DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT  Passenger Reviews and Traveller Reports

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT customer review : 23 January 2010 by Matt Heinrich

Customer Rating : 4/5

I've flown into and out of Denver several times. Since we live overseas, we always arrive at Denver after at least 30 hours of traveling, and late at night. However, Denver is one of a few airports that I land at after a long trip, and do not feel like I'm cramped, stressed, or outdated. The terminals are very large and spacious and allow a large amount of natural light to illuminate the area. Even during the height of the holiday season when there are hoards of people flocking to Denver, the airport gives the sense that it is never really crowded. Even the train system is rarely jammed with people. Despite that, the problem that always seems to hit me, is that my bag is always delayed or lost. After traveling for 30+ hours, the last thing you want to do is wait for your bag, or, even worse, be told that it will be delivered the following day. My suggestion is that Denver needs to find a real solution to their baggage problems. The "new" system has been a complete failure, and United will no longer be using it because of maintenance costs.

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT customer review : 29 October 2009 by D Hastings

Customer Rating : 4/5

As a long term resident of the Denver metro area, I appreciated the location of the previous Stapleton International Airport for passenger convenience (excellent bus connections, for example) and layout (you could walk to any gate relatively quickly), but recognized the value of relocating and improving the runway situation for operations. DIA's downsides are its location, vulnerability of passenger and crew access during snow or ice storms (which sometimes close the access road, and regularly make it hazardous), security (Hint: there is a generally less used security post to Concourse A that I use even when flying from a different concourse - access over the direct access bridge, past the changing art exhibit is very pleasant - then transfer to another concourse if needed), and lack of a walking or people- mover alternative to the trains in accessing Concourses B and C as is available in ATL, for example. Somewhat better direct international connectivity would be nice. DIA's upsides are its architecture, relative spaciousness, airport art, the very pleasant bridge and changing art exhibition space between the terminal and Concourse A (leading to that third, less- utilized though smaller, security checkpoint), runway design, passenger-handling capacity (except for extreme travelling periods), and a couple of food and beverage outlets. The personal greeting by Denver's mayor as you arrive in the train at the terminal is a nice touch.

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT customer review : 16 October 2009 by Brian Kahin

Customer Rating : 3/5

A very nice airport in many respects. Internet access is poor. Abysmal free Internet service is erratic and won't permit sending SMTP email. They should allow pay services in addition. This is a big problem for business users, and I haven't been able to find where to complain to. (Quest and then Skyport used to provide free LAN connections for business users but the space has been abandoned [Terminal B upstairs]. Nearest motels are 15 minutes away. The airport is supposedly the second largest (52 sq miles) but the amount of wasted space is truly extraordinary.

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT customer review : 21 July 2009 by D Gardenier

Customer Rating : 4/5

We had some time on a stopover and thought it might be nice to show our sin the terminal building, which is a great and impressive building. To our surprise, we had left the secure area simply by staying on the train to the terminal -- there is no indication that you have done so. We also felt that the scrutiny was severe. Liquids that were allowed through at our airport of origin were confiscated at Denver. We were lucky that the lines were not too long.

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT customer review : 15 June 2009 by P McCorkle

Customer Rating : 4/5

I've been through DIA many times and it's a pretty good airport. One of the best for the US. There are a lot of shops in and outside the secure area. Baggage is fast. Customs is fast. Security isn't always fast, but it's never ungodly slow. Moving around the airport is pretty painless too. Personnel at ticket counters are professional and curteous. All the staff around the airport are generally pretty helpful. The only bad thing about DIA is that it's a hub for United. So if you go through DIA on an international flight or connecting to international, you're probably stuck with United, and that's no fun.

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT customer review : 2 February 2009 by A Knuken

Customer Rating : 3/5

I fly in and out of DIA regularly. For the most part, it is quite a pleasant airport, not terribly crowded, pretty efficient. Long security lines are possible, especially coming from places like Mexico City. Hold onto your bags! I put my baggage 10 feet in front of me, and a porter took it from in front of my eyes. He thought they were someone else's bags. By the time I caught up with him, he had loaded the bags into a limo, which then drove away. I tried for weeks to get the baggage back (it contained my passport, wallet, $1,000 in photo equipment, warm jacket, house keys, laptop, cell phone - everything you never want stolen), but nobody was able to help me get it back. There are some dishonest people milling about. Please be aware of that, no matter how tired or safe you feel at DIA.

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT customer review : 26 November 2008 : by Ronald DePass

Customer Rating : 5/5

Security goes fast and so does baggage claim. Excellent terminal for connections. I would use them again, shame they dont have connections with Tocumen PTY Airport. The architecture looks beautiful.

