Lisbon Airport

Used Terminal 1 both arriving and departing twice in last trimester and I have to say that for a passenger that flies in Schengen Area with just cabin luggage and with checking in online it is a breeze. Less than 15 minutes to pass security check on both occasions going in and less than 20 minutes from gate arrival to taking a taxi at the airport stand to return home. They have done some remodelling recently they have created a new shopping area and food outlet which made passengers pass a lot of shops before the air gates but this is standard operating procedure for an airport this days.

Absolutely terrible passport control. Landed at 0700 from Philadelphia and didn't clear until 1030 missing a connecting flight in the process. Only one very small filthy bathroom for hundreds of passengers who just landed from red-eye flights. TAP counter was very helpful in setting up alternative flight to Porto and luggage actually arrived with me.

Yesterday I spent a day in Lisbon Airport - with my husband and our friend (83 years old lady). We were part of a group of 8 who were supposed to take off at 9.35. Arrived at the airport early used the self service check in and went for the queue for baggage drop (very long). After waiting a long time the 3 of us were shown to a counter where we spent 45 minutes while the man behind the desk kept talking on the phone. We finally got rid of our bags and went to drop our golf bags at the odd size luggage counter. Next queue was the security check. Again we waited in a long queue and experienced inefficiency from the staff. Finally we came through and went for a short visit to the lavatories and started the long walk to gate 10. Arriving at the gate we were told that the gate was closed. The two very friendly ladies made some calls and tried to fix it so we could get on the plane - but unfortunately that was not possible - the procedure to unload our bags from the plane had already been started. We got instructions to go back to "customer service" - and then the nightmare started: We followed the instructions and walked through the airport to find the customer service which was not easy. We had to ask for the way several times and each time we were sent in the opposite direction. After having been back and forth in the airport (passing gate 15 about 5 times) we found a friendly man who gave us correct directions to customer service. Told to go to the ticket office. After some more walking around we found the ticket office where we were told to buy new tickets to the next flight. After some arguing that it was not our fault that we missed the plane she came around a bit: we were lucky so we only had to pay for the difference in price for the two tickets. Back in the check in area we found the supervisor and we were provided us with new boarding passes and were told that we could go straight to security. At this time 2 hours since our original take off time had passed and we had almost 6 not very exiting hours to spent in the airport. If this is Lisbon Airports understanding of customer service we do not want to come back. We know that the airport is old and worn out but this is no excuse for the inefficiency of the staff.

We are Australians who live in London and took our first holiday to Portugal. We arrived at Lisbon airport at 7.25pm on 10 August. We left passport control in customs at 9.30pm! There were very few staff checking the passports and the queue simply didn't move. We were exasperated and disgusted by the lack of interest in our needs. We just stood there and waited and waited. It's a disgrace and certainly doesn't make me want to come back to this country. The Portuguese authorities need to realise that their tourist trade depends on people like us and we won't be back through Lisbon airport again!

Arriving at 7.20pm 10th August from London we were amazed to see that Portuguese immigration had one booth open to check passports. Several hundred people were waiting in long queues both citizens and non-citizens like us and many with small children also like us. We got through passport control at 9.30pm - disgraceful and very disrespectful! Made us want to get on the next plane home! Note to Portuguese authorities if you want people to visit your country and spend money try treating them with respect and make their arrival at least pleasant and welcoming. I have never experienced a more ridiculous immigration check and I travel a lot.

Flew from London Heathrow via TAP on 13th July 2013 and found the whole experience easy. Bus to transfer from plane to Terminal 1 passed through passport/customs/ baggage hall very efficiently and picked up a taxi outside without a long wait (not even 5 mins). On return the next day we travelled via the Metro very accessible to the departure zone. Check in was amazingly quick - no queues at all also passed through passport and security check with no queues. There were ample places to buy food and drinks at reasonable prices. Our gate number was displayed early and there were plenty of places to sit and wait plus watch TV. I noticed that there were some good facilities for young families - play areas etc. which I would have been grateful for a few years ago. Plane left on time - no complaints at all.

Terminal 1 was quite good for Star Alliance connections. Mostly helpful staff quick passport control and a good selection of food outlets of which some were local which is a surprise. Problems seem to be Terminal 2 so we read. Improvements? Better signage when arriving from another European airport. The second trip will be even easier.

The most ridiculous safety procedures experience. After waiting for 50' to pass security "gates" they asked me to open my hand luggage to show the small bag with toiletries in order to check if they were under 100 cl. and so on (so far no problem) but once checked that were OK they obliged me to buy a plastic bag in a conveniently located vending device and pass again security (straight on I have to say not queuing again) I almost missed my flight. The problem is that there are very few x-ray machines and no room for preparation until you reach the machine and lines incredible it was Sunday morning at 06.45 am! Imagine later! They have to improve for sure all resources there.

We were anticipating a bright shiny new and well organised terminal for our first flight from the brand new terminal 2. What a missed opportunity this is. A cramped shed with long queues at check in bag drop security and for the tiny snack bar. The duty free shop has rows of check outs of course not manned so even a queue there! It really is hard to imagine how you could get this more wrong with a new terminal. We travel regularly to the Silver Coast area and will do all we can to avoid terminal 2 even consider flying to Porto. This brand new terminal reminds me of the worst provincial ski airports such as Grenoble and Chambery these handle a huge concentration of charter flights for a short season. The owners of the airport should be ashamed of this poorly designed shambles and Easyjet should beware - they will lose customers here.

Terminal 2. Chaotic scrum to get onto transfer bus followed by painfully slow queue at easyJet bag drop / check-in. They simply have to sort these problems out or Lisbon will alienate both the business and tourist travellers and their money that the Portuguese economy desperately needs.