PALMA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 26 January 2010 by L Cadwallader

Customer Rating : 4/5

I know my name already appears several times for comments on PMI, but a January transit provided a completely different experience from any of our previous visits. It was pretty quiet when we arrived on a Saturday morning after a long taxi round to area D, though there was a queue at passport control as 2 flights ex-UK arrived almost simultaneously. Departing on a Tuesday morning, though, was positively eerie: the place was almost deserted and at security there were just 4 staff and 2 of us! I've never seen an airport so quiet. Yet even with only 3 flights departing during our 2 hours there, we still had to wait a while before our gate number appeared on the screens. I can't understand the reluctance of airports to announce the designated gate well in advance because the staff who take wheelchair passengers to their departure points always seem to know which gate long before the number is displayed on the screens. Despite checking in online, I even had to go to an easyJet desk (also deserted apart from the staff) simply to find out which area (D again) to head for after security. Is it to keep passengers on their toes that information is only released bit by bit?

PALMA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 5 November 2009 by L Cadwallader

Customer Rating : 4/5

Surprised to find how busy Palma was midweek halfway through October (not even UK half term week). Both inward and outward flights involved bus transfers from/to remotish stands and through area A which was fairly crowded. We were told on our return flight that one runway was closed, so perhaps all flights were concentrated to just part of the airport. The result was shorter walks, but busier concourses. Perfunctory passport control on arrival, long queues at security on departure, though the queues did move reasonably quickly. Even so, some people had to queue-jump, presumably to avoid missing their flights. Also there were lots of flight calls for named passengers who had failed to board on time. PMI is a very big and busy airport and you need to allow for this if you want to reach your gate on schedule.

PALMA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 9 June 2009 : by M Preston

Customer Rating : 4/5

Surprisingly efficient by Spanish standards, or perhaps not so surprising considering that the main user appears to be Air Berlin and the majority of passengers German. A long security queue was cleared quickly, the airport is spacious and pedestrian traffic seems to flow well throughout. Overall a good experience.

PALMA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 9 April 2009 : by L Cadwallader

Customer Rating : 4/5

Back at PMI again, but as this was early April it was noticeably quieter than on our previous transits. Easyjet flights seem to be using area C again after being in area A for a while, so it meant we were back to the extra long cross-airport hikes. No delays at passports in either direction, and quite swiftly through security on the return journey. We didn't have to take our watches off this time, but there were notices advising that certain types of footwear would have to be removed e.g. ladies full length boots. The only minor hiccup was that our return flight to Liverpool seemed to be omitted from some of the screens, which could have been difficult for passengers who had checked in online. Quite a few of the food outlets were not yet open, but otherwise the airport seemed to be functioning efficiently. PMI seems to be one of the more congenial holiday destination airports, so long as you are prepared for the long walks!

PALMA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 6 November 2008 : by Joe Bailey

Customer Rating : 4/5

Good airport, surprisingly efficient. It can suffer like most charter airports from peak time crowding, but it seems to cope ok.

PALMA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 12 September 2008 : by Leslie Cadwallader

Customer Rating : 3/5

Much of what I said last year still applies to Palma, in some cases even more so. My wife and I were on our own this time and travelling with hand luggage only, yet both transits took approximately an hour. The chief problem on arrival was the passage through passport control: we joined a queue that stretched halfway along a main bridge/concourse and shuffled forwards slowly only to discover that the other equally large queue to our left had to filter into our queue at the end as there was only one man checking passports! Had he actually been doing any more than merely glancing at them, it would have taken even longer still. Given the cursory nature of the check, I did wonder what was the point of any check at all. (There was none at all on our departure, in contrast to our experience last year.) The hold-up on the return journey was through security, where the queues stretched back from a double and very long set of "chicanes" into the main concourse. Again it proved the case that the twin queues filtered into one (because of building alterations going on?), so transit through security took over half an hour. Security is still fairly strict, with watches having to be removed, but there are plenty of staff who seemed both efficient and pleasant. Even so, transit at the height of the season (this was September) must be a nightmare. The metal detectors through which one has to pass also seem to go off fairly frequently: I set it off and the only possible reason was my spectacles which have never been a problem before. These delays apart, Palma still seems to function fairly well: plenty of seats in the gate areas, loads of shops etc (if you want them) though they don't seem particularly cheap, and loos at regular intervals. You do have to walk long distances, though, and watch out for the electric "buggies" used to transport the less mobile. It was noticeable that there were frequent "last calls" for missing passengers, so anyone departing from Palma needs to be aware of how long it can take from check-in to departure gate. Also if you do need to check in and have luggage, the desks are on one floor and departures are on the floor above, but the indoor route from the car park accesses the upper floor with limited lift availability to the floor below.

