KIX was always a stress inducing airport to me. Combined with almost all my (international) flights leaving during the morning and the fact that its very hard if not outright impossible to use public transport to get to the airport before 6-7am and long wait lines, its always felt a bit like touch and go. taking the earliest airport shuttle, be there 3+ hours early, pre checked in, I still doubted if I am gonna make it a few times…
But this time, it was worse. Much worse…
I dont know if its the fall season or the current ongoing construction or if it was “sunday” but I’ve never seen anything like this. I was stuck in the line to get to security for over 3 hours. the line went on forever. Airlines went through with flight numbers and picked people out of the line. 15 minutes before my flight gate close I was (with a large number of other people) taken out of the line by my airline and brought to a staff security screening booth. I was screened and free to head to my gate (other side of the airport of course) at gate close. There were others behind me still.
If the flight would not have waited, there is no chance in hell we were gonna make it. If I would have missed the small lady with a a4 printed piece of paper with AF1234 on it (or similar) and recognized it, there is no chance I was gonna make it
Get to the airport as soon as possible. Expect to stand in line for over 3 hours. If there is one hour or less to gate close and you are not in arms reach of the security screening, PAY ATTENTION if your flight number is shown around, you might get to skip to the front of the line.
If you are booking, prefer flights after 2pm. STILL get there in the moring. Consider taking a night at the KIX hotel if your flight leaves before 11am
I certainly hope when the current constructions are finished the situation goes back to its normal “totally crazy and long wait lines”
but what I just saw is anything but normal. Therefore I opted to warn you guys.
TLDR: Wait times over 3 hrs. GET THERE ASAP
by catwiesel