Mumbai Airport

Mumbai air terminals are far from international standards. No internal connection between the international and domestic terminals. The bags need to be checked out and depending on the airline you may have to carry the baggage to the other terminal by yourself in a dingy bus. This bus makes about one trip per hour; and puts you out of the secure area so be prepared to be screened again by the airport security. The domestic terminal has loud shrill announcers on the PA system. Between the loud security-check operations and the loud announcers there is no quiet spot anywhere in this domestic-terminal. If you are flying internationally out of Mumbai airport be prepared for some heavy-duty paper work and lines. Be sure you get hold of all necessary forms to be filled in before lining up for the immigration.

The airport is under a great deal of renovation airside. If leaving Mumbai International then airside is okay nothing special but compared to such as Manila or even the old Delhi airport its okay. But arriving is terrible especially where the plane is always parked a bus ride from the old/dirty/hot and unpleasant arrival terminal. Immigration does not seem too bad these days but baggage handling is terrible. Long delays several flights may use the same belt even though 3 or four belts are not in use. Flying to Mumbai means that you cannot avoid this airport but be warned and be prepared for delays!

This one is by far the most terrible airport I've ever set foot in and even in two years of "construction" it continues to be an awful experience. Just pick any aspect of this airport. Anything at all. It is all a miserable experience. Rude security staff disgusting bathrooms dirty terminals and constant terrible smell. With all the corruption that goes on in India I wouldn't be surprised if the new terminal turns out to be just as bad as the existing terminal is.

Recently visited Mumbai and was pleasantly surprised by my experience for arrival and departure with an infant. Was visiting with my 6 month old daughter so was a bit apprehensive about it. Arrival was a breeze without any queue. Had to wait for an hour for the bags hopefully they improve the baggage handling facilities and remove the hanger ons nearby the baggage claim looking to make money. n departure it was again a pleasant experience with the official letting us the First class line for Immigration because of the infant. Also for infants there is a totally separate counter for security check which allows one to have enough time to security check all the additional items ie strollers ormula and water bottles without being hurried by other people. Had plenty of empty seats in the airport to wait for the flight. Was leaving from Continental flight which leave for Gate 12 which have an additional security check. This process could be improved as after the check the area to wait for the flight is very small and gets filled up with people.

One of the worst airports in the world. You can't enter the airport terminal before the check- in counter for your flight opens 3 hrs ahead. Therefore you have the choice of standing outside as the few seats are reserved for the "security staff". You are not allowed to sit there! Nevertheless you have the option of entering a "visitor lounge" (which is a part of the terminal that is separated from the terminal by a glass window) for a fee of 60 INR. The are only seats in this lounge. Maybe the airport director needs a new car or house... Once you're inside the airport you have to go through a lengthy check-in procedure. Very few self check in machines. The counters are well staffed but as checking in 3 pax takes +/- 7 minutes you can imagine the mess after that 15 people joined the queue. Once you pass this you have to go through immigration (quite swift) and the pass the lengthy security check. Should you forget to have your luggage tag stamped by the security agent you'll be denied boarding as this stamp is checked again at the gate. Probably some kind of occupational program for police force. Conclusion: plan enough time or choose another gateway to India.

The security staff are officious and rude to the point of being abusive. We were charged 2080 rupees for two drinks in the "Buzz bar". The signage is appalling and none of the toilets that I used had a single handbasin that had a water supply so people were washing their hands at the drinking water tap. My boarding pass was checked over and over again by the rudest security staff I have ever encountered. They also have a system whereby your hand luggage must bear a label that is then checked and stamped and marked over and over again so that it is rendered illegible. I would love to visit Goa again but if it means using Mumbai airport I simply will not go. I would advise any traveller to avoid this airport whatever they do.

If possible avoid the Airport especially on a transit flight. Luggage transfers can be of a worry and known to get misplaced. Smoking is allowed in a certain restaurant however an order from the menu may be required. Some airline lounges are a great relief & the designated airport lounge for the national carriers is not up to the standard. There are other plenty international airports better than Mumbai.

BOM is a disaster even in it's newer state. First problem is the lack of signs and communication for international transit passengers. You follow one sign that basically takes right outside the building where you stand and swelter in the Mumbai heat waiting to be allowed in. Secondly once you're in there are no seats in which to rest while waiting for your flight check-in desk to open. Then they have this great rule that even if you have a multiple entry visa and are travelling on the same itinerary you need to go to a special immigration office and wait while they take the longest photocopies in the world of your documentation. Then after they separate men and women in security; they put these bizzare tags on your hand luggage and stamp them. They are secured with but a string which makes they easily lost. And god help you if you are connecting to the domestic terminal in short order. The process has to be the most inefficient and uncoordinated thing I have ever seen in an international airport. Also be prepared. You will go through no less than 4-5 security screenings; no matter what you're doing in the airport. And they don't move at any other speed than slow in BOM. In terms of cleanliness I was surprised by how clean the restrooms were in the international terminal however the domestic terminal is revolting. There was even a well- fed rat that ran across the terminal floor as we sat and languished for hours with nothing to do waiting for our flight. Avoid BOM if you can at all costs.

Mumbai Airport has and is undergoing renovations so now things have improved and a good range of duty free shops are there but they are still expensive and the prices are in US$$. There should be pricing in INR as well so that if any overseas traveller has Rupees it can be used. The immigration staff are rude one rudely asked my wife a question in Hindi which the street people speak. Its a disgrace to clear immigration through Mumbai due to these kind of staff who don't know how to speak!!

Jet Airways flights transiting from Singapore - Mumbai - Brussels. I read reviews of the horrific experiences I would encounter in Mumbai so I was weary on arrival. Transit passengers no matter what cabin your travelling in were met at the gate and personally escorted to the transit area. It was peak time at 9pm 5 minute wait to go through a security check then into the terminal. Terminal was very busy but it was peak time still found plenty of places to sit down. Good choice of food outlets reasonable prices all were clean. Free wireless internet throughout the International Terminal. Aesthetically fine Mumbai is not the nicest airport slightly disorganised but renovations are being undertaken. They do another security check at the gate which involves being patted down and having your shoes scanned but nothing to complain about. Use Mumbai to transit if you have don't mind not having the facilities offered by hubs such as Singapore.