Birmingham: Airport Questions & Reviews

[Ray Finkle]

Very busy in T2 yesterday lunchtime. Jet2 queues were long but moving steadily. Used the new(?) bag drop where you scan the QR code and it's done through the app. Worked a treat 👍

No lift queues downstairs and we were through fast track in no time at all. The regular line had a queue but nothing unexpected for August.

T1 very busy, managed a quick drink and a snack for the kids in Wetherspoons before heading to All Bar One in T2.

Really nice flight to LPA on G-SUND even if the routing felt a little odd.

My only gripe about BHX is space. Jet2 have quickly outgrown the T2 check in area, it was a struggle just to get through the door. I think they either need to stop arriving pax walking up to that exit of get rid of the WHSmith.

T1 departure lounge very busy again but hopefully the new outlets arriving next year will take the pressure off.

No complaints though and Mrs F and #1 kid both commented on how much better it was than last year.

 

[thunderchild]

Always head to All Bar One now…it’s much more relaxing than Wetherspoons!

 

[Jon Dempsey]

Always head to All Bar One now…it’s much more relaxing than Wetherspoons!

🍺🙂

Almost a USP for JET2 😀

 

[Ray Finkle]

Arrived just after midnight and parked on stand 4. We arrived a little early and the other Jet2 flights due around the same time were running a little behind meaning we were through UKBF within a couple of minutes. Baggage belt took about 20 minutes to get going so I'd say about 45 minutes from leaving the aircraft to exiting the building (5 of which was grabbing bread and milk from Spar).

My main issue with BHX now is space. Jet2 have quickly outgrown T2 and just getting into the building was an effort. The check-in area spreads out leaving a very small walkway between it and WHSmith which created chaos. If the Smiths unit cannot be moved elsewhere that section probably needs to be one way at peak times with arriving pax not being allowed that far up. It would also help if they only allowed Jet2 pax in the first door. The T1 departure lounge was very busy yet again but we'll see how that is next summer when the new units open. T2 arrivals was efficient but not exactly aesthetically pleasing so it'll be interesting to see what the works over the winter create. Security was so much better than last year but can it handle 18mppa?

Given it was peak summer season we have no complaints and even the family said how much it was improved on last year 👍

Flight to LPA was on G-SUND. We took off to the south before making a left turn heading north pretty much over Prestatyn with a left turn towards Anglesey then another left turn just before Dublin and down over Ireland giving a flight time of almost 4.5 hours. I probably sound like a broken record in saying that the A321-NEO is such a lovely aircraft but those Jet2 seats are so uncomfortable, thankfully a couple of rosés got us through 🙂

Came back yesterday on G-DRTD, just under 4 hours and the 738 seats are a little more bearable. LPA was very quiet yesterday evening.

 

[Knotty]

Arrived just after midnight and parked on stand 4. We arrived a little early and the other Jet2 flights due around the same time were running a little behind meaning we were through UKBF within a couple of minutes. Baggage belt took about 20 minutes to get going so I'd say about 45 minutes from leaving the aircraft to exiting the building (5 of which was grabbing bread and milk from Spar).

My main issue with BHX now is space. Jet2 have quickly outgrown T2 and just getting into the building was an effort. The check-in area spreads out leaving a very small walkway between it and WHSmith which created chaos. If the Smiths unit cannot be moved elsewhere that section probably needs to be one way at peak times with arriving pax not being allowed that far up. It would also help if they only allowed Jet2 pax in the first door. The T1 departure lounge was very busy yet again but we'll see how that is next summer when the new units open. T2 arrivals was efficient but not exactly aesthetically pleasing so it'll be interesting to see what the works over the winter create. Security was so much better than last year but can it handle 18mppa?

Given it was peak summer season we have no complaints and even the family said how much it was improved on last year 👍

Flight to LPA was on G-SUND. We took off to the south before making a left turn heading north pretty much over Prestatyn with a left turn towards Anglesey then another left turn just before Dublin and down over Ireland giving a flight time of almost 4.5 hours. I probably sound like a broken record in saying that the A321-NEO is such a lovely aircraft but those Jet2 seats are so uncomfortable, thankfully a couple of rosés got us through 🙂

Came back yesterday on G-DRTD, just under 4 hours and the 738 seats are a little more bearable. LPA was very quiet yesterday evening.

Second para re: Jet2, totally agree, becoming very congested at peak times, noted from my own experience the other day. You make some sensible recommendations, and with any further Jet2 expansion, they will have to do something. In respect of T1 departure lounge, some of the seating needs urgent attention/replacing. Personally I found some of the seating to be embarrassment!

 

[Knotty]

Landed 13.06 today, ex ALC Jet 2 Stand 14, hand luggage only, out front terminal awaiting taxi 13.24. Well done Jet2, Border Force T2. 👍 An aside again😏 ALC Border Control farcical today, very unusual, seemed E Gates malfunction? Asked about forthcoming EES Procedures(12th Oct). Apparently lady I spoke with suggested that whilst New EES booths are in place/being installed, not all Spanish Airports, not sure if ALC, and others will be operating as planned on said date. Appears to be phasing in introduction over period of few months, Airports she understood may vary. We shall see😒

 

[Knotty]

Back from ALC again today on Jet2 Numb bummer A321😒. Slight delay due to aircraft change in ALC, and ATC, due wx over France. Landed 14.02, stand 13, bussed to T1, but still out by 14.25. On outbound almost 3 weeks ago, through Security in mins. Yes quieter time of year, but BHX of late, through my experiences, have been very good. Yes as an aside yet again😏, ALC, on arrival the other week, was quiet Yes, but breezed through EES. Mind you it showed you had to display 4 fingers and thumb! Wouldn't accept. Placed 4 fingers, and accepted 🤔 Today, in departure, expecting queues, straight through E gate etc, and not a EES machine in sight 🤔🤔🤔 Flummoxed, are they moving them around between arrival and departure, whilst testing them???Time will tell.

