Palma de Majorca Airport

PMI is a nice airport. It is very large so I imagine it can cope when busy although I have seen it only in two Januarys. Spain's new smoking laws are relatively effective thus quite properly limiting the impact of the filthy habit in the terminal although the restrictions are not well observed by arriving passengers. The toilets were many and very clean. Food outlets seem limited. I rarely complain about airport or airline food but I have to say that the alleged Gourmet cheese and ham sandwich for which I paid 4.60 euro was quite one of the most hideous I have ever had.

Airport was efficient both as an arriving and departing passenger. The airport public areas and toilets very clean and the eating facilities and shops did not charge the 'rip off' prices usually associated with airports. The signs provided for passenger guidance were satisfactory although perhaps better guidance could had been provided to assist departing passengers to locate their correct check in desk - I found mine by pure good fortune. All staff with whom I came into contact with were polite.

I was reasonably impressed with the modern image it presented though comments about 'long walks' are well justified - leave plenty of time to make it to the departure gates on time! One drawback was the 'security' arrangements. We all appreciate the need for heightened vigilance in these troubled times but the demeanour of the security staff appeared a tad arrogant ...and inconsistent to boot. By comparison I felt the security 'scrutiny' at Heathrow was more subtle courteous and far more effective.

I have just travelled back from Palma airport. It was disgusting. We were told that the cleaners had gone on strike. There were bins overflowing half eaten sandwiches on the floor etc. I was expecting to see rats and other vermin but did not. You could not sit on the chairs for rubbish. If the airport was in such a state (and this was 10:30am) I would have thought the food outlets would have closed but they were still serving food. (If you wanted to sit down the tables were next to a large pile of rubbish). Not a good experience at all.

The airport is wonderful clean and spacious the staff are very friendly and helpful. Although on the downside the catering facilities are not up to a high standard but the shops are ok. There were also bird droppings near the baggage collection part of the airport which didn't look to nice but the overall journey was brilliant and we would certainly travel from Palma airport again as the customer service was remarkable and most of the staff working in the airport were more than willing to help.

If you are elderly or disabled don't bother going to Majorca. Palma Airport's provision for such passengers is grim. Have just travelled back from Palma -at check in I informed the clerk that assistance had been booked for 83 year old father. I was asked whether he required a buggy or a wheelchair (not being informed how important this choice would be) - opted for the buggy. I checked with the person collecting him that he would be taken to the gate - 04 and was assured he would. As it happened we walked to the gate only to find that he wasn't there. I brought this to the attention of the clerks at the gate desk and was told "he will be here". They called the flight everyone started getting on the bus - and he still hadn't arrived. Then we saw him staggering down a flight of stairs totally unaware of where he was going and sit in the nearest available seat (at the opposite end of the hall). I informed the despatcher at the gate desk and she said "but buggies can't travel down stairs"!! My answer isn't repeatable but needless to say the lack of care aforded to elderly or disabled left me absolutely staggered. Why they should think an elderly man who needs a buggy to get through the airport would be able to walk downstairs and another 200 yds or so beats me.

Used PMI for the first time on a week's holiday. Very spacious very long walks (but lots of auto walkways) generally a good feel to the place. On arrival baggage arrived fairly quickly very easy to find hire-car desks (and no queue at mine - Avis) very easy to get out to the hire-car parking - actually the shortest walk of the whole arrival process! Pretty good too I expect for those using transit buses/coaches - everything was right outside the terminal building. Found it straightforward to get away and headed in the right direction by car. When returning again easy to drop off the hire car get a trolley and get into the terminal building. Need to use a lift to get to the Departures level. Check-in quick and easy although we were using Business Class so it should be. A busy Saturday morning but the queues at Security were horrendous - and no fast-track that I could discern. Business lounge virtually empty plenty of drink options limited snacks lacking in atmosphere. A full 15-minute walk to the gate. Overall a good experience.

Palma International is vastly improved from it's early days and the new terminal is wonderful BUT it's a heck of a long walk once you get off the plane - I thought we'd reach the sea before we got to baggage reclaim! Cafe's upstairs are very poorly laid out not much choice and expensive but then aren't most airport cafes! There could be more tables to eat at and certainly could do with several staff to ensure tables are kept clear and clean but other than that I could think of far worse airports to fly into and out of!

I have lived in Palma for the last year or so and used the airport frequently. I agree that this brand-new terminal is spacious and well-designed. The only too often long distance involved in getting to your departure gate is pleasantly shortened though efficient moving walkways. The airport is conveniently located near the city and cabs are plentiful. The bus option is equally convenient and certainly cheaper although it should be noted that buses are not entirely reliable when it comes to getting to/from the airport either early in the morning or late in the evening. Negative aspects include: The blunt inadequacy of the existing catering facilities in the departures area. These are basically limited to two (twin) self-service outlets with a more than limited and certainly overpriced range of products. Tables are scarce and dirty. one often has to remove what others have left before. The only existing restaurant is poorly located at one end of the terminal and consequently often passes unnoticed by the traveller. The standards of cleanliness can be much improved. The otherwise pleasant relaxing open-air area is often found in appalling conditions with rubbish and bird droppings scattered all over the place. The retail facilities are small and unattractive. The perfume bar is normally crowded and rather inconveniently located at one end of the duty-free supermarket selling groceries and other stuff which is rather off-putting during the perfume-shopping experience. Non-smoking regulations are bluntly ignored by both travellers and staff alike. The only two existing passport and security control areas often mean that the traveller faces a rather long queue. The arrivals halls are cold and depressing. The low concrete ceiling creates an oppressive atmosphere. As in many other airports in Spain smokers automatically light their cigarettes the moment they get here when smoking is theoretically not allowed in this area.

I used PMI airport as my destination from Miami in June 2004 and the comments here are accurate. PMI is a large well-designed very modern and almost spotless airport well-designed for handling the more than 19 Million Passengers per year the third-busiest in Spain and placing it in the top 15 airports in Europe. My only complaints are the large and unorganized crowds in front of the security checkpoints (could learn something about crowd-handling from Disney) and for those unwary passengers the baggage carts do not have brakes and there is this steepish incline in an area. I can imagine one letting go even briefly at this point and having your cart rapidly roll away.