Mumbai Airport

Horrible customer service. The worst airport in terms of queues trolley service immigration and security. All they care about is sitting around and waiting for the new terminal to be built. Customer service is non-existent. Whether you are an older person requiring wheel-chair assistance or a young mother with little kids you will receive absolutely no help or even kind words in this horrid place! Avoid this airport if you can.

My wife and I were traveling from Mumbai to New Jersey in business class. Going to the airport as usual was difficult. Traffic was heavy but better than that I had 3 years ago. Lots of construction and dirt everywhere. Getting through the entrance was a big deal. Then you go to the counter for clearance. Business class service was a joke. They were very slow in clearing with no eye contact or interaction. Business class handling was a big mess long lines and confusion. I feel for those who are non English speaking. Uncleanliness everywhere did not have to use toilet as went to a crowded VIP lounge. Almost all employees were either talking amongst themselves or standing. They were more interested in making a deal with me than really help anyone. Avoid if you can unfortunately I can't.

Traveled from Heathrow to Mumbai in November 2013. Landed in Mumbai CSIA at 1am then to domestic for a flight to Kolkata at 7am flight. Last traveled to Mumbai 3 yrs ago smooth no issues. Immigration and customs were no issues. Bags arrived pretty fast. Waited for my sister in law from a flight from Atlanta no issues. Picked up by relatives then to domestic. 15 family members totally for a flight to Kolkata. At domestic I was truly surprised too. Modern with good facilities and food court. Coffee is less than 3 bucks! Decided to have the KFC and a Kingfisher beer and others tried the Indian vegetarian outlet. Beer was average priced and food was cheap! Our check in for all 15 people fantastic fast friendly and efficient. Vast improvements has taken place. Gone are the days of a substandard airport with substandard service and bribing officials. I had more problems with rude immigration officials in Toronto! Cannot wait to experience the new swanky Chatrapti Shivaji International Airport Mumbai! Firstly one has to take into account the renovation that is taking place. Just google Mumbai CSIA airport and you will appreciate everything that has gone into making it a world class airport plus all the challenges it has faced one engineer compared it to performing surgery on a marathon runner while running the marathon. Awards won both in India and Internationally for an airport of it's size. This goes for IGIA and Bangalore.

We transferred from an internal flight to international - what a joke. We had 1 hour 15 minutes to boarding and 2 hours to flight departure and only just made the flight. Indeed our flight was delayed due to the need to wait for passengers still in security. The transfer bus drove out of the airport and in to the traffic jam of cars entering the airport (1 hour). Security was ridiculous and could easily have taken the two hours alone. Fortunately a group of us managed to persuade a very unhelpful guard to open a 'quicker queue' barrier (45 minutes) plus time to find boarding gate meaning we arrived at the plane at the departure time. Many of our companion transferees missed their flights. There were no members of staff able or accessible to assist. It would be a really great improvement if the transfer system was carried out within the airport and a rapid security gate kept specifically for those passengers who require a quick transfer.

I came back to India after 5 years. It is a totally disorganized airport. Toilets are as filthy as they were 5 years ago. Staff very rude. Officers do not know what they are supposed to do. Our return trip was not bad. The air conditioning was not working. On our ticket it said Gate 6. No staff came and told the passengers that the gate had changed to 7. PA system needs a total upgrade as you cannot understand what they are announcing. In Short worst International Airport.

