Tenerife Airport

✅ Trip Verified | Tenerife South Airport is the most stressful airport to arrive or depart from. The security queues are beyond ridiculous. Expect to stand for hours with no consideration for the elderly, children or those who would find it painful to stand for long periods of time. Either this country really doesn’t want tourism (which is one of its main forms of income, so would be a stupid idea ) or the airport itself is run by idiots. Note to anyone departing: The minute you know what area (A,B or C) you should be - head there immediately and join the queues (especially on a Friday). As someone that owns an apartment in Tenerife, I travel to this airport regularly but it has put my elderly parents off from coming and it upsets me that because of your lack of care, assistance and bad management they are missing out on enjoying some much needed winter sun. Come on “who ever is in charge” - sort out the problem at security!

Not Verified | I had an awful experience with the security staff. I was pulled aside after going through the scanner. I had already removed everything from my pockets, jewellery, watch etc and this had been scanned. I understand this is normal procedure and some people get asked extra questions. But I struggle to believe how this proceeded was normal. I was not told anything but instead had to wait to the side of the scanner and not able to proceed. Security staff would not talk or even look at me. 15 minutes passed and my friends who had progressed were waiting and concerned. One, who is a native Spanish speaker tried to approach but was ordered not to approach I thought a bit forcefully. After another few minutes a different security staff member tried to reassure me and said I was being selected for a random search and would be taken to a different location for a search. They tried to make a joke out of it but I was not happy and quite anxious. After a few more moments they pointed to three bags and said "these are yours?". These were not my bags. I was then told to go to a different carousel. The security staff at this counter was far ruder and barked orders at me. She advised my bags had been scanned and due to the scan they needed to be searched. They presented three bags, but these were also not my bags! They then asked me to go to my friends who were with my bags, bring them back and then they'd be searched. I complied and the whole bag was opened on the counters to be searched and swabbed. They said I would also need to remove my belt for it to be swabbed - but I wasn't even wearing a belt as I had already removed it for the scanner! After this they swabbed the waist of my trousers after processing the results allowed me to proceed. I was very agitated by this. I did nothing wrong but was treated like a criminal. I was told conflicting information including this being a personale / strip search, a random search, then it being a search because of my bag, was asked about 6 different bags that weren't mine (and I didn't see their owners being searched). I don't understand the logic. Nothing was explained to me. The whole process was very unpleasant

Not Verified | From going into departures the man at check in never spoke and did not ask any security questions, not sociable at all. Did not stop there, also in E Gates they were talking to people aggressively who were having difficulty using the new system. Not going on holiday for that.

✅ Trip Verified | It’s been years since I last visited Tenerife, and as a family that travels frequently, we’ve experienced airports both big and small. Tenerife South, however, ranks as the most grim and awful airport we’ve ever encountered. Every single staff member—from check-in and shop assistants to passport control and duty-free employees—was astonishingly rude and unhelpful. We attempted to reclaim tax on some expensive purchases made in Tenerife, but were sent back and forth across the airport by various Aena staff who had no idea where the customs office was located. We walked the entire length of that dreadful building three times before giving up, after encountering a particularly unpleasant woman at the Menzies desk, who barked and gestured wildly at us when we asked for help. Upon arrival (on Christmas Eve), it took three hours to clear passport control, causing us to miss our evening reservations. On the return journey, all flights were paused or cancelled due to a private jet losing a tyre on the runway. While unexpected issues happen, there was absolutely no communication regarding gate changes. The Aena app was uselessly out of date (thankfully the EasyJet app wasn’t), and the staff were as miserable and rude as ever. The experience was so stressful and unpleasant that I have no desire to return to Tenerife. There are plenty of other destinations that value and welcome tourists. The airport’s design—an endless, dreary corridor—only adds to the ordeal.

✅ Trip Verified | I’ve been through this airport many times but this was awful. We travelled at 4-30pm on 18/12/24. They took my wife’s passport to stamp and left it their side and she had to lean through to retrieve it and they sniggered and lugged between themselves. When we went through a young child was crying to use the bathroom and her mother went back to get her, an officer grabbed her and pushed her in the back even though she was protesting.

✅ Trip Verified | I usually travel to Tenerife South and North airports several times a month. The most important thing for me is the fastest way thru security and food services. On both airports usually time waited for security screening is less than 10 min (average time 3-5min), staff polite and very helpful. The food and services offered in Tenerife South is much better than the older airport in the north of the island. I have used both airports VIP lounge. They are nice, have lots of food and drink and usually are ok. Sometimes during peak season can be a bit crowded or even full.

Not Verified | The rudest security staff I have ever met, whilst going through the scanner, we were told to go back and separate laptops etc, which is fine, except the woman saying this to me got up to my face and said "English, look at me while I tell you". I said to her that I had heard her the first time she said it, I was amazed at her rudeness and arrogance, I get it that going through security is a bit stressful, but some of their staff make it a horrible experience. Its about the third time I have encountered rude security at Tenerife airport.

Not Verified | I found at least 2 female staff members extremely rude at Tenerife South Airport ... never experienced this at any other airport! I was treated like I had done something wrong. I am a 62 year old disabled women and was getting very anxious because of the chaos there. Because I didn't understand what was being said to me due to a hearing problem the female staff member became increasingly rude and separated me from my husband and carer also my Grandson, whom has needs too! She said I had to go through the on my own and I struggled. This was such a stressful and horrible experience for us, I don't want to go away again.

Not Verified | Went to information for some help. 5 women standing around talking. Didn’t even stop when I stood there waiting for someone to acknowledge me. Then when I asked the question the just pointed towards the cafe where I had already been and asked. So unhelpful and uninterested is an understatement. Actually I found that rude. Maybe they should try a bit harder to help someone instead of having a paid mothers meeting!

✅ Trip Verified | I live in London, Moldovian nationality with Resident to live in UK. The immigration officer was weary friendly. I went to Tenerife for 5 days for holiday with my daughter. When I was boarding the plane the lady didn’t want me to board. She was very rude and unprofessional . She was asking me why I’m flying to England without a visa. Then I start to explain to her and show my passport and all documents. She was saying that my visa is false. It was not her job to check all these. It was very stressful for me and my daughter. Then immigration officer came to her and told her that she was wrong. She was very rude and said many bad words in Spanish to me. Not happy with the situation.