Birmingham Airport

Not Verified | Parked car with ease in Car Park 1 and made very short walk across to the departures. Staff in security were very friendly and efficient - this was a straight forward as it could be. On return, staff were just as helpful. Passport control was efficient and one official gentleman chatted happily to our 7yr old son whilst we waited. The passport staff was also extremely welcoming and chatty. Makes for an all round pleasant travel experience. Would happily travel from Birmingham again.

✅ Trip Verified | Total lack of seating in the departure area. It appears the airport has sold out so much space to franchise food and drinks outlets there is very limited seating where you just seat down in a neutral area without having to buy food or drinks you don’t want. I would hate to be there when flights are delayed.

Not Verified | Concerned about security staff having a consistent approach - I had an unopened travel size shampoo purchased in the airport at Belfast taken from me at Birmingham Airport as I was unable to fit in my Clear bag yet another passenger was given a 2nd clear bag to use.

✅ Trip Verified | Myself and partner experienced shockingly rude and aggressive treatment by a member of the security staff. It was a busy time with long queus of travellers going through security. Whilst myself and partner were waiting we were shocked by the way this member of staff was shouting and balling at people joining the many queues, ordering them in an extremely rude manner, to move somewhere else. When myself and partner reached the front of the queue she ushered us, with an extremely moody and sullen expression, towards the conveyor belt. My partner responded in his usual friendly and polite manner - 'Thank you sweetie.' The member of staff then stared at him. In fact she just stood and stared him out. My partner, naturally perplexed, asked her quietly, 'What's wrong?' To this she didn't respond and he simply turned towards the conveyor belt and proceeded to place his case, liquids, belt etc. into trays. I was also placing my belongings into trays whilst a male member of staff was quietly and helpfully monitoring this process. At this point, the female member of staff, whilst my partner had his back to her, ordered him to take his jacket off. He was just about to take his jacket off, as is the normal expectation when going through security, and didn't need to be ordered to do so. Equally, we were being managed at this time by a male member of staff and she did not need to inervene. Totally shocked I told her that she didn't need to speak to my partner in such a rude manner, I expressed how uneccessary and inappropriate it was. To this she became very loud and confrontational. Her confrontational manner continued by shouting back at us: You're rude! Don't be so rude! This was highly embarrassing as she was really causing a scene. It was as though she was on some power kick, using the opportunity of her position on security to belittle people. When we finally got through security we located a manager and made a complaint. This manager tried to play down the behaviour, saying that she was probably trying to hurry us along or that what she said came across in the wrong way and that it wasn't intentional. Overall this was a very upsetting start to our holiday which is supposed to be enjoyable/memorable. It was Valentine's Day and the trip had been arranged to celebrate this. I strongly believe that the airport should invest in staff training of security staff to ensure that they treat travellers with respect, courteously and politely at all times. They should ensure that people, getting satisfaction out of being controlling, arrogant and abusive, are not employed.

✅ Trip Verified | I arrived on a flight from Lleida following a skiing holiday in Andorra. It was a Sunday evening and only a small flight. When the baggage did eventually arrive it came in bits and drabs. We then went to the Oversized Baggage area as indicated to await our skis. Nearly 30 mins later our skis were delivered on the original baggage carousel. It must have been the quietest period possible at the airport with no end of staff standing or sitting around. Not one could or would give us information regarding the delay. Sad to say it's par for the course at that appalling place!

Not Verified | Truly a dreadful airport, especially when arriving. Expect to wait upwards of 25mins for your bags, regardless of whether there were only a handful of bags on the plane. The whole airport feels like it needs a refurbishment. Quite a contrast from proper airports which really invest in the passenger experience.

✅ Trip Verified | I travelled on Friday 4th January. Birmingham security staff are rude & so unhelpful I notice they are getting worse each time I travel. This time I was told they cannot help push the trays through that hold belongings for security checks due to health & safety. This created a queue behind me as I had 2 kids to look after also. In total I had to use 5 trays and was told off for not putting shoes in one tray, coats in second tray, devices in 3rd tray and bags for tray 4 & 5. Don’t get me wrong I respect airport security they are there to prevent & protect but is a horrible experience. Security queuing times are definitely getting longer. Food is poor most of it is processed junk food. Have no choice to use Birmingham as nearest to my location

✅ Trip Verified | Avoid this airport like the plague! Where do I start, really bad signage, whole airport road system is one way and you are threatened with £100 fine if you stop anywhere. £80 parking charge for 1 hour, that’s right 1 hours parking near terminal if you stay in Hilton Garden Inn hotel as we did, it is miles from terminal and you need to walk 100s of yards with suitcases then take skytrack to terminal. I will never fly from this airport again! Hope this saves someone else from making same mistake.

✅ Trip Verified | Departure was fine with Ryanair but once again over an hour wait after landing to get the case. This airport uses Swissport who I guess are the cheapest supplier and as a result of their low costs don’t employ enough staff to do the job efficiently. It sours the experience at the airport and makes you less likely to fly from here in the future.

✅ Trip Verified | Departing was problem free. Arrival was a different matter! We flew in with Emirates, unfortunately a child had fallen ill on the flight, so medics had been arranged to meet the plane & all the passengers were held on it. Not a problem, however no medics met the plane! I can only imagine the anguish of the parents as they had to wait 30mins for any medics to turn up! The cabin crew were scathing, rightly so! I hope never to need such "service". When we got off the plane, border control didn't seem ready for the arrival of 600 passengers, they'd only had an hour to prepare!?! I don't fly frequently, so was disheartened to find there to be no option other than e passport machines! They never work for me for the simple reason I have to remove my glasses & then can't see much tbh, certainly not the passport reader or the instruction screen! The "assistant" was condescending, patronizing & unsympathetic - really useful with a tired, just wanting to get home now, individual! This experience has put me off Birmingham airport, there staff need a few lessons in politeness & charm! It's not the airports fault that the e machines aren't fit for purpose though.