Alright folks, grabbed my passport and suitcase, headed for Sochi Adler Airport yesterday. Figured I’d share the real deal ’cause online info can be sketchy. Buckle up.
Getting There & First Look
Hopped off the train at Adler station. Easy enough. Then… confusion hit. Signs for the airport weren’t super obvious, kinda had to guess the direction past the station building. Ended up following the crowd dragging suitcases. A short walk later, yep, there’s the airport. Smaller than I pictured. Outside looked kinda basic, no fancy modern vibe, functional I guess.
Inside – Where’s Everything?
Pushed through the doors into the departures hall. First impression? Bit cramped. Felt crowded fast, even though my flight wasn’t peak time. Looked around for check-in counters. Took a minute to spot my airline’s desks – signs weren’t huge and bold. Decent line formed already. Staff looked kinda tired but got me through check-in okay. Luggage drop was right there, smooth enough.
The Security Shuffle
Security next. Line snaked around some rope barriers. Felt slow moving. Had my belt, watch, laptop out ready. They weren’t rushing anyone. My carry-on got pulled aside. Guard just kinda pointed at it silently and opened it. Rooted around a bit – turns out my spare power bank was buried weird. Shrugged, put it back, waved me on. No drama, just a delay.
Airport Lounge or Bust?
Post-security, thought maybe relax a bit. Public seating? Limited. A lot of chairs were taken, folks camped out like it was a bus station. Few shops dotted around – overpriced snacks and souvenirs mostly. Looked for a cafe with space. Nope. Ended up leaning near a wall near my gate. Felt a bit like waiting in a glorified bus stop terminal. Boarding screens did their job though, clear enough.
Gate Crush & Boarding
Heading to the gate area – wow, narrow walkways. Felt the squeeze again. Announcements over the loudspeaker weren’t crystal clear, a bit muffled. Boarding itself wasn’t too bad once it started. They checked boarding passes twice. No jet bridge at my gate, just walk outside and climb stairs onto the tarmac. Felt a bit… budget airline-ish, even though it wasn’t. Luggage carts driving past kinda close on the tarmac walk!
Overall Real Talk
So what’s the verdict? Kept it real:
- It’s small & functional: Don’t expect glamour. It works.
- Crowds happen fast: Feels cramped easily. Brace yourself.
- Signage could be better: Especially from train to terminal and finding your airline counter initially.
- Security takes time: Factor in extra minutes, they ain’t rushing.
- Limited comfy spaces: Don’t plan a long layover chilling here.
- Staff were… present: Not overly friendly, not rude either. Just doing the job.
- Felt a bit dated: Not falling apart, just very no-frills.
Made my flight, bags arrived. That’s the basic win. But yeah, Sochi Adler is an experience alright. Manage expectations and you’ll get through.
