Guam International Airport – GUM

It’s pretty outdated. Small. Easy to navigate through. However most folks are just passing through anyway so it serves it’s purpose.

This airport is very efficient, and keeps security moving. TSA and customs staff are serious, but friendly and informative. This airport is easy to get to and very well laid out. The airport itself is beautiful, clean, cheerful and bright. There are several options for food and drink. I won’t comment on airline counters and gates specifically as that depends heavily on the staff of the airline not the airport. Parking, arrival and departures are also a breeze.

It’s really small and easy to get through but with its size comes a severe lack of decent restaurants and shops. It’s also dirty and the furniture is old. The route to get to car rental return is terrible and then I had to walk back inside to drop the keys off because no one was there at 4 am.

I can say that our experience leaving Guam (at the airport) was better then when we got to Guam from Tokyo.
Overall what do u expect at an airport, you try and get in and out as quick as possible, you know you are going to get taken advantage of with food and drink cause of the 9.11 (which you know the vendors love being able to charge $ 4 for a bottle of water). So I feel the airport was no better or worse then any other airport I have been at.
TSA was friendlier and more helpful getting you thru the process then at Phoenix sky harbor TSA.

The only reason I am giving 2 stars rather than just one is because of the workers here. Every one I have encountered has been very pleasant and helpful. There is also free WiFi, which is a major plus. Unfortunately, this does not make up for the condition this airport is in. As soon as you pass through security, the building takes on a very unwelcoming atmosphere. Giant barricades separate the hallways and break up the seating areas, yet seem to serve no purpose. They just make the terminals feel like a giant office with cubicals. The few chairs that are present are old and run down. Every bathroom I’ve been in had at least a toilet or sink out of order. Most of the automatic walkways are broken. I could not find a single working water fountain. There were giant holes in the wall where some used to be and the ones I did find were not operational. I could go on and on. This airport needs some serious renovations, but that seems unlikely due to the monopoly this airport has on Guam.

This is by far the worst airport in America, in one of the worst American locations.
Let’s review. Guam is a US Territory. While heavily occupied by US military installations, the island of Guam is run by native Guam people called Chamorros, specifically a handful of long-​time families. GovGuam as it’s known is the largest employer on the island, and the huge expenses that come with having mayors as well as a pseudo-​state government. The island is a run down ****hole where lower middle class Japanese come and pretend to be in Hawaii.
The airport is disgusting. It gets little in the way of maintenance, and the jet bridges are all rusted hulks and often don’t work leaving passengers standing on their planes for 15 minutes or more.
There is active mold growing in many areas of the terminal, the bathrooms have «out of order» signs on half the facilities, and moving sidewalks haven’t worked in years. No kidding. Years!
The airport was designed for travel pre-​9/​11, and was never properly redesigned to process passengers. «Temporary» barricades have been erected permanently in the center of the terminal walkways.
A NEW requirement is that all transit passengers GO THRU GUAM CUSTOMS even though they don’t even have access to their luggage! This delays planeloads of passengers (and of course a key escalator is broken), and they you’re forced back thru a TSA inspection in an area never designed for this task.
Recently, the Guam Airport awarded a new contract for a Duty Free operator (Duty Free, a huge scam). This means the first new construction at the airport in 15 years is a $ 13M upgrade to the DUTY FREE STORE!
Guam. Give it a pass.

I LOVE GUAM! (I just wish I got to visit more the GIA)
2AM arrival. *(2AM arrivals seem quite common here from the amount of Japanese and Korean tourists that filled the Customs hall)
I had a 5 hour layover and gawd I was tired. Since I’m not American I had to join the throngs of tourists in the foreigner Line up yet somehow I made it through in about 15 minutes, not the hour plus I was expecting. Everyone was perky and friendly at 2AM!
The best thing about GUAM is that AP doesn’t sleep. The United Lounge opened at three AM and had all the sustenance I needed before my flight to Tokyo.
I’ll be back!
g

It is a small airport, but then again, it’s on an island.
There are a number of places to pass the time.
— food
— shops
— business lounge if qualified.
— wifi is available
Now, if you rent a car, 2 things:
1. It will take some time. Again, they are on island time (they move slow)
2 both pick up and drop off; they will go out and inspect the car
So do not expect, like some airport rental car places, you can drop the keys and go. Not happening.

