Security, Immigration & Border Control

[Karl C]

Just arrived back on the Titan 757 from Arrecife. Didn't expect to get on a 757 ever again tbh. Went off like a pocket rocket from ACE. Loads of leg room....showing its age however. Titan and Tui crew were very good. On arrival parked on a remote stand and stairs and bus there immediately. Thru immigration in a trice to find bags waiting. Again..... excellent service from me local...well done BHX!

 

[JENNYJET]

I am just pleased that airports are busy enough for large lines to form!

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

That depends on where you work. Airport employees might all have new additional checks but to work in aviation security you already have to reach CTC clearance. I am not aware of there being any additional delays in obtaining clearance but that could account for some of the problems if that is the case.

There are many problems that's causing this issue.

 

[KJAY 786]

We need more airlines and routes from the midlands - the airport is not as busy as before - what happening so many ques mum says that they need more terminal space meaning larger terminals to be invested and sort it out quickly the summer rush is yet to start - so strange ques at BHX -

 

[rollo]

Quick report on our travel experience through BHX, bearing in mind we travelled hand luggage only.

Arrived at mid day and went straight to the express security channel through in around 30 minutes with lots of passengers from the normal queue being fed in to the line. The security checks were fine but only four of the lanes were operating but everything seemed to be moving OK.

We boarded our Jet2 flight on time then sods law kicked in with the captain announcing a one hour delay as the aircraft was having a tyre changed. The good news was strong tail winds meant we landed more or less on schedule.

Return trip delayed by 90 minutes due to security delays in Birmingham so arrived into BHX at 0200hrs, airport was busy we parked on the remotes at the Eurohub and quickly bussed to immigration straight through and out to the car in minutes.

All in all fine apart from the late incoming flight.

For reference LPA airport was suberp straight through immigration, no checks of vaccination status everyone just waved through by the officials!
Return even easier walk up to security scan boarding cards no queue whatsoever for bag scanning and through in a jiffy.

Noticed on arrival lots of queuing at the Jet2 check in which wasn't open yet nearly 4hrs before first departures.

 

[IanFarquharson]

The BHX Twitter feed was on overdrive earlier in the week but the last few days hardly anything, so looks like as it stands a lot better.
30,000 pax now passing through now most days and to have very few negative Tweets is very good to hear.

 

[Karl C]

When I went thru security earlier at BHX, it was near empty. Breezed thru in minutes. I'm sure it wasn't like that an hour or two earlier. On the other hand, the Turkish Airlines check in is a mess with people queueing almost to the door. BHX really need to make more room for check in areas...if it can. I know room is near impossible, but it all feels so enclosed with no daylight at all.

 

[Nethercote2019]

Just returned from a round trip to Munich, flew out Monday 7 am on full flight & back last night 1/2 full. Check in & immigration on Monday morning was very busy but well organised & all in good humour, Que was outside Garfunkel & took 45 minutes, people were queuing at Wetherspoons which was rammed infact all eatery places were packed, one hour delay to our departure according to the captain due to staff shortage in Germany at ATC, arrived at Munich & had to wait for stand to be cleared of vehicles & airbridge repositioning- again the captain said staff shortages are all across Europe !
The return landing at BHX bang on time even with an extra twirl of Sutton tv mast on approach not had this on 15 before ? Into arrival corridor where screens were saying 35 minutes to clear area to actually find the immigration area virtually empty & most e gates in operation all be it with lots of people not understanding what to do, I was thru and out onto railway station In 45 mins from wheels down.

 

[Deleted member 8277]

Not good reading from last weekend. I am certainly glad I'm not flying from BHX at the moment.

Quote:

Birmingham Airport passengers claim 'chaos, confusion, and massive queues' and BHX says 'it's the new normal'

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-airport-passengers-claim-chaos-28995017?gaa_at=la&gaa_n=ARTJ-U_X0H0CkzSvSvilC0qEguzHI34rtMwNBASkLVmpEg5U6CiDC_ul43yAmmyV6hU=&utm_source=newsshowcase&utm_medium=discover&utm_campaign=CCwqGQgwKhAIACoHCAow2c77CjC-yfQCMJvTowIwjMDVAg&utm_content=bullets&gaa_ts=661d2365&gaa_sig=OEH1-hr1ignKiLo7SUaUHiQEAo2lAbVwFxb4IJTzUR-ygYRWGLWWL6BNpgIx3a6GUpBi7sZc3TusYI-mWlFYyA==

 

