This is the WORST airport to transfer from. They basically make you go through customs again and it's entirely inefficient, ridiculous, and wastes a lot of time, which is a major issue if you have a quick layover
A very big airport. The lines take a bit so be sure to be on time but it wasn't as bad as some airports I've been to before.
Super crowded. And transfer process between some international flights super long. Have to go through the 24 hour visa desk and then check in/ go through security all over again.
This Airport is fast and nice but it's also big which you could get lost in.
This airport sucks. Stopped over here for 12 hours and was bored out of my mind.
A colossal airport. Modern, special, with facilities and amenities, at the same time of course with particularly amazing security measures. The whole movement of the visitor needs attention, since the plethora of signs are in Chinese dialect. For the world it is better to live it alone! PANIC!
Massive and modern, it is a good airport the waiting areas outside international police are uncomfortable, but the ones inside the boarding area are very good with several restaurants and clean bathrooms
Do not understand all the good comments. On stopover to Tokyo landed there and I have to say, I was shocked. The toilets totally dirty and partly blocked, no smoking areas, unfriendly staff. Cruel, would not charge anymore if air china did not have such a good price. Tokyo airports in comparison are a dream
Worst.. I went on a trip to Germany, but I said hello to the immigration officials, so the word Handan is Hurry up you're wasting time.
I had the worst flying experience of my life at this airport. We missed our flight because the Beijing security lines were too long (took 1.5hrs to get through). That wasn t even the worst part. My partner and I spent the next 5 hours *just trying to find* the location to rebook another flight. Airport help was nil. NO ONE helped us, even though we asked for help SO MANY TIMES! We went to the help desk and she just kept sending us to different places. When we would ask the other staff (using google translate when needed), they would jostle us from person to person, as if we were on the phone with really bad customer support that was transferring our call multiple times. It was such a nightmare that I broke out crying, which I NEVER do.
When we finally found the ticket counter, we had to wait another 2 hours to get another ticket. Then we ended up staying in a creepy hotel overnight that was provided by the airport because all of the flights were unavailable.
Overall, my partner and I changed our itinerary so that we would not have another layover in Beijing. Please don t ever get a layover here - flights are almost always delayed, the management hierarchy is such that no one is motivated to actually do their job, and it is not a foreigner friendly airport.
One of the busiest airports in the world, really well connected to Asia, Europe and the Americas, unfortunately, it does not have a single decent restaurant, business class lounges are mediocre (both StarAlliance and OneWorld). Duty free options are good.
Passenger Terminal 2 is made of Japanese ODA. It may be renamed Japan-China Friendship Terminal.
Amazing architecture,have a lot dutty free,clean toilet but we need much time to go international departure because too big and to crowd,security inspection so crowd if many departure on same time.
historic old airport ... where Sinshe Han landed when visiting China
Beijing Capital International Airport is the main hub for Air China, the flag carrier of the People's Republic of China, which flies to around 120 destinations (excluding cargo) from Beijing. China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines and China Southern Airlines also use the airport as their hub.
Beijing Capital added Terminal 3 in 2008 in time for the 2008 Summer Olympics, the second largest airport terminal in the world after Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3, and the sixth largest building in the world by area. Beijing Capital International Airport covers 1480 hectares of land.
I have been to this airport many times, I have to fly, I have to transit, ... this is a large airport, strict and secure, check several times.
Selling goods are not very rich, mainly Chinese-made sales.
In the fall of 2019, Beijing Capital International Airport transited for a transfer from Seoul to Paris. The scale was very large and the facilities were good. The design with the elegant curves of the ceiling was good, but the overall distraction was disappointing due to the duty-free shops scattered throughout.
It was impressive to have a Chinese garden in the airport reminiscent of the Suzhou Zhuozhengyuan. In the garden, small ponds, stone bridges, white walls with fences, and traditional Chinese architecture made me feel the traditional Chinese culture. There is an airport lounge nearby and you can also overlook the garden.
The Chinese culture of enjoying tea on a hot water purifier was also felt. It is a pleasure to feel the traditional culture of the country in a modern airport that is becoming somewhat standardized.
I've thought that Beijing Airport should be modern and convenient place for many passenger. As it turned out, it's the worst airport I've ever been. First of all, they take your lighter and there is no smoking zones at all. If you have transit break, you will have problem. Secondly, nobody speaks english. You don't have possibility to get something know or whatever. It's quite strange that airport employees are not properly educated. What's more, queues. There are queues at each place. Thousends people come there and they are supported by few people in counters. Last, but surely not least, it's temperature at the night. We had transit over the night, temperature at departure hall was incredible low. I need to wear four layer and didn't feel comfortable at all. There was like in ice house. Don't recommend at all!!!
Gross clearly arranged
Lounge is not the Burner costs about 35 but so much def not worth it!
Opened on 1 March 1958, Beijing now has one of the busiest airports in the world, and has built a new airport aside from this one.
