Munich Airport

I transited MUC last week in and out of Terminal 1. It is easy enough to find your way around and it is a far more pleasant airport to use than Frankfurt however there needs to be far more dining options once you pass through immigration. I was unable to find a decent cooked breakfast. I was told that the best options were below the airport in the Airport Centre shopping and dining area. This is of no use to passengers in transit and there are no signs or other indication that there are only very limited food options once through immigration. Finally the common user Atlantic Lounge had even less to offer than the terminal. I can recommend using MUC but only if you do not want a meal before your flight.

Transiting with Lufthansa when flying HKG-AMS and back. Both ways transit time was about 1.5 hours but this is plenty in Munich. Walking distances are short immigration and security check quick and efficient. Even though I was traveling with wife and child we had time for a short stop at the Lufthansa lounges. In my opinion one of the best airports in the world.

I just flew out of Terminal B at Munich and it was a pretty awful experience. The lay-out is shocking and clearly has not kept pace with increased traffic. I arrived to find a long line snaking right down the terminal waiting to through to passport control and security. It took 45 minutes of chaos to get through - there were no controls for the lines so lots of jostling pushing-in etc a recipe for passenger stress and frayed tempers. The security lines themselves were under a huge amount of pressure but were slow and under-staffed. Once through I found a very small terminal building with few shops one overwhelmed cafe (with you guessed it a long queue) and then one of those glass smoking areas that was leaking vile tobacco fumes across the whole building. I seem to remember Terminal A being rather good so this came as a real shock. I travel by air a good deal and this was as bad as I've experienced in Europe.

An efficient airport how ever there are still minor points to be improved. Security: I took off everything metal I had and the metal detector still sounded an alarm. Boarding is not efficient. They provide hot water for tea or coffee as well at newspapers at the gates. You have to pay a lot for cars if you are there to pick up people. No car rental in terminal 2 hence you have to walk the whole way to Terminal 1. The check in counter for HON and Senator guest is not always open especially when it is cold outside or even not.

As a first time user of this airport I was very impressed. International departure was a breeze. Once off the train from the city I was checked in and through security within 10 minutes. The departure area is what every airport should be. Quiet calming spacious with an excellent variety of shops and restaurants which are not right in your face (Sydney take note). I would rank this airport up there with Singapore's Changi which I have used frequently.

Better than Frankfurt airport. Easy to transfer terminals but if you have to get to Gate B in Terminal 1 from Terminal 2 you have to exit via passport control and check in which is strange for connecting flights. Because there is no one to provide guidance we did a couple of loops through Terminal 1 via 3 security checks trying to find Gate B08. If you want assistance and get someone to direct you personally the Meet and Assist service costs 90 euro for one person. In contrast when transferring in Changi and HK international airports officials are waiting when you exit then plane to provide directions and guidance despite the late or early hours of the day/night.

Munich airport was modern efficient uncrowded and with possibly the best selection of shopping and catering outlets of any European airport I have been to. It even has its own micro brewery with beer garden a large well stocked supermarket and for December an ice rink and Christmas market! Security was thorough but fast and friendly and public transport links excellent and good value. Possibly the most enjoyable trip through any airport I can recall.

The airport is nice and efficient except the handling of the luggage. If you are not one of the lucky ones expect at least one hour to wait for the luggage to arrive. It is surprising as all the other procedures (immigration security etc.) tend to be quite fast.

DXB-MRU with Emirates. Quick connection with the public transport system from Munich. Efficient service at economy check-in but you have to separate suitcases from golf-equipment which has to be checked as bulky luggage. Security checks are very detailed and take a long time. Waiting area in Terminal 1 is average shops are closing at 9:30 pm at least one hour before the last plane leaves! Mens toilets are located at the lower level. That's not a 2-star airport!

I think this is a great airport and the nicest in Germany. One thing however is beyond me: why would they have passengers who just disembarked a flight go through security screening again directly after having disembarked from the plane and the bus that took them from that plane to the terminal? If all went well such passengers should be clean as they boarded the flight they were arriving from in the first place? Whilst making a remark to staff I just got the answer: "talk to my superior if you don't like it".