Kos Airport

Having just returned from Kos I have to, totally agree with most of the negative comments here. I would say this airport would not be out of place in a third world country. Total total chaos. Aswe approached the airport the Thomson rep said do not pay any attention to the announcements, pay attention to the  information boards. Two questions 1, what boards? 2, what announcements. I would go back to Kos, but it won't be until the airport has been extended, so it won't be anytime soon. The only plus point was a 500ml bottle of water was only 1 Euro, not a rip off like Dalaman airport.

Used Kos Airport for the first time during the last week of August for our family holiday. The in-bound / arrival was fine with no problems. It took about 15 minutes to clear through passport and security control, so we were expecting a quick papas through the airport on our return. Hells-bells - this was without doubt the worst experience of any airport we have been to. Even S o Paulo Airport was better. There was no information about where to go in the entrance hall. When we got through security there were no departure boards or information about which gate to use. People milled around with no idea where to go. We had to resort to asking the man in the cafe about which gate was for outbound for the UK. There was inadequate seating for the number of people in the departure lounge - we had to resort to sitting on tables. After waiting for two hours, with garbled announcements through the tannoy, we were moved away from the seats by an officious Ryan Air member if staff to stand in a queue for an hour. People were smoking and others were passing out in the heat. One women was overcome with the hear and threw up on the floor near us. Bossy and imperious staff, with no regard to passengers standing - young or old. Kos Airport - never again!

OK, so Kos airport is not that big, who likes waiting in airport anyway, we have been to Kos twice before first time in 2003 the second in 2005. We are coming to Kos again in May this year we don't like waiting in any airport so we just make the best of the situation and entertain our selves and be patient, we do not find any reason to mark this airport down it's the same in most countries, just make the most of it and have fun. I hope this will be of help to you.

Most greek island airports are tiny due to the size of the islands (similarly in zante corfu and kefilonia) and queing outside is a common sight if you do get a private taxi or whatever i recommend checking in and sitting outside for a time save waiting in crowded departure lounges

Hi John,

Ok so this all sounds like a bit of a nightmare.

Not as bad as some of the other comments would have you believe.  Wouldn't like to be there in July or August though.  However, We found the toilets to be clean and although there was a lot of queing, (what airport don't you have to que in?) but the reps that were present had a system and it seemed to work.  A few people moaned but you always get some that can't be satisfied, what ever you do.  If you don't want to be in a small island airport, don't go to small Greek islands.  Simple.   

   Like alot of people I can only agree the airport is terrible it has horrible toilets not much information and is just yukky. We were ok coming in not quite the baggage systom of Manchester but again a very small airport so you have to bear that in mind!!

Coming out of Kos we were supposed to have a 4.30 am flight that became delayed by 3 hours so we didn't leave till 7.30am but that was Thomas Cook's fault as they were a plane short due to bird damage so it couldn't be helped really   It's just unfortunate that they built it in the 70's and have not improved it and once you get there and have to see it you think that's Kos and of course it's not but if you have to spend from 2am to 7.30am there it's horrendous and when you can't see your flight on the board and you ask an airport person and they tell you it has gone! and your still waiting for your flight you can imagine the panic!!   We then asked a Greek worker and he went away and found out no it hadn't gone it was just not on the board anymore and to go through to departures and wait! Better info than the Thomas Cook rep Mind you they were non existent so not surprising huh!!

With the new safety measures at airports now. You will find when you arrive at Kos airport to return home, there will queues snaking out of the terminal doors. So you may find yourself standing for about an hour or more outside in the sun. This is due to the fact that now all hold baggage has to be scanned and Kos airport hasn;t got many scanners to cope with saturday turnover.

Like others have said the airport inbound to Kefalos is not a problem- as you are in and out luggage in tow within about 10 minutes. However, our advice to anybody travelling soon is to organise your own transport back to the airport for when you are leaving. We arranged a lift from a friend, however if you have spare euros do get a taxi rather than a transfer.

