Belfast City Airport Passenger Reviews and Customer opinions

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT customer review :  27 February 2010 by Derek Adams   (UK)

Customer Rating :  2/5

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Recent air-side expansion has added about 60% more retail space yet there appears to be an amazing lack of seating. Clearly the management consider shopping is a better air-side experience for passengers that sitting! The "expanded security area" sees the addition of 1 additional x-ray machine (now 4) with two shut down as before. Despite the new more spacious security area not an ounce of pleasantry from security staff could be heard. Seems they have had total transplants of both charisma and common manners. A pleasant "good morning" from myself was greeted with a surly "take off belt and shoes". Not a "please" or "thank you" to be heard. Toilets in the arrivals hall are drastically in need of a total upgrade and are reminiscent of a remote third world airport. What a pity as BHD once a pleasant rapidly traversed facility seemingly has totally lost direction with management seemingly out of touch with the comfort needs of the modern air traveller. As we all know a smile, "please" or "thank you" costs nothing.

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT customer review :  24 January 2010 by D Petersen   (UK)

Customer Rating :  3/5

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I was impressed by the newness but mystified by the lack of seating. I wonder how it will fare if there happen to be delays or extra services attracted to it. The walk to the car park in the rain was long and cold and there was no shuttle bus to be seen. The exit from the car park was hampered by two of the three ticket machines being out of service. I remain to be convinced it could cope with its ambitious expansion plans.

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT customer review :  23 January 2010 by G Jardin   (UK)

Customer Rating :  4/5

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This was my first time through the new BHD terminal and I was quite impressed. Security queues even at a busy time seemed fine. Airside is much better than before with an imaginative design, plenty of seats and a view over the runway. Better than I had expected.

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT customer review :  30 December 2009 by Paul Casey   (UK)

Customer Rating :  3/5

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Very mixed experience at this airport recently. Pros - transit time from aircraft to exit and vice versa is excellent compared to DUB, for example. Cons - unacceptable wait times at security checkpoint. Surly, unhelpful staff. Dirty, smelly toilets. Very limited food and drink options landside, better airside but many closed! Having to wait at gate for boarding to commence in sub zero temperatures for nearly 50 mins. This place has the potential to do much better - look at London City Airport if you want a model for improvement!

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT customer review :  11 December 2009 by J Davey   (UK)

Customer Rating :  3/5

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The lacks space. If you are arriving from the UK you fly through like a breeze. It took me 5 minutes to get to the bus from the plane. (No lugage) Security times are dreadful. Once airside, its hard to find a seat, and at peak times hard to hear the announcements. Its not a very nice experience flying through BHD. If there were fewer flights BHD would be a nice place. The Airport flyer bus is good value, and quick.

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT customer review :  4 December 2009 by Geoffrey McNab   (UK)

Customer Rating :  3/5

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Poor old Belfast City Airport! What was once a wonderful example of a friendly local airport seems to be turning into a soul less experience? I stepped into the terminal to find alarms going off and a symphony of building work noise. In fairness to the airport it was only the third day of the new departure lounge and I am sure there were some teething problems. But staff I saw all seemed to be very harassed and grumpy. Going through security no-one smiled at all. I try to be helpful and have my jacket off, belt off and have everything ready to put in the boxes. The chap behind the conveyor belt leant over and barked "shoes"™ at me. Not, "please could you take your shoes off" or anything polite like that. Just a barked word. The worst part of a Ryanair flight out of this airport is the call to the departure gate about 50 minutes before the flight departs! True to fashion, the flight was called to gate 6 in the long, unheated, cold corridor where Ryanair passengers are herded in line. Here a female regimental sergeant major of Aviance, the ground handling agent stood and barked at us all to get into line. As I lined up people were passing by me on the right. The RSM barked at them to join the queue for the Stansted flight. I hadn't heard a tone of voice like that since a teacher in my primary school told me to pay attention! The trouble was these were passengers arriving of another flight heading for the arrivals zone. An Asian family of four stopped and looked confused and another foreign gentleman stopped behind me. What a welcome to Northern Ireland! I had to patiently explain to the gentleman he did not have to queue with me as the arrivals area was just through the doors to the right ahead. This must be one of the few airports where arriving and departing passengers are not strictly separated. Quite why Ryanair force their passengers into a queue for thirty minutes before letting them board at this airport beats me. I am surprised the airport allows them since it means passengers are not in the terminal spending money! One cannot return to the good old days but I cannot help but nostalgically look back to when Belfast City was a great wee airport where the staff seemed happy in their jobs, knew the regulars, and smiled. Horrid though working hours and wages probably are now at airports a smile costs nothing. Most of us understand we have to be processed, herded, contained and controlled but it would be nice to have it done in a polite and civil way.

