Bristol Airport

Customer Reviews

No Skytrax Rating
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Queuing Times 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Staff 12345
Customer rating from 443 reviews
3/10
No Skytrax Rating
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5/10

"a provincial airport with big ideas"

(United Kingdom)

Security was chaotic no one knew which way to go. There appeared to be a pinch point but it was a complete mess. We travel at least 5 or six times a year from Gatwick, Birmingham and Bristol but to be honest we pay extra for hotels and parking elsewhere as the 'Bristol experience' is so bad and we only live 20 minutes away. Security staff are so obnoxious. At the end of the day they are claiming to be an international airport but are a provincial airport with big ideas. I suggest you look at your web site where most of the numbers are out of date.
Experience At AirportDeparture Only
Date VisitJuly 2016
Type Of TravellerFamily Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no
1/10

"one of the worst car parks in existence"

(United Kingdom)

This has to be one of the worst car parks in existence at an international airport. Firstly it did not recognize my number plate meaning I could not be let out and having to put up with an incompetent security official at the exit gate. The standing ground areas are appalling, pot holed, puddle ridden, graveled and full of weeds around the edges. The bays are not marked out with white lines so you get gaps all over the place not quite big enough. They have tar-macked the expensive areas close to the terminal - why not the rest. Dreadful. Cars are parked illegally all over the place - many blocking areas which are supposed to be used for cutting through from row to row. Where is the security and wheel clamping for those parking illegally? The income for this park must be massive. It cost me half as much to park Meet and Greet in Manchester in June than it did for long term at Bristol in October. Spend some money and make sure you improve it environmentally as well. Unfortunately the public have hardly any choice and I suspect the owners know this. Awful place, the only good thing is that you can walk to terminal and not rely on the half hearted bus service.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitOctober 2016
Type Of TravellerFamily Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
no
2/10

"the security system was archaic"

(United Kingdom)

I use a lot of airports and this was one of the least pleasant airports to fly to and from. I don't think I would use it again if I could avoid it. I had paid for a Fast track through security (as I had read that their security can be slow) and my partner walked up the path in front of me and the woman asked him if he was fast tracking and he answered - "I'm not sure" as he hadn't understood the question. She rudely said to him "well if you don't know then you haven't and you can just go back the way you came." There was really no need to treat him in that way and she did not apologise once she was shown my booking reference. I certainly would not encourage anyone to use that system. And the security system was archaic and odd with one in every two bags being searched. I found all the staff boorish or rude. Not at all helpful. I'd advise travelling to Cardiff where the staff are friendly. On the way back the passport control was jammed and again staff were not helpful.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitOctober 2016
Type Of TravellerCouple Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no
8/10

"pleasantly surprised how efficient security had become"

(United Kingdom)

Based on previous experiences I was expecting large queues for my early morning departure but was pleasantly surprised how efficient security had become. Seems that new equipment and more (polite) staff were available. No complaints at all for the departure process which took only a few minutes. Arrival was a little more frustrating as there was a very long walk from the arrival stand to the immigration control. Signage routed EU passports through electronic gates which seemed a much slower queue than the non EU passports which were being viewed by officials. In fact I am sure some EU passport holders were moving to the other queue due to the delay. Paying to use a luggage trolley at a major airport seems unreasonable these days. I travel quite a lot and can't understand why Bristol do that as most airports offer a free trolley. Paying for picking up passengers at the car park is also unreasonable. There should be a free drop-off and pick-up area.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitOctober 2016
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Airport Staff 12345
yes
8/10

"overall a pleasant experience"

(Ireland)

Arrival and departure to/from Dublin with hand baggage and checked in on-line, so no comments on baggage handling, immigration or check-in desks. Scheduled aircraft seem to be parked near the terminal, so not a lot of walking on arrival. I was swiftly at the car hire desk and away. The new security facility is much improved, and there was a minimal queue in the early evening. There is lots of room airside and a variety of eating and drinking places, plus the usual shops. Overall a pleasant experience.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitOctober 2016
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Airport Staff 12345
yes
1/10

