Valencia Airport — Local services in Manises

READ THIS BEFORE BOOKING A FLIGHT AT THIS AIRPORT - Especially if you have booked a Ryanair flight. Upon arrival of this airport you can tell it’s substandard. Massive line at the few counters open, poor layout, no scale to use, no climate control and general unhelpful staff.

Get to the security check and you will quickly be disappointed. This airport is staffed entirely by companies that have been hired to control each stage of the airport.

The company that controls the security operates in a 2008 level of technology - not only do you have to disrobe of any and all metal but every device must go into a separate tub and then after going through security the person watching the X-ray must visibly see your device by going through the pockets of your jacket or digging through the tub with your items.

To make it worse, zero signage to indicate if need to take off shoes, take liquids out, which devices to separate. Mess this up, and the security staff may refuse to speak to you in English or through Google translate. Staff got upset that we didn’t understand Spanish and nearly dropped our computers/phones on the ground. I arrived early and passed through security with ~15 other people and it took an hour, with more people expect a 3 hour trip through security. I believe the corporation that manages the security completely runs on ‘selling a VIP line’ and making €10 and not at all concerned with the job, security. DO NOT buy ‘fast pass’ though security because it clearly doesn’t exist. And seems like a scam.

Now to the gate - we booked Ryanair to Porto. If you’re a frequent Ryanair traveler this is NOT the same Ryanair you’re used to. Ryanair in Spain is operated by Ryanair AZUL. Acting somewhat like a franchise of Ryanair. At the checkin gates and the boarding gates the staff is very intense and frothing at the month to slap you with any and all additional charges they possibly can. A bag I’ve carried on a dozen other Ryanair flights they wouldn’t allow. Turns out, and other reviews say this, the Spainish Ryanair staff make a commission on all bags they get people to pay extra for. So at the gate, expect every single person to have to put their bag in the bag check box. A centimeter over and they’ll charge you. I immediately agreed to pay €46 but was harassed by numerous staff before making it to the register to pay. They’re so excited and proud to charge you, they brag to their coworkers right in front of you that they’re making you pay. Show any negative emotion or frustration and they’ll THREATEN to not let you board the plane. Very degrading experience. A dozen other people at gate 7 were treated much worse than me. If one person made it though the ‘baggage size check’ the entire crowd boarding would cheer like a football goal had been scored. This is essentially a crime syndicate. I can only urge you to not book Ryanair within Spain. Flying Iberia was a much better experience and with additional fees by Ryanair it costs about the same. One of the worst parts is when we boarded the plane every single overhead luggage storage near our seats was empty. These employees and the airport in general only care about squeezing every dollar they can out of passengers. Sad.

Overall terrible experience in the airport and with the airline. Leaves a very bad taste in my mouth for the country and takes away from the good memories I had made.

Only good thing is the train that arrives/departs from airport to city center...

This airport is a shining example of how efficient and comfortable air travel can be. From the moment you step through its doors, the cleanliness and clarity of the indications set a high standard that is consistently maintained throughout. The staff is welcoming and always ready to help, which makes navigating this airport a breeze.

The ambiance of this facility is exceptional. The architecture is modern and sleek, with plenty of natural light streaming in, creating a relaxing atmosphere. The service is top-notch, with all amenities that one would need for a comfortable travel experience, such as numerous shops, cafes, restaurants, and lounges, all with comfortable seating and Wi-Fi.

What sets this airport apart is the level of comfort and ease that is provided to all visitors. The efficiency of the security checks is impressive, and the overall organization is top-notch, making traveling a stress-free experience. The quality of the products and services offered is exceptional, with a vast selection of high-quality food and drink options available, including local cuisine and international brands.

While some visitors may have concerns about the long lines and waits during peak travel periods, the staff does an excellent job of managing these situations and ensuring that the experience remains as seamless as possible. There is always room for improvement, and in this case, having more staff available to help travelers during peak times would be a great addition.

Overall, I would highly recommend this airport to anyone traveling in or out of Valencia. My experience here was nothing short of exceptional, and I am already looking forward to my next visit. Thank you to the owners and staff for providing such a fantastic experience, and I hope to see...

All in all mixed experience in this airport.

TL;DR: insufficient road signs (roadworks & closed access road), lots of passengers, not enough seats, an unfriendly security guard, more friendly security guards, some really friendly police. Security check and inside the boarding area for EU flights were very good.

Long version: Access road from highway was closed. Without any notice, the road was closed and no detour was indicated. Neither Waze nor GMaps indicated the right route. We had to find it ourselves via a nearby access road. Dropping off the rental car was confusing. Finally we found the right entrance and dropped it off. Indications of how to access the airport on foot were not clear nor correct. The info from the car rental clerk luckily was correct. In the airport entrance, people sitting and lying everywhere, waiting for their flight. Not enough seats. Young people standing up to to let elders and children sit. Once in the check-in queue, the security guard was rude to other passengers. When stepping in and calmly pointing out the reason of the issue (info announcement error), he was unfriendly to me too. Luckily it got better with other security staff afterwards, but you can only make one first impression. Check-in was fast. Security checks were thorough (shoes & belts off) and instructions sometimes hard to understand. But generally friendly security staff here. When we made a mistake of entering the non-EU flight area, were were helped by friendly police officers who guided us back to where we needed to be. The EU-terminal was a lot more comfortable with lots of shops,...