Mumbai Airport

Transit from Bangkok to Heathrow. The security line didn't move for an hour and when I eventually reached the staff my bag wasn't scanned - just placed to the side for detailed examination. I explained (as did a lady next to me) that I had already been checked twice already but was simply told "take out electronics" "open that". No courtesy or even hint of manners. Being asked to open a see-through bag and then stand there as a guy went through my CD wallet and looked at every CD was just overkill especially when they were boarding the plane. I would not recommend this dreadful place to anybody and as some people have already said the experience has dimmed any desire to ever visit India properly. I would actually rather pay £100 more for a flight than transfer through Mumbai again. Avoid.

Transited through BOM while flying BLR-DXB. Onward to DXB was quite ok since it was an afternoon flight. Efficient transfer from domestic to international terminal in an AC coach. Immigration and security each took less than 10 minutes and lots of empty chairs at the gates. Some limited (but nice) food options at the gate. Returning from DXB was a totally different experience. We landed at 0220 and the onward domestic flight to BLR was at 0635. Immigration was quick (less than 5 minutes). Baggage took almost 25 minutes to arrive. We had to get our baggage screened for Customs and this required us to heave our bags onto the luggage screening belt. There was one more screening of baggage before we dropped them off and a security check before boarding the inter-terminal transfer coach. Security staff were rude and unconcerned. Once at the domestic terminal there was one more security check. Since there were many domestic flights scheduled to depart in the morning the departure area was very crowded and seats were insufficient. Announcements were loud and annoying. Would try to avoid BOM as much as possible in future.

Appalling International Airport there are so many things wrong here I am not sure where to start. Getting from Arrivals to Departure means you have to go via a lift if you have much baggage the queue for this was about 200 meters long. You then get up and it pushes you back outside you then need to fight through the people to go into a 400 meter queue. Get inside and there is next to no seating no creature comforts. Simply rubbish.

I really don't understand why people have such a bad reviews of this airport. I have used this airport in the afternoon for 2 pm flight and at night for 3am flight. Both times I did not face any problems. The immigration officer was rather friendly and wished me a happy journey to Dubai. Security took only 30 minutes contrary to other reviewers. I was at departure gate 45 minutes after entering from main gate. The food was not pricey as any coffee from good brand cost the same outside in the city.

As mentioned by other reviewers it takes hours of pushing and shoving to actually get into the airport avoiding all the people sleeping outside. What is wrong with the place surely you can be allowed to enter at least. Then interminable queues for everything and aggressive staff waiting to catch you out felt that if you tipped correctly you might get through quicker.

As mentioned by some of the reviewers here this is definitely the worst international airport that I have entered. Firstly the traffic chaos in the night when most international flights take off is just unbearable. Then you queue outside the airport for up to an hour as it inches forward before you encounter a policeman who checks your travel documents and passport. You finally enter the airport and queue for your check in. As we were flying business class check in was smooth. After that you are ushered to the immigration check in. It is chaotic. Officials are rude offensive and do not communicate in English. After you have eventually reached the immigration counter you are greeted by an individual who communicates with you via hand signals only. Following that you join yet another queue for security check in. Honestly it took me 3 hours from check in at the counter and depositing the hold luggage to security check. We had to run to the gate as the flight was ready to take off in 5 minutes. Our experience was very similar to other international passengers from a vast array of countries. We are certain that some would not have made it to the gate in time. Avoid this airport by all costs if you can.

This airport is chaos. On arrival waited ages in immigration only to be met with stroppy staff. Took an hour to pass through immigration and collect bags. On departure the departure area is mental. You will not be allowed to enter the terminal if you arrive 3 hours before your flight. The police turn people away unless you slip them some cash. Beware the so called 'porters' who offer to get you to the front of the queues for a price. They are quite aggressive and one wanted 700 Rupees from me - no chance. Some retail outlets at the departure area mainly food and beverage (no alcohol) but they are very expensive. Once you finally get into departures to check in expect more queues and then when you go to immigration more chaos and queuing awaits. Immigration officers are the most sour faced ones I have encountered. Then the next hurdle - security and again the queues build up. Took nearly 3 hours from gaining entry to check-in going through check in through immigration and security before I reached my gate. Leave yourself plenty of time! There are a few shops at the departure gates including some simple coffee / sandwich outlets alongside the usual duty free / gift shops. Overall I couldn't get out the place quick enough.

This was my first trip through Mumbai International (have used domestic several times with no problems) and it was painful chaotic and disorganized. I could not get my e-ticket to print and you will not be let in without a ticket or itinerary which I knew but hoped my business class status or email confirmation would be of some assistance. No such luck. I managed to beg my way into the passengers lounge to wait until 3 hours before my departure at which point security had an airline employee physically take my passport from me for 10 minutes to confirm my status. Upon entering I noticed the terminal was littered with kiosks for printing out tickets and online check-in - I don't know who uses them. Business class immigration did indeed take longer than economy. There was no separation of ticket class for baggage screening and only after standing in a completely unlabeled line for 10 minutes did an employee come by to point out that women were screened at the far side of the area in a spot completely unviewable from the main line entry. There were 7 scanners for men to the 1 available to women. The total process took 2 hours and was one of the most disorganized events I've seen. Large numbers of passengers were escorted to the front of lines for flights leaving in ten minutes. When I finally made it through all the various lines I had a pleasant brief visit to the Emirates lounge where I had a nice shower and a decent snack. I'm ranking this airport one star believing there may be a worse airport somewhere.

Awful disorganised and very rude staff. After being cleared at Heathrow we landed at Mumbai and had to transfer to the Bangkok flight - what a carry on! The hold baggage was transferred but all hand luggage had to go through searches and scanners again - we weren't even entering the country. We queued as expected and lots of Indian citizens were ushered through - some saying they only had 45 mins before their flight - we had 10 minutes to get through and get on the plane. Coming back we had the same problem - I think Jobsworth is a good description. I was considering visiting India but this has put me off. Herded onto buses - attitude of staff is terrible.

Possibly the worst international airport in the world. The plane parked at one end of the terminal so we had to walk right to the other end to the immigration desk. A long painful walk made worse by no air- conditioning. Immigration fully manned so the wait was about 5 minutes. I then had to wait for my J class luggage. It took 45 minutes long after everyone else's luggage. The belt is tiny for a 747 luggage volume and there are too many obstructions close by - trolleys plants walls pillars signs. Then another long queue for security screening of suitcases and hand luggage. And finally another long walk to the greeting area. Apparently they have been building the new international airport for 5 years! Long overdue. Departures was shambolic. Arrived 2 hours before the flight and the queue was a good 300 metres - Thai flyers were only allowed to go through one gate (again for a 747 volume this is mindless bureaucratic stupidity). The touts were harassing everyone and anyone for tips. Get in and the actual check-in queues for business and economy were quite good and fairly quick. Then over to immigration. Business class had only 2 desks and it took 30 minutes to get to the front. This was painful in the stifling heat. The economy class line was moving faster than business. Through to security check which was slow but efficient and then down to the lounge. Filthy. One toilet. There was no soap in the business class lounge toilet. Horrendous experience.