Zante A to Z guide to Zakynthos Greece

The UK's Internet Portal for Zakynthos

terminal is clean and airy but you still have to queue for a long time to check in, although you are no longer outside in the heat. Watch the weight of your bags. Some people on our flight were 2kg over weight and were charged �50. Buy goods in resort as Duty Free at the airport is more expensive. Wrap a bottle in a towel in your suitcase and carry some shoes and clothes in you hand luggage to avoid being over the weight limit. Cigarettes are much cheaper in the supermarkets although prices are increasing fast due to rises in VAT due to the Greek economy problems. Still not enough seats in the terminal. But hey, it's Greece!!! Still had a great holiday and will be back soon. Janet Parr, Lytham St. Annes

Things in the duty free shop not that cheap so suggest you buy goods in resort. Also you don't get very long at the airport, good job too as there is not much to do.

Even though they have refurbished/built a new check in/lounge area not impresed with lack of technology, they had wrote all our seat numbers and names on the tickets, messed up though when they gave some people the same seat numbers, try wathcing that one be sorted out on the plane, especially when some people end up being split up through the airports error. Also check in very slow!

I have been in June and never really been bothered with them then. From July onwards they are more inclined to be around to annoy you unfortunately as I have experienced when staying in July/August/September!!

Definitely much improved from last year in that there is no waiting for ages outside in the sun...just waiting ages inside but with air con! It was very well organised though as the tour company reps make sure that you are in the right queue and filter you through the various aspects of check in, passport control etc.

Yes, the snack bar is expensive (and it is only snacks such as baguettes, sausage rolls, crisps etc) but, as I've reported previously, aren't all airport food and drink outlets one big rip off?

Much better toilet facilities in the new departure area BUT still nowhere near enough seats to cater for the vast numbers of flights which leave the airport on Sundays. We were delayed 1.5hours and did manage to get a seat for a while so better than last year when we sat on the steps leading up to the duty free shop.

Greek air traffic control and Zante airport conspired to delay us both going to and leaving Zante.

On the way out we sat on the plane at East Midlands airport for 2 hours waiting for Greek airspace to clear us to land at their end. Then, when we got to within sight of Zante, the plane diverted to Kefalonia as the pilot (allegedly) had been told to circle for 1.5hours as there was no space for us at Zante airport. He hadn't enough fuel (allegedly) and so diverted to Kefalonia where we sat on the plane for another 1.5 hours. We were all somewhat concerned that we were not taken off the plane whilst it was refuelled. In the event of a fire, we would have stood very little chance of getting off the plane as they only opened the front two doors to allow the airport staff to keep coming on board to liaise with the captain and cabin crew.

We'd been on the plane for so long (from 6.45a.m. - 2.20p.m. in total) that the toilet system was full so they had to empty that before we could take off for Zante. During all of this time, they only did the normal meals and drinks service during the actual flight. No such thing as complimentary drinks, either, which given what we'd gone through would have been a small but nonetheless welcome gesture from First Choice. Talking to other passengers, we all felt the same that the captain and the cabin crew were all rather blase about the delays but the crew on the return journey were so much more professional, friendly and helpful.

Interestingly, when we finally landed at Zante airport, there was only one other plane there so we couldn't fathom why we'd had to wait so long.......

Thank goodness Zante is such a beautiful island that it worth the hassle of getting there and back....when we went last year we were delayed 5 hours going out (technical problems with the plane (allegedly) and about an hour coming back.....First Choice again........perhaps I'd better book with another airline in future.