Inverness Airport

Invernessian by birth but no longer living there, my family still do and I am a regular visitor to Inverness Airport. I am completely filled with dread every single time I fly back south and have had the worst experiences of airport transfer anywhere in the world. The coffee shop shuts promptly at just gone 7pm leaving anyone looking for food completely bereft. It is clearly not there for the benefit of the traveller at all. Apart from WH Smith everything else was shut. There was the usual barking of instructions going through the security process - nothing friendly or helpful. The bar served cold sandwiches only and the two servers did their jobs like they couldn't wait to get out of the building and go home. There was no interaction, no chat, nothing remotely friendly. The plane was delayed for over an hour but I never heard why. The finale of my whole nightmare was being barked at by a young girl 'you need to put your handbag into your case'. And then, because I didn't do this immediately, I was snarled at by another staff member that 'it is company policy'. I had no issue with having to do this, I fly frequently all around the globe and am perfectly aware of the 'rules' but as I was in a long, snaking queue going nowhere but another pen, could I not have been given a moment's grace before being verbally accosted? I had a book in my hand that was larger than my handbag but apparently was not a hazard and could be taken in my hand. What an image of the people, what an awful experience in such a small airport and what in the world has happened to our renowned Highland hospitality? I tell you customer service training wouldn't go amiss at the airport.

Inverness airport is quaint. That's the only redeeming feature. It is a small regional airport with global aspirations. Over zealous security staff - almost as many as when I last flew from Manchester - seem to use boredom as an excuse to check as many passengers as possible. I made the mistake of leaving my phone in my pocket and was subjected to 5 minutes of frisking and scanning for metal. This stocking soled and wearing jeans and a jumper. Well they do have a job to do. But wait, my ID wasn't checked by anyone. Am I who I say I am? Then let's talk about Autogrill, the concession (monopoly) holders for food and drink. Over priced rubbish. £9.95 for a Highland breakfast that probably been ok the previous day. It looked awful and dry. Roll on the expansion and hopefully local business having some input on the catering.

Nice tidy little airport. Airside baggage carousel and landside baggage carousel. WH Smiths, Coffee Shop and Outdoor Gear clothes shop. Short walk to car hire. Didn't expereince any issue with security staff, but worth noting you have to carry your tray(s) to the security scanner. Departure Lounge can be quite busy when there is an easyJet departure. It has a pop up WH Smiths, Bar/Cafe, Whiskey shop and Outdoor Gear clothes shop. Too much retail in a small space. The Business Lounge, from the outside seems very small.

I agree with most reviews here. The security staff were not very nice at all. I know they have to rush people through but they need to be aware that children do not understand the procedures and shouldn't be made to feel like they are naughty and bad.

I fly out of here on a weekly basis. It's a great little airport apart from 2 issues. 1: the security team is unbelievably rude, aggressive and officious. Whoever heads this team up needs to be replaced. I routinely pass through airports the world over but no security check leaves you feeling used like Inverness. If flying through here - brace yourself. 2: airside lounge is (and has been for some time) woefully undersized. Expansion required. Apart from that it's a doddle to get to and parking is cheap and easy. But sort the security team out ASAP.

Have to agree that security checks here are extremely aggressive. Shouted at to remove my cardigan etc 11 year olds bag pulled apart for random check etc etc. I don't mind security I fly all over but what is it with this airport? Happens every time! Everyone so grumpy and officious. Also departures lounge is woefully small overcrowded and ill catered.

Great airport. In and out in no time both on arrival and departure. Staff were excellent and very helpful in the airport. My only negative comment would be for the suitcase handlers. Please take more care unloading from arriving airports. We sat outside today for lunch and watched suitcases being unloaded from a trolley and then thrown along the conveyor belt for passenger collection - this is really not necessary and should be addressed. These are after all peoples possessions being thrown around.

Travelled through Inverness early one morning. Security arch alarm sounded and I realised that I had coins in my pocket. Ordered to go back and I placed coins on tray and passed through the arch again with no alarm. Aggressive person then orders me to stand and raise arms and am frisked then ordered to turn around and raise arms again and frisked once more. I move to proceed and am ordered to wait while a security wand is used front and back. I move to proceed and again am told "shoes off". I remove shoes which are then x rayed and returned. An unnecessary and unpleasant attitude on the part of someone who did not for one second mirror the checks being made by other security staff in a pleasant and cordial manner. And all this after I had passed through the arch the second without triggering the alarm.

I experienced the most aggressive and confrontational security check ever. The female staff were unpleasant rude and discourteous beyond a level ever experienced at any major international airport. The body search was more invasive that I believe to have been necessary. It was a foul end to an otherwise pleasant few days back home. Airside prices for refreshments are extortionate: £2.30 for a small bottle of tropicana juice that costs £1.10 in a supermarket.

Inverness Airport Security is so extreme the result is long queues before security. The Operators there seem to have got it into there heads that the faintest bleep from there machine must mean a potential threat and a couple of coins in ones pocket result in full body search. Their remoteness from the real world and their inability to use judgement at their job results frustration all round and as they do not seem to possess any sense of humour they portray themselves as 'jobsworths' of the worst kind. Other staff not connected with Security are able to display the tact and friendliness that the Highlands are known for - but not this lot!