Glasgow Prestwick Airport

✅ Trip Verified | This is not a family friendly airport at all. We traveled with a 5 month old baby and had to join a general queue to go through security check. This is not acceptable and the airport management should be ashamed of no family lane arrangement. There were also no lifts or ramps on the way to the gates. We had an inconvenience carrying the buggy, car seat together with all our other belongings. No assistance from staff was offered.

Not Verified | The girl who initially was nice to us at the information desk then proceeded to question us at the departure lounge. She looked disappointed when we produced our negative results and examined them very closely. Travelling right now is stressful enough without somebody who is having a bad day create more stress.

✅ Trip Verified | Loved this airport, no long queues and you get through security really fast. We only went with hand luggage going to Palma so we arrived 1 hour before the flight and this was plenty of time. We normally use Glasgow airport but would definitely use Prestwick again. Only wish they would do long haul flights to save us having to go to England to get around the world.

Not Verified | In a word horrendous. When you arrive with 2 starving kids and they aren't serving food at 2 in the afternoon. We were told this was due to the food arriving ie delivery (brilliantly managed). The only food place that side of the airport and it's not serving food absolutely genius. Then you go through security and the only food place has no kids options one vegetarian option and literary nothing healthy bar one said salad. Expect to serve your children a bowl of chips or toast not a single vegetable. Just pathetic, absolutely pathetic. Another restaurant is opening but what use is that to me. Its an airport, not a roadside cafe. It also takes 3 days to actually getting your order. Never ever shall I use this poor excuse of an airport again. Don't be swayed by the cheaper flights, they are cheap for a reason. I had to board a plane with 2 hungry kids which has both upset and angered me.

Not Verified | What a shambles at passport control on arrival from Malaga (Ryanair FR 656) last night (7th March 2019)! It certainly did not look like customs staff in attendance were interested in providing a service to the public - only 2 members of staff were employed checking passports whilst 2 others chatted socially at one barrier, another (presumably the senior member) looked on and 2 armed guards observed the situation at the doorway whilst 2 further desks were unoccupied. Consequently there was a bottleneck at the 2 desks in operation and long delays for passengers, queuing in cramped conditions with no access to toilet facilities (after a 3 hour flight). I note from the posters on display that you welcome comments from the public - I would particularly like to ask the senior officer on duty to account for this arrangement and his allocation of personnel.

Not Verified | Food and drink very expensive, 2 or 3 times what you would pay at a normal cafe/restaurant outside. Dirty dishes left lying on empty tables. Quality, so so. Departing was OK, but arrival, around 1am was just what was not needed after a delayed 3 hour flight from Malaga with ~200 exhausted passengers to be met by only 2 security persons on entry. I should add at this stage that I am slightly disabled at present as I am recovering from a replacement ankle operation, so have to use a stick to get around. Also, as my case had been damaged by Ryanair in transit I could not wheel it along so had to use a trolley to get it to Car Park 3. As there was an excalator to get up to the bridge and over to the car park, I enquired of 'Information' how I might get my trolley to the car park. They kindly showed me to a lift which took me up a floor and then along to the top of the escalator where I was met with a notice which declared, trolleys no further! Really helpful! So from there I had to carry my suitcase over the bridge, down the stairs to the station, along the platform, out and down the path to the car park and finally struggle to get it to my parked car, by which time I was absolutely shattered, a real welcome home. I doubt I'll ever use Prestwick again.

Not Verified | What an absolutely shocking example of dreadful customer service at Prestwick Airport. The airport staff looked absolutely miserable and surly and we found the staff on the Information Desk to be disinterested at best and the 'Supervisor' to be the most unhelpful. We queried misinformation we had been given by a Ryanair telephone operative regarding hand luggage and the priority booking service. It was handled in a jobsworth and sarcastic manner. We explained we were on our honeymoon and that our son was a bit of a nervous flyer so we didn't want to continue with the disagreement as it was causing us all upset, this had absolutely no effect on the 'Supervisor' who seemed to be revelling in the disagreement. Eventually, a 'Manager' came to speak with us and seemed reasonable enough and gave some helpful advice. Although not pleased with the outcome we had had enough of our treatment and looked to just board our flight. Unfortunately, the 'Supervisor' was the person checking boarding passes. She made a loud sarcastic unfounded comment about my husband grabbing the boarding pass from her. She had to retract it when he spoke with her but it caused us real unnecessary upset and I stress before boarding the flight. She had absolutely no thought for my young son and it seemed about point scoring. Disgraceful behaviour! There is a very toxic, negative culture at Presteick Airport. I for one won't travel from there again - If you have a choice avoid it like the plague.

