Kolkata Airport

As we arrived at the main entrance we were pointed in the direction of a totally isolated baggage scanning machine. After the bags had passed through the scanner a small sticky label was placed on the padlocks. We were not required to have hand luggage scanned at this point. We then had a walk of some 50-60 metres to our airline check-in desk. The label on my suitcase was so badly attached to the padlock that it would have been the easiest thing in the world to have opened the zip and slid a 'device' from my hand luggage into the suitcase. Facilities in the departure lounge were abysmal. We only saw two fast food outlets which offered very basic menus. One of them did offer limited alcoholic beverages. There were at most seven small shops offering goods of dubious quality. The toilet facilities were, at best, poor and at worst, disgusting. In the ladies toilets, one was chocked and overflowing and in another two there was no toilet paper available. I would suggest that the personnel in charge of toilets take a trip to Abu Dhabi or Singapore or Kuala Lumpur and see how they should be run. All in all a thoroughly depressing end to our stay in Kolkata

Although Kolkata now has a modern international terminal, there's no easy and friendly way one can transfer from one international flight to another. We arrived via Air India's international flight from DAC at 22.30 and needed to connect to Qatar Airways flight to DOH leaving at 03.05am the following morning. This is how it works at Kolkata's so called Transfer Desk: Air India staff, the ground handler at this airport, will collect the details and ask you to provide your passports and then they'll go to the other airline's (in our case Qatar Airways) check-in counter to verify your details and help obtain the boarding pass for the onward flight. They will alert you that this can take up to an hour. We refused to give our passports so the staff accommodated by taking pictures of our passport page showing pertinent details. Once the staff leaves, you're at the mercy of sitting on uncomfortable chairs and endless mosquito bites. In our case, we had to wait for over two hours for Qatar Airways to issue the boarding pass and have another Air India staff member bring them to us. Then wait for a Customs and Immigration Security Force (CISF) staff member to show up to escort you. In our case we only had to wait a further 20 minutes. The CISF escorted us upstairs to the departure level for screening and security check to allow entrance to Departure Level. The whole transit process would have taken maximum 20-30 minutes at BKK or HKG. I have gone through the same process at BOM taking about 45 minutes. They have a very modern international terminal but haven't figured out customer friendly transit process.

I had a connecting flight with Air Asia to Melbourne from Kolkata. Customs and security check was wonderful but the sad part was the cleanliness of the washrooms. They smelt so bad and the condition was horrible with no toilet paper and a wet floor. Airport authorities need to be stricter, when so many international flights depart from Kolkata it's our duty being Indian to welcome our international passangers and provide them with a nice atmosphere.

This airport is a perfect example that good design does not improve any services provided. Customer service is non existent, even the private airline staff are lax and not helpful. The airport still does not have effective communication systems, the baggage handling is not slow but sloth. If you are travelling through this airport please have an extra two hours in hand.

Medium-sized airport with good design sensibilities. Fairly straightforward and efficient, with a small but nice food court. Could do with more shopping and charging points. Despite being recently renovated, the airport does not offer in-line baggage screening, meaning that flyers have to get their check-in baggage x-rayed before actually checking in. Extremely outdated and irritated practice that reflects poor management and planning. Still, a very pleasant airport to use.

Arrived in Kolkata on IndiGo from New Delhi. The terminal has an airy feel which enhances customer experience. The baggage claim area is huge. Booking ground transportation was also very easy. The arrival experience was as smooth as it could be. During departure, you have to get your bags screened before they process you at the airline counter. I had arrived 3 hours early for my flight, and I was told that they won't accept my check-in bags until 2 hours are left for the flight. Their explanation was that bags can got lost if they are checked in more than 2 hours before flight. This reflects poorly upon the baggage handling procedure at Kolkata Airport. I have flown IndiGo from other airports, and no other airport has this 2 hour requirement. Once you clear security, there are a variety of really good dining options available. There is wifi at the airport, but it is free for a very limited time.

I often fly out of this airport as Kolkata happens to be my hometown. Have witnessed the amazing change of this Airport after the initiation of the new Terminal. This new terminal is very spacious which is quite tastefully designed keeping in mind the Bengali Culture. Queuing time is optimal, security is also adequate. Lots of chairs to sit around. The only thing that is perhaps lacking is the number of branded shops after the check in area.

Been through this airport thrice in the past 12 months, each time arriving from Bangkok. My three experiences have been largely positive except where immigration is concerned. As a foreign national I had to fill in an immigration form. On all three flights from Bangkok, using two different airlines, when I asked aboard the flight prior to landing in Kolkata, for an immigration form, I was told that the airline is not given any by the immigration authorities. Okay. Very strange, but ok. However, on all three occasions there were no forms at immigration itself. Just 6 tables, no forms to fill in and no pens either. Was told to ask the immigration officer. Stood in line. My turn came and officer said he has no forms and to go and ask the immigration office staff for one. Went inside immigration office where four officers are sitting chatting away and drinking coffee. I said there are no forms. Each officer looked at the other and expectedbe filled out. I was given a form. I asked for one more. Officer said no no, only one form per person. (My reason for asking for a spare was that next time I fly into Kolkata from Bangkok I would not have to go through this rigmarole again.) Some interesting logic is used by Indian immigration. Indians re-entering the country (arrivals) do not have to fill in an immigration form; foreigners do. Foreigners leaving India do not have to fill an immigration form (departure); Indians do. No idea why.

This is now much-improved, quiet, and spacious. The security is one-step unlike the old airport, although they still are very particular about stamps on each piece of luggage. Some more food outlets at intl departure would help, especially in a city with such a wealth and variety of food. The bookshop in the international departure area gives an inkling of the great intellectual traditions the city boasts, with some serious literary stuff sharing space with the usual bestsellers you see in most other places. The sofas and local a/s systems past the immigration were great, and really comfortable to lounge and read in

While it is a new airport, we found there to be a lack of facilities (particularly in the international part). When we arrived we needed to withdraw some rupees to then use the prepaid taxi service. However, the only ATM within the building was not working and tickets for the taxi could only be purchased inside - fortunately we had some other money to exchange but it was a little frustrating nonetheless. There is free WiFi provided you can receive text messages (with a code to enter). The building itself is new and modern and quite spacious though there are not many different shops or eateries. While in Delhi we found that they didn't check our bags for the security stamp, they were very diligent in checking every single item of hand baggage and tickets for the security stamp (or receipts of items purchased once through security) which slowed boarding a little.