Flying from Brum? Tell us where you're going

[Jon Dempsey]

Flew out to Malaga on Friday, taking the 3:55 Monarch service.

I must admit I was expecting a ruck so got to the airport at 12:30.

Given that it was a record day, it was very comfortable flying out avoiding the rush hours.

Security, which is normally a bottleneck, was clear and staffed by a good humoured bunch.

Food and a pint at the Meriden were as good as usual.

Boarding at G46 was a breeze - Monarch seem to have got their act together.

Got into Malaga at 8 after a very smooth flight on a clean, comfortable aircraft.

I would thoroughly recommend avoiding the rush hours to anyone. (First flight of the day, about 2:30 and 6-7)

Parking wise, we live in Worcestershire, so jump in a taxi, but I would prefer long stay, on-site, as getting your car back from one of the off-site operators can be a real ball-ache.

 

[Seasider]

Hi mate. .........


Who is it you are flying with?

With Denim Air at 8am. I was planning to arrive at 6am and park "on airport".

Thank you Ray and BHX supporter for your help. I will "post" my experience when I return. :good:

 

[Brum X]

Plane spotting day trip to Dublin on 2/9/2015

Hi guys, had a great time in Dublin yesterday, will post my pics later and also will put the DUB pics on the Dublin airport thread on the Worldwide forum so they dont get mixed up with BHX, however we dont get many Aer Lingus A330s at BHX
Soooooooooooooooooooo many Ryanair, however i do love the 737.800s, great workhorse of an aircraft. FR really do have a slick operation at DUB.

On a different note, arrived back at BHX last night at 11.00pm from Dublin, was out of the airport in less than 5 minuites as didnt have large luggage to wait for. However and i didnt realise this until i was on the bus back into the city centre, but nobody checked my passport. Is this normal for flights from ROI (Ireland) as they checked my passport at Dublin when i arrived there yesterday morning,

If so then this is shocking and needs to be investigated but not sure what the law is for flights from Ireland ?????

 

[TheLocalYokel]

On a different note, arrived back at BHX last night at 11.00pm from Dublin, was out of the airport in less than 5 minuites as didnt have large luggage to wait for. However and i didnt realise this until i was on the bus back into the city centre, but nobody checked my passport. Is this normal for flights from ROI (Ireland) as they checked my passport at Dublin when i arrived there yesterday morning,

If so then this is shocking and needs to be investigated but not sure what the law is for flights from Ireland ?????

Glad you had a great trip.

The UK and the ROI have been a Common Travel Area for nearly 100 years (almost since the Republic ceased to be part of the UK). Broadly this means that if you are a UK or Irish citizen you do not require a passport to travel between the two countries.

Practically, however, matters are often not so straightforward. Security issues will intrude so may the need to prove that you are a UK or Irish citizen, and often production of a passport is the quickest and easiest way to satisfy the authorities.

I've travelled between England and the Republic when passports have been asked for on arrival and when they have not. If you a UK or Irish citizen without a passport and are asked for one when arriving you might be delayed until you can prove your citizenship in some other way.

This link might explain things in more detail.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/mo ... he_uk.html

 

[Jon Dempsey]

That's correct. Have flown back from Knock with my sister-in-law who only took a driving licence.

 

[thunderchild]

No need to panic passports aren't checked arriving from Ireland - I had the same travelling with Aer Lingus - when you arrive you bypass border control and enter the terminal straight into the smaller baggage reclaim area.

 

[Brum X]

No need to panic passports aren't checked arriving from Ireland - I had the same travelling with Aer Lingus - when you arrive you bypass border control and enter the terminal straight into the smaller baggage reclaim area.

Thanks guys for explaining that, my email to Mr K is cancelled then, LOL

This is what surprised me, i went through a few corridors and i was in that exact smaller baggage reclaim area and thought, right lets get on that bus before they start going to 1 per hour through the night.

Great though. Im not complaining.

