- Introduction: Journey To Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, And Kuwait
- Review: Air France Lounge San Francisco Airport
- Review: Korean Air Business Class 747-8 San Francisco To Seoul
- Review: Korean Air Business Class 777 Seoul To Kathmandu
- Review: Hyatt Regency Kathmandu
- Review: Kathmandu Airport Lounge
- Review: Drukair Business Class A319 Kathmandu To Paro
- Review: Le Meridien Thimphu
- Review: Le Meridien Paro
- Hiking To The Tiger’s Nest, Bhutan
- How We Spent Our Time In Bhutan
- Review: Drukair Economy ATR42 Paro To Dhaka
- Review: Presidential Suite At The Le Meridien Dhaka
- Review: Dhaka Airport Lounge
- Review: Kuwait Airways Business Class A330 Dhaka To Kuwait
- Review: Sheraton Kuwait
- Review: Kuwait Airways Lounge Kuwait Airport
- Review: Kuwait Airways Business Class 777 Kuwait To Shannon
- Review: Kuwait Airways Business Class 777 Shannon To New York
Our flight from Kuwait City to New York (via Shannon) was departing at 9AM, and we got to the airport plenty early, at around 6:15AM. We had already received our boarded passes all the way to New York in Dhaka, so could skip the check-in counters (which were deserted anyway).
Kuwait Airport check-in hall
Kuwait Airport is pretty solid. While the finishes don’t come off as especially luxurious, the ceilings are high, and they have excellent concessions.
Kuwait Airport departures hall
Starbucks and Pinkberry next to one another? Yes please!
Kuwait Airport departures hall
We walked to the far end of the hall, where the immigration and security checkpoint were located. There was no line at immigration, so we were through in a matter of moments. The security checkpoint was quick as well.
Kuwait Airport immigration & security
Past security we headed towards the Kuwait Airways lounge, which was located past security and to the right, about a two minute walk away.
Kuwait Airport departures area
Kuwait Airport departures area
The lounge was located up a level from the main concourse, and could be accessed either by stairs or elevator.
Kuwait Airways lounge exterior
At the reception desk our boarding passes were scanned and we were invited into the lounge.
Kuwait Airways lounge reception
First we headed to the left side of the lounge. There was a small business center with some computers to the left, and some seating and newspapers to the right.
Kuwait Airways lounge entryway
Kuwait Airways lounge business center
Kuwait Airways lounge seating
Past that was the main area of the lounge, which was pretty large. I appreciated all the partitions that they used in designing the lounge, which made it feel a bit more private than most other lounges.
Kuwait Airways lounge seating
Kuwait Airways lounge seating
Kuwait Airways lounge seating
Kuwait Airways lounge seating
Kuwait Airways lounge seating
Back near the entrance and to the right was another small sitting area, with some reclining seats and ottomans. This area seemed to be the emptiest part of the lounge, as there were just a couple of people there.
Kuwait Airways lounge seating
Kuwait Airways lounge seating
Near the entrance to the lounge were some plane models. Oddly they had airplane models from MEA, Gulf Air, and Saudia, and only had one Kuwait model plane.
Kuwait Airways lounge airplane models
Kuwait Airways lounge airplane models
Back to the left and at the far end of the lounge was the dining area and buffet. There were lots of dining tables with four seats each, as well as two self serve buffets.
Kuwait Airways lounge buffet
Kuwait Airways lounge dining area
Kuwait Airways lounge buffet
Kuwait Airways lounge buffet
The food selection exceeded my expectations — I’ll let the pictures mostly speak for themselves.
Kuwait Airways lounge buffet
Kuwait Airways lounge buffet
Kuwait Airways lounge buffet
Kuwait Airways lounge buffet
Kuwait Airways lounge buffet
Kuwait Airways lounge buffet
Kuwait Airways lounge buffet
Kuwait Airways lounge buffet
Kuwait Airways lounge bread
The lounge also had juice and ice cream.
Kuwait Airways lounge ice cream & juice
Kuwait Airways lounge ice cream
Then there was a selection of self serve soft drinks and water — Kuwait Airways is a dry airline, including on the ground, so there was no alcohol.
Kuwait Airways lounge soft drinks
Kuwait Airways lounge bottled water
I appreciated that they had a proper espresso machine, so you could order an espresso, cappuccino, americano, etc.
Kuwait Airways lounge espresso machine
Past the dining area were the bathrooms, which were decent enough. I didn’t see any shower rooms, however.
Kuwait Airways lounge bathrooms
There was also a play area for kids.
Kuwait Airways lounge kids area
Kuwait Airways lounge kids area
Then there was a small smoking lounge.
Kuwait Airways lounge smoking room
We didn’t have breakfast at the hotel, but I was saving my appetite for onboard. I just had an americano, and also one of the cups of vanilla ice cream (the ice cream was really light).
Kuwait Airways lounge ice cream
Kuwait Airways lounge coffee
Unfortunately the Wi-Fi in the lounge was slow, which was my only complaint about the place. Otherwise I thought it was a nice lounge, and it exceeded my expectations.
Our flight was scheduled to board at 8:15AM, so we headed to our departure gate at around 7:45AM. We were departing from gate 21, which was about a five minute walk from our gate.
Walking to departure gate Kuwait Airport
As we approached the gate there was quite a line to enter the gate area. Fortunately they have a separate line for first & business class passengers, so we were able to jump to the front (though it was a bit awkward, since others thought we were cutting the line).
Line at gate for flight to New York
I had an “SSSS” on my boarding pass (for a while this was a serious issue, though I’ve since gotten it resolved — however, sometimes you’ll still randomly be chosen for additional security based on having a “suspicious” one-way ticket). There was an additional security checkpoint at the gate, and then since I had the “SSSS” on my boarding pass, my bags were searched and I was given a pat down. It was a painless process, though.
