Goa Airport

The new terminal is already in use but things are pretty much the same. It was quite warm inside the air conditioning is very ineffective. The announcement system is horrible it cant be heard properly at some places and has a constant clanging tone some kind of technical glitch. The toilets are not all that clean and worst of all is that the aerobridges are not working or not being used. So you have to walk down (or up) a long spiral staircase which seems to be unending especially if you are departing.

Yes it chaotic and unacceptable in many ways. Yes very many improvements are required but they are trying and after 8 visits to Goa I can see it happening slowly. If everyone was queued up neatly you might as well be back home in the UK! So its slowly getting better. What I will say however is that the disabled assistance is excellent - aside from the other chaos. When there is a disabled person needing help through the process they become incredibly efficient so credit to them as they have always been there to assist my husband in good time for the flight unlike other supposedly "more civilised" airports. After eight visits it's beginning to feel like home. So hats off to an airport that has progressed leaps and bounds in comparison to its western counterparts and which I'm sure will eventually come out on top!

Easily the worst airport I have ever been to. I saw some pretty disgusting toilets in India but the one in the departures terminal was beyond bad. The toilet was filthy the attendant offered me a coke bottle with some sort of liquid soap in it and a toilet roll to dry my hands. Arguments and minor disturbances in the various queues for security clearance check in and passport control but no sign of any security to deal with potentially very serious situations.

Awful! Come expecting the worst and you won't be disappointed. With only 2 flights departing (within 2 hours of each other) it shouldn't have been difficult to process the 500-600 passengers over the 2 hour window of both flights leaving (TCX+TOM). One queue after another. Showed my passport and boarding card 7 times from check-in to boarding. Security more concerned about seeing your stamped boarding card and stamped bag tag on your hand luggage than making sure your hand luggage didn't contain anything it shouldn't (no need to take out electricals liquids - these aren't picked up) I had a litre bottle of water all my other liquids I-Pad in hand luggage and a friend a tin of coke. Nothing picked up. Gate area filthy dirty with seating that was stained and very grubby. Let's hope the long promised new terminal is better.

What a horrible little airport. Its chaos when you land as 2 baggage belts seem to handle all incoming flights. Baggage came quick enough though. Departures was crowded but security very quick. There were only 2 flights departing in our area so enough place to sit. Horribly loud movie playing overhead that seemed to disturb everybody. Snacks and food options are terrible- and staff seem rude and never smile. Announcements are constant and very annoying. Cannot wait for the new airport building to be completed.

This is the worst airport I have ever been to. It is definitely worse leaving than arriving. It is small hot with zero facilities and horrible staff. I will not return to Goa again unless they build the new airport.

Last visited Dabolim Airport 6 years ago when it was a nightmare. This time arrival and departure was fairly slick - 30 minutes each way without multiple jobsworths checking and rechecking bags visas passports etc. Perhaps we were just lucky judging by other comments.

Returning to England with Monarch we were subjected to demands for tips by an army of out-of-control porters. That was before we had even got inside the madhouse masquerading as an international airport. Having had our passports and tickets checked at the entrance we found ourselves in the wrong hall having queued for 40mins at the wrong screening machine. After checking in at the Monarch desk (not an experience I would want to repeat) we joined the queue for passport control and waited and waited and waited the desks went unmanned for a further 30mins by which time chaos reigned. After passing through passport control we then had a further delaying security search. From entering the airport to reaching the so-called departure lounge had taken no less than two hours of total stress. Never again!

I have just arrived back from Goa. My wife and friends previously travelled to Goa in 2007 and the processes to get from tarmac to front door were chaotic to say the very least. The return trip from front door to plane was even worse taking at least two hours. Do not be tempted to exchange money at the airport. The rate is approximately 15%-20% less than you will get from local outlets at your destination. Furthermore they charge a commission and then add tax on top. You will be lucky to get 75% of your original amount. They will do the same when you return to the airport for your departure using the excuse that Indian money cannot be exported. Hang onto any rupees as these can be spent in the departure lounge to get water etc. A bottle of water costs 30 rupees (~40p). They will accept £ coins but you will not get change! Rupees are not accepted in the Duty Free Shop. The arrival through immigration and luggage collection was fairly quick this time though hang onto your luggage as porters will try to take it off you and will disappear with it before you can ascertain where your transport is located. On our return trip all hold luggage is scanned and security tabbed. We were fortunate that our check-in desk was located in the Domestic Terminal. The queue outside the entrance to International Departures was 150 ft long with some passengers forced to stand in direct sunlight. Check-in took 5 minutes and we then proceeded to Immigration. The check-in desk should give you a label for each piece of hand luggage. It is important to make sure you complete your name and flight number and then attach it to the bag as it will be checked later. Ensure the departure immigration form is completed correctly as you will be sent to the back of the queue. The queue for the Immigration desk was about 50 feet long but it took at least 90 minutes to reach it. Watch out for local dignitaries with their entourage as they jump the queue! You have to stand and the hall is not air-conditioned so ensure you take a bottle of water with you to the airport. The next blockage is security where all liquids are removed. Apparently you are not allowed to carry any with you so pack everything in the hold luggage. Males and females are separated. The male queue is fairly quick and processing is similar to UK airports. Females have to go behind a screen. Check that the label on your hand luggage has been stamped after it has been X-rayed otherwise you will not be allowed through the departure gate! When I was there only one female security person was in attendance. She disappeared for about 20 minutes (I assume it was her tea break) and queue snaked back beyond the Immigration desks. One other point to note at security is the propensity for staff to search hand luggage at the X-ray machine and this may happen without the owner being aware. We arranged for one of our party to go ahead through security to ensure the bags were not searched without their owners being present. This is especially important for the ladies as they will be behind the screen. I do not believe the staff are dishonest but this is an opportunity for misunderstandings to occur! Our plane was delayed for 40 minutes as some people took nearly 3 hours to progress through Immigration and Security. It was very uncomfortable to stand so long in a hot room full of sweating people. It spoiled our holiday and we will not return until they implement faster and more efficient processes. Many of our fellow passengers had the same opinion. According to the Goa Times tourism accounts for 40% of local government revenue. It is apparent the desire to increase foreign earnings is undermined by inefficient processes. Indeed I would go so far as to describe Goa airport as the most dysfunctional airport I have ever visited. Without any shadow of doubt our recent experience has confirmed the Indian authorities have elevated incompetence and inefficiency into an art form! You have been warned!

This has to be the worst airport I have ever seen. An absolute shambles. Dirty hot & disgusting. The security staff are unfriendly. Avoid the public toilets if you can they are not the most hygienic leaking pipes filthy toilets no toilet paper and flies. We flew business class and the so called lounge was a joke. It was a drab dark room dressed in 1960 decor. There is no food only a bottle of water or soft drink to be had. The chairs are so worn out that you feel the springs. I was glad to leave after 2hrs in this lounge and airport.