 

[aulty87]

Hi all

Just returned from 10 days in protaras. Had a really good time apart from a few days sufferering with the sandstorm. Very weird situation.
Sorry didnt get any photos.
My experience of bhx this year.
We was flying out at 6,15am on sun 6th sept so decided to leave our house at about 2am. My partner works for virgin trains so we park on the train car park. Didnt realise the monorail shuts at 2am so had a nice brisk walk to the airport after confirming with a cleaner the best way to go. Dont think we was the only ones who had to walk. Got to airport and our check in desk wasnt up but decided to just queue up in the monarch section anyway. Got through ok an security wasnt long either. Our first port of call was the weatherspoons for a breakfast and a beer. Very impressed with the expansion, also was a good call to go straight away as within 15mins of being in there it was virtually full. Breakfast came out within 10mins of ordering. Very nice it was. Then it was off to have a look around. By this time all the shops was open. A few aftershave purchases made and some new sunglasses and then we was boarding. We was slightly delayed going as there wasnt a tug to push us back but made up good time going. Coming back our transfer was on time but driver missed a pickup and had to return. This meant by the time we reached larnaka airport and checked in we had less than an hour before boarding. Not a fan of there shops, they are all over the place. So after rushing down a pizza slice we was boarding the plane. I love planes but not the best flyer so as we was making our way to the runway the plane started making a weird sort of sawing noise. Weird. Took off ok and had bits of turbulence. When we was coming into land again that noise appeared. Touched down then after a bit the brakes was applied and these made a right racket. To me it appeared as if he realised he was going to fast and decided to brake as we used almost all of the runway, so that put me on tenderhooks. Went into security and its now alot better that the e-gates are on the left of the room. Got through in record time and bags was there already waiting.

All in all a very enjoyable family holiday.

Stephen

Ps any idea why alcohol duty free wasnt sold on our return?

Stephen

 

[Jon Dempsey]

Hi Stephen,

Southern Cyprus is in the EU and therefore, duty-free doesn't apply.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Glad you had a great time in Cyprus.

It's also good to see that the queues at BHX were not too bad, this is one area in particular where the airport gets slated alot.

I had relatives return from Skiathos a couple of weeks ago and they were complaining about waiting a shade over 20 mins for their bags. Personally I think 20 mins is reasonable and they did aircraft to the arrivals Costa in around 35 mins, including a full length walk of the pier, which I'd be okay with on a busy Friday afternoon in September.

 

[nancledre]

It is a good few years since I took an active interest in collecting registrations etc, however my interest in aircraft and BHX has not diminished. So this is posted without any reg info, but more as a comment and possible assistance for others. Sunday 30th August 0400 found me at BHX checking in for the ZB1162 to Larnaca. We departed via gate 65 which is no advert for the facilities at BHX. You seem to descend into the bowels of the building and I would not have been surprised to find the River Styx flowing down there. Our 321 departed on time and eventually arrived on time. Of note on the terminal was Transaero 747 and our landing was followed by another Transaero twin, a 777 I think. Passport control was easy, for the EU passengers but most of the 747 visitors were going to be there for some time. We transferred by taxi to Kyrenia in the north - again no problem. The hotel of choice was the Pia Bella and I would have no problem re-visiting or recommending this hotel. Wi-fi available, so flightradar could be watched. Most if not all of the Erchan departures fly over the hotel at about 8000, so number crunching would have been easy. Two weeks later we reversed the journey and arrived behind the Turkmenistan and PIA, so you can imagine passport control. After a longish wait cases were recovered and we headed home

regards to all

Alf

 

[Ray Finkle]

Landing behind PIA and Turkmenistan must have made for an interesting arrivals experience :smile:

How were the queues at security going out?

 

[nancledre]

Fortunately our group of four have chipped passports, although mine threw a wobbly so I had to see a man!! The main Q was about eight layers long. Then there was the prolonged wait for the baggage, although sniffer the dog seemed to be enjoying himself.

 

[richard winterbourn]

I travel frequently to Brazil, not just to Rio but also into central Brazil as well and i have never found the need to travel either south to London Heathrow or north to Manchester.