It’s Guam’s only public airport. It’s much larger than it used to be. It’s clean.
There isn’t much to do here once you pass security. There are a few food outlets and some duty free shops but even those are closed if you come late.

Oh hell, where am I ???

This airport is weird. I’m not sure how to exactly describe it, but it’s very inefficient.
The flight check-​in line was confusing. They would have a separate line if you’re going to Japan. They call flights to USA domestic, but they still require a passport.
The TSA line was long and slow. When a second TSA personnel showed up, she didn’t take passengers from the front of the line, but instead helped passengers in the middle of the line. Luckily we weren’t in a rush, but it didn’t seem fair.
Walknig to the gate, there are three more people that you have to get through. I have no idea what they were checking, but they stamped something too.
It seemed like there were a lot of unnecessary steps in this process from checking in to boarding our flight. They should hire an industrial engineer to improve the whole airport experience.

I was stuck there for a night when flying back from Chuuk. There’s nothing at all open or to do there. I asked a security guy what was around. He said not much, but that him and his wife were going to a local bar. He offered a ride there and said it was close enough that I could walk back. So we went and it was close.
The bar was pretty hilarious, but that’s going to be a different review.
Anyways, walked back much later that night. I couldn’t find anywhere good to crash, but another security guard let me into some waiting lounge are with not too comfy benches — but better than the floor. Very nice of him.
So all in all, for a remote little airport, not too bad. It obviously not a big airport full of businesses, but the guys there were pretty nice helping a traveller out.

Compare to other reviews, I had a pretty pleasant experience in this airport. Granted I didn’t have to go through customs.
After enduring a very long flight, I was tired and ready to head to my hotel after arriving to Guam around 1 am.
From the time I stepped off the plane, through the walkway, after baggage claim and one my way to the car rental area is was amazing. For it it be after 1am, all the employees I encountered were in a happy mood. I was hearing «Hafa Adai» left and right. That definitely was a great welcoming and lifted my spirits.
On the departure day, everything went smoothly. Checking-​in baggage was cake walk and the baggage screening is actually done right there.
My only complaint would be the food court area in the waiting area. It is a bit warm, as in no air conditioning. You would think of all places, the food area would have air conditioning. Food + kitchen = warm. Anyways that is a minor issue.

It’s a nice airport but I was really sad about my experience on our last visit. I guess I got used to the Aloha in Hawaii. As soon as our Continental Airlines arrived, we were directed to customs. local fellow Chamorrita was yelling at all the people to get in line. She was obviously having a bad day and wanted to go home. After baggage claim, the last customs guy made up for it though. He wasn’t as grouchy and he welcomed me back home. =/

This is one of the worst customs check in ever!
I was hoping to spend sometime with my mom & kids before I left. But looking at the customs line made me think twice. My flight to HNL was at 630 am. I figured the line wasn’t going to get any shorter. So i’ve said my good bye’s =(& stood in line.
What a joke! I’ve been through several airports & it wasn’t as bad as this. I mean come on. I thought i’d miss my flight! You have two separate lines & one customs officer on each podium???
It was when i was the third in line when another customers officer decides to help out with the line!!!
It’s a small airport. Nothing complicated. Although I’ve gone through this airport several times. I can’t speak for those who have flown from this airport.
This airport has a great view of Tumon bay & the hotels, no doubt. The only issue I had here was the line for customs leaving the island.