Palma Airport review by L Cadwallader

1 May 2007   Customer Rating : n/a

An airport for the energetic because of the huge distances to be covered from arrival gate to baggage reclaim or from check-in to departure gate. Everything seems to work well but there could be more lifts because access from car parking/car hire collection or return to check-in usually involves going up or down one floor with a laden trolley. Transfer of less mobile passengers is usually efficient, but on our return journey from Palma to Liverpool yesterday the two elderly and less mobile members of our party were deposited at the wrong location and I had to start searching for them! Luckily I found them fairly quickly, but it could have been a real problem. Security is thorough and slow moving: even wrist watches have to be removed. Passport control en route to departure gates was also slow yesterday: two queues 50 yards or more in length gradually combining into one with just one man to inspect the passports. All in all, you need to allow plenty of time to make your way from check-in to departure gate: 30 -45 minutes at least.

Palma Airport review by R Gray

20 November 2006

We travelled via Palma Airport in Sept 06 and both ways it was clean efficient and friendly. It is enormous and seems well designed to cope with the number of folk who travel to Majorca each year. The shops airside had prices much lower than Majorca or UK.

Palma Airport review by Philippa Mizen

24 May 2006

We found it to be a very clean efficient airport - obviously noticably busier in May then in the winter months. I can imagine it must be heaving in July/August. Depending on where your aircraft lands you are probably in for a long walk although there are moving walkways to assist. There are plenty of toilets - in fact it seems that every gate has them. There also seems to be plenty of seating especially at the gates. Food quite expensive but then airport food always is. All in all - a good and pleasant airport.

Palma Airport review by John Oram

15 January 2006

PMI is a nice airport. It is very large so I imagine it can cope when busy although I have seen it only in two Januarys. Spain's new smoking laws are relatively effective thus quite properly limiting the impact of the filthy habit in the terminal although the restrictions are not well observed by arriving passengers. The toilets were many and very clean. Food outlets seem limited. I rarely complain about airport or airline food but I have to say that the alleged Gourmet cheese and ham sandwich for which I paid 4.60 euro was quite one of the most hideous I have ever had.

Palma Airport review by Roger Bryen

21 November 2005

Airport was efficient, both as an arriving and departing passenger. The airport public areas and toilets very clean, and the eating facilities and shops did not charge the 'rip off' prices usually associated with airports. The signs provided for passenger guidance were satisfactory, although perhaps better guidance could had been provided to assist departing passengers to locate their correct check in desk - I found mine by pure good fortune. All staff with whom I came into contact with were polite.

Palma Airport review by Roger Geisler

25 August 2005

I was reasonably impressed with the modern image it presented, though comments about 'long walks' are well justified - leave plenty of time to make it to the departure gates on time! One drawback was the 'security' arrangements. We all appreciate the need for heightened vigilance in these troubled times, but the demeanour of the security staff appeared a tad arrogant ...and inconsistent to boot. By comparison, I felt the security 'scrutiny' at Heathrow was more subtle, courteous and far more effective. 

Palma Airport review by Simon Barrie

22 July 2005

I have just travelled back from Palma airport. It was disgusting. We were told that the cleaners had gone on strike. There were bins overflowing, half eaten sandwiches on the floor etc. I was expecting to see rats and other vermin, but did not. You could not sit on the chairs for rubbish. If the airport was in such a state (and this was 10:30am) I would have thought the food outlets would have closed, but they were still serving food. (If you wanted to sit down the tables were next to a large pile of rubbish). Not a good experience at all.

Palma Airport review by Gareth Evans

8 April 2005

The airport is wonderful, clean and spacious, the staff are very friendly and helpful. Although on the downside the catering facilities are not up to a high standard but the shops are ok. There were also bird droppings near the baggage collection part of the airport which didn't look to nice but the overall journey was brilliant and we would certainly travel from Palma airport again as the customer service was remarkable and most of the staff working in the airport were more than willing to help.

Palma Airport review by J Jones

6 October 2004

If you are elderly or disabled don't bother going to Majorca. Palma Airport's provision for such passengers is grim. Have just travelled back from Palma -at check in I informed the clerk that assistance had been booked for 83 year old father. I was asked whether he required a buggy or a wheelchair (not being informed how important this choice would be) - opted for the buggy. I checked with the person collecting him that he would be taken to the gate - 04 and was assured he would. As it happened, we walked to the gate only to find that he wasn't there. I brought this to the attention of the clerks at the gate desk and was told "he will be here". They called the flight, everyone started getting on the bus - and he still hadn't arrived. Then we saw him staggering down a flight of stairs, totally unaware of where he was going, and sit in the nearest available seat (at the opposite end of the hall). I informed the despatcher at the gate desk and she said "but buggies can't travel down stairs"!! My answer isn't repeatable, but needless to say the lack of care aforded to elderly or disabled left me absolutely staggered. Why they should think an elderly man who needs a buggy to get through the airport would be able to walk downstairs and another 200 yds or so beats me.

Palma Airport review by David Morgan

4 October 2004

Used PMI for the first time on a week's holiday. Very spacious, very long walks (but lots of auto walkways), generally a good feel to the place. On arrival, baggage arrived fairly quickly, very easy to find hire-car desks (and no queue at mine - Avis), very easy to get out to the hire-car parking - actually the shortest walk of the whole arrival process! Pretty good too, I expect, for those using transit buses/coaches - everything was right outside the terminal building. Found it straightforward to get away and headed in the right direction by car. When returning, again easy to drop off the hire car, get a trolley and get into the terminal building. Need to use a lift to get to the Departures level. Check-in quick and easy although we were using Business Class, so it should be. A busy Saturday morning but the queues at Security were horrendous - and no fast-track that I could discern. Business lounge virtually empty, plenty of drink options, limited snacks, lacking in atmosphere. A full 15-minute walk to the gate. Overall, a good experience.

Palma Airport review by Claire Baxter

12 September 2004

Palma International is vastly improved from it's early days and the new terminal is wonderful BUT it's a heck of a long walk once you get off the plane - I thought we'd reach the sea before we got to baggage reclaim! Cafe's upstairs are very poorly laid out, not much choice and expensive but then aren't most airport cafes! There could be more tables to eat at and certainly could do with several staff to ensure tables are kept clear and clean but other than that, I could think of far worse airports to fly into and out of!

Palma Airport review by J. Igor Prieto

11 August 2004

I have lived in Palma for the last year or so and used the airport frequently. I agree that this brand-new terminal is spacious and well-designed. The only too often long distance involved in getting to your departure gate is pleasantly shortened though efficient moving walkways. The airport is conveniently located near the city and cabs are plentiful. The bus option is equally convenient and certainly cheaper although it should be noted that buses are not entirely reliable when it comes to getting to/from the airport either early in the morning or late in the evening. Negative aspects include: The blunt inadequacy of the existing catering facilities in the departures area. These are basically limited to two (twin) self-service outlets with a more than limited and certainly overpriced range of products. Tables are scarce and dirty. one often has to remove what others have left before. The only existing restaurant is poorly located at one end of the terminal and consequently often passes unnoticed by the traveller. The standards of cleanliness can be much improved. The otherwise pleasant relaxing, open-air area is often found in appalling conditions with rubbish and bird droppings scattered all over the place. The retail facilities are small and unattractive. The perfume bar is normally crowded and rather inconveniently located at one end of the duty-free supermarket selling groceries and other stuff which is rather off-putting during the perfume-shopping experience. Non-smoking regulations are bluntly ignored by both travellers and staff alike. The only two existing passport and security control areas often mean that the traveller faces a rather long queue. The arrivals halls are cold and depressing. The low concrete ceiling creates an oppressive atmosphere. As in many other airports in Spain, smokers automatically light their cigarettes the moment they get here when smoking is theoretically not allowed in this area.

Palma Airport review by Ronald Rios

7 July 2004

I used PMI airport as my destination from Miami, in June 2004, and the comments here are accurate. PMI is a large, well-designed, very modern and almost spotless airport, well-designed for handling the more than 19 Million Passengers per year, the third-busiest in Spain, and placing it in the top 15 airports in Europe. My only complaints are the large and unorganized crowds in front of the security checkpoints, (could learn something about crowd-handling from Disney), and for those unwary passengers, the baggage carts do not have brakes, and there is this steepish incline in an area. I can imagine one letting go, even briefly, at this point, and having your cart rapidly roll away.

Palma Airport review by S Pope

4 February 2004

This new airport is a very large indeed and some gates are a very long way from the baggage reclaim, hence the efficient and long moving walkways. Overall its very clean and efficient with, most importantly, plenty of space. With the hundreds of holiday charter flights evry day during the season it's necessary to find somewhere quiet to chill out. It's possible here. Check-in is well signposted and relatively speedy and the choice of shops is good. There's a nice open air section in the departure lounge where you can get a quiet last bit of sun before boarding! cabs are plentiful and it's pretty close to Palma centre.

Palma Airport review by Mark Evans

8 April 2003

Recent investment appears to have been well spent, turning this holiday-oriented airport into a light, spacious, well-organised and welcoming place that seems well-geared to cope with the large numbers of Spanish domestic and mainly German, British and Scandinavian visitors from overseas. PMI is just 6 km from the centre of Palma, and a regular bus service (Route 1) provides a cheap alternative to taxis.

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