In November I will be heading to an inland city called Goiania, a rapidly developing city with a current population of around 3 million. This city did not exist about 60 years ago, being created from a rural hamlet. Similarly Brasilia which is also in the state of Goias, and is the federal capital, is another 'young' city, although in this case designed by architects.

I will get to Goiania by first flying from BHX to Paris and then flying overnight with Air France down to Rio. Arriving in Rio early morning, I will have a coffee at Carlos Jobim International airport and then take the public transport bus down to Santos Dumont, Rio's other airport close to the city centre. A wait of about an hour and i'm then flying with Gol, firstly to Sao Paulo and then on to Goiania, arriving mid-afternoon local time.

I do this twice a year and the cost is about £520 - including the bus fare....

In March i have already booked my flights, this time it is 0600 with KLM and arriving in Rio at 6pm, just in time for dinner. Two weeks ago this flight was available for £358.... Internal flights will be in addition.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Those prices don't appear to be too bad.

Will the addition of Iberia make your journey any easier as they seem to have an extensive South American network from Madrid?

I think people using connections such as these are vital for BHX expanding it's route network in the future.

 

[richard winterbourn]

You may be right in that Madrid could provide a further option when flying to Rio. However over the years i have found that the best route is via Lisbon because of the shorter flying time as against London, Amsterdam, Paris etc.

However, Lisbon is not possible from BHX - yet. I say this because when travelling from BHX whether it be via Amsterdam, Paris or elsewhere i ask on check-in how many people will be transferring to Rio. Invariably there are at least five - six. Maybe not a great number, but when you consider transfer options in Lisbon (Sao Paulo and Brasilia in Brasil and other South American countries) and particularly into Africa and point-to-point business and leisure traffic between BHX and Lisbon itself, then a permanent TAP service could well work. I am surprised TAP have never tested the water. Maybe they will soon, here's hoping.

 

[Seasider]

As promised I will tell you of my experience of BHX, first since 1999.
Arrived Car Park 5 at 6am, easy walk to Terminal and quick check in with Denim Air. It took about 20 mins to clear security but the queue was moving most of the time. We had decided to buy a Boots "Meal Deal" for breakfast but found it very difficult to find somewhere to sit that wasn't for a specific food outlet.
Once our gate was announced and walked there, we found plenty of space along the "northern corridor" to gate 65. Downstairs there was even more room as we were the only flight from that area. Boarding was reasonably quick and there was plenty of legroom on the Denim Air F100. We were served a drink and snack and after an initial "welcome" from the flight deck there were no further announcements from them. We arrived early and cleared Innsbruck Airport quickly and on to the resort.
Coming back yesterday, we checked in and cleared security within 15 mins to be able to sit and see that there were no airliners on the apron. But in quick succession arrived Niki A320, Denim Air F100, Air Berlin (Niki) A320, Austrian A319 and a Thomson B737. There were not any announcements at all from the flight deck on the return to BHX and if I had known we were to have our photograph taken on landing, I would have waved.
By the time we managed to disembark, the Air India had arrived and it was a "little crowded" at Passport Control. By time we arrived at baggage reclaim, they were going round on their own!

I have no complaints at all about my experience using BHX but will still try and fly from LBA in the future (BUD in November)

PS A tip for when flying the F100, don't sit on the last row (21), you won't see a thing.

 

[Ray Finkle]

So you were on the Denim Air that I photographed last night? :smile:

You were sandwiched between a full Wizz A320 and Air India, I left as soon as AI landed.

Glad all went well.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Just booked to Zante next year with Thomas Cook.

I was hoping Norwegian would have released something new from BHX for S16 as I fancy trying them out. I just ran out of time though, so hopefully later on in the year :smile:

 

[Ant29]

I flew out of BHX numerous times this year, only using Monarch as they are my favourite. After working a season at the airport, I had an amazing experience which was thoroughly enjoyable, I was in my element completely. Each time I had express lane through security, which I would recommend, especially during the peak times of the day, (0400-0600)-(1200-1700). Now that I've left the airport, I do miss it, but now for the next chapter for me, 35000ft :good: