Dublin Airport

Dublin to Brussels yesterday morning at 06.40 Terminal 2. What other people say is spot on: the place is huge but badly laid out and the queuing times are awful. For instance we were directed to the far-left queue but with the "fast-track" lane joining there the line of people became very long. Allow yourself 40 minutes to get through security in time. Things did not improve on return (21.45). Only two people checking passports for EU flights when I could see that flights from half a dozen major European cities were scheduled to arrive within 30 minutes of each other - meant a delay of at least 20 minutes at Passport Control when all people want to do is get home as quickly as possible. I agree with comments that staff need a lesson in customer care. They're all far too serious and jobworth. My first visit through T2 was a negative one.

Terminal 2 a disastrous lay out. Dreadful signage and security personnel. Air travel is just getting worse and worse based on my experience here. The place itself is far too big for the traffic it handles and seems to be a complete waste of money. But the security personnel really take the biscuit. Training in how to treat passengers as human beings rather than cattle would help.

Dublin airport (now 2 terminals) is one of the strangest airports. Terminal 1 I use a lot. It was designed (and operated as) a multi-storey car park. The access ramps are still there and can be seen when arriving landside (facing the Terminal 2 building) - so no wonder that it has its drawbacks. Pier D light spacious and with some design flaws mainly relating to layout is fairly OK and of international standard though not excellent in any significant way. It is far removed from terminal 1 by curved walkway which does not have enough travelators. On the inside of this curve there is the original (beautifully restored) terminal from 1939. Gates A/C baby changing facilities are well below standard - better off not using them. Another very negative thing is security checks - most of the x-ray machines are often switched off so only part of the capacity is used - they rather see long queues than spend a few euros on efficiency. In this day and age you often have to take off shoes belts etc. There are no spaces to sit and put your shoes back on instead right after security you find yourself in the shopping area. Terminal 2 promises to be better laid out but those flying budget airlines (myself included) will remain stuck with terminal 1. Any complaints about it you should have just paid the higher price for an other airline that flies from the new terminal. Absence of airbridges is on insistence of budget carriers because boarding is quicker without the airbridges and decreases turnaround time. Gates A and C do have airbridges but not used on all flights.Shopping/food value far too expensive. Pier D is a 25-30 minute walk (even if young and fit) - no caddy service no hand luggage trolleys. Other than that Pier D is the more spacious.

Security is a nightmare at Dublin. Despite arriving in good time for our flight we spent an hour waiting to go through security. Only four of the security stations were in use despite the airport being mobbed. Consequently we had to rush the long haul to the Ryanair departure gate and only just managed to catch our flight.

Ryanair departure area is a long walk before you get to passports and baggage reclaim area. The volume of passengers is way down on the boom years so it isn't so congested.

I find Dublin a very frustrating airport in many respects. Arrived at what I consider to be the original part of the airport and it is extremely tired and user unfriendly for less able passengers. As usual long wait for the bags - 45 minutes - I have a theory that they prioritise Aer Lingus flights. Departed from the original part of the airport - lacking in space. The new terminal looks impressive hopefully the bags will be deposited a lot quicker in it.

Dublin Airport has a very crowded security area. There are two at either end of the check in area (and either end of the shopping corridor airside) and are usually queued way out towards the check in desks again. Security staff can be a little rude at times. Once you're through security you're straight into the shopping area which is a very cramped long corridor with many expensive shops and lots of hand luggage rolling around. No seating until you get to the relevant Pier. I have flown mostly from Pier D in recent years and it is actually very good. It is spacious and quiet and has some cafes and shops along it. The last time I flew they still had some of the portacabin pier left (you go through a gate a Pier D which actually just brings you downstairs to the horrible bit) and its like you're standing in a caravan its very very cramped noisy and hard to hear the announcements. Very busy during the delays 2 years ago after the ATC meltdown! Landside there is a good selection of cafes and restaurants on the mezzanine above check in. Beware though all the lifts (except pier D) seem to be quite dodgy especially the ones out at the car parks even the newish lifts at check in sometimes don't work!

Getting to and from the Dublin airport is still bad but once there it's fine. I have occasionally seen the queue for security spilling out round the departures lounge but normally you get through quite quickly albeit they never use all available scanners. The choices for eating and drinking have improved over the years and pier D even if a long walk away is still a huge improvement on the awful portakabins that they had before.

Loads of good views of the apron from the airside. Catering and retail options in all areas of the airport are very good. The DAA pay as you go "Anna Livia" lounge is well stocked tidy and value for money. Dublin Airport can be heaven or something less than depending on the time of day and the gate you depart/arrive from. Then opening of T2 later this year will improve things massively.

Since my last post I've used Dublin four more times and still quite satisfied. Departing or transferring passengers should know that once you enter some concourses ("A" for sure and possibly others) you may not be allowed back into the rest of the airport. Arriving passengers connecting to long-distance bus or rail should know that the direct buses to the downtown intercity bus terminal and Heuston rail station are the 747 and 748 respectively (Connolly passengers can take the light rail from outside Heuston). These are green double- decker buses which will be on your left exiting the terminal; they cost 6 euro each way. Having used Dublin 6 times now I find it quite satisfactory and will continue to use it in the future.