Liverpool Airport

I recently travelled through John Lennon Airport and had a series of unpleasant experiences. I have some mobility difficulties as a result of a severe and intermittent balance problem. I have very little difficulty provided I can use a walking stick as an aid. Without the aid I need assistance to be mobile with the mobility aid I experience very limited problems. Over the past years I have travelled with my mobility aid through four continents and about 60 different airports. Liverpool was the worst where security staff including a supervisor delighted in humiliating and obstructing people with restricted mobility. No assistance offered and I was explicitly told that none would be made available despite the security staff creating the problem by refusing to allow me to use my mobility aid. The staff were rude uncaring and indifferent to the problems their behaviour creates for people with mobility difficulties. To create mobility problems for those with incapacitating medical conditions and to refuse any help is both inhumane and deliberately rude and unwelcoming. It also fitted in with a general couldn't care less about customer comfort and experience typified by the poor state of maintenance of toilet facilities. I would strongly advise people choose other airports where staff care about the quality of the customer experience and recognise and respect the difficulties faced by those with mobility difficulties.

Had to walk all the way from the car park to the terminal which took forever. Only plus for the terminal was the restaurant with excellent food and first class service. The biggest minus was the state of the carpets throughout as they were filthy and in the departure corridor they smelt awful. We have flown from a lot of airports up and down the country and will seriously think about going from Liverpool again.

Not sure why my experience would be so different from the one by M Austin who also gave another review that was so contrary to virtually all the other reviews (have they ever flown from anywhere else?). Parking we found to be expensive little wait at bag-drop but then again the airport was not busy. Security was slow and still very rude as was my previous experience last fall. I found cleanliness in the departure lounge to be lacking and even worse inbound in baggage claim. Departure lounge was OK but facilities were far from excellent. Food in restaurant was not of a high standard and stores were mediocre and lacking in comparison to even smaller airports.

Cheapest car parking I have ever come across (if booked in advance) quick and easy to get to. There were virtually no queues at the Bag Drop desk and I had the easiest passage through security that I have ever had at any airport. The departure lounge was very clean and comfortable and was equipped with excellent facilities boarding was quick and easy and was well staffed. On return passport control is very clean quick and efficient and baggage reclaim was quick and clean and quick and easy to exit the car park. Overall an excellent airport that I would recommend to everyone.

I used Liverpool airport for the first time in a few years recently - I have to say the Departure experience has vastly improved - gone now is the terrible old slow security area that forced you to queue on the stairs or tried to blackmail you with a "Priority Security Charge" - the security area is now well staffed and you get through it quickly - plus the new route through departures takes you on a nice walk with good views across the airfield and the river. The departure area is well equipped with shops and cafes etc but still with plenty of waiting space and you don't have to walk far to the gates. I like the fact that they have a couple of bits of John Lennon memorabilia scattered about the place - I'd suggest that they acquire some more and turn it into a bit of a mini-museum - little things like that make a difference to an airport experience. Flying into the airport is still a bit rubbish though - you now have to walk along a long semi-exposed walkway through to the arrivals area which is fun when it's cold and wet - fine if you are travelling on your own but this must be an ordeal if you have young kids in tow. To be fair when I arrived baggage reclaim was quick as was passport control and I was in the arrivals area within about 10 mins of touchdown which really isn't bad. Parking fees are pretty steep at the airport - I'd suggest if you are getting collected the best thing would be for whoever is collecting you to wait in a side road and for you to phone them when you are about to go through customs then meet them in the "drop off" zone - you still only get 5 mins so you need to be quick (again probably not practical if you have kids in tow or have mobility problems). On the whole it really is not a bad airport if you know how to play the game a bit there.

What a totally negative experience travelling via Liverpool Airport. Passenger drop off is difficult and cars are only allowed 5 minutes. I am only 67 years old but still found it physically challenging. The corridors and walls are disgracefully dirty and practically every ventilation grill duct or fan is surrounded by thick dirt and grime. Returning from Estonia today 28th June 2012 not only was everything dirty but the stale smell was more like a cattle market. Once beautiful etched glass walls were dirty and dull. Is this the Olympic year when we are supposed to be show piecing Britain? I hope none of our foreign visitors decide to come via Liverpool. I am totally ashamed of my local airport and I think the management should do some travelling abroad to see what people expect in this modern bright world. Returning to Manchester as soon as possible.

Travelled: In last month. I can certainly agree with some of the previous passengers in relation to the security staff never had my baggage drug swabbed before leaving the UK to fly to Ireland before would expect customs to carry out this check not a private security company another time wasting aspect. It seems there is a shortage of seats on purpose to make you purchase from there stores and another little trick they try and pull is the friendly little question would you like to pay in euro's on your credit card of course as my currency is the euro I think for a moment and ask what's your exchange rate? 8 cent less than the standard rate. Another thing to be careful of they stick to the clear plastic bag dimensions rigorously to make you buy theirs. There is an express queue through security if you want to use it basically its just side stepping the queue and following the crew channel but of course you pay extra for the privilege of nothing really just another money making racket. Its the only airport that I have found where airport security staff insist on you carrying only one handbag for hand luggage I always thought that was the airlines business just goes to show who controls the airport.

Excellent Airport. Arrived at the airport for my flight to Malaga and went straight to the Ryanair bag drop where there was virtually no queue after parking (cheap and on site) and entering the terminal. Security was very quick and easy and staff friendly and efficient. The departure lounge was clean and had lots of shops and eating outlets to enjoy before boarding. Boarding was completed efficiently. On return at the busiest time of the day for arrivals the immigration queue moved very quickly and baggage arrived straight away - from landing to exiting the car in just 18 minutes! Overall an excellent airport which is very easy to use with friendly staff.

Liverpool is a surprisingly beautiful and welcoming city and LJLA reflects absolutely none of that. It is grey cheap and dirty. I have been through many airports and this airport is similar to something you'd find in a small country in the developing world. The owners should fly to Barcelona or Singapore or just get the train to Manchester if they want to know how a decent airport behaves and what it looks like. It is also too transparent in its desire to rip you off.

Arriving at Liverpool airport is a disgrace. You are ushered along a long cold exposed walkway and finally reach what can only be described as a 'back entrance' to the airport. Stone stairs and old handrails are there to greet you and upon entering the 'Arrivals Hall' you are met with a very basic room that looks like it was last re-decorated in the 1960's. I was utterly ashamed and wondered what new visitors to Liverpool must make of this.