Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS)

Common Complaints

• Security and Passport Control Wait Times: This is the most prevalent and significant complaint. Travelers consistently report "extremely slow" and "horrendous" queues at both security and passport/border control, often exceeding 45 minutes to over an hour. Many have reported missing flights or nearly missing them due to these delays. Some reports from July 2024 mention improved border control times due to facial recognition, but these are contradicted by very recent traveler experiences from late 2024 and 2025.
• Staff Attitude and Inefficiency: Numerous reviews describe airport and security staff as "rude," "unhelpful," "indifferent," and "inefficient". There are frequent complaints about a lack of staff at checkpoints and poor organization leading to bottlenecks.
• Terminal Facilities and Seating Shortages: Especially in Terminal 3 (often used by low-cost carriers), facilities are criticized for being "terrible," "dirty," "smelly," and having inadequate seating and limited food/drink options. Even in other terminals, a general shortage of seating in waiting areas is noted.
• Expensive Rhônexpress: While convenient, the Rhônexpress tram is frequently cited as being "quite expensive".
• Poor Signage and Car Rental Experience: Some travelers report poor or confusing signage, particularly when navigating to and from car rental drop-off, which can be a long walk from the terminal.

Overall, while Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport boasts modern infrastructure and good transportation links, the overwhelming negative feedback regarding security, passport control wait times, and staff performance suggests that operational efficiency and passenger experience are significant and ongoing issues, particularly in peak periods. Travelers are advised to allocate ample time for pre-flight processes, especially immigration and security.