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT customer review : 29 September 2008 : by Neil Ramsay

Customer Rating : 4/5

Spent a total of 6 hours in UA's terminal during two separate transit stops. plenty to keep you occupied. shops are varied as are the food outlets. seating is plentiful, rest rooms are clean, gates are large enough to cope with full flights and departure info readily available throughout. staff are obliging. My airport of choice for transfers.

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT customer review : 7 July 2008 : by Emmet Ferwerda

Customer Rating : 4/5

Been through this airport a few times over the last 5-10 years; it is an excellent facility in terms of architecture and service. I have had some problems with the security, but I have not visited for 2-3 years, so things may have changed. In all, a very nice facility which I will gladly use again.

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT customer review : 5 July 2008 : by K Kapoor

Customer Rating : 4/5

Check-in is generally quick and efficient. Security wait times can build up, especially at the two main security check-points. Overall, TSA staff courteous. The inter-terminal tram comes every three minutes. DIA has a huge variety of gift shops, book stores, restaurants, and coffee houses, though the restaurants do tend to be kind of generic. If you are planning on connecting from an international flight to a domestic flight, I would recommend keeping at least a two-hour gap, as customs in Denver can be a little slow, but you should be able to get out in about an hour. Domestic arrival into Denver is easy, as baggage generally comes quickly, RTD skyride buses get you into the city for about $10. Thankfully, due to the recent surge by Southwest, DIA isn't dominated by United Airlines, but flying out of Denver, is still a little more expensive than other US airports. The architecture is stunning and the airport looks new despite being nearly 13 years old! The only negatives at this airport are the location, the security lines, and the alluring loneliness of the airport, due to its large size.

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT customer review : 30 June 2008 : by S Srinivasan

Customer Rating : 3/5

Main problems at DEN are security waits at peak hours (often 30 minutes or more, since they funnel everybody through two checkpoints, which are often understaffed), the large distances between terminals, and the distance from the city itself. The positives are the relatively friendly staff, good express bus service to the city center available right outside the terminal doors, free WiFi in the terminals, and ability to withstand winter weather (I've flown through three times during light/moderate snow, and no problems with delays). I wouldn't want to try and make a connecting flight here, especially if there's less than 90 minutes between flights, but it's an OK airport if you're starting and ending your trip there.

Denver International Airport review by Ronald DePass

8 April 2008   Customer Rating :

People are friendly and real. That's customer service! The facilities are great, and customs is an easy thing to do. There's a lot of walk involved but that I can say, it's not a negative point. I'd add closer places to eat at Terminal A. Other than that, loved the experience and would enjoy visiting this airport again.

Denver International Airport review by K Sexton

28 March 2008   Customer Rating :

This airport was clearly designed and built right before the security changes after 9/11. All the good restaurants are on the wrong side of security and therefore deserted, while the small food stands in the concourses are over crowded. The wait/line at security is monumental, and there needs to be an alternative to using the train to get to your concourse, such as the pedestrian tunnel at Hartsfield. Forcing everyone onto the sardine can train is not fair. I realize airports are not something one would want to live next to, but the location is crazy. Easily any hour's commute from south Denver, combined with the rigors of the over-inflated airport itself can add hours to a trip that once in the air may be shorter than your wait at security.

Denver International Airport review by D Brock

14 March 2008   Customer Rating :

For its size, a very good airport, especially if transiting. A bit less if starting or ending there, as security lines and baggage are a bit problematic. Security lines variable, often quick, sometimes maddeningly long and understaffed. They are making some progress: for example, having people who will guide you across to the "other" screening if one is less crowded (DEN has two main screening lines, with their entrances at the far ends of the very large main building, so it is difficult to quickly decide which one to use. There is a third, smaller screening across the bridge to Concourse A). Baggage claim can be a wait, and seems to be getting worse. Baggage claim also seems needlessly cramped: for example, all Frontier baggage is on three carousels (Frontier is Denver's 2nd largest carrier), so they are perpetually crowded (the signage often showing more than one page worth of flights coming on each carousel), when other carousels are empty.

Denver International Airport review by Rohan Kapoor

9 January 2008   Customer Rating :

A functional airport. Check-in efficient and security waits generally less than 10 minutes. Concourse A is the closest and the walk across the bridge provides a stunning view of the airport. Most of the staff friendly. Customs/immigration process has been improved and I was out in less than 45 minutes after my flight from London Heathrow. Be prepared to walk a lot at Denver because the airport is so spread out - my guess is that you'll probably walked at least a mile by the time you reach your gate.

Denver International Airport review by Charles Roberts

7 August 2007   Customer Rating :

I've been through Denver dozens of times, and find it on the whole to be one of the best airports in the US. Despite its size, it's easy to get around, and I've found airport staff to always be helpful. As the airport grows in passenger volume, I wish that they had more-frequent trains between terminals and that shuttle services could drop passengers off at check-in level, but those are my only complaints about what is otherwise a good airport to use.

