Bordeaux Airport

The Billi terminal will deter us from flying to Bordeaux again: we cannot understand why the city of Bordeaux considers it acceptable for its visitors to arrive and depart from such a dire terminal (see other comments below none of which have been addressed). 0/10. The terminal also reflects badly on the airlines who use it: we flew with EasyJet who usually treat their customers far better than this.

The Billi terminal is a disgrace it treats no-frills passengers like cattle. Lifting your luggage on and off the scales and then taking it to a conveyor belt. It's appalling from start to finish we only have low cost flights locally so why penalise us.

In general a smooth-running and convenient airport easy city bus access every ten munutes (line 1). One minor drawback - there is not enough parking you can spend 20 minutes driving around the car-park looking for a space. But you can easily park free of charge in a side street in nearby Merignac and catch the bus every ten minutes. And one huge drawback - the dreadful new low-cost (in every respect!) terminal rejoicing in the irritating name of Billi. Total absence of comfort in arrivals there are no toilets available to those meeting pax no airport information desk and no machine to pay car-parking you have to go back to the other terminals - outside in the rain! Obviously the national airline put pressure on the airport to stop low-cost passengers enjoying the same facilities as other airlines.

Having lived in France for the last 20 years I have seen the growth of Bordeaux Airport. However the last trip to UK found me searching for Billi only when I got to Hall B was there any indication of where Billi was. Having stood in the queue to register and then carry my luggage to be loaded I found there was no where to put the luggage trolley no seats to sit and in entering the waiting area little services at extortionate rates no toilet facilities and only when one passed through immigration were any available. While waiting at the departure gate we were herded like cattle no toilet facilities no seating for the elderly and infirm and a total lack of courtesy from the staff in attendance. On arrival at Bordeaux once again there were no luggage trolleys they were found outside.

Waiting to board a flight at the Billi terminal is something I do not wish to experience ever again. We were dropped off at the departures terminal and took a few minutes to work out where exactly our flight was departing from - unclear signage. On finding Billi we waited in a queue for over 30 minutes when we had already checked in on-line to discover than the girls on the desk were writing luggage tags and boarding cards by hand (in 2010!). We then had our luggage weighed and then had to collect them to queue again to put the bags through a security check (2nd passport check of the day). Then came the third queue to have our passport checked again to go through hand luggage security which we then queued for again. After clearing security there was very little space to repack hand luggage put on belts & shoes watches etc. We then went through to the departure lounge (read shed) where we paid 9euro for water and a sandwich and queued to use the only toilet. (There are no toilets whilst waiting to check-in/ bag drop or whilst waiting to board the plane). The seating are for eating/ waiting is smaller than the duty free shop and has one information board facing at the duty free shop with the back of a TV the only view to those waiting to board flights. Then came the worst part - boarding. We queued again to have our passports checked and then ticked off on a list by hand (where are the electronic systems) only to be crammed into a space with no windows what seemed like no air conditioning no toilets 4 seats people on crutches standing people with children sitting on the floor and a general feeling of being herded like cattle into a confined space. The place should be pulled down!

Regarding the rather irritating name for the new low-cost terminal it is "Billi" because it is short for "Bordeaux Illico" or "Bordeaux pronto" recognising the rapid turnaround. Apart from that it is a hideous black and white striped squat block. Total lack of comfort and facilities. The addition of this terminal means the free period in the drop-off car park has been reduced from 30 to 10 minutes. If this is what the chamber of commerce think is going to attract more low-cost airlines maybe a re-think is needed.

The new billi terminal is a disgrace and shows the utter contempt that the Bordeaux airport authority have for so-called low-cost customers. Elderly people having to sit on window ledges or the floor at the departure gate is inexcusable and those responsible for this so-called facility should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

The new low-cost terminal is awful. Not quite as bad as the inhuman misery of Marseilles- Provence but not far off it. Laughably it is called Billi - are we supposed to feel better about being treated like cattle if the shed has a stupid name? As you enter leave your dignity at the door you are now a piece of self-loading freight. They have not wasted money on seats information screens (there appeared to be one) staff computers and other luxuries. Surprisingly they have found the money for a 'duty free' shop (most prices seemed higher than in the supermarket). You will stand in queues with your luggage to show your boarding pass passport and of course a good 20 minutes at the 'gate' (ie a door). What really puzzles me is why they have done this; I have used the main terminal at Bordeaux several times with low cost airlines and found it perfectly adequate and not overstretched - why is 'Billi' necessary? I can only assume it is about putting people in their place and if you are a low- cost passenger that place is beneath contempt. If the people who design these horrible places read this have you ever tried using one of your terminals under normal circumstances? Probably not you are too busy enjoying the business class lounge. If you are responsible for managing one ditto and put someone who knows what they are doing in charge; also invest in some new technology - checking people by hand went out about 20 years ago at most airports. If you are a passenger complain write reviews and fight against this they have nothing to do with efficiency and everything to do with increasing profits through sub-standard facilities.

Bordeaux (Marignac) airport now has a normal city bus link to downtown Bordeaux. Line 1 runs every ten minutes while the airport is open for a flat fare of EUR1.40. Not only does this make reaching the city much easier and cheaper but it means one can park in any side-street along the route and take the bus thus avoiding the crowded and expensive airport parking. The newly-completed third terminal (low cost airlines) is expected to enter service shortly.

Classy architecture and nice decoration hides a badly laid out and thoroughly confusing airport. Once a passenger has passed into gate 14 there are no toilets and catering and to go back out is at the discretion of the guard at the door. Walking distances short and good views of apron from all public areas.