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT customer review :  8 November 2009 by Derek Adams   (Thailand)

Customer Rating :  1/5

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This once pleasant regional airport is now way beyond its reasonable planned capacity, yet the ever greedy management keep just keep "cramming them in" without any apparent concern for passenger comfort. Passing through a few days ago the queue for departures security checking had over 100 passengers waiting and stretched outside the terminal to the "arrivals" taxi queue! "Upgrading" the security area is currently causing regular 40/50 minute delays-after check-in. Airside, insufficient seating had passengers standing and blocking walk ways whilst awaiting their flight departures-and this was mid-afternoon in November as opposed to a peak high season departure time. The arrival of Ryanair and the proposed January arrival of Easyjet (from BFS-Belfast International) has added to the considerable strain this facility was under over 3 years ago yet there are no signs of the expansion of passenger facilities. The "passenger collection point" was once a tin cabin in a far off point in the car park has dissapeared and has been replaced with an open plastic covered "wind tunnel". Add to this the proposed extension of the single runway to accept bigger, longer range aircraft and total chaos will surely ensue unless passenger areas are at least DOUBLED in size and facilities. Perhaps the smooth spin-talking management should have to catch a flight from their own airport as "ordinary passengers" to experience just what their "customers" have to suffer. If this airport was a retail outlet it would have closed down years ago through its atrocious customer services and lack of management concern for those who pay their wages. By comparison, this airport makes passing through London Heathrow a pleasant experience!

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT customer review :  6 November 2009 by Kevin Tunnicliffe   (UK)

Customer Rating :  4/5

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Extremely convenient for transit into the city (12 minutes after getting into the taxi). I had no luggage to collect and as I was arriving from another UK airport no immigration so no comment on those. On return I was troubled by the poor layout for the airport security system. The man checking ID and boarding cards kept shouting to ask people to keep moving. No one could because the two security lines open were working flat out and the ergonomics of the area left no room for manouver. It was almost as if security screening was an afterthought and jammed into the only space, inadequate though it was. The airside shopping consisted two outlets for food and drink at the usual overinflated "we have got you now so we will charge what we like" prices and two retail outlets. There are four gates A,B and C in one area and D all on its own. It was not overcrowded when we were there early afternoon but I can imagine it could be very claustrophobic at peak times. Pleasant staff and clean.

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT customer review :  29 October 2009 by Tony McLaughlin   (UK)

Customer Rating :  2/5

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This airport is going through a "reconfiguaration" and we are promised more seats, more retail airside and quicker security. However what they don't need is EasyJet switching its LTN-BFS service to BHD from January 2010, with a promise of more services on the route, and additional routes. I was none too amused today when a male member of staff wished to perform a random security check on my wife's handbag, I felt she should have requested or should have been offered a female member of staff for this.