Kathryn & Ian

Exactly what you would expect from such a small island - TINY airport!

Arriving in Kos was fine, straight through passport control, recieved our luggage within minutes and onto our coach .

Coming home however was a nightmare!  After standing outside in a queue in the sun for over an hour we started moving and had to join another queue inside to check in.  There was TWO people on the check-in desks for several flights.  We got through check-in with about 45 minutes before our flight was due to leave. 

Since we had been picked up from our hotel at 11:45am we decided to go try get some food since by this point it was about 2pm.  We got to a food kiosk, but got to the front of the queue to be told they were closing for a break and to go to another.  We went to another and they too were closing!

It was then announced to go to Passport Control (not just our flight, several flights at once).  There was ONE woman on passport control!  The queue was all over the place, and nobody knew what was going on.  People were joining the queue at the front and going straight through while some had to queue for over half an hour, causing our flight to be delayed.

I have to agree with Chris Moulton that Zakynthos airport is far worse than Kos. Whilst my sister & bro -in-law love Zante; for me & my husband - NEVER AGAIN !!!!

Inbound- landed on time went through passport control to find it packed with people, then we had to wait for our cases half an hour later they started to go round, our airport name wasnt even on the telly, evenytually found our suticases and went our our way!

we have just returned flying back to Bristol - on our departure from Kos we were first in the queue as we had arranged our own taxi. The lady on the desk tried to say we were 10 kgs over - we had 4 cases for 4 of us so were allowed 20 kgs each which was 80 kgs altogether. We took back less than we had coming to Kos and were under on the way out so we argued our case - the lady eventually asked us if we wanted to get the luggage back to weigh which we did - despite the fact we had to stand aside and wait for 15 to 20 minutes. When they were weighed again we were about 20kgs under we had no apology from them and had we not argued would have ended up paying for extra weight which we knew we didn't have. So be warned if they tell you you are over and you know you are not stand your ground. They already had 3 kgs on each scale before we put our cases on and then weighed 2 cases together twice.

What a nighmare Check in was fine but wait till you check out !!!

Had to wait out side as its so small then allmost everyone got charged for extra lugage 25euro for 2kg over when we went back with less than we took ???????  everyone on our flight was complaining  Where you part of the flight to Bristol on he 10/08/06 ??

Come on people. it is just an Airport in as small island of Greece. Its perfect and the size is normal for a small island!! Think about other airports e.g. UK??

smallest and worst airport ever been in

Inbound - no problems at all... off the plane, through passport control, got luggage and on to a bus to our resort in no time at all.

Outbound - this is where you need patience! We were lucky to be one of the first buses to get to the airport for our particular flight so were the first in the queue. The queue starts outside the airport building (smaller than your local asda store in the UK) and you are gradually ushered into the building to get checked in at one of only 4 (i think) desks (bearing in mind there are probably a good 5 or so flights trying to get checked in!)

What seating there is fills up rapidly leaving people to just sit on the floor.

The tannoy announcements are quiet so be sure not to miss your boarding call.

Not a very pleasant expereience.

it's not that bad yea it's a small airport but when you arrive i've always got my luggage straight away.

Going home the only problem is you have to queue to get in the airport, but it always goes down very fast come on

The inbound journey was fine-straight off the plane, cases out quickly and straight out the door onto the coach. The journey back was a bit slower, when we pulled up at airport the queues were outside the building.  Inside was tiny and we had to rush upstairs to grab a seat in the cafe section because there werent many chairs in the departure lounge.  Coffee was crap-the guy serving them put the sugar in for you, for some reason, and he put wayyyyy to much in.  Our flight was actually 20mins early, which was a relief!

I agree with the last 2 comments - no complaints here. (apart from the flight times that is but you can't win everything!!)

Having read all the comments already on here I have to say I'm a little surprised! We flew back to the UK on 2nd June and had no problems at Kos airport. The only complaint I suppose was the check in which was a bit slow but after that it was fine. We boarded in plenty of time and took off on time.