Using Bristol Airport [Questions & Reviews]

[8mileshigh]

We recently returned from a short break in Ireland flying into Belfast with EasyJet as we were mainly in County Donegal.
Our flight out was early on the first Saturday of the school holidays, had to have a bag in the hold, so as we live nearby took advantage of the twilight bag drop. Quick and easy with a pass to use the short stay car park for free. Taxi picked us up in South Bristol at 04:30, we had pre booked fast track security for £5 each and to my surprise we were in the departure lounge at 5am. This was busy but there are about 40 departures before 9am. The flight was full and boarded from a contact stand on time arriving early in Belfast.
Return flight was at 21;45 on the following Wednesday, looking on FR24 the aircraft was late back in earlier from Italy. It had a long layover then did Faro return and then to Belfast, To my amazement it arrived in Belfast early, quickly boarded and then left early again. Load was probably about 60%, not unusual on this flight.
We landed early and were parked on stand 12, the captain shut down the engines before the stand and we were then towed onto stand by a tug, something I didn’t realise happened, is this standard procedure? Then coach to terminal and bags already on the belt.
I know there are issues with car parking due to the redevelopment of the long stay car park, experience told us to use taxis. Altogether though a good experience in peak season

 

[Aviador]

Thanks for the full rundown @8mileshigh I haven't heard of aircraft being towed onto stand before at BRS either. I've just been looking at the Group Ops procedures for BRS and I cant find anything suggesting certain stands require being towed onto stand.

 

[8mileshigh]

Half term trip to Rhodes using EasyJet Holidays. We were on the 06:50 departure on the Sunday morning, again took advantage of the twilight bag drop with free car parking in the short stay car park. It appears that the new multi storey car park is in use although the public transport interchange is not yet complete. Arrow taxi from south Bristol at 04:10 half price fast track security booked in advance and in the departure lounge at 04:40. The area was busy but seats were easily found.
Work on extending the building towards stands 1-3 looked well advanced and hopefully will be in use soon.
On boarding the captain came into the cabin and announced an hours slot delay due to Rhodes restrictions, he invited families with kids to visit the cockpit and then within 5 minutes the slot vanished and we were away. Good customer relations from the crew. Flight was on an A321, comfortable enough for a four hour flight.
Rhodes Airport is one of the better Greek airports I’ve used, quickly through immigration and customs arriving and when we dropped the bags for our return there were no queues either at bag drop or at security and immigration. The departure lounge has floor to ceiling windows all along the ramp side giving unrestricted views of the ramp and runway.
Flight back was slightly delayed due to a slot restriction but some time was made up. Back at Bristol there was some queuing due in some part to the work in progress. However we were through within about 30 minutes and on our way home.

 

[t.ash.27]

Fairly quiet at the airport this morning. Bag drop and through security in under 20 minutes! Lots of seats available but departure boards not working.
Appalling response from staff to a passenger having a medical emergency

 

[Aviador]

Appalling response from staff to a passenger having a medical emergency

Can you give more details?