When you fly out you are first greeted by millions of people come to see off their dear ones and spilling out on the streets. You can be run over by the luggage carts (thankfully free). Once in you realize how small the airport is. Go to the check-in counters and you'll see long queues. You are also welcomed by a mosquitoes and a funny musty smell. There are people who are employees of the airport just standing by and chatting amongst themselves watching. Post check-in you wait in a bad queue for immigration. They stamp your passport you then go through security again rudeness is everywhere. It is cumbersome. You are then pushed over down an escalator into Dutyfree and expensive food courts. Lack of seating. The free wifi is a joke since you need to fill a 4 page form on your phone. Gave up. When you fly into Mumbai the story doesn't change much. Doors open the stench and mosquitoes welcome you. You then walk on folded fake-grass carpets. Trying to push your wheeled carry-on bags wondering why they aren't moving. You see these men and women standing by and talking amongst themselves. If you're a returning Indian they will approach you under the pretext of helping you with your luggage. But don't be surprised by the hospitality they will ask you for money. Then you manage to reach the immigration lines. The line goes round and round and round. The immigration officials are a far cry from the ones you see in the US Canada or any developed country. They don't know what they are doing. They look at the passport and never look up. They talk amongst themselves asking what is to be done. You are generally hauled like cattle. Post immigration is hot and you will sweat. You are asked to go and collect your bags by a rude lady. Get your bags and put them through a joke of a customs clearance. Don't even think of going to the toilet. Try and avoid this airport.

Recently had to transit via Mumbai airport and was amazed at how bad the airport and the staff is. First thing you notice while landing is that it is surrounded by slums. The airport does not appear very secure. Secondly as soon as you get out of the airplane you're greeted with a foul stench. You walk to the immigration counter - the guy doesn't even look at you or greet you. Is this how people are welcome to India? Next you proceed to claim your baggage and after clearing the customs head for the bus to take you to domestic terminal. You walk thru a dingy passage to the bus. The bus leaves every 30 mins. Its a good 20 mins ride. Once you arrive at the domestic terminal you cannot go past the security check point until it is within about 2 hrs of flight departure time. You have to wait in the ticketing/check-in counter area with limited seating till then. I met a guy who had a 12 hr layover and was stuck there. The security is a joke. The guy monitoring the x-ray machine was chatting away with his accomplice and not even looking at the computer monitor. The toilets are marginal. The domestic area is cramped. You have to take a bus to the airplane. This is 2013. It is easily the worst airport I've been through.

Transited through BOM while travelling between BLR and South East Asia. Departure from BOM was fine. Good shuttle coach provided for transfer between domestic and international terminals. Immigration and security lines were manageable though the immigration lines can be handled more efficiently by providing proper directions to passengers! Good dining (though overpriced) options available at international gates and sufficient seating arrangements at the gates. Return was a different story altogether. The carpets in the arrival gate were worn out and smelly. After immigration we wanted to use the restrooms before transferring to domestic terminal. What a shabby experience it was! Half the toilets were in maintenance the rest were leaking and there was a bad smell. Similar scenario in the domestic terminal restrooms. The seats in the domestic departure area were inadequate and quite a few were torn. An airport that can be avoided if you have the choice.

Forget immigration and security checks those things seem to have long lines on every airport but Mumbai airport makes you want for an hour or two just to check-in! Queue lovers rejoice! Immigration officers are so rude that it actually made a business class customer snap and yell at the top of his voice! Fun times! But once you clear everything (and if you're still sane) you can enjoy the only good thing about this airport - the duty free shopping and dining facilities which are plentiful and good. Other bad things? Well the airport bathrooms are generally dirty WiFi is paid and a lack of charging points. Avoid this airport.

Have used Mumbai airport many times as a solo traveller mostly had no problems or complaints. Recently I had to travel with my mother-in-law who is in a wheelchair. The airport does not have wheelchair facilities when you enter the airport you have to get in first through all the checks inform the counter and then bring somebody outside with the wheelchair. All this while my MIL had to wait without assistance. We were asked to wait in line even though she was in a wheelchair. Thirdly I was charged for the wheelchair facility! I was informed that the aircraft would land remotely and we would have to climb stairs to which I said my mother in law could not climb stairs! Told we needed an ambu-lift which at other airports I have been given access to. Here in Mumbai I was informed I will be charged for this. My argument and discussion fell on deaf ears as employees showed no concern nor compassion towards anybody. I agreed I would make her climb the stairs but we needed at least 15 mins. It took more than an hour to clear immigration. Once we cleared immigration the wheelchair attendant vanished and never appeared again. I had to take her to the boarding gate myself! Once at the stairs of the plane nobody bothered to help her. I offered to lift the wheel chair and then a couple of people helped and carried the wheel chair all the way up. The employees are cold and show with little empathy.