Funchal Airport

Not Verified | I could not buy any gluten free food at the airport. I ended up with a big bag of crisps, (Sem Gluten) the previous shop told me none of the crisps where G/F and she sold the same ones I bought. It was an experience I will not be repeating, the last time I visit Madeira. It is disgraceful that a person is left hungry by greedy cafe owners.

✅ Trip Verified | Worst airport experience. Transavia flight TO4851 from Funchal to Porto was cancelled due to bad weather conditions. Since arrival time at airport at 9.00am, I spent 9 hours at the airport for transfer to hotel to be organized. Hundreds of passengers waited like cattle to be processed. Airports announcements unintelligible. No minimum distance kept. In times of a pandemic utterly unacceptable to be forced to queue for hours and risk health with hundreds of other passengers. Unprofessional and unfriendly personnel. No information and transparency whatsoever provided. I was informed by e-mail that my flight was cancelled. It never was shown on screen or announced. I strongly advise flying to Funchal airport - in case of unforeseen conditions be prepared to endure harsh conditions. Madeira, never again. Side note: at arrival to Madeira, very painful testing experience.

✅ Trip Verified | Their covid-19 testing team do a terrible job. I felt my brain tickled and stabbed. It is sharp, it’s stabbing - I can’t even really describe the feeling. Ended up with an intense taste of blood in my throat. My legs, of their own accord, not controlled by my brain, shoot up, and start kicking, as if I’m flailing, as if I’m in the electric chair. If it’s done correctly, it shouldn’t be excruciatingly painful as it is, in my case on both times I arrived in this airport this summer. I would prefer to be punched in the nose while leaving the aircraft than going through this again. Both my mother and father felt the same. My question is who are the people doing these tests? Be careful.

✅ Trip Verified | It is a very clean airport and very easy to move around. Departures and arrivals are well defined and separate. It is very safe and there are good shopping areas in the departures. My experience at this airport is 40 flights, all without problems at the airport, and the last flight was in January 2020. Nice views from airport, we can see Desertas Islands and the sea, sunrise and sunset.

✅ Trip Verified | Going through security screening was a nightmare. I was told I was an "explosive threat" after having my hands screened twice and producing a positive result twice. They said this can happen to people who have used certain body lotions/creams, medications, touched certain items i.e. flowers. I was then escorted (very indiscreetly) by 2 armed police officers to a separate room where I was searched, my hand luggage searched and I was questioned. After all this I had to go through the whole process again, security, hands screened, positive result, by which time I was very distressed. A terrifying experience for a 62 year old woman - I do understand the need to keep air passengers safe but this screening technology is clearly not efficient or sufficient if it can be triggered by ingredients in creams and lotions. I will never return to Madeira.

✅ Trip Verified | TSA Combination locks changed by baggage handlers at Madeira airport. My cabin cases were put in the hold by easyJet at Bristol Airport, I handed the two cases to easyJet staff just before going up the steps when boarding as they were concerned there was not enough overhead locker space. No problem, I’ve done this many times before. When picking up the hire car at Funchal airport I needed to access the cabin cases only to find my combination lock numbers had been changed. The hire car reps managed to open the one case but the lock on the other had to be broken open. Apparently this is not unusual at Funchal, this was the fifth time they had experienced it. These mindless pranksters should be sacked. A great start to the holiday. Has anyone else experienced this problem?

✅ Trip Verified | I was very excited to land here as this airport is famous around the globe for its risk landings! The infrastrucure per se is very basic, you deplane on the tarmac and then walk to the arrivals, staff were ok, I found people in the Madeira island to be very friendly. Do not come without pre booked stuff as I noticed they inflate the prices for tourists who decided to book on the spot. The airport is clean and security is fast, long lines though. Snacks on the land side much cheaper than air side.

✅ Trip Verified | This airport is a breeze either for departures or arrivals. Very clean, medium enough to make it passenger-friendly and with well-sounding announcements for everything, even at the tarmac rooftop, so no one stays on the ground. Easyjet check-in gentleman was very friendly too.

✅ Trip Verified | The tiles from the terminal building exteriors are falling off and no one does anything about it. It is visually depressing. For the rest, nice, rather clean and comfortable small airport.

✅ Trip Verified | Just gone through security here and foolishly had a pocket knife in hand luggage (I use the nail file regularly due to a finger injury.) Brought this to the notice of security and they suggested getting an envelope from a 'post present home' service, so it wasn't confiscated as they could have. What a pleasant surprise to see common sense and helpful staff in their own (stressful) environment. Thanks to all Securitas staff who were involved. I can also add here that virtually everyone we have met in Madeira have been helpful and polite. They should consider exporting some of those qualities to other countries. Thankyou again Madeira, we'll see you soon.