Using Birmingham Airport (Questions & Reviews)

[Jon Dempsey]

I haven't been here for some time and I hope everyone is well.

I'm due to go up to EDI on Monday and was wondering what the security queue time was like, first thing on a Monday. Can anyone help?

I haven't been here for some time and I hope everyone is well.

I'm due to go up to EDI on Monday and was wondering what the security queue time was like, first thing on a Monday. Can anyone help?

I've been trying to edit/delete the original post as it doesn't sound right to me. Apologies if I have offended anyone. What I meant to say was,

I have been away from this forum for some time.
I hope everyone is well. For the past month or so, I have managed to log in and read a few of the comments.
I have been particularly interested in the posts regarding Infrastructure development (as I have been a long time critic of the lack of facilities) and potential new routes.

My OP was to query the security queues at BHX as the website always seems to quote 15 minutes as the wait time for security and, from experience, I know this to be BS.

As it is at the end of the summer holiday season, I wondered if the wait had shortened to something to what the airport actually quotes.

Thanks for anyone's help and, again, apologies to anyone who is offended by the OP.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I'm due to go up to EDI on Monday and was wondering what the security queue time was like, first thing on a Monday. Can anyone help?

I bet this is too late but we we through a few weeks ago on a Mon and it was no problem at all, that was at just after 3am though.

Hope it went well

 

[Jon Dempsey]

I bet this is too late but we we through a few weeks ago on a Mon and it was no problem at all, that was at just after 3am though.

Hope it went well

An absolute mare this morning Ray.
Lack of signage and utter confusion. Even those who had managed to buy "Q-buster tickets" were raging.
It was a pleasure to arrive @ EDI by comparison.

We are booked to go to Brisbane on 17th December - I hope they have got their act in order by then.

 

[Karl C]

Went thru at 6am last month and it was a very surprising breeze. Will be going thru on the 2nd December and back on the 17th December. If I remember, I will post on here what transpires.

 

[Nethercote2019]

Last Sunday eve - yes the day of nats failure !! Evening EDI flight - thru security in 5 mins flat

 

[domino85]

I've got a bit of an odd query and hopefully someone may be able to help me make sense of it. I have a family member flying to Manila with Etihad from Heathrow in March, however he's been told to check in at Birmingham and get on a coach down to Heathrow for his flight. Could anyone explain how this works please? Obviously Etihad don't fly from Birmingham so who would he be checking in with and how would his baggage get to Heathrow?

 

[nwoody2001]

EY dont fly from BHX but you can book trips from BHX on the EY Website. Book a flight from BHX-BKK on EY website and will will offer you:

BHX - MAN/LHR (National Express Coach)
MAN/LHR - AUH (Flight)
AUH - BKK (Flight)

you don't "Check in" at BHX though, you wait for a Coach at the BHX National Express Station.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Anybody used BHX is the last couple of weeks, in the early morning in particular?

Heading there in a couple of days and wondered how things are going so we can plan our ETA.

 

[rollo]

My eldest son and family departed this morning to Malta this morning as it happens with Jet2 he told us all fine with security etc then they get a 90 minute delay which he thinks is ATC or a fueling issue.

They arrived 1hr late complete with moaning kids -we've got their dog!

 

[Scottie Dog]

My eldest son and family departed this morning to Malta this morning as it happwith Jet2 he told us all fine with security etc then they get a 90 minute delay which he thinks is ATC or a fueling issue.

They arrived 1hr late complete with moaning kids -we've got their dog!

I hope the dog doesn't moan....

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

I hope the dog doesn't moan....

It would sound wrong if it did

 

[rollo]

I hope the dog doesn't moan....

The dog is fine ours will sort it anyway its the grand kids who specialise in the moaning department.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Around 15 minutes to get through security this morning (04:30ish). So glad we had fast track as the queues looked to be up towards Spar.

Still not convinced about the sole use of lifts and the lack of queueing space upstairs is noticeable. One observation is that every person seemed to be made to use the body scanners which slows things down.