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT customer review :  26 October 2009 by I Jackson   (Isle of Man)

Customer Rating :  1/5

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It only seems a couple of years ago that this new terminal was opened, and now it's being rebuilt and extended - seems some bad planning. Arrival not too bad - luckily we were the only plane landing - but still took 15 mins for luggage. Departure currently a sham - as others say new drop off point a long walk from the terminal including crossing the main airport road. Into the terminal and prior to airside only a costa coffee - and many flights on this day check in opened only 60 mins prior to departure so a bit crowded and chaotic. Security queues painfully slow, and airside overcrowded and uncomfortable. On ground level just a WHS, small duty free and 2 cafes. Only 4 doors to gates and as budget airlines using airport watching the scum to get to plane reminds you of a third world airport. Only 2 small sets of toilets - the ladies was out of order at one, and gents dirty. There is a cafe upstairs now that was a bit quieter - but very expensive - £1.75 for a small water. Belfast City airport used to be a joy to use - it's now reminds me of Luton and the other budget scrum airports but without the facilities.

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT customer review :  22 September 2009 by G Mulhern   (UK)

Customer Rating :  4/5

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Have to agree with T McLaughlin comments re luggage reclaim at this airport - shocking to say the least. After a recent return flight from Gatwick I made a point of timing how long it took to reclaim luggage noticing it was significantly longer than anywhere else on previous occasions. I reached the luggage reclaim area at 1.47pm (time on reclaim screen) luggage only started coming out at 2.13pm - 26 mins later. Who is to blame here -is it Flybe or Belfast Airport.

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT customer review :  13 July 2009 by Andy Magowan   (UK)

Customer Rating :  3/5

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As many have said, this airport isn't helped by its size or by the fact the management seem intent on stretching the airport way beyond its comfortable operating capacity. Queues at security are generally between 10-15 minutes long with only 1 x ray machine working at any one time. The facilities are ok but not great and most of the staff seem thoroughly fed up! I think if Ryanair (and the customers it seems to attract, hen & stag parties etc) were shifted on then there would be a much better atmosphere. As for food, it seems that early in the morning a lot of the eateries aren't open, the one I did go to was nice but way over priced. All in all it isn't a bad airport, just let down I think by bad management decisions and cost cutting. It is certainly above Luton in most respects.

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT customer review :  5 July 2009 by Tony McLaughlin   (USA)

Customer Rating :  2/5

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Small airport, but anytime I disembark from a Heathrow flight, it can take up to fifteen minutes for bags to reach the carousel. The bar on the first floor now appears to be closed, which is a great shame as it was always quieter and more relaxing than the melee of the departures lounge. This airport goes from bad to worse.

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT customer review : 10 May 2009 : by Derek Adams

Customer Rating : 1/5

It's almost impossible to downgrade this airport any further. The latest "gouging" of passengers of a £1 drop off charge is the final money grabbing insult (in the guise of "passenger "enhancements") -consisting of a plastic sheeted walkway to the "passenger collection point" which turned out to be a tin hut without any seating, a heater that wouldn't heat a rabbit hutch pitched several hundreds yards into a distant car park. Wet, windy, and feeling decidedly unwelcome, particularly having travelled in-bound from Singapore (via LHR). Welcome to George Best City of Belfast Airport. Yes, you really are welcome to it! Out-bound my driver was asked for a £1 drop off "fee" a few yards from the main entrance doors. He, quite rightly, refused to pay and I happily walked probably the most expensive 50 yards in the world! At security, about 40 passengers queued to use the single x-ray machine (2 were not even turned on). Surly staff grunted at exasperated passengers without as much a courteous thank you or even the slightest suggestion of a smile. Possibly the smooth spin talking management could take their staff to (say) Singapore for a day to see how it can, and is, done! What a welcome to Ireland (North or South)!

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT customer review : 15 November 2008 : by Tony McLaughlin

Customer Rating : 2/5

I'm downgrading my opinion of this airport - services have expanded, but the terminal has not - it is now very cramped airside and landside - I have heard today that the airport is now seeking planning permission for a 590m extension to the runway - more flights - more misery in the terminal.

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT customer review : 5 May 2008 : by L Hamill

Customer Rating : 3/5

I would agree with the comment that given BHD's recent route expansions, and the arrival of Ryanair (groan!) the security queues are horrendous especially first thing in the morning and late afternoon. What used to be a compact, business type airport is turning into a low-cost hub and with it come the world and his wife, stag-weekenders - but the food upstairs land-side is very good in my experience (if pricey!)