"could do better"

(United Kingdom)

Verified Review | Let down badly by very limited dietary options for coeliacs and gluten intolerant customers. Neither main restaurant had anything, even their chips and vegetarian option were no go. Only actual options were a bag of chips from Burger King, a plain baked potato or a bag of Pom Bears from WH Smith. Not good for families and a real challenge for otherwise helpful and friendly staff. Could do better. The 1 is for staff.
Experience At AirportDeparture Only
Date VisitOctober 2016
Type Of TravellerFamily Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no
2/10

"should be thoroughly ashamed of itself"

(United Kingdom)

It had been quite a while since I had flown from Bristol and I was not looking forward to it. This was due to bad experiences in the past with the rudeness of security and the massively long walking distances. Departure to Catania in the early morning of 7th October was not too bad. New equipment had been installed in the security area and security staff were quite pleasant. Departure from Gate 3 was welcome as there was little walking. Return on 14th October was an entirely different matter. Entry into the airport was up a long flight of stairs followed by a very long uphill walk. There was also a walk down a flight of stairs. After what seemed like a marathon we were halted and told to wait in the corridor as immigration was "very busy". The Bristol Airport representative claimed it was because two aircraft had arrived within 10 minutes of each other. She did not seem to understand when someone told her that flights are regularly scheduled to arrive within a few minutes of each other. I asked her why there were no travalators and was told it was because the airport did not have planning permission! When we did finally get into the immigration area the wait was not terribly long. I have flown in and out of airports in Canada quite a few times and the low standards at Bristol would not, I am sure, be tolerated there. I mention this because my understanding is that Bristol is largely owned by a Canadian pension fund for teachers. It should be thoroughly ashamed of itself.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitOctober 2016
Type Of TravellerCouple Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no
2/10

"staff unhelpful and miserable"

(United Kingdom)

Departure from Bristol airport was no problem. However arrivals was another matter. Went through border security - queues everywhere. Staff unhelpful and miserable and not enough of them for two flights arriving at the same time. Baggage carousel 2 named for our flight along with another flight! About 300 people all crammed in together. Suddenly our luggage was advised on the board as appearing at carousel 5. I was travelling with my husband who has memory and communications issues and he was completely out of his depth to the point I had to hang on to him so he didn't get lost. Silver parking wonderful. On arrival car wouldn't start, no problems jump start given and on our way.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitOctober 2016
Type Of TravellerCouple Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages N/A
Airport Staff 12345
no
1/10

"give yourself extra time"

(United Kingdom)

Verified Review | I travel frequently for business trips and have just experienced the new security check in area, the airport was relatively quiet, I followed all of the instructions being barked at you by the security staff threatening delays in being searched if you didn't remove all your electronics and toiletries etc etc and it still took me 25mins to get through. When this place is busy I would expect it taking well over an hour now, they call this an improvement, take a trip to Munich airport for a lesson in efficiency. Word from the wise give yourself extra time when coming to this place now, more than the normal 2 hours in the busy season.
Experience At AirportDeparture Only
Date VisitOctober 2016
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no
2/10

"disability awareness very poor"

(United Kingdom)

The disability awareness at this airport is very poor indeed. It is the worst airport in our experience compared with destination airports we have used. A member of the family uses crutches (and previously a wheelchair and has another medical condition). He cannot walk independently. He is always made to feel different and embarrassed in front of other people in the queue for security. This is hard for a teenager and a stressful time in any case when there is plane to catch. We have complained before and made suggestions about how the airport can improve. Management have not apologised adequately and have not made any of the simple improvements such as providing wooden sticks (which we have seen routinely provided in other airports). We have been made to feel that the problem is ours rather than a disabling practice by the airport.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitOctober 2016
Type Of TravellerFamily Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no