Palma de Mallorca Airport — Local services in Palma

The service provided by “Sin Barreras” at Palma de Mallorca Airport is an absolute disaster. The problems started even before we reached their desk – with a regular airport employee at the check-in counter. Despite arriving at the airport 2 hours before our flight and being allowed to go to the front of the line due to my friend’s disability, the check-in took more than 25 minutes because the agent had no idea how to process a passenger with a wheelchair. He kept leaving, making calls, and asking for information, even though he had a card in his hands with all the technical details of the wheelchair. In the meantime, all other passengers in the adjacent lines had already completed their check-in, while we were still stuck at the same counter. Normally on the other airports this process takes no more than 10 minutes, and we fly very often with this wheelchair – here it was a complete waste of time caused by the employee’s incompetence.

From there, things only went downhill. Because of the complete lack of organization from “Sin Barreras,” my friend in a wheelchair and I almost missed our flight. From the very beginning, the lady at the desk seemed more interested in chatting with her colleague than actually working. Entering passport data took her 15 minutes (typing a few letters at a time before going back to her conversation), and then it took another 10 minutes just to assign us an assistant.

Most of the assistants do not speak English, which is unbelievable at an international airport. Communication was therefore almost impossible. By the time we were finally taken to the security check, we had only 15 minutes left before boarding – even though, let me stress again, we had arrived 2 hours before the flight and started the check-in from the very front of the line! What followed was pure chaos – the passenger in a wheelchair before us had three assistants, while we had only one, who was unable to communicate either with us or with the other staff. At one point the assistants literally started pushing each other – it looked like a circus.

On top of that, my situation was absurd: the companion of the passenger before us was allowed to go through the special passage, while I was told to wait with my friend until the very last moment. Then, suddenly, I was informed I had to use the regular line – where more than 20 people were waiting. This could have been explained from the start. Instead, I had to beg people to let me through in order not to miss the flight.

After security, our assistant simply disappeared, leaving us completely alone with no information. Other assistants ignored us, and again, none of them spoke English. In the end, we barely made it to boarding. In summary – the situation is pure chaos. From the staff at the desk who prefer to chat instead of working, to the assistants who cannot speak even basic English and disappear when you need them most. I already know the standard reply will be “we do our best,” but maybe instead of repeating that, it’s time to actually do something. Because the truth is, the organization for passengers with disabilities at this airport is nothing...

Make sure you allow PLENTY of time to allow for the "treat" that is Palma airport.

Our first experience of Palma airport was the ladies toilet. A good queue to make us Brits feel at home. 5 cubicles with only 3 doors that were actually fully functional. I particularly felt for the lady in trap 2, who clearly had some serious toilet needs, and was having to hold the door shut whilst going about her business.

Once they feel passengers are anxious enough about the proximity to their flight, the airport will delight you by putting two flights with exactly the same departure time at one lot of desks. This will lead to enormous queues, which the staff will then audaciously try to move out of the way.

During this time, I saw a passenger attempt to hand in a mobile phone she'd found to a security member of staff, who could've have cared any less.

At Security, there will be plenty of queues to join, which will fill you with misguided optimism that it might be speedy. But don't be fooled, there is only one body scanner for each pair of belts so you'll easily lose 30 minutes or more during this part. Our body scanner seemed to want every second or third person to be swabbed which slowed things nicely down. Border Control are a cheerful and efficient bunch, said nobody. Ever.

You'll then proceed to the lounge. By this time, boarding is already taking place. You grab some Milka chocolate and a drink for the flight and rush to the gate. By now, the boards are flashing LAST CALL. You pick your child up by their feet and drag them to the gate, only to find people still queuing to board. They check your boarding card and passports, and usher you through... to then merrily wait on a boiling hot bridge for a bus that hasn't arrived. The bus is a real highlight, they would never cram so many people on to a bus in a UK airport, but hey, we're in Palma, the more the merrier! There was nothing for my daughter to hold onto because there were so many people aboard so I held on to her with all my Size 10 might.

Eventually the bus will move off and you can board the plane, to enjoying whatever tripe the kid the other side aisle is watching because his parents don't think their little darling needs headphones.

If you're still reading, allow plenty of time for Palma if you're travelling at peak times like the Summer holidays. Everything is slow. I love Majorca, been countless times. But Palma airport remains the worst airport I've...

Currently sat in this airport and it is literally the worst airport we've ever been in. Absolute chaos. No one seems to know anything. Just went to check in and get rid of our bags. The woman took our passports, gave us boarding cards, put tags on my suitcase and off it went down the conveyer belt to god only knows where. She then took my husbands case, put the tags on then promptly ripped them off and said we're too early. What? So where did my bag go then? How come my bag wasn't too early when we're literally leaving sat next to eachother on the same flight? She has assured me my bag will make it onto the plane but given the level of disorganisation in this airport I seriously doubt it. So we're now stuck with boarding cards in hand, unable to go through security in an area with one coffee shop and 2 toilets with massive queues. Renovations going on so constant drilling and building noises and nothing to do for the next 3 hours. We're used to Helsinki airport where everything works like clockwork and you can get rid of bags immediately at the self service bag drops. How can an airport dealing with this volume of tourists be so obviously disorganised? Awful. Our whole trip in Mallorca had been wonderful until this point, but have to say we probably won't be back based on this experience. Edited to add: Well my bag came off the plane in Helsinki so I've raised my review to 3 stars from sheer relief. Still, before security there is nothing but chaos and after? Well. In zone D at least ( where our flight left from) it's not a lot better to be honest. Absolute bedlam, only enough seats for around 1/4 of the people waiting for flights. Not much options for food unless you want a 10e sandwich or Burger King. We opted for Burger King, which turned out to be a terrible idea. You order from the self service screen thing then stand, with the rest of the massive crowd of people and wait. We waited almost 40 minutes for our food, had to cram ourselves on someone else's table to eat it, and as it took so long to get we had to quickly scarf it down and run for the gate because the plane was boarding. Should've taken the 10e sandwich😂 Oh well, you...