The gate area was still pretty empty at this point — it seems we were among the first to arrive. However, I always make an effort to be among the first, so I could hopefully be among the first to board and get pictures.
Departure gate to New York
As we arrived at the gate we saw one of Kuwait’s gorgeous new 777-300ERs taxi by.
Kuwait Airways 777-300ER
Unfortunately that wasn’t our plane, and instead we had to take buses to our plane. While I’m used to remote stands, the puzzling thing was that we actually had a gate, they just weren’t using it. Something about the below picture doesn’t look especially efficient. 😉
Remote boarding at Kuwait Airport
While boarding was supposed to start at 8:15AM, it only started at 8:35AM. There was a lot of frustration among passengers, since they felt like there wasn’t much communication from the staff.
Finally at 8:35AM our boarding passes were scanned, and we were among the first down the jet bridge. However, as they scanned the boarding passes they handed us new ones. They explained that our seats that we had reserved in row six were “broken,” and instead assigned us new seats in row nine.
As I walked onto the tarmac I noticed they were using what looked like a catering truck to load a passenger. As I later found out, there was a passenger with a serious medical condition onboard, and he was traveling in business class, along with a doctor, his family, etc., so that’s how he was transported.
Remote boarding at Kuwait Airport
We waited about five minutes for the bus to fill up, and then started the long drive to the plane. We drove past an Emirates 777 and all kinds of Kuwait Airways planes.
Emirates 777 Kuwait Airport
Eventually we got to a security checkpoint where they checked for explosives underneath the bus.
Security check heading to the plane
Eventually we got to an area where a few “heavies” were parked, including a Kuwait Airways 747 (which has an interesting story).
Kuwait Airways 747 Kuwait Airport
And then there was our beautiful Kuwait Airways 777-300ER.
Kuwait Airways 777 Kuwait Airport
No matter how you feel about Kuwait Airways as such, I think there’s no denying that they have a beautiful new livery.
Kuwait Airways 777 Kuwait Airport
Kuwait Airways 777 Kuwait Airport
Kuwait Airways 777 Kuwait Airport
Kuwait Airways Lounge bottom line
Kuwait Airport as such is a solid airport. It’s easy to use, with short lines at immigration and security. Beyond that, the food and dining options were pretty great. The Kuwait Airways lounge was nicer than I was expecting, though in fairness, I had pretty low expectations (given the overall reputation that Kuwait Airways has). Overall it was a perfectly nice place to pass time despite not being on my list of best airport lounges in the world.
The boarding process was a bit chaotic, due to the use of a remote stand despite having a vacant gate, and also the delayed boarding.
I was curious to see what the onboard experience would be like.
Thanks for this review.
We found KU to be good & reliable, Even KWI has decent lounges and good dining options 's Starbucks, Shake Shake, Potbelly, Pinkcberry We were impressed! Flying KU next July Frankfort to Bangkok and back.
The lounge is great. The airport is the worst airport I have ever been in getting through passport control. Too many people too small a space. You got Lucky. It is usually absolute chaos.
KWI is my home airport as well. Both of the lounges next to security/immigration our priority pass/lounge club lounges which helps. The Dasan lounge you were is the second best lounge at that terminal in my opinion. The best lounge is the dedicated Emirates lounge close to gate 21 I believe.
The 'Catering Truck' is used in most European airports to load infirm and disabled passengers to remote gates or to gates without a jetbridge (Ryanair for example), very common
"We were departing from gate 21, which was about a five minute walk from our gate."
I think you meant to say it was a five minute walk from the lounge, no?
I really like that lounge and have never been there when it is busy.
Good flight services from Kuwait to Colombo.other one service morning departure please (7.00 am)
Personally I wish, hope, and pray that all measures taken seriously in order to kick back out all non-Kuwaitis who sneaked in our society during the last 3 decades by all ways of unlegitimate gaining of our national IDs and humped our backs by misusing the rights nationals are given, which according to some it could reach nearly half a million population mainly from Saudi origins. We hope our leadership cleans our little community from...
Personally I wish, hope, and pray that all measures taken seriously in order to kick back out all non-Kuwaitis who sneaked in our society during the last 3 decades by all ways of unlegitimate gaining of our national IDs and humped our backs by misusing the rights nationals are given, which according to some it could reach nearly half a million population mainly from Saudi origins. We hope our leadership cleans our little community from those outsiders as soon as possible.
The small terminal at KWI can be overcrowded most of the time. Although there is a new and bigger terminal under construction. My understanding is that KU might soon use this terminal exclusively once the new terminal is completed.
@Endre, those are flags of Kuwait, lol
@Drew/@Essam,
What was the purpose of the proposed DNA swab? to check for religious blood lineage?
@Drew
The constitutional court revoked the DNA law before it was implemented.
Lucky, Did you have to give a DNA swab on arrival? I read that Kuwait was implementing that last year. How was that done?
So Lucky..to give you a bit of insight into Kuwait...
Yes..the country is really a foodie capital (or trying to be) in the Middle East, but of course with it being a dry country, that tends to be a problem.
Also..the peak times for the airporrt are normally Thursday night and Saturday nights (this is when people leave and come back from Kuwait to going to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, etc)
Why are the Hungarian flags hanging on ceiling?
As KWI is currently my home airport I agree with most said about the lounge. However the lines at immigration and security can stretch to a 2 hour wait if leaving during a peak time during the week.
Lucky must have been flying out during an off peak time.
"Kuwait Airways is a dry airline, including on the ground, so there was no alcohol."
Well, it is a dry country too (in theory)...