Departure lounge ridiculously busy and ridiculously hot. Got lucky and managed a seat for breakfast

 

[Aviador]

One observation is that every person seemed to be made to use the body scanners which slows things down.

My recent trip from Leeds was the same. I think every passenger went through the body scanner.

Have a great holiday!

 

[KARFA]

that is the generally recommended set up (although it isn't compulsory) after putting in the new bag scanner, everyone goes through the full body scanner in millimeter wave scanners - the ones where you stand with arms out at the side or where you raise your arms and the thing spins around you.

 

[Creguk]

I know it's been asked, but I'm flying out Friday for a 9am flight. Any recent updates on the queues? I want to maximise my time in the bar! Tempted for fast track...

 

[mullion]

Good god in the bar at that time in morning

 

[Aviador]

Good god in the bar at that time in morning

I've seen worse, far worse.

 

[smitha1]

Flew at 6am this morning (well 7 after a slot delay). Absolutely sailed through security about 4:15am not even 5 mins and queue didn’t stop, absolute breath of fresh air. Fast track had 0 advantage. Lounge was absolutely packed though so time in bar might be trying to find somewhere to sit down!

 

[Ray Finkle]

Long post so please feel free to back up now

Thursday morning arrival at 04:25ish entering through the doors by Cafe Nero. Queues for the lifts went around the corner up towards Spar, I didn't see how far they went as we had fast track and went straight to the front as no queue. This was where we were stopped and stood there for around 5 mins or so with nobody moving and a guy chatting on his radio, I assume to those upstairs.

Eventually we were waved through and packed into the lift where I heard two comments about how hot and claustrophobic it felt. Upon exiting the lift there were various entrances to different lanes which caused people to pause and see which one they should be in. Walked straight to the front of the fast track lane where two of us put our stuff in the trays and once again just stood there for 3 or 4 mins with nothing moving in that lane.

Overall very good but things may have been different if we hadn't have bought fast track. Still totally unconvinced about these lifts and for me there were too many pinch points where nothing moved for a few minutes, all whilst people were joining the back of the queue. Early days I guess and hopefully once settled things will be much smoother so we'll see.

As already said departures was very busy and we got lucky with a table at Wetherspoons for our egg on toast. I would have bought a second drink but we gave our table to a family looking around desperately for a seat. Giraffe and others had queues to get in. Didn't bother with any shops as it was so hot and stuffy (more fans in Birmingham than Malaga ) so headed to the cool of the pier. T2 was as busy as I've ever seen it so didn't bother with a drink in All Bar One.

Nice flight out on G-HLYF, 35 minute slot delay but a flight time of only 2hr and 14 mins meant arrival around the scheduled time. Obviously there was a sea of red shirts at every turn and they were all very friendly

Returned today on G-SUNG. The NEO is a lovely aircraft but we all said how much harder the seats were than the regular A321 on the way out, not the most comfortable. We had the Villa Ladies team on board and my lad had one coach shout 'up the villa' as he walked past in his BCFC shirt

Arrived at T1 and walked straight through the e gate with no queues at all. Baggage took about 15 mins to start coming through but then stopped before our second case came out. Jet2 staff were on it announcing that the cart had to go back to the aircraft for the last few, not surprising really when you saw how much stuff the Villa team had in addition to the players personal bags. I think it was around 50 mins or so from leaving the aircraft to leaving the terminal which isn't too bad at all.

Final thoughts, security has less lanes now and this is the first time I've ever put my stuff in a tray then just stood there for 3-4 mins with nothing moving. The departure lounge at peak times is ridiculous, I'm convinced that when the new restaurants open they'll immediately be full at busy times. Arrivals was fine but it was just after 15:00 so one of the quieter periods. Lifts.......hmmmm.

Obviously this is just a snap shot of that time on that day and other peoples experiences will likely be different but we have the potential of 17 Jet2, 7/8 Ryanair and 5 easyjet next summer on top of everything else so I really hope that the airport can handle it.

I think there has been too many years of re-arranging the deck chairs and the time is fast approaching where we need shovels in the ground.