Barbados Grantley Adams Airport

This airport is simply amazing comparative to many airports within the Caribbean. I may go as far as to say some of the larger airports elsewhere should follow them. I arrived from Gatwick and was met with smiles and friendliness. Though I had to wait for a little bit within immigration, the officer's smile helped me to forget the little wait. The airport is quite large and spacious comparative to others I've seen in the Caribbean. There is a Concorde exhibit where one of the 7 British Airways Concordes is housed (the other 6 are in USA and UK respectively). It was a really good exhibit. There is airport wide wifi which is excellent and I am told that the airport is undergoing expansions within the next couple years. All in all well done Barbados.

This is the second time I have used this airport. I doubt I will go to Barbados again after our latest experience. Arrivals was a pain. 45 mins to get through passport control, they check your documents and your 'blue' form at passport control. Collect your bags in the Arrival hall. Queue again for 30 mins whilst one, yes one lady checks / collects your 'blue' form again. Then wait 45 mins whilst transfers try to get their act together checking our form three different times. 2 hrs to get onto our transfer bus. Never mind, we're on holiday now. Depature can't be any worse. How wrong can a person be. We were due to fly home at 17.25 with Thomas Cook. Arrived at the airport at 14.20 to a massive queue at the Thomas Cook Check In. Two desks open for Glasgow and utter chaos ensued. They had no idea what they were doing. It took us until 16.00 to check in. Some people were stood in front of the check in desk for over 10 mins whilst they faffed around disappearing into the back room then consulting each other. Queue for passport control and security was the same. After getting air side we had to run to Gate 14 as it was gone 17.30. Utterly pathetic, no customer consideration. The Thomas Cook pilot apologised for the chaos and we all got a free drink and upgraded film package, which was a nice touch. However, I have never experienced such a shoddy, unprofessional, slap dash experience in my 50 years of flying. Get your act together Grantley Adams, your customers have plenty of other islands to fly to in the Caribbean. Our money can easily be spent elsewhere and mine will certainly will not be spent in Barbados again until I hear things have improved.

We have been coming to Barbados since 1988 albeit not for the past few years, our BA flight arrived behind the Virgin flight and we ended up at the back of the passport queue from the two flights, no problem. When eventually going through to collect baggage there was another huge queue to go through customs, the green exit was closed with six staff checking each and every passenger at the red gate. How come that using one of the barrow boys for a cost of $20 US lets you straight through, after the long flight and one long wait at passport control is OK but to then be subject to a second huge queue or get stung by the barrow boys is not a good start. I won't be coming back in a hurry. Holidays are meant to destress from work so avoid Barbados unless you want total travel stress before your holiday.

First time to Barbados for recent holiday. No problem with arrival or departure experience. Good to walk from/to aircraft instead of the usual lurching bus ride. Bags arrived quickly, probably because we had beaten BA. Passage through airport quite speedy. I was only passenger from our transport for Virgin Atlantic flight so had personal escort to desk and exceptional service from their staff. Immigration no problem. Very good shops with polite and helpful staff. Large lounge area by gate with plenty of food outlets available. Again, easy access to aircraft.

Arrived on the Virgin flight right behind the BA flight from Gatwick therefore some three hundred or so passengers going into immigration together. Queue kept moving and through within 15 minutes with all desks open. Baggage waiting once we arrived in the terminal all in all a very good arrival. On return check in fine and security efficient. This is a great airport good food and drink outlets and the usual shopping stores which I steer clear of. Used the Virgin executive lounge which was very good. Only complaint is that the windows are masked with pictures which means you have no view outside.

The Queue created by immigration is a joke only 6 staff dealing with 350 people at a time. No wonder it took 1.5 hrs to get through. Must say not looking forward to departure. Tip to you all avoid this airport if you can.

We have travelled through many airports in the world this one is one of the best. Both arriving and departing were hassle free. Check ins security and passport control were quick and professional. We particularly liked being able to sit and watch the planes arrive and depart from very comfortable seating in the departure lounge nor could we fault the excellent range of facilities on offer (the washrooms very 1st class).

The airport is pleasantly spacious breezy and clean. The departure check-in is a disaster though and waiting times on luggage in the arrivals hall very long. The currency exchange counter was un-manned even though the counter was open. So I had to return to Germany with a lot of Barbados dollars. This is quite up-setting. The queues for immigration were quite okay. Customs officers were pleasant and courteous. The immigration staff were also pleasant and friendly. Parking was no problem. The grounds are well kept & the airport is just short of beautiful to be honest. Get the service aspects in order and it could be one of the nicest in the region!

Brantley Adams Barbados is now really nice airport to arrive at and depart from. We were thru customs and immigration and waiting for our taxi in 45 mins from touchdown 35 mins from leaving the plane. On our return flight we had a seat in the executive lounge which was pretty full but the general departure area on shops were very quiet with plenty of places to sit despite both BA and VIRGIN flights departing at the same time.

Flew into BGI on 18 March on VS029 - no other planes in so about 3rd in line at immigration! Consequently quickly through luggage arrived promptly and at our West Coast accommodation within 1.5 hours. I have been there before however when Virgin BA Air Canada and American Airways have all deplaned at once. Not so much fun then. Return Flight VS030 on 1 April (Easter Monday) - no queues at check in. Didn't bother with the Airport Bars (although the bar before you go through to airside is quite nice). Once though security it is reasonably pleasant - a few souvenir and Duty Free Shops and plenty of seats. Nothing special but comfortable enough and certainly better than the 'old' BGI. Aircon could do with beefing up a bit. Oh and it's not quite a question of recommending BGI - more a question of having to use the airport as there isn't another one on Barbados!