Kolkata Airport

Not Verified | I arrived early in the morning from Singapore. I had trouble locating my suitcase at the baggage claim as someone had taken off a color identifying tag that was wrapped all around it. I had to wait for over an hour before noticing it as the last one left. The worst experience was at the security check. There were no lines and nobody to ask questions. It was a major struggle to find trays, but I finally managed. After waiting for a good 20 minutes, the personnel just closed the security booth. The passengers, including me, had to find another booth. The security personnel were downright obnoxious. It was a nightmare.

✅ Trip Verified | Kolkata Airport is a complete mess. The security process is unbearable, not due to long lines but because of utter disorganization and a total disregard for queues. The pushing and shoving in lines reflects a severe lack of discipline, contributing to an unnecessarily prolonged and chaotic experience.

✅ Trip Verified | This is a surprisingly filthy airport where the majority of the seats were dusty or stained. There are hardly any restaurants post security. Creates for a very poor travel experience

Not Verified | Rude behaviour from the security guard at the entrance. Travelling with my wife and daughter, a mixture of New Zealand and UK passport holders. The man could not speak English or Bengali and could not understand Qantas bookings or boarding passes (codeshare with Indigo) nor had no idea what an OCI for my wife was. Had difficulty reading the English names and then took out his frustration on my wife of Indian origin who kept saying ‘speak in English or Bengali only) and kept telling me in Hindi I presume to stop showing him my phone with two names in one booking (my daughter and myself). Then the worst most shameful behaviour was shouting at my wife’s cousin in Hindi and asking him to leave because he had no ticket and obviously had no confidence to stand up to this staff member. Airline staff could say or do nothing as they explained it was another jurisdiction. My wife finally had the last word by saying we have international passports this despite this man’s threat he could detain us for ‘time wasting’ he of course could not. This is not the first time we have seen such inefficient and jobs worthy behaviour from a domestic airport in india but today was the worst most unnecessary form of communication. Thankfully checkin, security and boarding staff were clear and polite with their communication and behaviour. I have no doubt if I had not been a white man, then my wife and her cousin would have received even worse conduct from this so called security official in a faux uniform. Please could these staff be trained in English, foreign passports, foreign name-reading and understanding code share or international airline boarding passes on a smart phone app before they are given such jobs - and how to behave with fellow human beings. Quite clearly he was biased against younger men and women of his own ethnicity.

Not Verified | Of the many airports that I use frequently, Kolkata Airport is one of the worst. Seating: many bus stations and railway stations today provide more comfortable seating. The seating area is very unclean. No cleaners are seen. Toilets very poor indeed. Today, 14th Nov, the temperature was terrible. I had the misfortune of many early morning onwards travels from Kolkata... today, I am fortunate there are better airline connections. Dread to spend night hours here.

✅ Trip Verified | Biggest airport of East India, can get AC bus from different area of Kolkata to Airport. Queuing was small, 5 min to enter and 10 min for security. Few eating options before security and multiple options after security with 2 food court. Not much shopping options but can get souvenir if need to buy. Clean toilet, just one smoking zone which is very small. Wifi for 45 min. Sufficient chairs near gates to wait.

Not Verified | This is the worst airport I have ever been to. I have travelled across so many countries from a number of airports but Kolkata airport has to be the worst of all. Starting from cleanliness to the processes, from security processes or their knowledge, the airline executive knowledge, the airport managers knowledge and their incompatibility to address issues or guide the passengers. This airport and the management is clearly deserving negative ratings if available. I definitely won't recommend this to anyone. Also would like to tell them that go and see how Mumbai airport has been performing and serving the passengers.

✅ Trip Verified | We arrived from Bagdogra on IndiGo GE534 arriving around 1755 and transferred to an Air India flight AI 023 bound for Delhi with the UK as ultimate destination, scheduled to depart at 2030. We had to collect bags and then book in again with Air India; this went without any issues. Air India book-in was operating very slowly until one member took it upon himself to call all Delhi passengers to one counter, which allowed bag drop to complete more quickly than normal. We were not advised to skip the visa check however and stood in a queue for 40 minutes until advised to move directly to security. Here the queue was horrendous and moving very slowly. We spent an hour in this queue. There were insufficient baggage scanning machines, the security personnel were oblivious to the problems of overcrowding; those close to missing their flights were barging to the front of the queue - in sum it was an utter shambles. The head of security made a fleeting visit, made no attempt to resolve the problem and left again. There was no coordination between airline staff trying to get their passengers through security and onto aircraft and the security detail, consequently several flights including our own were delayed. We are used to travelling through Indian airports and know security can be difficult, but this was not only being run very incompetently but there were also insufficient resources for the number of passengers due to catch flights.

✅ Trip Verified | I arrived at midnight on a flight from Hong Kong, with the plane docking at a jet bridge. The immigration lines were long and slow, but were being managed by minders. When I finally appeared at the officer's desk, my passport and visa in it underwent a long and silent scrutiny before they were stamped. A duty free shop selling mostly liquor and chocolates is located before exiting. There is a prepaid taxi office where you can pay and obtain a receipt for a taxi ride to your destination. Numbered taxis are lined up outside. There is also an Uber office to book a ride. The prepaid taxi office takes only cash. On departing Kolkata, I did not have a paper print out of my ticket. The guard at the entrance was extremely helpful asking if that was on my computer, smartphone, or tablet. She also pointed out a poster listing the phone numbers of the airlines that I could call for a representative to come to the entrance to let me in. I was able to pull my reservation on my laptop and show it to her. Check in with Qatar Airways was smooth. This was around 1 am in the morning. Security check was routine. The gift shop, Bishwa Bangla, that showcases local handicrafts, was closed. The lounge was closed for renovation and a sign directed guests to another facility. There was a bar with a small selection. A range of local dishes were available buffet style. Comfortable seats with electric power outlets. I used a toilet - it had water and tissue paper but the floor was wet and the fixtures were discolored. The flush worked. Boarding was smooth. Overall, the airport appears to have become busier with more late night flights and the various conveniences are just enough and basic. It serves its purpose.

The airport is of one of the poorest quality. On departure, the management of lines for baggage security is quite poor. Which metro city's airport does not have inline check-in baggage security? On arrival, the baggage seems to take ages to arrive. No airport takes so much time. I don't know if it's a staff issue or is it just a plain design issue. The toilets are not clean and definitely needs renovation.