 

[Jon Dempsey]

Back from ALC again today on Jet2 Numb bummer A321😒. Slight delay due to aircraft change in ALC, and ATC, due wx over France. Landed 14.02, stand 13, bussed to T1, but still out by 14.25. On outbound almost 3 weeks ago, through Security in mins. Yes quieter time of year, but BHX of late, through my experiences, have been very good. Yes as an aside yet again😏, ALC, on arrival the other week, was quiet Yes, but breezed through EES. Mind you it showed you had to display 4 fingers and thumb! Wouldn't accept. Placed 4 fingers, and accepted 🤔 Today, in departure, expecting queues, straight through E gate etc, and not a EES machine in sight 🤔🤔🤔 Flummoxed, are they moving them around between arrival and departure, whilst testing them???Time will tell.

Would it accept 2 fingers, Knotty? 😉

 

[Knotty]

Would it accept 2 fingers, Knotty? 😉

I'll try it next month, and let you know😆

 

[Knotty]

Travelled Jet2 to Fue yesterday. 1) Arrived 05.45 for 08.00 dept, only other Jet2 departures around same time, 07.30 TFS and 09.00 ACE. Now i always fly with Jet2, but notice their prices 'creeping up'. On check in, fairly quiet with only 3 flts around 1 1/2 block, noted 23 Jet2 staff on duty, majority just standing around, doing nothing, yet only 1 check in desk open!!! Sorry, waste of resources Jet2, could save money.
2) Security quiet, but staff extremely efficient and Friendly. A 👍 up, well done. 3) WDF, sorry appreciate work tsking place, but floors were absolutely filthy. Looked like thry had not been cleaned in weeks. A disgrace, and we are suppose to be welcoming visitors🙂‍↕️
4) Nice to see some new seats in departures👍

 

[rollo]

Returned from BGI on Sunday morning 03:20 hrs and have to say ten out of ten for both TUI and BHX .
Departed 20min early from Bridgetown arrived 40min ahead of schedule parked on jetbridge first time in ages straight off through immigration in a jiffy (escalator working can't remember last time that happened) baggage on conveyor in about ten minutes and miraculously ours was amongst the first off walked to car park 5 and home in Alvechurch all in just over an hour 👍

Next trip is Malta for a fly cruise in April on Jet2 think it on a A321 not looking forward too much to their much criticised seats

 

[Ray Finkle]

(escalator working can't remember last time that happened)

@Brum X will be in shock 🙂

 

[Jon Dempsey]

Next trip is Malta for a fly cruise in April on Jet2 think it on a A321 not looking forward too much to their much criticised seats

We're off to Greece later in the year on a Jet2 Neo so I ordered a couple of these

Butt protectors!!

 

[Ray Finkle]

Walked through the doors this morning at 03:36 and exited security at 03:51. easyjet bag drop extremely quick, went straight to the front of fast track security although we didn't really need it as barely a queue. Well done BHX 👏

Two complaints. One, the departure lounge is uncomfortably warm, lots of people fanning themselves with menus. Two, JD has a range of football kits from the regulars including a full display of v*lla stuff yet nothing at all BCFC related. Ones boycott has begun.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Walked through the doors this morning at 03:36 and exited security at 03:51. easyjet bag drop extremely quick, went straight to the front of fast track security although we didn't really need it as barely a queue. Well done BHX 👏

Two complaints. One, the departure lounge is uncomfortably warm, lots of people fanning themselves with menus. Two, JD has a range of football kits from the regulars including a full display of v*lla stuff yet nothing at all BCFC related. Ones boycott has begun.

Depends what time you get to security gates for a domestic flight.
4-6am it’s chocka

 

[rollo]

All passengers domestic or international have to go through the same security area which is what Ray was referring to there is no other option then you proceed to your aircraft gate when departure is called, boarding card and passport checked as you board that's it.

where did you experience it was "choka" at security or are you talking about the holding areas( lounges) prior to boarding ? The actual security systems at BHX have worked pretty well for me recently, I'd be interested in others comments on recent experiences as well as yours, baggage reclaim is my one downside.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

2017

 

[Karl C]

Flown through every time.....never had anything but a seamless and quick experience through security

 

[Ray Finkle]

This was probably the quickest I've ever experienced. Straight to a bag drop terminal, bag on the belt and a quick scan of the bar code sent it on its way. Lift door opened just as we got there, boarding passes scanned at security then straight to a tray. Couldn't have been better.

Boarding actually took longer but in fairness to easyjet the aircraft hadn't been cleaned after arriving the night before so they had to wait for a cleaning crew.

Arrival at PRG took around 90 mins. Around 30 mins queue for EES registration then about an hour queue to get through immigration. At least the air con was working 🙂

 

[Knotty]

Walked through the doors this morning at 03:36 and exited security at 03:51. easyjet bag drop extremely quick, went straight to the front of fast track security although we didn't really need it as barely a queue. Well done BHX 👏

Two complaints. One, the departure lounge is uncomfortably warm, lots of people fanning themselves with menus. Two, JD has a range of football kits from the regulars including a full display of v*lla stuff yet nothing at all BCFC related. Ones boycott has begun.

Ray, unfortunately its down to Marketing.
With worldwide flights available, albeit via connections, Villa are a worldwide known brand😉 Now if there was a Domestic Terminal at BHX, I'm sure if JD sports had an outlet, then you may see BCFC merchandise on sale, as only those in UK, would possibly be aware of them!!🫢 However 1 day, you may join the Elite😀 Enjoy your break.

2017

Few changes in last 9 years!!