Leeds Bradford Airport

The most customer-unfriendly greedy airport in the UK. Parking charges to simply drop someone off were introduced in 2011. With inflation currently running at 0% they've recently increased the charge by 50% to £3. Last year (2014) they increased the charge for large vehicles from £2 to £6. The surrounding roads are strictly no-parking and Police vehicles are strategically placed in high-profile locations to intimidate customers - a real warm Yorkshire welcome. No change is given for overpayments at the exit barriers if you don't happen to have the correct coins. If you want to use a luggage trolley that will cost you (non refundable). If you want a taxi you are forced to use the one and only over-priced taxi firm who have paid LBIA for the franchise and these must be pre-booked and paid for in cash (fees apply to debit and credit cards). Overall this is a hostile customer environment where you are captive and royally exploited at every possible opportunity. This is topped off by security staff who have the interpersonal skills of a hair-trigger guillotine. Using LBIA is an unpleasant experience from start to finish.

The only good thing about this airport is the generally fast queuing times (I am referring to common queues like security not airline-dependant queues). Otherwise steer clear. Poor connections to Leeds proper (road only) and departure lounge is really shocking by today's standards spend as little time as possible between security and boarding because there really is nothing to do unless you enjoy killing 90mins browsing WHSmith or watching others try and sit on various fixings in lieu of actual seats (which are dirty and worn anyway). The airport feels like it's simply not big enough to deal with the passenger numbers it's being asked to cope with which is probably the worst feeling you can get from an airport.

I use Leeds/Bradford airport several times a year. The passenger drop off fee continues to be a source of annoyance and I wish the airport's owners would come clean and admit that this is a significant revenue earner and nothing more. It is not a disincentive to use the airport but from stepping out of your vehicle it is the beginning of a series of excess charges that are levied for essential services. I have also found the security staff on occasion to be officious brusque and in serious need of a humour transplant. One appreciates that they perform a routine and doubtless monotonous role which is important however their interaction with passengers would be greatly improved if they lightened up a little.

I don't know what all the moans are about its no worse than anywhere else. I always use sentinel to park and that gets rid of all the parking problems. Yes the walk in the tin hut is not very pleasant and only caters for the able bodied but don't see what else they can do apart from busses. Security is not normally too bad. Info in the airport is a bit hit and miss with announcements not always audible. All the comments about using Manchester are just plain daft. Its a nightmare getting to Manchester M62 awful for driving and trains late/cancelled need to set off four hours earlier. I only live half an hour from Yeadon so is always going to be better I hate Manchester airport.

Went to collect my son in early Jan who was arriving in the eve from Amsterdam. Checked online flight on time. Twenty minutes later when I arrived at airport the flight was showing as delayed by 30 mins. By the time they had cleared customs and collected luggage it was over 1.5 hours later which meant a parking charge of over £15. When I got to the car all 3 exit barriers were not working it took over 20 mins for somebody to come and let us out by which time 60/70 cars were stood waiting to exit. Fortunately as machines not working nobody had to pay. I have been to many international airports around the world and never had to pay when dropping off and now I hear it is to increase to £3 min this is stupid and will only increase and encourage people to drop off on roads leading to and around airport. This airport needs to think customer service not robbing travellers.

Arrived on BA from LHR having transferred there from a flight from GRU. BA has use of the airbridge at LBA so it was a simple walk into the terminal without having to brave the outside January chill. However once inside we were directed to the baggage carousel inside a tatty cold prefab cabin where we had to wait nearly 30 minutes for the luggage. Given that only one other flight had arrived the waiting time for the luggage was inexplicable.

Too small and difficult to get to even for people who live in Leeds such as I. Very low ceiling which lends to the cramped feeling when busy. Poor limited facilities but interesting three branches of WH Smiths. Shows a lack of imagination. The parking charges are a disgrace. My advice is get the train to Manchester.

Really surprised by the negativity as we found Leeds Bradford to be a pleasure to use. No queues plenty of seats and the facilities are on a par or better than comparable sized European airports which I have used. All staff we encountered were friendly and polite. Arrivals in particular was excellent - from plane to car in less than 15 minutes and that included getting hold baggage from the carousel. I will definitely use again and would recommend.

I am very surprised at some of the negative reviews of the airport. Flew to Dubrovnick in September and while I agree with some of the comments about having to pay to pick up and drop off the rest of the experience was good. Very little in the way of queuing staff courteous and helpful. I was pulled over at security because of a recent knee replacement but personnel were sensitive. Shopping/waiting areas were busy but managed to find a seat to wait. No problems on return. Luggage appeared promptly and was through in less than 30 mins from landing.

Overall I would use the airport again as for the size of it the performance of the airport is passable. The airport however does lack facilities in terms of variety before you go through security your choice is a vending machine ritazza cafe or WHSmiths - poor for an international airport you would think there would be at least another cafe at worst. However the staff getting us through to the gate and onboard were helpful and efficient it was obvious they were running round massively obviously short staffed. Though apart from the overall fact that as a hub to somewhere like Heathrow or a quick short hop to Europe it's a viable airport the best thing about my Leeds Bradford experience was the meet and greet service they have on site. It's located very close to the terminal and was a quick efficient helpful service that I would highly recommend anyone to use if you fly from Leeds Bradford in the future it's the one thing that will give you a guaranteed hassle free experience at the airport.