Venice Marco Polo Airport

Left from Venice on June 30th. Cheapest parking is nr. 3 which is still very close to the terminal no need to go for more expensive lots. The problem with this airport is always the same: it is under dimensioned for peak periods traffic. As some check-ins have already been moved downstairs the whole departures up-arrivals down scheme should be rethought. Downstairs space look under-utilised while upper floor busts with passengers. Security is always quick and efficient no matter the flow of passengers. They are using new trays that are much better than the old baskets. My flight was delayed 4 hours and there are no lounges for paying travellers. The two lounges on the second floor look very exclusive. There is a business centre with basic facilities. There are four Internet kiosks before security but only one after and none in the no-schengen area. Facilities after securities are very good though shops and cafes are expensive. You may face long queues at passport control accessing no schengen area as there are direct flights to USA and the Middle East. In the schengen area there are only a small cafe and a small duty free upstairs and only a couple of vending machines downstairs but they seem to cope with the flow of passengers. Downstairs you may have some chances of charging your cell phone for free. Toilets are crystal clean everywhere in this airport it is my best experience ever under this aspect.

Baggage arrival was quick and transport into central Venice is easy. On return Easyjet check-in was quick security straight-forward with minimal delay. I was surprised to have a swab taken from very light summer clothing when the scanner sounded. The airport was very quiet mid-week. There is a pleasant reasonably priced cafe on the first floor by comparison with the extortionate ground-floor cafe. Service was laughably poor but fortunately there were few customers as it's so poorly signed. Boarding was usual EJ shambles. Everyone bussed out boarded then told there would be a 45 min. wait because of air-traffic control in which time nothing left the airport.

We had the misfortune to suffer this airport yesterday June 16th 2012. The whole airport was unable to cope with the volume of passengers and there were lines of people everywhere. We arrived at the Jet2 check-in queue at 9.30am for an 11.30am flight to Manchester. Even at that time we were at the back of a long queue and there was just one very slow girl checking in all the passengers for the flight. After nearly two hours a supervisor appeared and opened a second desk for those of us at the back of the queue. Otherwise we would still be waiting ! No apologies were offered and we sensed that this is normal procedure. We had no time to get a drink or use the facilities. We had to rush to another long line to pass through the security check where the same relaxed couldn't care less attitude was evident and from there we rushed to our gate where yet another long sweaty queue greeted us. None of us were best pleased when on boarding the plane the pilot asked us to hurry as the plane was going to be taking off twenty minutes late. Clearly this airport is not fit for purpose and its staff are unable or unwilling to cope.

Have just arrived home from Venice. We have had exactly the same experiences as the recent reviews from Noel Owens and S Nemec. Got to the airport over 3 hours early unbelievably slow check-in process (Easyjet all destinations and 2 check-in staff) and when we finally got to the queue for security it too snaked out of the building! After several unsuccessful attempts to elicit help from staff (by now the plane was boarding) we were directed to the priority (but still slow moving queue) by a helpful BA staff member. Total chaos and very stressful but we at least made the plane with about 2 minutes to spare which it seems is more than what some passengers have been able to achieve. Also the worst airport experience so far even worse than Easyjet's factory farm chicken shed at Barcelona.

Flew out of here on 19/5/12. Arrived 3 hours early for flight! Took 2 hours to check-in luggage unbelievably slow check-in process which was stressful with the queue not moving at all for at least half an hour but this was nothing compared with the scrum to get through security. Staff seemed to be on a go slow. Final call for our flight so we went through the fast line. Made our flight with seconds to spare but some people didn't. Avoid this airport.

Our 4/30/12 experience was terrible! Nice new airport but they assigned about 10% in front for boarding passes check-ins etc and saved about 80% of the space for a zillion high end shops and then left a little bit for chairs to wait for your flight. The front was a disaster jammed with nobody to direct people lines snaking around with people standing for hours to check luggage. A KLM flight to Amsterdam meant standing in a long line which intersected with another line for Air France nobody knowing if they were even in the right place. Success finally then to the waiting area where many stood some more because there isn't sufficient seating. Too bad they gave most of the space away to retailers.

Absolute chaos! Had to queue for an hour at check-in queue wasn't long but staff were just incredibly slow and didn't seem to have a clue. Had to wait a further hour to get through security in a queue snaking out of the building! Made the flight with seconds to spare. Even then I was told to wait - for no apparent reason and separated from my husband. Plane was half empty due to many people missing the flight. Quite simply the worst airport experience I've ever had. Passengers were left out on a limb with absolutely no guidance or explanation available and airport staff nowhere to be seen.

Partly the fault of the airline but cramped noisy and a couldn't care less attitude made this one of the most stressful departures I have ever made. Queued for 1 hr 10 mins to check-in and then joined a long queue for security. Made the plane - just - having done all that I should - been there in plenty of time etc. When I remarked on the chaos to a member of staff her response was "Yes - it's always like this".

Non-Schengen arrival was somewhat slow but in every other respect this airport is good. Departure was particularly straight-forward with baggage drop-off operating swiftly. If you need public transport go to the booth to the left of the arrivals exit for tickets. If travelling from a non-Euro area you can use a credit card for the 3 day pass. Don't bother with confusing ticket machines in arrival. On departure there's plenty of space before you go through to the gate.

The building is very beautiful and elegant and original compared to the average. For having the feel and traffic of a major intercontinental airport it is pretty small thus looking overcrowded most of the time. Though lines at the security are discouraging I always went through at good speed and the personnel is usually kind and efficient. The baskets they use at security are not very practical. Overcrowding in summer means also that some check-ins are sometimes moved up and down the two floors. Shops are nice but few and expensive. I've noticed a general feel of strictly observing the rules by the staff so be very careful with your extra kgs. Long stay parking near the building seems to be considerably more expensive than average I always get there by train when I can. Last but not least cleanliness is excellent.