Denver International Airport review by Pat Bates

4 April 2007   Customer Rating : n/a

I use it fairly frequently and find it simple and spacious, with stunning architecture to boot. Never have had a problem with long security wait lines - generally shorter than other major US airports. If you have to go to concourse B or C, it is annoying to have to use the train, and customs is sometimes woefully understaffed, but aside from that I think Denver is one of the best airports in the US.

Denver International Airport review by Guy Senior

20 March 2007

Flew in and out a few days ago. International arrivals/immigration has been expanded since I last flew in, but still took at least 40 minutes to get through. What was frustrating was that it then took about half an hour for bags to arrive, so all in all well over an hour to get out and this from Concourse A, which is the nearest and smallest. Flying out, a different story. No queues at all at the BA check in and no more than 10 minutes delay at security and less than 5 minutes for the fingerprint test. Generally, this is a clean and spacious airport - easy to get around and with splendid architecture.

Denver International Airport review by James Faulkner

26 January 2007

Flew into Denver during the second blizzard, managed to land ok but waited 1hr 30 mins for luggage to arrive, and had to catch a train to the luggage belts. Not a great first impression for an Australian, and luckily an Indian man who lived in Denver showed me where to go, otherwise I was lost. Used the airport 3 more times in the next 12 days and found it ok. Probably the best in the US, but very average by world standards still. Some of the homeland security people were very nice, and some very, very rude. United check in staff uneducated, and impossible to deal with, and the police out the front were shocking! Then the car hire people didn't know the difference between a 4wd and a front wheel assist.

Denver International Airport review by Neil Ramsay

9 January 2007

Transited through Denver concourse B twice in 3 weeks. Always a pleasure to use this airport. Procedures ran smoothly and staff are always helpful. Plenty of places to pick up a quick snack, a reasonable meal or a coffee. Gate change announcements are clear and departure/arrival info is readily available. Gate lounges are comfortable and spacious. Luckily I missed out on the blizzard induced 3 day shutdown.

Denver International Airport review by Rohan Kapoor

2 November 2006

I fly through DIA every few month and find the airport to be one the best in the country. No matter which airline you fly on the check-in is always fast and efficient. Security can be a bit of a pain as it takes a long time, but everything else is ok. The automated train reaches the concourses quickly and all concourses have a nice selection of restaurants and book stores. Even the immigration process goes by quickly. Upon arrival from Frankfurt I was greeted by a friendly customs agent and retrived my baggage with in an hour of my arrival. The only problem with the airport is the long taxi times and the bumpy departures and arrivals. Overall, DIA is a very modern and pleasant airport.

Denver International Airport review by Katherine Allen

12 August 2006

I fly frequently through DIA, for work and to visit family. Arrivals and connections are painless, (other than the 30 minute drive back to the city for arrivals) but Departures are awful. Security is combined for all three terminals, and the lines are badly managed - expect to spend up to an extra two hours on very busy travel days, or an hour on normal days, waiting for security. Other than the security lines, everything is fast, efficient, and friendly - even the food leaves nothing to complain about.

Denver International Airport review by Neil Ramsay

12 August 2006

Transited thru Denver three times in a few weeks. Always a pleasure to do so at this airport. Staff are friendly and efficient, navigation and terminal transfer are easy, flight info is readily available, gate lounges are comfortable, food concessions are acceptable and there is plenty to keep one occupied on a longer layover.

Denver International Airport review by J Waters

12 August 2006

Traveling across the country in large airports and small, Denver International is clean, well marked, friendly and informative. Best of all ladies, it has tons of bathrooms with large amounts of stalls, so typically no waiting even on the busiest of holiday travel days. DIA is a significant ride from downtown Denver, but thus is the West. Anticipated light rail in the next few years will eventually make even that less of a problem.

Denver International Airport review by Dan Binder

19 January 2006

Connecting in Denver on United is extremely easy, since almost all of their flights are in the same concourse. Getting around is very quick with all the moving walkways and spacious hallways. Even switching concourses by tram is fast. Originating at DIA can be frustrating, as the security lines do build up at times. Overall, a pleasant airport to fly into, though.

Denver International Airport  by Neil Ramsay

8 August 2005

Transited thru United's Denver terminal twice in 3 days. Found it spacious and easy to navigate. The moving walkways made transfer a breeze. Arrival/departure info was readily available and departure lounges comfortable enough with plenty of seating. The public address system advising gate changes was audible and clear. Food concessions are basic and shops adequate if you have time to spare. The confusion caused by a sudden thunderstorm which closed the airport for an hour was handled professionally by staff who seemed to work well under pressure. All in all, a good impression.