The most unorganized airport I’ve ever been to! Ever! It wasn’t until after I hit customs that it hit me.
Travel officer. What is that anyway. These people walk around the airports in their uniforms and shiny silver badge. I guess for them this is the source of their «i can be unfair and incompetent complex»
The first guard I go to: Transit doors to the left.
I walk up to the doors only to find their closed. So I think OK maybe I misunderstood and he meant downstairs.
Downstairs talking to Guard 2:
Hi m trying to get to my gate.“
Guard 2: «Its upstairs you have to ask guy with tie over there to escort you back up.»
I ask the guy he refers me to and he basically tells me to walk back up the stairs myself. I walk up two flights of stairs and try pushing the doors open again. LOCKED! I’m pissed.
Once again I ask one of the gaurds, this time someone different.
Me: «Is there a secret to opening the doors to get me into my terminal?»
Different Guard: «oh yea we have to call one of the attendants»
5 minutes later attendant shows up. Tries pushing doors open…
Attendant: «Were gonna have to call someone from the inside.»
10 mins later guard comes and finally escorts me to check in.
It only took half of the security to get me to my terminal! I know it was 2 AM but jeshh they’re security, BE A LITTLE MORE PROFICIENT!
***2^nd bad experience.
OK so I’m waiting at my terminal looking for a outlet so i can do this very helpful and informative review. FAILURE! There’s only one outlet and its being used!
Lady ALSO waiting at terminal informs me next terminal has open outlets. So walk to another terminal. SUCCESS!
I go to get a bite to eat and come back to see if my designated terminal has any outlets. HA! its open. I try to enter terminal. DENIED. Guard tells me they’re not open yet. The whole time they’re chatting with the lady who recommended i use the next terminal over for outlets. (I’M GUESSING SHE DIDN’T WORK THERE)
since she wasn’t wearing a uniform.
I walk back up to the terminal outlet (where i am now)
As I’m enjoying my 20 piece nuggets from Burger King (which was the most helpful competent place in the airport)
I am witness to a rude unfair doing by a guard.
A man and woman are walking side by side up an escalator. The woman makes it through. Just as the guy is about to walk through the guard cones it off and tells him to wait for on coming traffic from an exiting terminal.
Guy who looks like hes in a hurry stands their impatiently,
i observe no traffic.
Guard opens one side and lets guy through. Guy goes through and tosses up the other cone that was in the way.
Guard watches in disgust.
GOOD ON YOU AIRPORT PASSENGER! that guard could have let you through since you were alongside of the lady, but instead he was being unfair and making you wait because he felt like exercising his power to serve and protect
(yea right!) GET A LIFE PAUL BART airport cop!
maybe I’m just grump because Ive only had an hour of sleep in the past several hours, but my stop here has been ridiculous, and the sole reason is because of the rude incompetent airport staff.
*Id rather stop in the jungles of Africa than this place again.
**Watching the staff here was like going to see a circus act. In fact i think some of them would be even more useful joining the circus. Its basically a mass of confusion and absurdity anyways.
***This is one place i would take stars away from!

It’s a pretty nice airport. There’s quite a bit of duty-​free shopping, a really good food court and it’s one of the few airports that you can still smoke in. Well, it’s actually a dedicated room within the food court area. Layout the airport is very simple, unlike O’Hare or LAX.

Upon arrival, got luggage fairly quick considering I’m used to the circus at larger airports. Its a small airport, so service should be faster than a larger airport. Employees were friendly and got us out in no time. I got in at around 5 AM and left within 15 minutes.
Departure from Guam International Airport was just as easy even though I left at a busier part of the day.

This airport does a lot considering Guam is a small island. Basically, all flights here are international so you need to be cognizant of that when planning on what time to get to the airport.
They have a small food court which I didn’t try. However, they’ve got some excellent duty free shopping.

Guam International Airport is operated by the Antonio B. Won Pat Guam International Airport Authority
It has 8 international air carriers flying here, with the dominant carrier being Continental Micronesia, which is Continental Airlines. The most visitir volumes come from Japan, about 3 hours flight away, and Continental flies here from 9 Japanese cities. Continental also flies from Guam to other islands in Micronesia, including Yap, Palau, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, Kwajelin and Majuro.
JAL, NWA, China, Philipine, Korean Air, Asia Pacific and Freedom air also fly to Guam.
The airport is not fancy, it is old and no frills. But it does handle a pretty good volume of passengers for an island that only has 175,000 people on it. That’s less than Garden Grove or Fremont, California, and there are 767, 777, 747 and other jumbos flying in regularly.
If you are flying out of here to Japan, best come here early. These Japanese Tour buses can unload a lot of people and slow down the process of check in. If your returning to the states via HNL, you will need to clear customs in HNL, and you must hold on to your boarding pass to show in HNL, so don’t discard it.
There is a small food court inside, so you can grab a bite before your 3 hour flight to Japan or the Philipines, or your 7 hour flight to HNL. A cab ride from the Tumon Bay strip to here will cost you about $ 20 — $ 25.
Most of the departing flights have early times, like 6:40am (GUM — HNL) or 7:20am (GUM — NRT), so be prepared to get up early on your departure day.