[nancledre]

I return to bhx tomorrow so will enjoy the arrival delights

As regards the new scanner area I will make a few points, which may or may not be teething issues.
1. advised by TUI to allow 3 hours to check in etc -flight was at 06.15
2. arrived at new security, which was not open, then stood around for about 30+ minutes
3. boarding pass scanner worked first time
4. Put hand luggage in tray then had to wait short time until it was my trays time! No advice re belts, wallets etc
5. Moved to body scanner - aah you have a wallet in your pocket
6. Returned to tray input, but had to wait until a “space” occurred
7 Back to body scanner - aah you will have to remove your shoes
8. Asked the man on duty why I and others were not advised what we, the customers, should be doing re belts, wallets etc “you should have been!” was the response. Also why some shoes were needed to be removed but not all - no apparent answer to this one!
9 Back to tray input
10 Back to body scanner and whopee this time I was seen as ok

I know it is early days but surely the staff should have been trained as to how to help the customer and thus avoid some of the congestion.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

8. Asked the man on duty why I and others were not advised what we, the customers, should be doing re belts, wallets etc “you should have been!” was the response.

Surely, signs would be a better way of informing people what they need to do, rather than the staff advising them.

 

[nancledre]

You are correct, but in the absence oof signs………

 

[Jon Dempsey]

A post from a tourist on a Corfu forum


Who was caught out at Birmingham airport yesterday? These words are from a follower of ours "We didn't mate, the security was so busy at Birmingham airport it took us over 2 hours just to get through and they wouldn't let us on the plane, it happened to about 200 people whilst we were their it was chaos" - "airport have admitted liability and we get every penny back but still not sat in warm weather on the beach, if you're flying out from Brum mate I would advise to go about 4 hours before your flight and you should be ok" - "and we were miles from the front and they pulled us out to rush us through but still didn't make it in time, we were stood here for about 1.5hrs" Image of the passeengers taken by our follower. Birmingham Airport

 

[whateverg]

Anyone recognise where that photo is?

 

[richard winterbourn]

Just so I fully understand the problem, does this excessive amount of time apply to all passengers?

I am flying out on Sunday evening with just a small bag which will fit under the seat.

Will it therefore be quicker for me than passengers with suitcases to check in?

I will arrive on the shuttle from Birmingham International and will go straight to security: still three hours from that point?

To add to the above, does buying 'fast track' shorten the time to get through security, or are so many taking that option that times are still excessive?

 

[nancledre]

Just back from Tunisia and have to give one secuity man 10/10.
No queue, so he removed the tape and we walked in a straight line to passport control. Well done that man

 

[Jon Dempsey]

Just back from Tunisia and have to give one secuity man 10/10.
No queue, so he removed the tape and we walked in a straight line to passport control. Well done that man

Slap on the back for the man - it just takes a bit of common sense.

Anyone recognise where that photo is?

No, but perhaps BigVern can help.

I think this is the area which had shops around just before Security before redelopment, judging by the ceiling area based when we last flew on the 2nd.
Personally, I have not seen this configuration before.

Berhaps BV can assist.

Just so I fully understand the problem, does this excessive amount of time apply to all passengers?

I am flying out on Sunday evening with just a small bag which will fit under the seat.

Will it therefore be quicker for me than passengers with suitcases to check in?

I will arrive on the shuttle from Birmingham International and will go straight to security: still three hours from that point?

To add to the above, does buying 'fast track' shorten the time to get through security, or are so many taking that option that times are still excessive?

Richard, for six quid, a fast track ticket is a no-brainer IMO, we bought them, althought didn't need them for a recent trip.

 

[Deleted member 8277]

Anyone recognise where that photo is?

That looks like the new security hall entrance/queue area that's behind the current temp wall. I don't know if they are using the area just for queue diversion to the current security. They have been trialling the new hall with a relatively small amount of passengers on a few occasions lately but that seems an excessive amount of pax to trial on the photo.
But the picture shows what the future will look like and doesn't show the queue going back to the lifts down to ground level and all the way up towards WH smiths between the 2 terminals then possibly outside.

Welcome to the new normal ha ha

I've said my piece(s), aired my views and my neck is wound back in. Only a month to go before we will all find out how good or bad it will be and make your own judgement.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

TikTok - Make Your Day

 

[Jon Dempsey]

Looks like the airport has confidence in the new security area

"Premium Fast Track vouchers can only be pre–booked online for a cost of £7 (£20 from 1st July 2024) per person"