Just got back from a week in Ibiza with TUI
Security has to be the biggest joke this airport puts together. If we are going to expand, then something seriously needs to be done with security, it is not fit for purpose at the moment. (Security at Ibiza on return was almost seamless.)
Seating in the departure hall is abysmal. Spoons as normal with full to heaving.
Departure should’ve been at 7 o’clock, but due to a fiasco with the monitors in the departure hall we were sent to the wrong gate not only the wrong gate but it was Jet2’s gate which if you know the airport is the opposite side of the airport. My mobility is not the best at the moment so struggling across there and back even with the help of daughter and son-in-law was something I could’ve done without we were not alone in reading the information and going to the wrong gate. Well done Birmingham Airport!
The actual departure was close on one hour late I think.
Upon return due to a medical incident on the aircraft, we were asked to remain seated which I fully understand. The incident was dealt with efficiently and all passengers complied with remaining seated while it took place - this was probably 10 to 15 minutes.
Why with staff on duty do we have to play backwards and forwards to get to passport control especially when the queue is not particularly long?
Having got through passport control the carousel for our luggage was stationary and no sign of any luggage being put on. Again a wait of about 10 minutes before any activity.
It gives me no pleasure to post this report as this is my local airport so I prefer to support it by travelling through it however if I was not a local my experience above would mean definitely NOT use the BHX a gain.
Right then, let's have a look at this Ibiza return via BHX. Bit of a rant, but honestly, it mostly sounds like a bog-standard experience at a busy UK airport in peak season, doesn't it?
"Security was "the biggest joke" Strong words. What was the actual problem? Long queue? Staff seeming slow? Kit playing up? You didn't say. Just calling it a "joke" because it wasn't as quick as Ibiza (which, let's be honest, is smaller) isn't really helpful. Airports have good days and bad days, especially when expanding. "Not fit for purpose" is a massive stretch without specifics.
Seating in departures "abysmal" Spoons was heaving? Well, it's Spoons. At an airport. In summer. It's always heaving. That's not an airport failing, that's predictable. Seating everywhere is limited when flights are full so pack your patience or head to the pub earlier.
Sent to the wrong gate. Unlucky, and definitely a pain with mobility issues, absolutely. But come off it, gate changes happen. Aircraft get swapped, stands change for operational reasons, tech issues pop up on screens. It's chaos sometimes, but blaming the airport outright for a monitor hiccup or an aircraft switch is daft, it's hardly BHX's fault it's a big site.
Departure an hour late. Annoying, but hardly unique to BHX. A million reasons for delays such as air traffic, late inbound aircraft, baggage loading, paperwork. Blaming the airport specifically for a flight delay is usually wide of the mark.
Passport control "backwards and forwards" Queues move at the pace they move. Staff are managing multiple queues, checking docs, maybe dealing with complex cases. If the queue wasn't long, why the fuss?
10 minute wait for bags. A 150+ suitcases don't magically teleport onto the belt. They have to be unloaded safely from the hold, sorted, and sent up. 10 minutes is nothing. Seriously, try lugging that lot yourself. A bit of perspective needed.
Look, nobody enjoys airport hassle. The gate mix-up sounds frustrating, especially with mobility issues. Fair point. But the rest? Security moans without details, whinging about Spoons being busy, a minor flight delay, a perfectly normal passport queue shuffle, and a tiny wait for bags? That's just... air travel. Especially at a major hub like BHX in summer.
You praised Ibiza's security that's great. But threatening to boycott your local airport over this fairly ordinary list of gripes? Bit dramatic. Airports are complex beasts with hundreds of moving parts. Things will go slightly wrong sometimes. Save the outrage for genuine disasters, not a slightly chaotic Saturday in June.