Birmingham: Airport Questions & Reviews

[LichfieldBlue]

A real moan about BHX or should I say Tui and/or their ground agents. Flew to EFL this morning and as you know it was filthy weather. Got to EFL and cases were absolutely soaked with our clothes sodden. Sorry but they must have been stored outside, why can’t they use covered bins like most airports. Rant over 🤬🤬🤬

 

[Aviador]

A real moan about BHX or should I say Tui and/or their ground agents. Flew to EFL this morning and as you know it was filthy weather. Got to EFL and cases were absolutely soaked with our clothes sodden. Sorry but they must have been stored outside, why can’t they use covered bins like most airports. Rant over 🤬🤬🤬

That is poor. What type of aircraft was it? (not that should excuse them)

 

[LichfieldBlue]

That is poor. What type of aircraft was it? (not that should excuse them)

737 800 EI FFC

 

[KARFA]

737s are not containerised i am afraid.

 

[LichfieldBlue]

737s are not containerised i am afraid.

That wasn’t what I was saying, in the states they use covered containers that keep the elements out until they are loaded/unloaded. Even a tarpaulin would have done

 

[Karl C]

Doing Tui day before check in tomorrow. As the flight on Wednesday is a 787 will the luggage be stored in a luggage bin/container? I have no clue as to what happens once the suitcase zips off after check in with regard to twilight check in 🤔

 

[Karl C]

Was thru security in under 10 mins this morning. The issue seemed to be at the Tui check in. People had been waiting for over an hour in the check in queue. Lady I spoke with had come from Dorset and was not impressed. Day before check in was very much worth it!
G-TUIA down to KGS - 255 pax on board...lots of babies and a 2.15 hours delay. Wasn't too bad and it's 29c and toasty... cannot complain tbh 😀

 

[Ashley]

Just a quick review on my way through the security. Didn't know what to expect after reading so many negative headlines and comments. Left home just before 11am and checked in for the Qatar Airways fight to DOH half an hour later. Two lifts were out of use so opted to walk up the staircase. Passed through the security in pretty quick time . Even though the terminal still looks like a big construction site overall not a bad experience. The only thing which I will criticise is the lack of seating in departures.

 

[Vile8er]

Went through on 19th September before midday for a 1.55pm EasyJet flight. Took about 15 mins to check the bags in. Joined the lifts queue and finally got through security at 1.30pm. Only just had time for a quick toilet visit before boarding. It wasn't a pleasant experience in the security queue with a lot of moaning from others and since my last flight in June it didn't appear as though much progress had been made because it was still like a building site. My return through Fuerteventura airport was completely the opposite. Old style security process that worked as it should and a pleasant spacey terminal. In my opinion BHX is too small to handle their current footfall in a comfortable process for their passengers.

 

[Nibbles]

I went through yesterday, arriving via the rail station people mover at 5:15. Straight into a lift downstairs. We had security fastpass as part of our booking so skipped the queue to get back upstairs, but in any case the queue waiting would've cleared in 2 lift loads, at most. Security queue are was full up the e gates, but not utilising all queuing space once beyond. I'd be surprised if anyone waited more than 30 minutes total.

Given our flight was delayed by a couple of hours (unknown until we arrived at the airport) we opted to relax in the No1 lounge. Pleasant, and about as quiet as I've seen it. When we left 2 hours later the departure line was virtually empty and when our flight pushed back at 9:15 the whole south side of the airport was empty. Quite bizarre really.

So all in, airport was a doddle!

 

[Karl C]

Flew KGS-BHX yesterday on G-TUIA. Strong headwinds so captain chucked the plane up to 43000ft very early on in the flight. Arrived BHX early and parked on remote stands. Took a little while for stairs to arrive and only the front exit. Took 1hr and 15mins for first bags to arrive and 1hr 35mins for my bag to arrive....tut tut...bit long BHX. There were 296 pax on board...not surprising when I barely saw a cloud for two weeks and daytime temps were never below 27c. Perfect time of year to go visit the Dodecanese Islands 👍

 

[andrew.clarkson]

I have spoken to a lot people recently about there recent experiences going through Birmingham Airport, 90% of people have said the same thing. They don't like the airport, because it's only got one terminal to deal with everything, which is a mistake on the management thinking, but also should be two separate terminals, then all the issues wouldn't be happening. The only reason why those people use Birmingham airport, is because they aren't prepared to pay extra from another airport. I was also informed that if Birmingham airport had consulted with the local residents and area, then answers and responses would be a lot different. But no he said, they don't ask those who fly from the airport much at all, but use consultants to get the right balance needed. Hence why Birmingham airport isn't busier as Luton or Stansted.

 

[IanFarquharson]

I have spoken to a lot people recently about there recent experiences going through Birmingham Airport, 90% of people have said the same thing. They don't like the airport, because it's only got one terminal to deal with everything, which is a mistake on the management thinking, but also should be two separate terminals, then all the issues wouldn't be happening. The only reason why those people use Birmingham airport, is because they aren't prepared to pay extra from another airport. I was also informed that if Birmingham airport had consulted with the local residents and area, then answers and responses would be a lot different. But no he said, they don't ask those who fly from the airport much at all, but use consultants to get the right balance needed. Hence why Birmingham airport isn't busier as Luton or Stansted.

BHX does have two terminals !

What it doesn't have is two security areas which I agree a second security area would help greatly in reducing the queues etc.

Saying that I have been through both Heathrow and Orlando is the past two weeks and spent an hour at both getting through security so BHX is not alone with these issues.