Interesting to see information regarding a sustainable lifestyle, with interesting features of Chinese architecture inside the airport.
Huge airport, clean, but a little empty, staff quite cold. but especially having arrived very early in the morning, everything was closed. I wanted to eat a little in one of the rare "restaurant" open ... and I have probably eaten the worst noodles of my life, in China it's a shame ... well I'm still laughing.
Large airport, but century, airport staff unfriendly, wifi connection difficult
Beware the scammers in arrivals, if anybody asks you what flight number and offers assistance they do not work for the airport they are going to demand money from you.
I ignored the first person asking my flight number but when a second person asked very firmly and was dressed in what looked like a uniform with a name tag etc. I gave him my flight number.
He then took my luggage and rushed to the ticket counter as if I was late for the flight but I knew I had about 3 hours before the plane departed.
The next cue was the dirty look the lady at the ticket counter gave him it was shortly after checking in he demanded 1000HK I refused saying I had not asked for this and he put on a bit of a show in protest but I just walked away.
Ridiculously long lines for transfer or if you want to leave the airport w/o a visa for up to 72 hrs.
Huge and huge. From the airport, take the two skytrains to Beijing so there's no need to take a taxi.
It is a airport in China. What do you people expect. It is pretty good considering Terminal 3 is beautiful.
Here is your tip: If you can speak Chinese and have a conversation with anyone Chinese. You will have a great time!
Had a flight transfer here for Air China, and they don't have any Wifi to use.
It's a huge airport with lot of space to roam around and rest.
Some places for shopping cosmetics and multiple international outlets are available on airport.
Delayed landing and departure due to the flight of several airlines as a representative airport in Beijing. In particular, a delay of about an hour is shown by default.
Regardless of whether the entry or transit security check is very strict, it takes some time. It is clear that the entry to the airport is very clear. The T3 exit store is full, the waiting time is not too boring, and the toilet is clean.
Worst international transfer desk in the world. Why the hell would they only have 2 counter agents for 3 full planes? Idiots. And all they did was put a blue stamp on the boarding pass. Such a terrible waste of time. Horrible efficiency. I will never fly through that horrible airport again.
Terrible airport system. This has to be the least organized process in the world. Allow three hours just to transfer. Expect for your luggage not to transfer too.
Being the Capital of China, they have designed this airport very well, maintaining all the international standards. For Muslims travelling via Beijing Airport, there's only one restaurant providing Halal food i.e. Majia Shumai having the authentic Chinese food.
There are three terminals. The impression is completely different at each terminal.
I think that there was a subway that can be reached straight to the center of Beijing.
It was too wide to take something like a monorail from the arrival site and moved to the immigration place. After luggage delivery, it gets a little uneasy.
After returning to check-in after returning to the boarding gate with a monorail, somehow Mendixai.
The busiest and biggest airport in China. It is located a little bit far away from the central of the city but you can take the airport train or taxi. I was fascinated with the excellent biometric immigration. The airport train operates every day, from 5 AM to 11 PM. Even you can return your Yikatong card here.
I spent 7.5 hours in a layover there with no internet unable to contact my family. No on there was willing to help me set up the wifi connection.
I have been to Beijing International Airport for my international transfer with Air China. BCIA, Beijing Capital International Airport claims to be one of the largest airports in the world. I stayed at this airport for about 10 hours layover during my onward flight and for 5 hours layover during my return flight. Beyond doubt, this airport is one of the largest and is advanced. However the free WiFi, provided in the airport does not work at all. When asked at the information desk they only say that the signal is week and it will be better at the boarding gates. The fact is that, it doesn't work anywhere in the airport in international transfers section.
There is a counter selling and renting WiFi devices and sim cards and also there are a number of sim card vending machines which only accept Chinese Yuan.
There are no ATM machines in the whole airport international transfers section. So you are forced to exchange money at their money changer counters who charge 60 Yuan just per transaction as the transaction fee. There are vending machines for drinks and snacks which only accept Chinese Yuan. You cannot use your international credit card/debit card.
So again you are forced to eat or drink in the restaurants where you pay almost 3 times the price.
Overall if there is no internet, a foreigner cannot buy anything from the vending machines. There are no ATM machines.
Its very difficult to spend 10 hours during layover in such an airport.
I'am hoping that these things will be addressed and it will be a good airport for transits.
This is a very big airport
And all the staff that's working here seem young.
They were friendly and courteous.
Flew with air China here
Immigration was a breeze and they have these automatic machines which scan your passport and take your fingerprints. To my surprise the machine switched to hindi as soon as I scanned my Indian passport that was kinda cool but its hindi was a bit off.
Only thing I had trouble was communicating with the staff some of whom dont seem to speak English and might have a communication gap there.
Restrooms were clean.
Overall a nice airport.
But could be better.
Awful, a nightmare.
Huge airport with few indications. The staff speak little or no English, don't even bother to listen to your questions.