❌ Not Verified | I would like to thank the team at the Nuance shop for all their assistance. I had detailed questions on whisky and how I could buy and retrieve it. All my queries were happily received and helped with. My vagueness should have been a pain but it was easily dealt with. When I came to pick up my whiskies once home, the help at the information desk in getting my goods was warm and more helpful than I could have reasonably expected, as was the level of after-sales service from Aaron and the troops in the Nuance shop. Cheers for making that purchase one of the easiest I have made despite my best efforts.

✅ Trip Verified | My first impression arriving by car at Prestwick Airport was good: no drop-off or pick-up fees and 10 seconds to get into the terminal. I suppose that the lack of queues and emptiness of the adjacent car parks must be due to the lack of flights rather than their charges. The surprisingly large terminal suggests that the airport was designed for about 10 times the number of passengers it now handles. There are very few shops, no clothes shops or branches of Boots or M&S, but if like me you’ve already packed your case to within a whisker of Ryanair’s 10kg carry-on limit that is not a great problem. There are several places for eating and drinking, including an excellent Ritazzo coffee outlet, currency exchange offices and 2 branches of WH Smith. I was through security (body scanned and frisked!) in less than 10 min and there were even free plastic bags provided for liquids (many airports charge £1 for one of these sophisticated devices). Once through the inevitable duty-free shop and into the departure lounge there were plenty of seats for everybody. As usual Ryanair called passengers to the gate even before the incoming flight arrived, and the uninitiated formed an orderly queue while I sat comfortably reading my newspaper for another 15 min. With only 8 gates and all aircraft parked beside the terminal the walk to the plane was pleasingly short. The only modern amenity that Prestwick lacks is the airbridge which does mean exposure to the elements for 50 yards or so. However having taken Ryanair (and EasyJet) flights from many different airports I’ve found that even where airbridges are available these low-cost airlines seldom use them. In fact their passengers are often punished by having to take a bus (standing room only) to the aircraft which lies parked on some far-distant apron. Once on the plane we were up and away in no time – no waiting in a long queue, in fact our pilot didn’t even pause for a moment at the end of the runway before taking off. Arrival at Prestwick on the return leg was equally quick and hassle-free. Now that Ryanair insists on putting free carry-on baggage in the hold, you have to wait for your case at the carousel, which can be quite a nightmare and take ages at busy airports. But at Prestwick when you’re on one of only half a dozen flights during the whole day your bags are off-loaded immediately and they can have no risk of getting lost. I was through Immigration, Baggage Claim and Customs, and waiting for my train home at the airport railway station in about 15 min total. Even arriving at 10.50pm there were still regular trains to Glasgow and Ayr, and with half-price rail travel by showing a Ryanair boarding pass I paid only £1.25. So Prestwick Airport may not be a great place for shopping or entertainment and doesn’t have the buzz of a busy international hub, but for simple, hassle-free travel it’s first class. What a pity there aren’t more destinations available. The flights that do operate seem always to be full so there would appear to be no shortage of passengers wanting to use it.

Security staff at Glasgow Prestwick have to be the worst encountered and change the rules as they please - flew out 4 weeks before with the exact same plastic bag with toiletries but for a reason only known to the security staff this wasn't acceptable this time round. The airport duty free itself has nothing to offer. Food is terrible - we just don't eat there now and it has one WH Smiths when you have eventually got past the row of security. I fly 5/6 times a year and believe me I would choose any other airport than this one and it's going to be a while before I choose Prestwick again. It's dismal throughout - choose another airport if you can.