up in a cold hallway for 25 minutes slowly moving forward before even getting to the back-and-forth cattle pens in front of the scanners for another 20 minutes. Our flight crew walked past smiling at us. Carry-on bags and all other personal items into the bins and thru the x-ray scanner then walk through the metal detector to meet the guy with the hand wand device you know the routine. But why? We were not connecting we were staying in-country. When I asked why this incoming security the first response was 'I don't know. We are told to do it.' I have landed in London Paris Lisbon Madrid Frankfurt and Rome and never been subjected to this type of incoming security. The screening of incoming passengers convinced me this would be the first last and only time I ever visit Iceland. I attended my conference and left with the normal exit security. Our Icelandair flight boarded from Gate 25 which contained three (3) seats and a pale strip-wood floor on which most people sat. Keflavik touts itself as the best airport in Europe. Best at what is not stated certainly not hospitality to arriving visitors. However not only is there duty free shopping at the departure area of the terminal but also at arrivals - probably so you can restock what you had to throw out at incoming security.

Arrived and departed mid morning with very few annoyances. It is rather a long walk to/from non-Schengen flights but apart from that it was a good experience: no queues for passport checks or security efficient staff reasonable selection of shops and cafes plenty of seating. The bus into Reykjavik is fairly expensive but it is a 45 minute journey and it runs efficiently. Iceland is a great place to visit and I felt Keflavik serves it well.

Keflavik is a poor medium sized airport. Our flight landed on time during a blizzard (runway fine) but the simplest thing attaching a jetway took 1 hour. Baggage took another 30 mins waiting which was unacceptable. On departing check in only opened 2 hours before which needs to be changed to 03.30. Check in was acceptable in speed and queuing. However security docent open until 05:00 which I think is doing the airport harm as 4 flights leave at the same time with barely little shopping time. Boarding was OK and the flight left on time. I am not recommending this airport due to poor arrival and the need to open things a little earlier. Arrived 16/2/15 Departed 20/2/15 Travelled with WOW.

Came in at 10.30 pm from Paris with a 10.5 hour layover to NY. Had to get bags and go through customs no one was there so you just walk through (why bother?). Once through customs you are now outside and have to recheck in to get back in to departure area where it is nice. However check in closes at night and they will not let you check in more than 2.5 hrs before flight. So now you are stuck in a closed up building with 6 chairs and the floor with 100+ other people waiting and sleeping everywhere. No wait a minute they have signs saying no Sleeping/Camping or Cooking on the property with security to make sure! No one working at the airport seemed to have any answers or even care. It was a blessing to have the Coffee shop open early in the morning. The trip to Paris we came through this airport and it was a good experience in departure area with an 1.5 layover we were excited to be going back with a long layover to be able to see what Iceland had to offer for a possible future trip there. We felt more like cattle than Human! This was buy far the worst travel experience my wife and I have ever had. Lessons learned 1) Will never go to this airport or Iceland again. 2) Will not Fly Icelandair again. 3) No more long lay overs at any airports in any countries.

Was quiet when I landed security cleared 150 people within 20 min. Bathrooms were excellent seating limited and am thankful that my flight was the only one boarding as I can see how 2 in the same area could be really confusing for people trying to line up.

LGW-KEF return with WOW Air. A good arrival experience modern clean looking airport with minimum walk times extremely quiet and empty with baggage offloaded very quickly. Easy connections to downtown Reykjavik. On departure: crowded check-in but queues moved relatively quickly. However security queue moved slowly staff not consistent in asking passengers to remove boots and snow shoes causing hold-ups. Plenty of shops and cafes and again a very quiet time at the airport. Seating areas at the gates very limited and cramped. Impressed with the airport minor improvements needed but would use again.

Keflavik sells itself on being the small airport with big connections. It's certainly that. All flights are scheduled to arrive/depart same time in order to minimise wait times which is good but means long queues at security taciturn and quite frankly rude staff. Restaurants are full to bursting long queues (Icelandair - main carrier charges for meals so most people buy at the airport). There is a very confusing passport control system dead ends poor signage and lack of toilets. Gate area is a kind of rabbit warren on stilts with corridors the size of a school hallway; it's hard to know where to go. Being Iceland it's organised chaos so nothing actually goes wrong just that you will feel your blood boil and stress levels will go off the scale - just what you want as you settle in to your long haul flight.

The terminal handling flights to the U.S. was just plain chaotic when I was there last week. The terminal seems too small to accommodate the 3 flights that were boarding simultaneously. There were not enough chairs and most people were either standing or sitting on the floor. The lines for flights to JFK and Dulles taking off from adjacent gates were indistinguishable. A third flight to the U.S. was scheduled to take off at the same time as the flight to JFK further pressing the capacity of the terminal. It took a long time for agents to check each ticket and as a result boarding was very slow.

Horrible - so crowded and uncomfortable. No ports to plug in devices. One of the worst airports.

Just came back from a trip Toronto - Copenhagen on Icelandair. Unfortunately there was a stop over in Keflavik. One thing is that the airport is being renovated but it could at least have chairs and washrooms available for travelers staff could be reasonably polite. We liked to fly Icelandair but Keflavik was so bad that we never want to stop there again.