Dalaman Airport — Local services in Dalaman

Here’s the updated version of your review with the added sentence:

Review for Dalaman Airport

I used to consider Dalaman one of the most beautiful airports in Turkey, possibly even the world. The layout, landscape, and lovely orange trees once gave it a charm that was hard to beat. Additionally, the immigration police remain some of the most polite and efficient I’ve encountered anywhere. Unfortunately, everything else has taken a serious turn for the worse.

The airport has now become one of the most run-down and filthy airports I’ve seen. I can only assume that a change in management, perhaps around a year ago, has led to its decline.

Here are my key concerns:

Filthy Public Spaces: The cleanliness is shocking. All public areas are so dirty you wouldn’t want to sit down or touch anything. The public toilets are in an appalling state. During my last visit, nappies and sanitary towels were strewn in the middle of the toilet aisle, while the attendant was on a personal phone call. The overpowering smell is unbearable, and there’s no sign of fresh air extraction in operation. You can literally follow the smell to find the toilets. Half of the public spaces have a similar foul odor.

Lack of Air Conditioning or Fresh Air: The air conditioning and fresh air systems are either broken or intentionally turned off. It’s always stuffy and uncomfortably hot inside the airport.

Poor Lighting: It’s clear they aren’t investing in lighting for public areas. Many of the light bulbs are off, and if you land in the evening, the airport looks more like an abandoned government building than a functioning international airport.

Neglect of Health and Safety: Health and safety appear to be of no concern. Walking from the long-stay car park or rental car area to the main building is a challenge, with barely any lighting or proper walkways.

Hazardous Trolleys: The trolleys should come with a warning sign. I can’t count how many times I’ve cut myself on them.

There are so many other issues I could mention, but I’m realistic enough to know that nothing will change. It’s heartbreaking to see such a lack of care and attention at what was once a great airport. The addition of kiosk desks outside for mobile providers and other services feels like something out of an Indiana Jones movie. Shame, shame, shame.

This should capture everything you...

Our arrival was punctuated by an unreasonably long wait for our bags at the carousel. But they came eventually and we were on our way. All in all, unremarkable.

Departing however is a different experience. There is a security check and bag scanning just to get into the terminal, so there's a queue for that which is poorly managed.

At check-in the ground-handling agency staff were rude and unhelpful. My advice is to make sure you have evidence of your booking and baggage allowance and an understanding of pooling your allowance. They tried to insist we had only one bag booked between four of us and looked to charge for the excess on that, then to charge for each of the other bags and the manager who came to intervene seemed to double-down on the rudeness until I showed them the full detail of the booking. That's being taken up separately with the airline as they need to know about the quality of service of the people they pay to represent them.

What is truly eye-watering is the unjustifiable expense of food and drinks. €20+ for one McDonald's Meal, €7 for a packet of crisps, €4 for a 500ml bottle of water. We took snacks with us to avoid the cost, but obviously had no option but to buy water as you can't take that through security.

Free wi-fi is only available for 30 mins from a kiosk at the check-in area where you must scan your passport to get a code (the little terminal is not signposted, but is beside a bureau de change opposite the desks), there isn't one beyond security and when we asked at the information desk, we were begrudgingly given two codes between four of us, again for 30 mins. Beyond that you're expected to pay. I can't think of any other airport I've used it the last 10 years where one was expected to pay for internet access, let alone provide your passport!

Toilets are poorly maintained. The gents I used behind one of the coffee Kiosks was pretty unclean and the door wouldn't lock.

Duty free is well stocked and staff are very helpful. It's not particularly cheap though. Certainly didn't seem to accrue any savings from the items bought.

If we were to return to Turkiye, I think we'd be looking at a different region, so as to avoid...

A warning about a policy change with regard to flight seating arrangements for persons requiring mobility assistance in Dalaman airport.. PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT YOU WON'T BE SEATED WITH A TRAVEL COMPANION......

My complaint is regarding the Aer Lingus check in desk at Dalaman airport. We were travelling to Dublin departing at 21.10 on 3rd June. Flight EI791. I had requested mobility assistance and was sitting in a wheelchair waiting with my husband to check in. We handed our passports to the mobility assistance gentleman who passed both of them over to the check in staff member. The person checking us in knew that we were travelling together. We were on the same booking. We had to check in at the airport as we had booked with Tui and it wouldn't allow us to check in online. Prior to booking our holiday when we phoned about mobility assistance Tui told us that we would be seated together. No chance. My husband was assigned Seat 3D (Sequence 59). I was assigned Seat 29D (sequence 61) by the Aer Lingus ground handling staff member. We were there in the airport at least 3 hours before departure, so plenty of seats should have been available. I was very lucky that the Aer Lingus crew managed to sit us together otherwise I would have been in a lot of trouble. The crew on board were brilliant. I can't commend them enough for their kindness and professionalism. As soon as I entered the aircraft they put me at ease, as they could see I was distressed. May I also thank the mobility assistance crew in Dalaman airport, who were excellent. I am writing this as your online complaint form for Dalaman airport won't accept the complaint. It should be made clear to people who need mobility assistance that the policy has changed with regards to sitting with your travelling companion. It is a necessity when you need someone to help you with mobility on the flight. People with reduced mobility need to know this information. Be aware that if you have mobility problems that you will be allocated seats at opposite ends of a plane. They just...