Phuket Airport

No doubt the worst new airport in the world. Endless queuing to get in, at check in, to go through immigration, to go through security. Totally understaffed. We needed 3 hours from arrival to the gate and we had priority check in. Count at least 4 hours. Planes are systematically delayed because passengers are all blocked in the new wonderul luxury airport. What a mess!

✅ Verified Review | After having read all negative reviews related to the new Phuket international Airport, I would like to break a lance in favor of this stylish terminal. My personal experience with this airport is positive. Nevertheless, my this experience refers to a business class trip with an in-advance booked transportation to and from the hotel; therefore, I can not judge, if for economy class travelers, other experiences can be made. I travel quite a lot and as consequence of this, I really do not bear queues. Arriving at the Phuket International terminal is comfortable: clear signs let the passenger quickly reach the immigration area, where in spite of the missing of a fast track lane for business class travelers, I just waited for about 15 min before absolving all formalities related to immigration. A quick walk to the baggage claim area, and my luggage was already there waiting for me. At this point I just had to walk few more steps to reach the taxi area, where I found a representative of the hotel waiting for me. The departing experience was even more comfortable, because I could profit of the fast track lane at immigration and boarding with zero waiting time. Boarding started on time. As nice frame rounding the service, I would like to mention the architecture of the airport that I like.

Very long queues. Both arrival and departure. Departure was critical. It was a Saturday morning, and two huge queues to go through security to enter the terminal. Same again after, for passport control. Ensure you come more than 2 hours before your flight, whatever the destination.

✅ Verified Review | Arrivals was good fast and efficient. Departures was absolute appalling and only one check in desk for Business Class passengers which was also the only desk for Frequent flyers to use as well, thus causing absolute chaos and the Ground staff used by MH (Thai Airways staff) were more important than the fare paying passengers. The lines outside the Terminal were long but remember do not arrive too early as the Ground staff will let everyone queue and then make up their own mind which flights they want to check in despite the departure boards showing your flight number and saying proceed to check in desk F-G. After standing in line for 50 minutes I was told to come back later as they were not checking my flight in for another 10 minutes. Unfortunately the man on the desk had printed and given me my boarding passes so I wasn't moving, thus total chaos again with a real jobsworth from the Thai Airways staff telling me to come back later and queue again they can not send the luggage down the belts for "security reasons." This did not have a positive start to my Journey but all my luggage arrived at Heathrow. As for the First class Coral lounge what a waste of space, you shouldn't have bothered at all. For a new airport it is shocking and I for one will never return.

Phuket Airport has incredibly slow immigration queues with staff that make no effort to speed up the process. Queues even to get through security in to the airport. Very badly organised at all stages. Plan for it to take 3 hours to get from checkin to boarding. Or just avoid the place and save yourself the pain.

We arrived 2 hours before our flight to Singapore. It took us nearly 30 minutes to just get into the terminal building as they do a security check on your bag before you even get in, not something I've experienced at any airport in my life. So you're already late and in a bad mood, only to be followed by absolute carnage at passport checks. At the same time as our flight was also another Singapore flight, a flight to China, and 3 large B777. (Qatar, Etihad and Thai). They simply could not handle the volume of people. It took us over an hour and a half to get through passport control, they only seemed to have half the desks manned. Once through, only then do you go through security where it seems they stopped every bag for extensive searches. By this point we were now late for our flight that was at final call, so we had no time to get a drink or food or even use the toilet. Management needs to do something quick, for all the money they spent in upgrading it to look modern, what's the point if it's completely dis-organised and no one has any time to enjoy it! Terrible.

I have passed through departures at Phuket Airport twice this year and on both occasions been required to open my hold baggage to show staff the aerosols carried. Hairspray is ok but my can of fly spray was removed. It may assist to have all cans where they can easily be reached and shown to staff. I do agree that the queue for the X-ray machine seemed long but a further problem was the difficulty in lifting my 20k weight suitcase on to the waist-height table to be X rayed. Not easy when you are 71 and have a back problem. Security staff managed both smiles and empathy.

✅ Verified Review | Phuket is the worst airport I have experienced. Waiting for 2.5 hours to pass the passport controls. Very bad organisation. Lots of Chinese groups passing everybody and going straight to passport control without waiting. There is no signage or staff to facilitate your arrival. It'seems a big shame for Phuket and Thailand.

✅ Verified Review | It would be charitable to say that the organisation of Phuket airport resembles people having difficulty organising a two-ticket raffle because that would imply that at least they had a plan. Even the staff on check-in admitted the whole place was disorganised. Currently waiting for a flight to BKK that is 30 mins late and had the gate changed to one that needs bus transport. Many people won't realise that because there are very few departure boards in the terminal. If the airport authorities don't get someone in quick to look at the airport and start to remedy the 1,342 faults that a proper survey of processes, sanitation, safety and operations will find, they will find Phuket's reputation as a destination irreparably damaged. Loos that don't take paper, a food court missing 70% of its suspended floor area and continual chaos that would embarrass many developing countries.

✅ Verified Review | I am led to believe that Phuket is a relatively new airport and it seems there is still spaces left for more eating areas before you go through passport control. We were unfortunately in that some official directed us (and others) to the wrong queue and therefore we didn't have time to shop once we had got through passport control. The line there took forever (why don't they have more officers in passport control beats me). Consequently, we only just got to the gate in time. Overall, the airport is light and airy and the facilities were nice and clean. A little more seating would be good as you can only check in 2 hours before take off which adds to the standing around.