Nairobi Airport

I've used JKIA on several occasions to and from European and American destinations. It is certainly well below par by international hub standards and about average as far as African airports go. The building layout from entrance to the gates is strange flyers are squeezed into a donut style waiting area which combines seating gates and duty free shops. There is no wifi. On the plus I've found the staff to be helpful particularly the baggage lost department who dealt with my missing luggage efficiently. I've also never experienced long queues or delays. Look out for the non-descript forex booth which will change your money at excellent rates a welcome find in an international hub.

Our recent experience of this airport was nothing short of horrendous. Having arrived in plenty of time the queue to enter was 100 yards long with only one x-ray machine in operation. By the time we got through check-in and immigration we had waited in queues for over 2 hrs and had lost the will to live. The bad tasting icing on the cake were the 3 flights of stairs up to the Kenya Airways Business Class Lounge after we had negotiated our way past numerous sleeping bodies all over the floor. All in all an awful experience from start to finish.

As African airports go its not bad at all I wouldn't spend hours there though without going to the lounge and paying that bit extra. Duty Free is not worth the effort staff are friendly if you take the time to greet them just remember not all of them speak English. If you need help speak to a Tradewinds employee.

For an international hub this is a poor example of what can be done. It features cramped spaces and inadequate seating. The washrooms are located up flights of stairs not helpful for disabled passengers. There are few overpriced food outlets. There are no full restaurant facilities for transit and departing passengers just a pair of snack bars. The airport features expensive and shabby duty free shops staffed mainly by bored assistants selling mainly the same items.

One of the worst international hub airports in the world and I travel at least twice a month worldwide. Staff completely uninterested and uninformed very cramped spaces filthy smelly toilets very few and overpriced food outlets and very expensive and shabby duty free shops. Business class lounges are the worst I have encountered.

Truly a nightmare experience. I've had the misfortune to spend hours there in 2006 and 2011. Inadequate seating; dingy lighting; dreadful shops staffed by bored assistants; over proliferation of officials who appear to do nothing but chat with each other; pointless excess of X ray machines; just 2 cafes with excruciatingly slow service. You get the picture truly dire. I've been to many airports all over the world why is Kenya so dire? From your first moments queuing for a $50 visa to your last stumbling in a line to get on the airline.

I have just had a 6-hour wait in transit at this airport and was glad I did not read the earlier comments in advance! I did not find it that bad. Concerning seating there were rows and rows of chairs up near the cafeteria at Gate 14 and they were mostly empty. The cafeteria was fine it sells a good choice of hot food as well as cold (somebody said there was no hot food) and all kinds of drinks soft alcoholic and hot - the only problem was that it is hard to get a seat there as people just stay there they do not move away when they have finished eating. I guess I was lucky as my flights left on time on both outward and return journeys otherwise I might have had more problems. Anyway there is a brand new terminal under construction so things should improve.

This is a disappointing airport given that it is a key transportation hub for eastern Africa. I had flights from here to Kigali Cairo and Mobassa. On my Kigali flight the the luggage belts were not functioning so for the first time at any of the airports I have ever flown from I was asked to place my own luggage on to the main luggage belt that was the only one functioning. This airport lacks proper seating for passengers unless you like sitting on the floor. The tiny washrooms are located up a flight of stairs - very helpful for disabled passengers - during my visit only one of the two toilets was functioning. They do have several good bookstores where you can pick up books - unfortunately because they have frequent power outages here you may not be able to read them. There are several good cafes serving coffee which will at least allow you to sit down. Public WiFi is available. Strangely if you arrive in Nairobi you will often pass through the immigration area more quickly if you need to buy a visa then if you have a visa already. Airport lounge does accept Priority Pass cards and provides a place to relax if you end up waiting for delayed flights or are waiting for flights.

This airport is far too small for the number of passengers there is very little air conditioning the shops all sell the same stuff so really there is only one shop in effect and it is impossible to buy hot food anywhere. The staff are mostly fairly unhelpful and the toilets are a disgrace. We had a long wait here on our way back from Tanzania and I would recommend avoiding it at all costs.

Had the misfortune to have to spend 12 hours at this airport from 1300 on 23/12/09 to 01:00 on 24/12/09 due to a missed connection. There is a dire lack of facilities. Duty free shopping is OK if you are only there for an hour or so - some competitive deals on spirits - but too many shops selling the same type of item. The main problem is the lack of comfortable seating for passengers with a long stay in the terminal. No restaurant facilities just a bar and a snack bar both overcrowded. Discovered that you can pay $20 for 3 hours ( negotiate if you need longer) access to a first class lounge with comfortable seating drinks and snacks located near Gate 6. I would recommend this option!