Where The Heck Is My Beer?
Written: Oct 05 '02 (Updated Oct 06 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: easier than most airports, small enough, fares
Cons: some small problems, airline selection
The Bottom Line: An easier airport to use, but make sure you know what you are doing!
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| jetbluefan1's Full Review: Larnaca International Airport |
The Larnaca International Airport is the main air gateway from Cyprus. The other air gateway is Paphos International Airport, which is smaller than the Larnaca International Airport. Larnaca is located on the east side of Cyprus, while Paphos is located on the west side. I like flying into Larnaca instead of Paphos. This is because there are more airline selections and I like flying internationally from larger airports. Flying into Larnaca has nothing to do with me reaching my final destination. Limassol is where I go when I go to Cyprus, and it is located right smack in the middle of both Larnaca and Paphos. Most people in Limassol and the capital of Cyprus: Nicosia, prefer the Larnaca International Airport.
Whenever I fly into Larnaca, I use Cyprus Airways. Visit my Cyprus Airways review for more information - http://www.epinions.com/content_72037011076 for more information.
When arriving into Larnaca, we start our descent when we are flying over western Limassol. We then fly above the Mediterranean Sea, and are able to see the huge barges and cruise ships going to The Port of Larnaca. The view is spectacular, and you can see the sparkling water near the shorelines. If you are sitting on the right side of the aircraft, you can see both the land and sea. You will then make a sharp 180 degree turn, and will arrive into the airport from the east. The runway is cut a bit short, so the pilot usually has to slam the breaks. Then, you have to taxi all the way back to the terminal.
Getting to the terminal is a lot different from most American airports. When exiting the aircraft, you will probably be shocked to see a bus full of stairs below you. So you walk down these stairs while lugging your heavy carry-on luggage to get to the tarmac below; not exactly the best invention. A bus is waiting for you at the bottom. Some are two-leveled, but the majority are one-leveled. You then will enter the bus with your carry-on, kids, husband or wife, and your free candy from the airplane (only on Cyprus Airways). There are many blue seats on the bus, that are made of a very uncomfortable and hard plastic. There are also many poles to hold onto if all the seats are taken up. It is about a three minute drive to the terminal.
When getting off the bus, you will walk to a building with a high ceiling. You will show some security people your passport, and then off you go. Yes, it is the baggage claim terminal, a whole different building just for your suitcase! There are three luggage carousels. They are all very long and large. Advertisements are on the walls; pay-phones and washrooms are on your right when you walk in. The Cyprus Airways Duty-Free is located right next to the pay phones.
To get to the parking lot, take the long hallway that looks like the inside of an office-building with many turns, inclines, and declines but isolated with not even a staff member! Then, you will stop, frozen of fear because there is a huge crowd of Cypriots waiting for you at the other side. They will probably be shouting to each other things like “Shut up you idiot, let the child talk!” Or, “Where the heck is my beer?” Yes, these are real phases that Cypriots will scream in an airport. We are crazy, aren’t we? Actually, Cypriots are very welcoming, and husbands yell those phrases to their wives, and wives yell those phrases to their husbands (I don’t though!). You have no reason to be worried for being yelled at when going to Cyprus!
When entering the parking, you will see not even a parking garage. Only a huge lot filled with European and Asian cars. To pay the parking fee, you have to get out of the car, insert the ticket inside of a machine, then insert your money inside the machine. If you don’t have the Cypriot Lira, or a Euro, you might as well go back in the terminal and find a bank, (of which there is one in the airport) and change your money into money that the machine accepts.
Even though arriving into the airport sounds complicated yet scary, it is easy and actually kind of funny. I love seeing that angry mob of Cypriots waiting for us behind automatic doors. It really is a warm welcoming to Cyprus!
Leaving the airport is quite a bit easier than the arriving, so therefore it is very easy. When getting into the terminal, you can either go to the ticketing, or to the “restaurant” upstairs. This restaurant is a do it yourself type of restaurant. Grab a tray, and pick out all the items you want. There are selections from gyro, to souvlaki and chicken, salad, pizza, and beverages. Prices are cheap for airport prices.
If you decide to go to ticketing first, DON’T BOOK A FLIGHT SCHEDULED TO LEAVE IN THE EARLY MORNING! You will regret it. All the counters are filled to the maximum, and everyone is running around like crazy! For some odd reason, most flights out of Larnaca leave in the early morning from around 12:00 am - 4:00 am. If your flight leaves at a different time, then you are fine. Since most flights out of Larnaca are charters, there is no real schedule for the airport. Actually, most airlines have no real schedule because some airlines only operate flights on certain days of the week. The busiest day of the week at Larnaca is Tuesday. Monday is the least busiest.
Ticketing counters are not like the type that America has. The airlines put a piece of plastic showing their name of their airline. These pieces of plastic are put on a holder on top of each little ticketing counter. Cyprus Airways, Helios, and British Airways are the only airlines that have permanent ticketing counters.
After being ticketed, continue to the right side of the terminal, and show your passport and tickets to the security officer. Go through the security machine, get your carry-on, and do it again. Yes, another security machine has been installed for extra security because of Sept 11th.
After going through security, you will continue down a hallway just like the hallway you go down when arriving. The one that looks like the hallway of an office building. Then, all of a sudden, you will smell food, and then BAM! A food court right in front of your eyes with hundreds of tables and airport chairs in front of it. The food court has selections from pizza, spaghetti, gyro, chicken, steak to souvlaki, salads, and sandwiches. On the left, there is a shop stocked with magazines and snacks. Next to that shop is a CD store that ranges from Greek music to American music. There is also jewelry, chocolate (Ferrier Rocher), and even snow globes! Across from that large store is a smaller store, a clothing store. It is kind of like your everyday Banana Republic. The prices aren’t as high though.
Next to all the stores are five different waiting areas. Each waiting area is closed off for a specific flight. TV screens tell you which waiting area you need to wait in for your flight. When walking into the waiting area, you show the agent your ticket and then take a seat. Finally, when it is time to board, a bus will come and pick you up to take you to the plane. It is the exact same process as when you arrive. The events are just the other way around.
Information For Flying Into Larnaca
Some major European airlines serve into the airport. These airlines include Cyprus Airways, Helios, Olympic, Lufthansa, and British Airways. Surprisingly, Air France, Iberia and KLM do not serve into Larnaca. Charter airlines include JMC, Excel, Airtours and Air 2000. There are no non-stop flights to America. The furthest that Larnaca serves into is India. You can usually find a very good price when flying into Larnaca, no matter what airline you take.
Most people say the Larnaca International Airport is a Madhouse. In my opinion, it is not. Of course, there are some aspects that weren’t well planned out, but I find flying into the Larnaca International Airport to be easier and less tiering than flying into an airport such as LAX, or London Heathrow. Of course at any of those airports you don’t expect someone to yell, “Where The Heck Is My Beer?”
Recommended:
Yes
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