Tbilisi Airport

Tbilisi is a basic airport but very different from what I've used in other countries. Wi-Fi isn't reliable and no separate smoking areas which is an issue as almost everyone smokes in Georgia. Even at the few dine in options people are smoking while we were getting something to eat. Travellers strewn across the airports in the morning with less amenities to be comfortable and duty free personal were rude to us. Lovely country but so much potential to be much better. We had a nice trip though.

✅ Verified Review | Be wary of your time at the airport as immigration officers require the paper form of your boarding pass thus, online check in would not work, allow ample time to arrive at the airport - at least 2hrs prior to your flight departure time. Airport is not busy but immigration officers somehow were not able to find my flight to Al Maktoum DWC today which is strange. Overall not a satisfying airport experience at all, the lift was not working so coming down with your luggage was a pain.

This is a small but functional airport. Like many non-western airports, it has security at the very entrance (and regular security before passport control). The main problem I had with it is that smoking is allowed in the main departures lounge. The whole space stinks and there is no way of finding fresh non polluted air.

A beautifully designed and clean airport. Hot water in toilets plenty of shops lots of immigration counters as well as seating around the terminal. There is even a place to sleep an artificial "lawn" behind the artificial waterfall and the palms. Kind staff with a few exceptions. Wi-Fi works without any nerves-wrecking agreements and security checks as seen at many airports you just connect to it and that's it. Train departs only twice a day (08.00 and 19.00 local time) but there is a cheap bus in front of the terminal. All in all a great experience.

New Terminal is nice. Upon arrival immigration officer stamped me in quickly and gave me a smile and welcome. Bags came off quickly (arrived from Istanbul) and numerous ATM's in arrivals to get some local currency. Departure was early - 5am so was at airport at 3am. Busy as 3-5 flights were coming and going at that time but immigration was quick. Used the Business lounge as I'm Star Gold - clean and lots of snacks and drinks. Gate area had plenty of seats - boarded at jetbridge.

Arrived on 16th September with Alitalia and flew to Rome on 7th October. Big downside is that most flights of the big airlines leave in the middle of the night. My flight arrived at 4.10am and left at 5am. All these flights were leaving around the same time causing some queuing at the entrance. Overall the terminal was very new and clean but when I left I found the toilets were very dirty! Facilities are ok. I did consider going to the "lounge" but I found 35 euros a bit pricey especially as it was in the middle of the night and I was not going to eat to much. I was also flying on a domestic flight to Mestia but it was cancelled because of the bad weather in the mountains. This was only announced through the PA half an hour before the flight. Not really the mistake of the airport but still it was not such a positive experience. Overall: a good airport does the job!

Wow big improvements since 2003 (see first posting of mine at the bottom of the page). The terminal is bright clean and best of all efficiently run. Now airbridges lead directly into the terminal. Queues are short at immigration and in my case baggage was very quick. Taxi drivers have been thrown out into the cold so you can wait at arrivals without being hassled. For departures check-in is smooth silly customs procedures have been done away with staff levels of English are good and smiling officials wish you a merry journey. The only negatives are still a lack of seating in departures and the still early time slots the airlines enter and leave. But a big well done to the Georgian government and keep up the improvements.

Tbilisi is a small airport with only three aerobridges. Arrival customs efficient enough but had to wait over 30 minutes for bags to come out. I arrived late in the evening (and departed very early in the morning) so I was not able to make use of the (newish) railway connection into the city. I arranged for airport-hotel transfer (expensive at 25 euros each way!) and thus avoided the waiting taxi drivers. Departure check-in was reasonably efficient but there was only one X-ray machine which slowed things considerably. Air-side there were a few shops and eateries that were open at 4.00am.

The airport is OK and easy to use. Fast entry procedures. ATMs work OK. However the taxi driver mob outside is a bit irritating. Airport rail terminal modern and staff very helpful. However few trains operate and the city arrivals platform at the central station is dark and uninviting at early hours.

There was so much cigarette smoke pollution in the departure lounge it was impossible to escape the smoke. I ended up with an asthma attack which didn't leave off during the whole flight and I continue to suffer with difficult breathing three days later. The fact that there were no windows and no air movement only exacerbated the situation. I tried to find someone who could find me another less uncomfortable place to sit but no-one understood English well enough to help me.