Mumbai Airport

I have used this aiport 3 times in the last 2 years. It's a huge improvement over the old airport. On first arriving from abroad it looks glittering and new, but getting inside one sees the flaws. The walk from the aircraft to immigration is too long and the moving walkways are few and improperly placed. The carpeting on this never ending walk is not conducive to roll along luggage - it takes quite an effort pulling it along. The orange and red carpeting has a ghastly visual end result and makes it look dirty and shabby. The walk to immigration takes you through the duty free shops in an attempt to make you shop, but only succeeds in causing chaos and congestion. On departing, the terminal has a communcal check-in system, where all passengers of certain airlines have to queue irrespective of their flight times or destinations. This does not make any sense as staff keep coming around and announcing that passengers departing on flights leaving in the next 60-90 mins please move to other counters. I had a flight to Canada departing at 1.30 am, but was still stuck in the line until 12.30 because the counter staff suddenly left and from 12 counters open we were down to 4. I was finally cleared with only 45 mins remaining to get through immigration and reach my departure gate. There is not enough immigration counters / staff and the attitude is poor. The food courts does not have enough international variety, the food is very expensive and the staff seem inexperienced. All in all, it's no good building a fantastic well-decorated airport, spend billions on it, but neglect to train your people in professionalism, efficiency and the right attitudes, putting in the right systems and accountability. It is throwing money at problems but omitting the human factor.

Welcome to the world of chaos, impolite and third class service at Mumbai Airport, India. They say they have spent millions to renovate the airport but they forget its not glass and concrete that matters but the people and the system that is in place that matters. Indeed they have redone the airport building but the attitude of officials are horrible. The emigration officials are not present although the passenger line is huge. There is no direction how the passengers should move. There is no place for drinking water or buying water until you are reach the boarding gate. The people who are employed by airlines have a lot of attitude. No special arrangements are made for breast feeding infant children. My wife was directed to one place to feed our child that was extremely dirty. Avoid this airport if you can.

Great airport. The renovated terminal is an eye-pleasing experience and the service is also efficient.

Arrived at the brand new Mumbai Terminal 2. The YouTube promotional video with celebrity voice-over about Mumbai's T2 was great. However, when we landed, our experience was much different. Immediately after disembarking the aircraft, we spent a long time standing along with a big crowd for Ebola screening. It was a chaotic experience as passengers from other flights weren't sure what was going on, and many didn't have their Ebola forms filled out. Once we got through the Ebola screening, we stood in immigration line for Business class passengers. The process took forever. In baggage claim, we were approached by strangers asking if we needed help with bags. Before exiting the terminal, we were asked to x-ray our bags. We were visiting India to attend weddings and my wife was carrying jewelry with her. Customs officer insisted that we pay duty because the jewelry looked "new". I explained to the officer that this was personal jewelry that we only wear at weddings, and we had to attend weddings in different cities, including Kolkata. Because the customs officer happened to be from Kolkata, he was happy to hear that we were visiting his hometown and he let us go. We got lucky, but we will think twice before flying into Mumbai. I didn't utilize any seating, food, beverage, shopping, or wifi at Mumbai, so leaving it as "N/A" in below rating.

Mumbai Airport scam: beware of official porters trying to make a quick buck from passengers. I checked in for an Ethiopian airlines flight on 11 October 2015. I was approached by an official Porter dressed in a white uniform. He offered to take me to a "short and quick line to check in". He took me around the all the counters and we landed back at the Ethiopian check in counter but this time at the counter for people who checked in on the web. After I checked in, the same porter met me and demanded 2000 rupees (which he said was for him, the lady at the check in and another person dressed in a blue uniform). These people seem to target European travellers. The case was reported to airport authorities who responded swiftly.

During my departure from Mumbai to USA, I was shocked to see very few lanes open for immigration clearance during peak hours. Not only that, I noticed in the middle of the queue, 1 airport staff opens up another lane merging tons of travelers into our lane, with us losing our spot and sending us back 30 spots. No wonder travelers are causing chaos scrambling to catch their flight. It looks like travelers will have to plan at least 2 - 3 hrs. Only for immigration clearance, that too, even though you stand in line your spot is not guaranteed.

Connected here en route to Kolkata. Modern, large airport. Staffed by some of the most charmless people I have ever had the misfortune to meet, especially the immigration staff. Similar position to many other airports mind you.

Mumbai International airport was extremely clean and very modern. GVK has really done a great job at renovating the old airport and really giving it a great new identity.

The new international terminal is good looking, but it seems some improving. First, there's a crazy rule, according to which not only check in area is accessible solely to travellers (no friends/family allow to get in), but also once you get into the area, you are not allowed to get out anymore, if not for taking your plane. In my case, I was planning to check in early (which was ok for my airline) and then go dinner nearby the airport with no luggage, and come back later for the security checks boarding. This would have been fine in every airport I have been. But here that wasn't possible. Make no sense! Second, I left my luggage in the luggage room, which was supposed to be open 24h. Unfortunately, when i came back nobody was there. I waited for long time, then asked the help of a corp, who called the person in charge by phone, and he finally arrived after other minutes. What a service is this? Last, but not least, all queues (security check, passport control) were super long, with many passengers around stressed and angry because their flight was leaving. Overall, definitely a very bad experience.

Departure from Mumbai airport was quite easy. Some long queues at immigration but that's all. Check in was easy. Once through immigration there are a few shops and places to eat. The food court area needs to be cleaner. Tends to get very crowded and dirty soon. Long walk to the aircraft but lots of seating at gate. In arrivals the carpeting is a bit tough to roll baggage on. The walk back to immigration is long and the walking escalators are badly placed. Once again immigration was quick but baggage takes a while.