Birmingham: Airport Questions & Reviews

Knotty said:

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😀

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They'll be in Europe next year ...... if there's a war.

(i have no skin in this particular game)
((credit to Robert Davis...))

Won't go too deep into departure as already covered it but walked straight to the easyjet bag drop machine which was quick and simple, waved the bag away then walked into a lift that was already there (we were the only ones in it). Very little queue at the regular security line and even though Wed is one of the quietest days it is still the school holidays.

Departures busy and uncomfortably warm but managed a table for breakfast. The Indian Brewery unit was closed but looked nice. Being a little tucked out of the way I hope they get enough custom to be a success as many don't walk that way until the gate is shown and will have already had food and/or drinks. I didn't notice any signage but maybe it would be a good idea to promote it to people as they arrive into the departure area. We went from gate 14 so headed for our usual oasis of calm in All Bar One before spending 15 mins stood in the air bridge tunnel.

Really nice flights with easyjet, had a NEO, G-UZLZ, on the way out and a regular A320, G-EZOM, on the way back. Both flights completely full with the return today bringing the Czechia athletics team to Birmingham for the European Championships that start on Monday.

Arrived today on stand 42R and had a brief delay in getting off whilst they waited for the ground crew to arrive. Lengthy walk along the pier but we were down the steps and into a steadily moving queue for the e gates that took no more than 5 mins. The baggage belt was already moving when we got there so the whole process was probably less than 10 mins.

PRG arrivals took around 90 mins but departure this morning was very quick. I do quite like the way they do the security checks at the gate rather than a centralised area, it seemed to flow much better.

So a big well done to BHX and easyjet

Pretty much bang on 20 minutes to get through fast track security at 05:30 this morning. The regular line had long queues for the lifts and pretty much backed up to the boarding card scan point. I counted I think 3 lanes not open which isn't great for the school holidays, not sure if lack of staff or planned that way.

T1 security and departure lounge was uncomfortable warm again with plenty of fans on the go whilst people were queueing. Thankfully T2 was much more pleasant.

Flight down on G-SUNF, crew were great as always. Departed late due to ATC restrictions which meant an extra 30 mins on those rock solid NEO seats.

PMI arrival was a breeze with finger prints and e gates not much more than 10 mins. I did feel for those with kids under 12 as the queue for manual checks was huge. Bags took about 40 mins but there were Jet2 flights from MAN, EMA and Birmingham in quick succession so understandable.

Overall a decent experience but I'm not sure I'd be saying the same if we didn't have fast track.

Ray Finkle said:

Pretty much bang on 20 minutes to get through fast track security at 05:30 this morning. The regular line had long queues for the lifts and pretty much backed up to the boarding card scan point. I counted I think 3 lanes not open which isn't great for the school holidays, not sure if lack of staff or planned that way.

T1 security and departure lounge was uncomfortable warm again with plenty of fans on the go whilst people were queueing. Thankfully T2 was much more pleasant.

Flight down on G-SUNF, crew were great as always. Departed late due to ATC restrictions which meant an extra 30 mins on those rock solid NEO seats.

PMI arrival was a breeze with finger prints and e gates not much more than 10 mins. I did feel for those with kids under 12 as the queue for manual checks was huge. Bags took about 40 mins but there were Jet2 flights from MAN, EMA and Birmingham in quick succession so understandable.

Overall a decent experience but I'm not sure I'd be saying the same if we didn't have fast track.

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Ray, assume you went through 'Main departures' for fast track. If open, I use 'Jet2 Escalators, and Security' so much quicker, albeit last time had to wait approx 15 mins, nothing😉!! Friend of mine at same time, with Ryanair, had to queue for 55 mins, so know which queue I prefer 🤔 Agree about T1, surely money spent would be better for comfort, as opposed to cramming in all these outlets(yes I know it brings money in).
As to those horrendous NEO seats, I struggle with my regular flights to and from ALC. Dreading FUE soon😔😔
(As an aside, with disability, £8.00 for drop off, no wonder apart from landing fee's, allegedly second biggest money spinner for BHX!!)

Came home today on G-HLYH which meant a lovely flight, fabulous crew and a horrible pain in the rump 🙂 I can cope with the limited leg room but those NEO seats are just so hard.

Arrived on stand 14 about 40 mins behind schedule due to ATC restrictions on the outbound leg. We were through the e gates in around 5 mins with the first bag off after about 10 mins of waiting. Second bag was a little behind that but less than 30 mins from leaving the aircraft to leaving the building.

Well done Jet2 and BHX 👏

A couple of things to mention.

We departed from gate 12 which is off the Jet2 holding area. It's the second time I've used it and I don't think it's that bad a space. Obviously I wouldn't want to spend hours in there but 15 mins or so whilst boarding is better than 15 mins on the tarmac out in the elements.

When arriving at PMI the guy asked if we'd used the EES before, I said yes about 2 weeks ago. He then asked where and when I said Prague he said we had to do it again yet others who'd said they'd done it before (didn't hear where) were sent straight to the e gates. Is this the norm or maybe just Spain prefer the first time to be at one of their own borders? It wasn't an issue and took no time at all I'm just interested.

WHY do parents allow young children on and around the baggage belts??? There were several today climbing all over them. Of note at least 2 kids got clumped whilst running about as people were swinging their cases off the belt and there was one little girl of around 5 with a floaty dress on leaning over the moving belt to get a bag. It made me feel sick thinking about that dress getting caught up in the moving machinery. It's not just BHX either as PMI was the same along with other airports we've been through in the past. God forbid one of these little ones gets injured the parents would be screaming to blame the airport. When our kids were little my wife would sit down with them whilst I waited for the bags, it just seems like basic common sense?

Knotty said:

Ray, assume you went through 'Main departures' for fast track. If open, I use 'Jet2 Escalators, and Security' so much quicker, albeit last time had to wait approx 15 mins, nothing😉!! Friend of mine at same time, with Ryanair, had to queue for 55 mins, so know which queue I prefer 🤔 Agree about T1, surely money spent would be better for comfort, as opposed to cramming in all these outlets(yes I know it brings money in).

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Yes we used the lifts for fast track and apart from being uncomfortably warm (the portable air con unit was only of use when stood in front of it) it wasn't too bad. Only used the Jet2 security lanes once and I think it took us around 15 mins or so.

Did LPA on a NEO last year and the only things that got me through it were a few glasses of vino and regular walks for a stretch. The 738 on the return leg was much more comfortable.

I went through BHX Friday at 0330 and last night at 0230 and they whole experience was great. The outbound saw large queues for security but moved very quickly with all lanes open, then this morning the cases were there before us. From landing from Stockholm to immigration to backage then a Uber home in 45 minutes.