Nantes Airport

✅ Trip Verified | Worst airport. Security control took away 3 “hard cheeses” claiming food cannot exceed 100g a piece. Also took away a climbing carabiner that I’ve traveled 50+ countries with. Never seen such ridiculous rules, implemented in the rudest way possible by the staff there. For a flight within the EU. Apart from that, airport is very old fashioned and not very clean.

✅ Trip Verified | Worst airport experience ever. We arrived 2.5 hours before departure and there was no check in or bag drop. Check in finally showed as opened (less than 2 hours before our flight) but we had to stand for over an hour in a confused crowd of hundreds of people as the three check in staff tried to first funnel through all passengers for a flight that left just 10 minutes before ours - without having separated the two flight queues or directing the two flight queues to separate desks. The result was chaos, queue jumping, confusion and bad tempers all round, including an extremely nasty check in lady screaming at passengers and insisting on measuring people's carry on handbags even as the situation around her descended into farce. We waited for an hour and 20 mins before we could finally drop off our bags (that were already checked in online!!!) before having to race through security and passport control, we didn't even have time to go to the toilet before having to board the plane. Security and gate staff were either stressed and rude, or oblivious and standing around chatting instead of helping. Security and gate staff were totally unaware of what passengers had been through in the check in hall - or maybe they simply didn't care. I saw one staff member at passport control scolding passengers for being late, the same passengers who had been stranded for hours trying to check their bags in. There wasn't a manager or supervisor in sight all morning. Everyone on our plane was upset, furious, or stressed, especially those travelling with young children. Other delights included no luggage trolleys in the drop off zone, broken vending machines and broken lifts and escalators - we helped one single parent carry their baby's buggy down two flights of stairs because none of the lifts worked and no staff wanted to help. Avoid this airport at all costs, it's a horrendous experience.

✅ Trip Verified | Feels old and outdated. Outside is chaotic, confusing on a first visit. Inside feels cramped and old, lighting (all artificial, barely any outside light entering in the areas before security. No matter, it's not meant for you to stay anyway, there are barely anywhere seat. The waiting area is really small, with low ceiling that would need a good cleaning. Finally some natural light, but not a view still. Only thing to see out the window is the large bridges with people disembarking. A place to go through, not to be enjoyed.

Not Verified |  Worst airport we have ever been to! Little seating, chaotic security for domestic flights and not even a cafe open!! Go via another route if you can.

Not Verified | Judging by the other reviews here I am not alone in my disappointment. In addition to everything others have mentioned I will add that I was flying with a well traveled backpack on which I had a 10cm long section of bike chain attached to it (impossible to take off without a chain tool or to cut the pack itself). Not even enough to put my fist through. It was used to pick up the pack and secure a lock to. I've traveled far and wide with this chain on the pack - even to the USA where Homeland Security is notorious for its scrutiny of such things. Well at Nantes at the security checkpoint they considered this small piece of bike chain to be able to be used as a weapon! They said I either needed to check the bag (EUR40) or cut it off. As the pack is not worth EUR40 I told them to cut it off - after giving them an honest, if not perhaps sarcastic, comment on how they operate their airport. After more than 20 years coming through this airport to vacation in and around the surrounding areas I am calling it quits. I will go elsewhere as all of my experiences over the years have added up to enough negativity that I no longer wish to spend my hard earned money in this region. Farewell!

✅ Trip Verified | I felt this is a sort of makeshift airport, a lot of missing and confusing information and works in progress, very, very limited seats, after I cleared security, which was quick, I felt I was on a war scene, with dozens and dozens of customers seating on the floor, some of them even playing cards or having snacks, seems they are used to this kind of situation. Gate is confusing the announcements in English are very poor and one can almost not understand anything, the only very positive thing from this airport is that public transport is free on weekends, both ways. Tip: local cafes serve the same quality cafe latte and snacks for half of the price if compared to international brands!

Not Verified | We had thought of a walking holiday but we got one free courtesy of this airport. After walking a long way to the departure portal, at the far end of the building, we had to walk another long way on the ground floor, up stairs and back along the same, but reverse route to get to security. The officers there were anything but friendly and it was obvious that they escalated their searches and arrogance if one responded with anything other than utter compliance. Not a smile or a 'please' or 'thank you' in sight. They all wore identity badges but would not allow me to inspect these. Utterly the worst goodbye I have ever had from anywhere. After more walking, we were directed down to the waiting area on the ground floor, which just happened to be adjacent to where we left our hold baggage. The signage is abysmal, amazing us that anyone got on the correct flight. Then more walking across the hardstanding and up yet more stairs to board the aircraft. Both my wife and I are over 80 years old and were completely exhausted by this pre-flight activity. We were so looking forward to using this airport - but found it abysmal, soulless even hostile.

✅ Trip Verified | An embarrassingly poor airport. The largest in Western France and a choice of six sandwiches and a couple of cakes from a buffet bar. The bread was frozen and the sandwiches were disgusting. Nothing else apart from a small duty free shop barely larger than a Proxi. With trains on strike, gilets jaunes blocking roads and this standard of service this is a country that knows how to take the mickey. As I am in the hospitality industry I reassure myself that this is the quality of the competition in France.

Not Verified | The worst experience ever. Very poorly organized and very poor quality. Lack of staff and lot of waiting. If you transfer remember that you have to go out and do the security check again which takes ages! Security are very grumpy and unfriendly. If anyone is planning to carry on a skateboard forget about it. Mine got confiscated due to the airport rules, even if I haven’t had any problem anywhere with this and I have been traveling with my skateboard for last 12 years. Avoid this airport!

What a shocker! So incredibly poorly organised. Little to no information. Understaffed with grumpy staff who are obviously resenting the fact they’re picking up the slack for non-existent colleagues. No efficiencies whatsoever - wouldn’t let the first bus leave gate 36 until the second one was full - so we had to stand around in a cramped bus. Really diabolical all round - avoid this airport at all costs if you can!