Cairo Airport is well known as being a good place to start a cost efficient trip. We have an office in Cairo so I asked some colleagues about their experience. They pointed out a few unique elements which prompted me to go online and see what the frequent flyers say.
Well, that turned out to be a bad idea. Ben over at One Mile At A Time wrote an article titled, “Cairo Airport: Is There A Worse Major Airport?” for starters. That was followed a week later by an update following a completely bizarre reaction from the Egyptian authorities by way of response. As a result, I was more anxious about using the airport than I have ever been in my life.
The Arrival Experience
I arrived into Terminal 1 after an Iberia flight from Madrid. Buses collected us and we were taken the short distance to the terminal. From here I was met by a guy with a sign on it from Le Méridien Cairo Airport where I was staying. That meant I was whisked through the formalities without much pain. There were queues at Passport control, but that’s all I can report from that.
Cairo Airport Terminal 3 to Terminal 2 Transfer
Once again Ben at One Mile At A Time had written about this, only in reverse. That increased my stress levels, particularly as I would be connecting on separate ticket and would need to collect my bag. However, a couple of comments online advised to just pay the US$25.00 for the Egyptian Tourist Visa, enter the country and then transfer landside.
Tipping at Cairo Airport
Ostensibly, no staff should ask for tips at Cairo Airport. That is according to the Egyptian authorities in the response to the One Mile At A Time Article. However, anyone who has been to Egypt knows that the concept of baksheesh is endemic to the culture. No matter where you go, someone wants a tip. It’s actually quite similar to the United States, just not limited to restaurants and bars!
Le Méridien Cairo Airport is connected to Terminal 3 by a bridge, which is very handy. When I got to the security screening, various porters were trying to get my attention but I ignored them. I’d heard about these people, who want to take your bag from you for 38 seconds to take it to the screening point and then want a tip.
Meanwhile, it was the same deal again when I was departing from Terminal 2 on the return trip. This time it was a porter who I hadn’t used and then the security screening guy who asked for a tip. I just stood there looking at him and shrugging as though I had no idea what he was on about and I proceeded on through.
Overall Thoughts
Cairo Airport turned out to be rather less stressful than I was expecting. It’s a normal international airport, with a few local twists thrown in. People such as the check-in staff, immigration people and even the security guy who searched me were all friendly and pleasant.
While being asked for tips by people who haven’t really provided any service whatsoever was an experience, it was hardly something I was upset about. I had done my research, I’d been told these people existed, and so I knew what to expect. It probably would be a shock to people who were not warned in advance though!
I have no qualms about using Cairo Airport again in the future. That being said, I absolutely would always use the meet and greet service if you can as it makes it a lovely experience all round.
What are your experiences with this place? I’d love to hear what you think. Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Featured image by Nina Hale on Flickr via Wikimedia Commons.
I’m well traveled but a constant swarm of people harassing me for tips grates pretty heavily on me. Is there any cost-efficient way to avoid this?
The only way i think is to shrug and make out you don’t understand. I think the best way us just to have a bunch of low denomination Egyptian notes handy and happily play the game. Rolling with it seems to be the best thing to do. Same as we do when visiting the states and have to do things like “one dollar per drink at the bar and minimum 15% at restaurants but 20% is expected for standard service” as I was instructed by the Americans. If you don’t have someone who tells you this, how is a person to know? So yeah, rolling with it, as it’s the cultural norm.
How much is the meet and greet service? Once I was on a work trip and I got the service from the hotel and it was a breeze. When I traveled on my own, I usually just get out on my own but I travel without checked bags. And have you noticed the train that connects the terminals? I know it exists and it has a sign and even a stop for parking etc but I was never able to take this mysterious train between terminals….is it air side? Land side? Anyway, t2 and t3 are next to each other on landside so it is super easy to transfer landside but on air side it is a lot of walking….also the star alliance business class check in is so long and the porters who work for Egyptians and Arabs cut the lines etc I guess they had to show their tips are worthwhile… Once I had Egypt air business class and checked in t3 (I think) but had to fly out of t2 so after security I had to walk to t2, which made no sense but it is Cairo!
I think the pricing is on the Cairo Airport website for their one, however mine came free with the stay at Le Méridien. On the way back, I didn’t have it and honestly everything was fine without it, but it’s better with. I saw the signs for the train that connects T1 to T2/3, but I didn’t use it, of course. I think it’s landside though, from when I was looking it up. It’s certainly an interesting place all round! Thanks for the comment.
I stayed there a few times but never knew the service was free, is it only for certain elite members? I am a gold not sure if that qualifies but their website says it s25USD for 4 pax with a shuttle bus included in the service but I guess you just walk to the hotel with the pickup staff?
I have no hotel status – the pick up was free for me. I just tipped the guy who collected me and would have done the same with the driver had I had more Egyptian money on me (I only had one EGP 200.00 note). It’s great, they collect you before Passport control, take your Passport and get it all stamped for you, then walk you all the way out to the car that takes you to the hotel. Very efficient. I also saw the charge thing on the website, but I didn’t get one. Even if I should have, I would happily have paid the USD 25.00 which is a bargain really.