 

[nwoody2001]

I have spoken to a lot people recently about there recent experiences going through Birmingham Airport, 90% of people have said the same thing. They don't like the airport, because it's only got one terminal to deal with everything, which is a mistake on the management thinking, but also should be two separate terminals, then all the issues wouldn't be happening. The only reason why those people use Birmingham airport, is because they aren't prepared to pay extra from another airport. I was also informed that if Birmingham airport had consulted with the local residents and area, then answers and responses would be a lot different. But no he said, they don't ask those who fly from the airport much at all, but use consultants to get the right balance needed. Hence why Birmingham airport isn't busier as Luton or Stansted.

I cant imagine there is any connection between passenger happiness and number of terminals when passing through an airport.... and this is a casing point of why "asking the public their views" is not the same and should not the same "doing what the public say", especially when the public rarely make the right decision and regularly change their mind...

The best airports are efficient airports, i suspect it has nothing to do with how many terminals there are. 1 poor terminal is just as bad or unpleasant as 4 poor terminals

 

[Iron Duck]

I often find that the big single terminal airports are the best. IAD, DOH, YYC to name a few.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Obviously a matter of opinion but I like being able to walk into the relative calm of T2 when the T1 departure lounge is heaving. It's nice being able to find a seat in All Bar One when there are queues everywhere in T1.

 

[Vile8er]

Obviously a matter of opinion but I like being able to walk into the relative calm of T2 when the T1 departure lounge is heaving. It's nice being able to find a seat in All Bar One when there are queues everywhere in T1.

Me too

 

[Brum X]

Obviously a matter of opinion but I like being able to walk into the relative calm of T2 when the T1 departure lounge is heaving. It's nice being able to find a seat in All Bar One when there are queues everywhere in T1.

I walk as far away as possible from another human being, normally those seats right at the end of the International Pier overlooking the runway. Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww Bliss 🙂

 

[Ray Finkle]

Around one hour and twenty minutes to get through security on Monday.

Jet2 bag drop took no more than ten minutes after which we joined a queue along the right hand wall heading up towards the special assistance area. We then did an about turn and snaked back down again, past Spar, with the line stop/starting as there was a 'level crossing' type operation where they kept having to stop the people walking between T1 and T2 so this line could cross and join the back of the line for the lifts 🤣 It was absolute chaos with nobody really knowing which queue was for what!

The wait for the lifts was less than 10 minutes but when exiting upstairs there was another two queues for the boarding card check point, neither of which moved for quite a time as the queue for the scanners was moving so slowly. I appreciate that I've only used it twice but to me the new system seems much slower than the previous one, especially with less lanes. I also noticed that in every lane that I could see the rejected trays line was constantly full, possibly slowing things down as bags then had nowhere to go?

I don't know what can be done to make things smoother at peak times (if anything) but as far as I can remember that is the longest I've ever had to queue. I also wonder how much it must be costing to employ all of the customer helpers attempting to get some order from the madness.

Departure lounge steady but not packed. Only had time for a quick drink (probably would have had another if we could) and definitely no time for shopping. Are they losing out on some revenue?

Boarded from gate 40 at the far end of the pier, nice flight out on G-JZHE landing 7 minutes early 🙂

Came back today on OM-JEX. Jet2 seats fitted so apart from the 'Operated by Air Explore' sticker at the door it would have been difficult to tell the difference. Oh, and the lack of 'that' song being played 🤣

Arrived on stand 4 and joined a quite lengthy queue for UKBF. It moved very quickly and in the end took less than 10 mins or so. Around another 5 mins for the bag and we were getting in the taxi home just under 30 mins after exiting the aircraft.

Departure - Needs improvement as too many pinch points causing the queues to keep stopping rather than the continuous flow I've experienced before. It was also uncomfortably warm, again.

Arrivals - Excellent 👍

 

[Vile8er]

Around one hour and twenty minutes to get through security on Monday.

Jet2 bag drop took no more than ten minutes after which we joined a queue along the right hand wall heading up towards the special assistance area. We then did an about turn and snaked back down again, past Spar, with the line stop/starting as there was a 'level crossing' type operation where they kept having to stop the people walking between T1 and T2 so this line could cross and join the back of the line for the lifts 🤣 It was absolute chaos with nobody really knowing which queue was for what!

The wait for the lifts was less than 10 minutes but when exiting upstairs there was another two queues for the boarding card check point, neither of which moved for quite a time as the queue for the scanners was moving so slowly. I appreciate that I've only used it twice but to me the new system seems much slower than the previous one, especially with less lanes. I also noticed that in every lane that I could see the rejected trays line was constantly full, possibly slowing things down as bags then had nowhere to go?

I don't know what can be done to make things smoother at peak times (if anything) but as far as I can remember that is the longest I've ever had to queue. I also wonder how much it must be costing to employ all of the customer helpers attempting to get some order from the madness.

Departure lounge steady but not packed. Only had time for a quick drink (probably would have had another if we could) and definitely no time for shopping. Are they losing out on some revenue?

Boarded from gate 40 at the far end of the pier, nice flight out on G-JZHE landing 7 minutes early 🙂

Came back today on OM-JEX. Jet2 seats fitted so apart from the 'Operated by Air Explore' sticker at the door it would have been difficult to tell the difference. Oh, and the lack of 'that' song being played 🤣

Arrived on stand 4 and joined a quite lengthy queue for UKBF. It moved very quickly and in the end took less than 10 mins or so. Around another 5 mins for the bag and we were getting in the taxi home just under 30 mins after exiting the aircraft.

Departure - Needs improvement as too many pinch points causing the queues to keep stopping rather than the continuous flow I've experienced before. It was also uncomfortably warm, again.

Arrivals - Excellent 👍

Your outbound experience sounds very familiar to mine in mid September but at least you had time to get a drink before boarding. I just cant understand how the airport thought that this re-modelling of this part departures area was a good idea given the lack of space there is.