Denver International Airport  by J Stives

29 June 2005

Automated DIA has a lot of liabilities that, probably over time, will improve, but distance from the city, the expensive toll rides to and from ($1.75 every 8 miles each way), wrong information about parking (my last trip the signs into the airport said lots were full, but indoor lots had plenty of space left), and, sadly, the inner courtyard area is now totally taken up with security lines and checkpoints. Final advise: don't fly there unless you adjust your schedule for much more time on the ground than you might expect.

Denver International Airport  by Alex Dodd

4 June 2005

Denver International Airport is a modern, well designed, stylish airport. Prior to this month, immigration and customs have been horrendous and so has security, however thanks to staffing upgrades and recent renovations, the lines have been cut in half and more immigration desks and staff have been added. The same goes for security checkpoints. Most major airlines fly out of DIA and offer non-stop long-haul flights (Denver to London and such). Also Denver has a host of smaller, low-cost airlines such as Frontier (a Denver-based low cost carrier that flies domestically as well as to Mexico and Alaska), Jet Blue, and Ted (United's low-cost, Denver-based carrier). Also Denver's high tech baggage system that was criticized when the airport opened has been upgraded making it the fastest and most reliable baggage system.  It takes about 3 minutes from the main terminal to the concourse and it has traditional music playing and it features native Colorado artwork. You can also choose to take the underground train to concourse A if you choose (you have to take the train to get to concourse B or C.)

Denver International Airport  by Tim Atchley

13 April 2005

DEN is a great airport for those of us flying domestic on Frontier or Continental. The A -Gates make it a beautiful walk to baggage claim. The bridge to the main concourse has a wonderful view of the Rockies and the background music puts you in a nice frame of mind. I enjoy the wide-open spaces and lack of congestion the airport offers. I don’t even mind the ride to the rental car lot. This airport has an alluring loneliness to it.

Denver International Airport  by Ed Shaxted

30 March 2005

A nice new modern airport but so spread out its ridiculous. Also its so far from Denver that I wonder why it has the name. My major criticism however is the inefficient immigration arrangements. The first time it took 4 hours, the second 3 hours. They really need to open more desks, especially when more than one aircraft arrives. Beware of the departure lounges - the screens only give info about the sponsoring airline's flights - not the others

Denver International Airport  by Arik Zedlman

11 January 2005

I fly weekly through Denver. It's pretty and modern, but seems to have been built on the premise that land was cheap -- so they put everything on the largest possible footprint. The whole place was built for the convenience of airplanes, not passengers; it takes a good 25 minutes to get from the airplane to the outside door, and luggage is usually another 20 minutes. And somehow, only ten years after the place opened, there isn't enough parking and you often have to use shuttle lots three miles from the terminal. And they put it practically in Kansas, a good 20 minutes farther than the old airport from essentially everywhere. Basically, it's a fine airport for anyone who isn't in a hurry. Give me a compact old airport like DCA or MDW any day.

Denver International Airport  by Neill Bell

20 July 2004

Flew in twice last year, once during the busy run up to Christmas. A good airport with fair choice of shops, bars etc & helpful "Cowboys" wandering around, ready to direct incoming & out-going travellers - even handing out free post cards of the airport! Immigration can be a long wait - count an hour - but at least they are civil, unlike some other US entry points I could mention. In all, a well thought out & friendly place.

Denver International Airport  by Neil Ramsay

11 June 2004

Denver is a large airport by any standard. The 3 concourses are connected by train so transfer is easy. The united concourse is long but moving footways take the stress out of gate changes. Flight information is well displayed although confusion between arrivals and departures maybe a problem for the unwary. Gate lounges have comfortable seating. Food and drink concessions are numerous and cater to all tastes.

Denver International Airport  by Danny Barnes

28 December 2003

Denver is a beautiful airport, if you are flying United. Terminals A & B have nice new furniture and wonderful shops. Terminal C, the "Every airline that is not United" terminal, has few (and boring) shops, and all the old rotting furniture they brought over from Stapleton.

Denver International Airport  by Pauline Sani

31 October 2003

A very beautiful airport - but tell that to international travellers arriving after a 10 hour flight from London - get to immigration control and stand in line for an hour because there are only 2 officers on duty to process 250 passengers!!! Missed my connection flight although my BA flight was half an hour early!

Denver International Airport  by Li Ping

22 August 2003

Flown through this airport a number of times. Very beautiful design, reminds me of KLIA in Malaysia. Easy access to the other terminals via rail. Within each terminal, there are food choices, which could be better in terms of variety. Thankfully, there are shops and restaurants to entertain yourself landside as well, which is a bonus. Otherwise, a very pleasant airport to transit through.