Lack of manpower, 1 hour to pass the security check, which made us miss our plane.
Finally, during our second security check, the employee decides to confiscate my powerbank because the amperage is not enough as an indication.
To avoid.
Really big airport, a lot of places to sit. The biggest problem is that just a few people can speak English.
The airport is huge. Spacious, clean, modern .. good service and professional staff.
When I went into the airport (terminal 3 that is), it was lovely and amazing; the interior and exterior are both designed and maintained fantastically. There is lots of space around the airport. However, it is slowly becoming congested and signs of a new airport are coming up. Airport staff are helpful overall not during emergencies and hazards.
The worst of the most awful airports, it's dirty, it stinks, no air conditioning. No one is pleasant about security to staff in shops or on the ground!
The paid lounges do not have showers and you cannot enter / exit during the 3 hours at 45 chf.
If you can avoid this airport, do it, any other will be better than the so-called "international" airport.
In short, the worst experience to never do again ...
Beijing Capital International Airport (Chinese: ) is the main international airport in Beijing, the capital of China. (IATA: PEK, ICAO: ZBAA). It is the second busiest airport in the world and is located in the northeast of the city and about 32 kilometers from the city center. The airport is owned and operated by the Beijing Capital International Airport Company Ltd., a government subsidiary. The airport is the largest and most dynamic among China's airports, and it includes the main operations center of China Airlines (Air China), in addition to Hainan Airlines and China Southern Airlines. The airport ranks eighth in the world in terms of the number of passengers traveling with 55.66 million passengers annually, and twenty-first (21) in the world in terms of air traffic, with approximately 432,000 flights annually. It is the only airport in Asia among the 30 largest airports in the world in terms of air freight.
I did not like the deal, they shout at you and they get nervous without reason. And they neglect your personal items
No one on China southern desk speaks English so do all your enquiries beforehand!
Not a single person working there can speak english. Not even the person that was standing in Help desk which was written in english.
No food and drink dispenser after the security check control WHAT A SHAME when you're waiting for several hours in the boarding room ! Then there's a problem with the self-service Chinese SIM card machine (due to a bad facial recognition) so you have to buy it in the corner on the right next to this. On another side I was pleasantly surprised about the organization to get around the airport and the staff very helpful: congratulations.
This airport isn't even a building, it's a warehouse. They put lots of cheap plastic slats in a pattern that tries to hide the metal truss braces, but there's no hiding the fact that the entire building is just one big Costco warehouse. Come with a VPN if you want to use the internet. You can't even check your email in this country because the Chinese think that is the worst thing in the world. No social media, none of your phone apps, not even flight status checks unless it's thru an approved Chinese service. All my Chinese friends told me to "just download WeChat!!" as if I'm trying to immerse myself fully in Chinese culture, and not trying to live through a 6 hour layover to get to my real destination. These people are completely hopeless.
Lastly, how could I possibly forget mentioning that famous Chinese hospitality? Lol! Airport workers yelling at infant children (not just yelling, but full on screaming at a 2 year old kid like a drill sergeant to get back in line), being rude for not speaking their language (it's an international terminal full of people from different countries for god's sake!), and just a general lack of any standard of customer service.
Lessons learned the hard way:
1. Do not fly ANY Chinese airline.
2. Do not have ANY layover in Beijing International.
3. Avoid China at ALL costs in the future.
If I could I would have given 0 stars. They are rude and speak English and have no idea what they say from their horrible accent! We drove half of the airport to find out. They gave us wrong instructions and even broke my suitcase! Very bad treatment indeed.
If I could I would have given 0 stars. They are rude and speak English badly and not knowing absolutely any other language you must be able to understand what they say from their horrible accent! We drove half the airport to find someone who could tell us something about our flight that we eventually found to have been canceled. They gave us wrong instructions and even broke my suitcase! Very bad treatment indeed.
Welcome to Beijing
Alistair Vigier
CEO
ClearWay Law
The airport is nice, but the TSA suck that for sure. You have to experience it to believe it.
Quite a wide airport with very strict inspection. The road to the gate is far. For international flights, the arrival cannot be tight, preferably long before the departure time. The lighting is rather minimal and the interior arrangement seems improvised even though the architecture of the building is good.
One of the worst airport for delays. Don't fly or transfer here.
Airport as it is is quite fine, but the staff on site barely can speak English! I can understand that the English might not be the most used language in China, but at the International airport which is one of the bussiest on world each staff member should be able to speak with you in English, or to take you to the one that can. I spent over an hour after missing a flight (airline fault) until I finally found.... other Polish guy who flight for Bejinng more often and help me. Non of the staff member was able to point me what I actually should do.
The worst airport in the world. Nobody speaks English, not even in the information. Poorly marked. Queue for a 3-day tourist visa for 200 people and 1 person in the window. Bypass this port !!!
Hot very hot airport and very complicated get ready to get lost
