Barbados Grantley Adams Airport

The worst airport I have ever been in. Check-in was a disaster. The luggage belts weren't working because " 'there are too many flights to deal with'. Going through passport control was a nightmare. My husband lost the little departure paper out of his passport and we were sent to fill in another one then when we tried to go to the front of the queue they made us go back. The business class lounge was heaving with people and they were having to sit on any surface available. Drinks and very poor snacks available. Then we had to queue at the gate for our British Airways flight. A lady from Air Canada got very hot and bothered because we were standing in the Air Canada 'area'. She asked us all to move and she got a lot of grief understandably - there was no Air Canada flight and nobody needed the space. Extremely poor treatment of passengers. Will avoid in future.

Travelled from Miami to St Vincent so had to change aircraft at Barbados. Not a lot of problems as there was an airport member at the line for immigration pointing out "Transit this way". You are sent to a separate immigration booth specifically for transit people. Didn't really make a lot of sense because you still had to collect your luggage and do exactly what everyone else does. If you don't have luggage then its 100% as you just leave the arrivals area and go straight to check in for your onward flight. Departure lounge area was pretty efficient with shops a bar and eats for all. If you are flying with LIAT don't believe the times on the departure board. Grab something to and drink and go straight to the departure gate. LIAT will leave when they want to.

The airport is a good airport for what it is. The lines after you get off the plane can be long depending on when your flight gets there. The first time I visited we waited for 15 minutes as 2 other jets got there when we did. This last time we went we were late on an AA flight and we did not have to wait long. We walked right up but then waited on our luggage. Whole process took about 20 minutes. The airport is nice and clean. There is not a lot to do but I think they have Wi-Fi.

I travel once a year to St Vincent via Barbados. I found the airport staff to be very rude and surly. They have no idea how to be polite to travellers. The point is if it wasn't for travellers they would not have a job. Another thing is they take your duty free away from you even when you are in transit. If you travel from England (for instance) and you are in transit you have to collect your luggage and book in with LIAT or what other airline you are travelling with and then when you check-in at customs they take your duty free that you have with you. Surely people are entitled to take their duty free to their destination. I think the airport should have a transit lounge so that travellers don't have to go outside and back in again. Its very frustrating and tiring after travelling for over 8 hours to be queuing to get your luggage then queuing again to send it to its final destination.

On arrival we had to queue for almost two hours to clear immigration as officials scrutinised each passenger's immigration form closely before allowing them through. Our plane carried 360 passengers and there were only six officers on duty. The forms are pointless they give you the blue copy back but then at customs another official collects them in at random. Totally pointless this looks like a job creation scheme. What a terrible first impression for visitors - I am dreading my return flight to find out what other horrors lie in store.

Barbados is dependant on tourism but offers a shabby welcome with unfriendly staff. I had to use the airport December 2011 to transit to Mustique. It was dirty and smelly. The premier lounge was unclean with furniture in need of repair. No fresh food two opened bottles of white wine a very unpleasant place to rest in.

I have experienced both the old and new BGI and the new one is certainly an improvement. I have to admit I miss those little huts in a garden that used to house the duty free shopping in the landside departure area but they have a nice new sunken bar area with vegetation and I do believe a water feature. I do seem to remember long lineups at immigration before but they don't seem very bad at all now. I don't mind the lack of jetways because for me part of the whole experience is stepping off the plane and getting hit by that blast of hot air. I do however understand that it may be somewhat unpleasant if you arrive/depart in poor weather conditions. Reading through the comments I saw someone claim that one crosses a runway to get to one's plane. This is a fallacy. I also noticed a pattern that transit travellers seem to be decidedly unsatisfied with their experience. Travelling with connecting flight is generally unpleasant and often stressful and their bad experience may be more a reflection of that than a reflection of the quality of the airport. I think it is terribly unfair of them to judge an airport let alone a whole nation due to one bad experience.

I was pleasantly surprised with Grantley Adams International. Although it has no jet-ways one going up and down the stairs on the aircraft; this is an impressive facility for the Caribbean. Floors marble with drawings and mosaics. The ceilings are all but large structures of white tents. This creates a relaxed elegant atmosphere. BGI is clean (including the restrooms!). On boarding the international duty-free area is luxurious. Airport staff is pleasant and attentive including immigration agents. To round-it-up there are several good options for dining before and after security. Abundant and reliable taxi service make this a positive first and last impression; for the fortunate visitors to this beautiful island.

Travelling through Barbados airport on my way to and from St Vincent & The Grenadines ruins the start and finish of every holiday. The staff are surly and bombastic all Liat flights to SVG I am booked on are delayed with absolutely no information given out by the staff. at least one piece of hold luggage will always not be put onto your connecting flight. Now we send all our luggage by sea and just carry hand luggage. Also why can't anyone speak clearly over the tannoy?

BGI is a good airport to get through quickly especially given the two flights that came through at the same time. Only problem is lack of trolleys if you've a large number of bags to carry although you can get the trolley guys to help you (at a cost). On the way out there were no queues at all for BA and the security staff are actually friendly and not jobsworths (helping us with out two year old) - take note UK staff. A few shops to spend your last Bajan if need be and lots of space and seating.