Bristol Airport

Shocking queues for security today snaking throughout the airport. At least 1.5 hours wait to go through security. Terrible organisation and lack of information for people trying to get to their departure gates. The only way through was to pay £5 fast track but information for this was unforthcoming. This used to be such a good airport but due to expansion without proper planning is now a nightmare. It is now like Gatwick without the proper infrastructure.

Don't bother to pay for fast track at Bristol Airport - we did not get treated any better and it's not fast. On our return it took 1hr for the baggage to come off the plane - never again Bristol.

Having read the other reviews, I'm not sure what to add, the queuing was not quite as bad, but the security was atrocious. The person looking through my wifes case did not speak English fully and did not fully understand why we were complaining at my wifes bag being scanned four times. Then he then tried to re arrange my wifes toiletries in to two bags, and breaking the zipper bag my toiletries were in. All in all a disastrous start to our break. I think we will try Cardiff or any where else to avoid the stress of Bristol airport next time.

Bristol Airport is quite possibly the worst I've visited. You are charged £1 to drive in to a car park for less than 10 minutes to be dropped off or collected. If you need to use a trolley you are charged £1. This is extremely annoying as we have a young family and travel with a pram. Generally the staff, specifically security were pretty rude and unhelpful. As a result of their 'nickel and diming' I refuse to spend money in their shops. To use the free WiFi you have to opt in and subscribe to be emailed spam.

Bristol airport has improved over the years, there is no denying that. There are more facilities and increased seating. Some positives the fast track security is super effective and only £3.95 and compared to Heathrow is less of a pain. There are now different places to eat and the duty free has been re-vamped. Parking (more or less) is great. And now the negatives, passport control on return is a logistical nightmare, the capacity of the arrivals hall was surpassed years ago and u find yourself dangerously queing on stairs. It's as if they weren't expecting a large number of flights landing at the same time. It should be doubled in size. Service at the bar (Brunel) is notoriously slow, there only ever seems to be one person working at any given time - and that individual moves slower than slow. Drop and pick-up will cost you money if you want to wait.

I have travelled on numerous occasions from Bristol and my only comment is why does it take so long at Baggage reclaim, every time it is the same endless waiting, even when there is no other plans at a stand. I have always found the staff very good and helpful

Bristol is one of the worst airports I have experienced. They have cornered the market on rude, unhelpful staff to whom passengers are merely a nuisance and to be treated as cattle. Worst of all are the security staff who make no pretence at even a modicum of courtesy. Do not use this airport if you are old, sick, even slightly disabled. Do not use this airport if you can't climb endless flights of stairs and walk miles from gate to departure. Do not use this airport if you are alarmed at being expected to queue on a stairwell / moving walkway. Do not use this airport if you object to being crammed like sardines in the buses going to the car park. Anywhere else must be better.

I complied with all of the security instructions carefully but when I was asked to remove my shoes I asked for a chair. This request was refused. Yet after security there were many seats available for people to get dressed again. The security official made a big fuss about calling younger people past me while I dealt with an everyday task that I would normally sit for - it was embarrassing. However, on our return from Newcastle every security desk had a chair and a footstool before going through the scanner. How different. Perhaps a rethink at Bristol might be in order. All I asked for was a chair.

Bristol Airport is disorganised, congested and parking is expensive. Due to expensive 10 day on site parking costs at we opted for a cheaper off site option which worked well. The drop off area was a congested nightmare. Traffic congestion, passenger congestion and when you eventually get to walk the route to the terminal, they have placed bollards and stored carts right in the already narrow walkway which means departing and arriving passengers can't pass each other without colliding. The Aspire lounge was nice enough with great staff and a good way to start the journey. The remaining departure experience was fine. Then there was the return - I think the plane must have saved a fare amount of fuel judging by the distance we had to walk from the aircraft parking spot. As soon as you exit the jetty, you are confronted with stairs and queues of people struggling with their luggage. The corridors were so long they have installed seating at regular intervals so the elderly can take a break and they needed them too. Then more stairs, more corridors with people struggling with their luggage. Immigration worked well then the walk back to the customer pick up area was identical to departure. Congestion and chaos again - there was a compulsory fee for daring to bring your vehicle onsite to drop and collect passengers. Logistically isn't the best, maybe i'll try it again in another few years.

Departure was ok - arrive and go. However, having to pay £2 just to be dropped off near the terminal is a cracking idea to fleece customers and help those profit levels. However, it was the return arrival which really is appalling. When at passport control the 2 flights that arrived simultaneously meant for queuing up stairs, in narrow corridors and through to the roped off lanes before finally getting to the passport desk. Basically if you think herding sheep or cattle into an abbatoir would describe it extremely well. A disgrace. I will do everything I can not to fly from this airport again.