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT customer review : 30 April 2008 : by Derek Adams

Customer Rating : 2/5

The arrival of budget carrier Ryanair and the expansion of routes by existing carriers have pushed this once neat and friendly little airport way beyond its reasonable working capacity. The security screening area now has regular 30/40 minutes delays. Although equipped with three x-ray machines I have never seen more that two in operation and on many occasions only one in use. This airport is desperately in need of passenger area expansion and is looking decidedly tatty in many areas.

Belfast City Airport by D Peterson

6 September 2007   Customer Rating :

I am at a loss to understand the rave reviews given here. The airport is small,cramped,and the security (particularly first thing in the morning) a nightmare. I stood for almost 20 minutes at 0600 with no baggage, having checked in online and as a result almost missed my flight. The choice of bar/restaurants is poor and the place has a feel of needing a good clean. The seats were hard and grubby,the taxi queue was long and when one was obtained turned out to be around £5 more expensive to go home than it did to arrive. The public transport is a joke(for trains) and the traffic on an evening can be hectic with the rush hour. I avoid this airport whenever possible

Belfast City Airport by Tony McLaughlin

17 October 2006 Customer Rating : n/a

I agree with Mike Davies, if you want to eat or drink at this airport, do so landside upstairs (if you have enough time). It's just a short hop downstairs and through security to the departure gates. The airside bar and food areas are invariably very busy.

Belfast City Airport by Mike Davies

10 June 2006

Nice small airport - Arrivals involved very little walking and even with baggage you can be out of ther terminal in about 10 minutes from getting off the plane. Car hire also simple and only a short walk to the carpark. When I departed at 6pm, the airside lounge was very full, with only a small bar with 8 tables - I had to do some work so I struggled. My advice - stay landside in the bar upstairs if you want some space, then go through security nearer the time of your flight.

Belfast City Airport by Don Whittle

1 February 2006

Belfast city airport far exceeds the limitations of it's more substantial neighbour at Templepatrick. It is easily accessed by road from North Down around and Belfast city itself. Why there is no rail station simply beggars belief. The rail track runs about 50 metres past its entrance so NIR or Translink should sort that out immediately. Facilities inside are clean and all plane departures are easy to get to.

Belfast City Airport by Derek Adams

29 January 2006

All in all a neat and tidy regional Airport, convenient to the City Centre, but the trek to the Rail Link is somewhat exasperating-doubtless Northern Ireland Railways will move the station-when, if ever, they have the funding! Hopefully it will not over expand thereby keeping its' local and friendly position.

Belfast City Airport by Matthew Ross

23 May 2005

I entirely agree with James Brown. The Belfast-Bangor commuter railway runs right past the airport, but the new terminal is too far from Sydenham railway station. A new station for the airport is urgently needed.

Belfast City Airport by James Brown

1 November 2004

The new terminal building is a vast improvement on the old shed (no, really, it was a shed...). Bright, light, airy and easy to find your way around. Definite premium feel - hence largely business passengers flying on full-service airlines such as BA and BMI. Some queries though - the space for security between land- and airside is cramped, and passengers queue in the main entrance hall for this. And with the move from the old terminal (at the southern end of the airfield) the NIR rail station at Sydneham is now accessible only by requesting a shuttle bus, and the bridge to it across the dual carriageway is not an attractive welcome for passengers continuing their journey with public transport. Surely a new rail station at the northern end of the car parking (where the rail line passes under the motorway and is back on the same side of the road as the terminal) would be a welcome investment?

Belfast City Airport by Daniel Ng

17 April 2004

I use this airport to get down to London Heathrow every summer. The airport itself is very nice, has the nice business touch, so I feel awkward not wearing a business suit every time I go there. However, the airport is very small, with restaurants at level 2, with the main dining area looking out to the runaway. The boarding area which also have a small cafe and lots of seating which has smoking and non-smoking. A very quiet place-with little things to do, with 1 or 2 arcade machines and your view of the runaway is seriously limited.