Bristol Airport

What an awful experience especially with the security staff. A security male, picked me out for a body search. Because I didn't turn properly in the Xray machine, he became sarcastic and began treating me like a child. Condescending, rude and demeaning. I expressed concern about my waiting bag and he said "Calm down and I will fetch it over for you". However, he picked up someone else's bag and its owner rightfully became agitated and mine was left unattended with its valuable contents. I would only ever use the airport again under sufferance or necessity. Recommending it would be out of the question.

I found Bristol Airport to be a very pleasant experience. I decided to arrive early for my flight and I was able to go to security straight away as I only had hand luggage. Security queues were long for the time of day at 5am but these were handled fast and we were through security in about 20 minutes. I did not find the security staff rude and they handled the job in a professional manner. Once through security, the departures lounge had expanded since I last visited and Bristol Airport are definitely responding to the growing passenger numbers. Boarding the aircraft was not down to the airport but to Swissport as to how fast they managed the boarding, however navigating to the gate was quick and easy. There is always somewhere to sit including the new departure expansion. Bristol Airport are currently also in the process of expanding their security and arrivals area making it over 100% larger than it currently is.

Had the worst experience flying from Bristol Airport - missed our flights after following easyJet guidance that it would be ok to get there 1 hour before the flight if you only have hand luggage. We stayed in a hotel near the airport and got there 1 hour before but it took 35 minutes to get through a very disgruntled and rude security team. I've never seen such a large queue at Bristol having used it many times in the past. Bristol Airport told us that the longest time to get through security was 19 minutes and when we complained saying it was longer they checked the CCTV and reported that it in fact did take us 35 minutes. No apologies of course. It really now feels like Bristol is a place for the young who can sprint to the gate if they are lucky enough to catch the announcements that the flight is boarding (if they get through security in time). It really does feel like the airport is on a big sliding scale downwards and are clearly understaffing security. Who cares about the customer any more right?

Departures Terminal is horrendous. Bristol airport used to be one of my favourites: small airport, and the long term car-park is so close to the terminal that you can walk from one to the other in a few minutes. But now the airport terminal has expanded and - although the car-park is still convenient - going through the terminal is ghastly. It's completely unable to cope with the volume of travellers. I flew in September. Got to the airport more than two hours before the flight, but I came close to missing it because the check-in and security was so hopeless: - the queue at the luggage drop was very slow: partly because of a dopey person behind the desk, mostly because the luggage conveyor belt broke down. The worst of it was the queue through security: the system is completely unable to cope with the volume of passengers. Masses of people funnelled into too small a space. I stood in the (slow-moving) queue for quite a while, until it became obvious that if I stayed there I'd miss my flight, the only way out was to move to the front (other passengers were most understanding, which was the only good thing about it). Just got to the gate in time. Worst departures terminal I've travelled through. Another time I'd drive (from Somerset) to Gatwick, or Stansted, or anywhere, rather than endure that security queue again. Can't rate the shopping, etc, as the security queue left no time to do any. Car-park still good but that's not much comfort!

A very good airport, check in and security were fast, the staff was helpful and professional.

Abysmal. Airport taking too many flights for facilities. Travelling for work, long day working, late flight home, 45 minutes to get through passport control, claustrophobic conditions in 'holding corridor'. Delay due to 'large volume of flights currently being experienced', like they didn't expect them? or didn't expect them to be full of passengers needing to pass the border passport control? E-gates not operating. Families with young children given priority, which in principle is right, but heaven help passengers without children during this weekend at end of half term holidays. This was not an exceptional circumstance as when I boarded mid afternoon on departure I saw the same abysmal conditions for passengers arriving midday on a weekday.

I was assured that Bristol Airport had improved. Well it hasn't. Long queues to check in / baggage drop, escalator not working but then it was a very slow climb as we queued all up the stairs and into security. In total it must have taken over an hour to get through security. Departures is grim with long walks to the gates, no moving walkways,how the elderly cope I have no idea. Is this the most customer unfriendly airport in the UK? Yes!

I love Bristol but we should hang our heads in shame re our airport. Situated in the middle of nowhere - poor, badly lit roads with terrible signage take you eventually there. It goes without saying that there is no rail access, taxis fares are £30.00+ and the bus is both slow and expensive. The range of flights is poor with no airlines flying to the States or more exotic destinations. Airport facilities are basic and stretched whenever there is a queue of more than 4. Leave plenty of time to get through security for early morning flights. Compared to Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle, Bristol airport looks very second rate and reflects very badly on the city. Needs to be shut down and moved close to railways, motorways and where people actually live and work.

Horrendous! Shoe horned into a completely inadequate passport arrival area. No windows and an enclosed room absolutely jammed with people hemmed in by walls, metal stand and metal barriers. Queuing also on stairs and corridors leading to this area. All passport desks manned so this area is obviously not fit for purpose. If there was an emergency just how would people get out?

We fly in and out of Bristol airport about 5 times a year and every time the arrival area is absolutely horrible. The queues, the pushing, having to stand for such a long time. The fact that all British/EU passport holders have to queue when non British holders can go straight through. Its not like that in the US, their own Citizens go through quickly. This airport has supposedly spent lots of money and improvements to this airport. Why can't they do something about their arrivals/security area. This time, by the time we got through our bags had been thrown on the floor as another plane had landed and the belt was needed for their luggage.