Denpasar Bali Airport

Arrival into Bali was a shocker. Day time arrival no air conditoning massive line up times. Paid entry fee in Australian dollars received change in rupiah and the receipt had to be requested and was given to us in US dollars. Whilst being held up in queues our bags were going round and round the carousal for hours. On the way to wait for the car many locals physically tried to take our bags from us and get us to use their transport. Our transport officer did not assist us with this. Departing - Officials taking peoples bags from them and making the traveller wait in line for check in whilst they take bags out of sight to check for drugs. From there to pay departure tax to customs to multiple gate stuff ups including not even labelling gates to a carryon bag search and pat down before being allowed in the gate. Once in the gate you couldn't leave and there was no water or food available for sale. Entry to the gate saw all water confiscated. Not enough seating at the gate with most travellers sitting or lying on the floor. When boarding the tarmac shuttle bus Virgin officials collected our passenger departure cards once shuttled to the tarmac there were no escorts at all or paths to the rear entry point of the plane so passengers were free to wonder around the tarmac.

I was at the new Denpasar airport last year and was impressed with how it looks. Great modern design but that's where it stops. They disregard the general common sense to make the airport experience good. Here's a few that I want to point out: 1) No baby room - at least a nappy table in a toilet would be sufficient. In this modern day and age I can't comprehend why they did not put this in while building the airport. So in a desperate attempt we had to look for quiet corner in the waiting lounge. 2) Travelator at the entrance is a hazard risk. A lot of people are just lazy in walking. So they stacked up their heavy baggage on a trolley and use it on the Travelator. What happened then is the trolley couldn't not exit the travelator due to its weight and it topples over. The travelator did not stop. They obviously did not think this through. 3) Air Conditioning fail. Upon entering the temperature is soaring especially in the afternoon where the sun blazes in through the side. Very uncomfortable. The AC wasn't able to handle this so we waited for many hours in the heat inside the airport. I had a very uncomfortable experience in this supposedly new airport. I am visiting the airport again next month and I hope they have addressed the issues. The only good thing about the airport are the cleaners.

Denpasar Airport. Compared to the situation when I passed through in July 2014 the new Denpasar Airport International terminal appeared to be at last nearly complete and functioning. The air bridges were now working. The business lounge was now open with computers wine and toilets available. It is small but very pleasant in design. The only drawback was they the played Balinese music quite loudly over the PA system which is not going to be to everyone's taste.

This airport is the worst I have ever been too. On arrival it is common for immigration waits of 2-3 hours. These queues are deliberate so that you pay the 'express fee' i.e. a bribe to avoid the queue. This airport is a disgrace. It has just been built but already there are not enough seats for outgoing passengers. The baggage claim can take forever because they are not big enough to take the bags from one whole flight.

Got off the plane at 12.20 pm and was met at the gate by a hotel representative and proceeded to go through VOA passport baggage claim customs luggage x-ray and then duty free and to are waiting vehicle in 29 minutes - amazing. On Departure left my hotel at 1.30 pm for a 4.05 pm flight. Got to the airport went through check in Departure tax security check and passport control and got to my gate in 25 minutes. This airport was by far easier than going / coming from LAX.

This was our first trip to Bali. Having read some awful reviews before our departure we went with a great deal of apprehension and limited expectations. I must say however that our experience - both arrival and departure - was excellent. When we arrived the total time taken from VOA through immigration baggage collection and customs to the waiting hotel car was just about 15-20 minutes. On our departure we left the hotel early (anticipating long queues and delays) to arrive at the airport some 3 hours before our scheduled departure. The time taken from the time we got out of the car until we reached the departure gates (baggage screening check-in airport tax immigration and security) took us all of 20 minutes or so. Throughout the process we encountered friendly and efficient staff. We thus had a lot of time to spend at the airport and we found the shops restaurants and facilities to be very good. On the whole we had an excellent experience.

We are on the way back From Jakarta to Sydney via Denpasar nearly got lost in the airport. No clear sign and no ground crew directing transit/connecting flight passenger from domestic to international airport. We have to find our way from domestic airport to international airport with very confusing direction/sign lucky we met with a group of touring driver on break which direct us to the more easy route instead of following the sign!

Just returned from our Bali family holiday. After having a good holiday our departure experience was beyond ridiculous. After boarding the shuttle bus to travel to our plane the bus stopped turned off the aircon leaving us waiting to get off. I guess that the flight staff were not ready. Eventually aircon turned back on only then for the driver to disembark us onto the tarmac to board our flight. Light rain was falling but okay given the temperature. What was not okay was a bus departing and the light rain turning to pouring down on us. We boarded our Virgin Australia flight soaked dripping wet and sitting in aircon for a five hour flight. We were offered paper towels to dry off. Nobody should have to board a flight in that condition.

I live in Bali part of the year and have to deal with this awful airport far too often. First the parking is small badly design the ramp access to upper floors is far too narrow making it too narrow to turn properly with a car. Inside the airport things are not much better. On departure Bali airport's has the most expensive taxes in all of Indonesia. Do you get a better service for that price? No. Arrival is a nightmare waiting times can be extremely long. After you eventually get out of the airport be prepared to face people who will follow and harass you to offer taxi services. If you want a taxi go to the official taxi counter there is an official price list with all major destinations on the island. Once you leave the airport you have to pay for the parking every time because DPS does not have a drop off area. If you want to drop off a friend with your car you have to take a ticket and to pay a one-hour parking fee. If you come with a motorbike be prepared to walk because the narrow and crowded motorbikes parking is located outside from the airport about 15mn walk from the terminals - very nice during the rainy season.

Our flight was scheduled for 3pm so we left to arrive at the airport at 12pm as many different sites mention long delays leaving. This obviously depends on the day I'm not sure but from arrival at the airport to stepping into the temporary lounge it was 21 minutes including the checking in 6 pieces of luggage through priority check-in. The airport is air conditioned - still crazy but better than the old one. The temporary lounge was mediocre but the drinks were cold the seats comfy and there was constant turning over of food but choice is limited. If you want other stuff wait for your flight or just head to any of the shops offering food. My biggest advice - check your gate. Ours changed without warning.