Kabul Airport
Lasting Impressions....
Memorable comments left by travellers:
"never, ever take a seat nearest to the toilets." (an aid worker)
"We (illegally) re-entered Afghanistan by climbing through the hole in the wall were the luggage conveyer belt leads into the "arrivals hall" (an aid worker)
The only semi-decent spot would be in the upper departure lounge." (a worker in Afghanistan)
FEATURED REVIEWS
by an aid worker
"Have travelled many times through the life experience that is Kabul airport but my snow bound hell in late 2005 was one journey too far.Kabul airport has little to commend it at the best of times. A vastly overcrowded check-in space (just hope you're in the right line), an incomprehensible immigration system which you will only get thorugh with judicious elbow use, and a single grotty,smelly departure "lounge" - just never, ever take a seat nearest to the toilets.In late 2005 with thick snow on the ground myself and 2 colleagues headed to the airport more in hope than genuine expectation. Having fought our way through aforementioned check in and immigration we emerged into the departure lounge to discover that the leaden skies we'd left on the way in were now throwing down more snow than seemed genuinely possible. Chairs were found and we bedded down - and slowly froze. There is no heating in this airport - to be honest if the door to the outside world fits and remains closed be grateful. After roughly 4 hours, some serious bladder discomfort (DON'T use the toilets) and impending frostbite a guy from the airline called us - hurrah - to tell us the flight was cancelled. We (illegaly) re-entered Afghanistan by climbing through the hole in the wall were the luggage conveyer belt leads into the "arrivals hall". Come back tomorrow morning. An airport to sleep in this one definately aint.Very early the following morning with heavy hearts, scarves, multiple pairs of socks, hats and gloves (and that was for sitting inside the airport) we headed back. Got ourselves seats and waited, and waited, and waited. There'd been no more snow but the plane hadn't been allowed to stay in Islamabad as planned so had had to return to the Middle East. By lunch time it still hadn't taken off from where it had overnighted - and we were all barely alive. The floor was freezing cold and the smell from the toilets was getting worse. It was then decided that everyone due to get on our flight should be allowed to go to the restuarant upstairs (another quick illegal re-entry to the country). The benefits, we discovered, of being in the restuarant were that there was a floor covering of sorts so your feet were slightly less frozen, a TV showing what appeared to be a hindi film circs 1980, and the worlds smallest most ineffective wall heater, but it was a heater. Don't eat the food here - you're leaving, if your guts are ok now why ruin them? And if you've already lost them in some other part of Kabul why add to your misery? In any case you don't really want to visit the toilets again.We were eventually called back to the departure lounge only to discover that there was suddenly security at this airport - and lots of it. The President was coming into land, so us mere mortals would need to freeze a little longer. As we finally made our way to the plane the first snow fall of the day began -this just was not fair. Happily, we finally took off at around 5pm, having left several frost bitten fingers and toes behind.The moral of this story? If you really have to use this airport never, ever plan to fly during the winter."
Airport Guide
Here is some information that we've picked out of from your reviews. Be sure to read the review pages for the most up-to-date experiences:
- crowded
- smelly departure lounge
- be prepared for lots of pushing and shoving at check-in
- no heating
- no departure announcements
- small internet set-up
- seating is not comfortable
Travel Sites
- Hostels and Budget Accommodation - I've booked my own accommodation on this site. If you are too old for hostels and too cheap for hotels, like me, you'll find some good properties. They offer dorms, private rooms, B&Bs, Apartments.
