Warsaw Airport: Navigating Efficiently Through Its Many Gates

Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) is Poland's largest and busiest airport, located just over 10km from the city centre. The airport consists of a single terminal, Terminal A, which has 45 passenger gates, 27 of which are equipped with jetways. Terminal A is divided into two main halls, the South Hall and the North Hall, which contain a total of 116 check-in desks. The South Hall contains check-in areas A and B, while the North Hall contains check-in areas C, D, and E. The airport offers a range of facilities for passengers, including ATMs, restaurants, lounges, and duty-free shopping.

Gates for Schengen and non-Schengen flights

Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) is Poland's busiest airport, serving over 14 million passengers a year. The airport has 45 passenger gates, with gates 9-26 being for non-Schengen flights and all others for domestic and Schengen routes.

The Schengen and non-Schengen areas are clearly signposted, with gates for non-Schengen flights on the right-hand side after security, separated by passport control. There are also additional checks for passengers flying to the USA.

The airport has a range of facilities for passengers, including lounges, observation decks, children's play areas, and a variety of shops and restaurants. There are also sleeping pods available in the non-Schengen area for a fee.

For passengers with reduced mobility, Warsaw Airport offers dedicated lanes at Security Control, lowered check-in and information desks, accessible toilets, and a dedicated rest area in the Schengen area.

Gate numbers and their locations

Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) has 45 passenger gates, 27 of which are equipped with jetways. The airport has a single terminal, Terminal A, which was formed by the merging of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 in 2010. The terminal is divided into two halls: the South Hall (formerly Terminal 1) and the North Hall (formerly Terminal 2).

The South Hall contains check-in areas A and B and Arrivals 1. The North Hall contains check-in areas C, D, and E and Arrivals 2.

The boarding gates are located on the first floor of Terminal A. Gates 24 to 1 (left), 25 to 30 (centre), and 31 to 45 (right). Gates 9-26 are for non-Schengen flights, and the remaining gates are for domestic and Schengen routes.

The airport also has several executive and business lounges located near certain gates. The Preludium Executive Lounge and Fantazja Executive Lounge are located near Gates 34/35 and 36/37, respectively. The LOT Business Lounge “Polonez” is located near Gate 24/26, and the ETIUDA Executive Lounge is located near Gates 1N-4N.

In addition to the gates and lounges, Warsaw Chopin Airport also offers a variety of other facilities and services, such as ATMs, currency exchange, restaurants, cafes, and shops. The airport also has an observation deck located on the third floor, offering panoramic views of the airport and runways.

Gate lounges

Warsaw Chopin Airport has a variety of lounges, some accessible to all departing passengers and others restricted to those flying with certain airlines. You can access any of the airport's lounges no earlier than three hours before your scheduled departure. The lounges offer a range of services, including self-service bars, charging stations, television, flight information screens, toilets, and showers.

Preludium Executive Lounge

Location: Near Gate 34/35

Opening Hours: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Access: Holders of Business Pass, Business Pass Premium or an entrance fee of €44 (PLN 190) per passenger.

Fantazja Executive Lounge

Location: Near Gate 34/35

Opening Hours: 5:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Access: Holders of Business Pass, Business Pass Premium or an entrance fee of €44 (PLN 190) per passenger.

LOT Business Lounge “Polonez”

Location: Near Gate 24/26

Opening Hours: 5:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Access: LOT and other Star Alliance airlines passengers only.

Etiuda Executive Lounge

Location: Near Gate 1N-4N

Opening Hours: 6:30 AM – 10:00 PM

Access: Holders of Business Pass, Business Pass Premium, passengers presenting a valid membership, loyalty or other card issued by a PPL contractor, or an entrance fee of €44 (PLN 190) per passenger.

LOT Business Lounge “Mazurek”

Location: Non-Schengen area

Opening Hours: 6:15 AM – 11:00 PM

Access: LOT and other Star Alliance airlines passengers only.

Bolero Executive Lounge

Location: Near Gates 7 and 8 on the lower level

Opening Hours: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Access: Showers are available.

VIP Lounge

Location: Exclusive lounge accessible only by car for those paying a high access fee.

Gate walking times

Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) is Poland's largest and busiest airport, located just over 10km from the city centre. The airport has 45 passenger gates, 27 of which are equipped with jetways.

Walking times from the security check to the gates are between 2 and 5 minutes. However, the distances within the terminal can be huge, so it is important to check the walking times before heading to your gate.

The airport has a single terminal, Terminal A, which was formed by the merging of the previous Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Terminal A is divided into two main halls, with 116 check-in desks. The South Hall contains check-in areas A and B (formerly Terminal 1), while the North Hall contains check-in areas C, D, and E (formerly Terminal 2).

Upon arrival at the airport, there are two arrival gates: Arrivals 1 and Arrivals 2. The departure area is located on the first floor, with two main halls that are further divided into five zones labelled A to E.

The airport is well-designed for a quick flow of passengers, with clear signage in both Polish and English. The train station is located on the lower floor, about a five-minute walk from the arrival gates, and passengers can reach the city centre within 20-30 minutes of clearing customs.

Gate facilities

Warsaw Chopin Airport has 45 passenger gates, 27 of which are equipped with jetways. The airport has a single integrated terminal called Terminal A, which was formed by the merging of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 in 2010. The terminal is divided into two halls: the South Hall (formerly Terminal 1) and the North Hall (formerly Terminal 2). The South Hall contains check-in areas A and B, while the North Hall contains check-in areas C, D, and E.

The gates are located on the first floor of the terminal, with two main halls that contain the check-in and baggage drop-off desks. The two halls are further subdivided into five zones, labelled A-E. There are 45 passenger gates in total, with gates 9-26 being for non-Schengen flights and the remaining gates serving domestic and Schengen routes. Gates 1-24 are to the right when passing through security, gates 25-37 are straight ahead, and gates 38-45 are to the left.

The airport offers a variety of facilities for passengers, including ATMs, currency exchange, luggage storage, and luggage wrapping. There are also several restaurants, cafes, and bars, as well as mobile charging spots and free showers. For an additional fee, passengers can access one of the airport lounges, which offer premium food, snacks, alcoholic drinks, Wi-Fi, flight monitors, and other amenities.

The airport also provides dedicated facilities for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility, including accessible toilets, lowered check-in and information desks, and a TOTUPOINT® navigation and information system for visually impaired travellers.

In addition to the gates and associated facilities, the airport also features an observation deck, located on the third floor, which offers panoramic views of the airport and runways. The observation deck is open from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm and is free for passengers to enjoy.

Frequently asked questions