Transportation
There’s lots of natural beauty to explore on the island of Mallorca, and the best way to see it all is to hire a car. Several car hire services are available landside after baggage claim, including Avis, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, and Sixt. You’ll also find several travel desks nearby offering tourist services to help you plan your activities. Car hire return is on the ground floor of the airport’s parking garage, directly opposite the terminal.
Taxi stands are located just outside the terminal. There is a dedicated pick-up point for pre-booked taxis. You’ll also find the bus stands straight ahead in front of the airport car park. The Linea A1 Bus goes to the city centre of Palma. I recommend hiring a car or taking a taxi when travelling with a lot of luggage.
Arrivals at Palma de Mallorca
Planes arrive at four different airport modules connecting to the main terminal. While there are jet bridges in three of the four modules, several flights park remotely and are transported to the terminal by bus. The average walk from a module to the terminal is about ten minutes, and there are moving walkways to speed things up.
Documents required at Palma de Mallorca
Palma is a Spanish airport in the Schengen Zone. Arriving passengers from flights outside the Schengen Zone must pass through passport control. You must present a valid passport and may require a visa or entry permit.
Baggage claim
The baggage claim area is located on the ground floor. In my experience, your bags don’t take long to reach the designated baggage carousel. You’ll find free luggage trolleys to help transport your luggage outside to the taxi and bus stands.
Departures at Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI)
The airline check-in desks for departures are on the terminal’s level 2. Most airlines allow you to check in for your flight electronically before you get to the airport. If you are only travelling with hand luggage, you can go straight to the security screening process and on to your gate. Some airlines have automated digital check-in kiosks at the airport where you can print a boarding pass. You can drop off your check-in luggage at the airline desk. There are monitors throughout the terminal to help you find the right check-in desks for your flight.
I’ve found the check-in process at PMI is usually efficient, though more passengers may be waiting during the peak season. Check with your airline for the opening times of the check-in desks and the best time to arrive at the airport.
Getting through security at Palma de Mallorca
After check-in, take the escalators to the 4th floor, where you will clear security. Follow the corridors to the module where your gate is located. There are moving walkways to make the trek easier, and PRM (Persons with Reduced Mobility) services are available for those who need mobility assistance.
Airlines Serving Palma de Mallorca Airport
Shopping, food and lounges
The terminal has several shops, food outlets, and lounges located after security. On most of my trips, I’ve hung around the terminal at a café or bar rather than going to the lounge, but they offer a nice escape when the terminal is crowded.
Shopping
Palma de Mallorca has one of Europe’s largest duty-free shops on level 4 and several smaller express duty-free shops in Modules A, C, and D. There are several WHSmiths if you want to buy a book or two to enjoy on the beach or the flight home. You’ll find souvenir shops and shops selling various other useful products, including sunglasses. The Balearics enjoy nice weather practically year-round, which is what makes them such a popular holiday destination. A good pair of sunglasses and some sun cream will definitely come in handy.
Food and Drinks
There is a good variety of restaurants, fast-food outlets, cafés, and bars at the main terminal and all four modules of Palma de Mallorca airport. Selections include a few places to enjoy beverages and tapas. Different outlets sell delicious baguette sandwiches and traditional pastry ensaïmadas. There are also cafés, several beer bars, and fast food outlets such as Burger King and McDonald's.
Lounges at Palma de Mallorca airport
There are four pay-for-access lounges at PMI, all operated by Aena. The largest is the Valldemossa VIP Lounge in the main terminal on the second floor, past security. If you’re flying from the non-Schengen Module A, you can visit the Llevant VIP lounge on the ground floor. The Mediterranean VIP Lounge is located in Module C on the ground floor. In Module D, you’ll find the Formentor VIP lounge on the ground floor.
You can book a lounge spot on the Aena website in advance or pay for access as a walk-in guest at the airport. I recommend booking in advance since you pay less than at the airport, and there's no danger of being turned away due to a lack of space.
Getting the VIP Treatment at Palma de Mallorca
Catering to those who need more privacy than a public airport terminal allows, Aena also has a Premium VIP service in a separate terminal on a road near Module D and the parking garage. It offers in-lounge check-in and private transport to your aircraft. Guests can reserve Premium VIP service by contacting the airport through the Aena website.
Aena Airport app
Getting connected at Palma de Mallorca Airport
The airport offers free unlimited Wi-Fi, which is fast enough for most tasks. There is also free dedicated Wi-Fi at the airport’s lounges. If you don’t have your laptop handy, you’ll find several free-to-use PC terminals inside the airport. Like the rest of Spain, Mallorca is well-connected, and you won’t have trouble finding free Wi-Fi at your hotel, restaurants, and cafés throughout the island. However, Mallorca’s natural beauty may inspire you to disconnect from the online world instead.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
