Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)

Common Complaints

• Challenging Transit Experience: A major and recurring complaint is the difficult transit process, particularly for international transfers. Passengers are often forced to go through immigration and passport control multiple times (up to four queues), even for connections, which can be very time-consuming and frustrating. Duty-free alcohol bought at departure airports may be confiscated during transit.
• Language Barrier and Unhelpful Staff (especially security): Many international travelers report significant difficulties due to a lack of English proficiency among some airport staff, particularly security personnel, who can be perceived as intimidating or unhelpful.
• Long Security and Immigration Wait Times: Wait times for security and immigration can be substantial, with recent reports indicating around 57 minutes for security and 60 minutes for immigration. Travelers are advised to arrive early, especially during peak hours.
• Poor Wi-Fi Connectivity: The free airport Wi-Fi is often reported as unreliable or difficult to access, sometimes requiring a local phone number or extensive personal identification.
• Limited Food and Shopping Options Post-Security/Duty-Free: While overall offerings exist, some areas, especially after security or in transit zones, have limited choices for food, drinks (like water), and duty-free shopping.
• Disorienting Layout and Long Walks: Despite its modern design, some find the airport's massive layout disorienting, leading to long walks between gates, which can be challenging, especially when in a hurry.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport offers a state-of-the-art environment with good general facilities and convenient city connections, making it a strong choice for direct travel to/from Guangzhou. However, its complex and often arduous transit procedures, coupled with potential language barriers and inconsistent Wi-Fi, can significantly detract from the experience for international connecting passengers. Travelers transiting through CAN should prepare for potentially lengthy processes and consider alternative routes if seamless transfers are a high priority.