Newcastle Airport

As usual a good experience at this airport had checked in online 2 minutes at fast bag drop and through security in 5 minutes. At present due to work taking place in the retail area the amount of seating has been reduce feel that the peak summer season is not the best time to do this work.

The free parking time for 'drop offs' at Newcastle Airport has recently been cut to five minutes with the congestion in this area at peak times it is almost impossible to drop off passengers within the new limit and therefore penalty charges will be incurred ! Another 'tax' for passengers using this airport.

I fly 6-12 times a year to Newcastle to visit family and am as frustrated at others at the blatant profiteering in the short term car park. We have noticed many cars hovering outside the airport on the roundabout and in other places off-road - clearly waiting till flights land but obstructive to other vehicles and an accident waiting to happen. But who can blame them for refusing to be fleeced? We have come to an arrangement now where I take the Metro to Kingston Park where there is a large car park where my family can wait for free to pick me up. It is expensive - £2.10 for three stops - but it makes a gesture against the airport authority's exploitative pricing tactics.

I fly though Newcastle airport on a weekly basis and the way they process passengers at security is at least 5 years out of date. Nearly all airports these days have a long table leading up to the scanner to allow at least 4 or 5 passengers to prepare at the same time. Not at Newcastle where there is only a very short table so that yo can only start to prepare when you are at the front of the queues therefore holding up everyone behind you. Very frustrating!

On 3 March 2008 my son and I returned to Newcastle from Tenerife. On our arrival at baggage collection the carousel had not started. We waited and waited and waited. We had landed at 2020 but after an hour there was still no activity. Nobody was available to ask the reason for this long delay. Then the closed sign was displayed on the monitor above the carousel. Eventually a young man came but all he was able to say was that there was "a meeting to try to get estimates" which was no answer at all to our need for a reason. Passengers some of whom had young children were beginning to become irate (understandably after the flight). Many of us had arranged to be collected by family or friends who had to pay for parking. I asked for a form to complete so that I could leave and have my luggage delivered to my home address but this was not given. One man did manage to do this but said that he was told not to tell the other passengers. We did eventually get our luggage (mine arrived at 2150) but I would like to know why if there was a problem we were not told immediately on arrival. Why were we left waiting and tired and angry?

Only flew into Newcastle once for a quick stopover but have to say that the airport was quick and efficient. Found the staff to be pleasant and efficient but some additional signs wouldn't go astray

In response to Adam's comments. Yes all well and good IF you live near a Metro station. I live in the sticks so that's not an option. I am using the airport to pick my son up so the drop off/short term car park are a necessity. This all has nothing to do with security but everything to do with profiteering.

Domestic flight to London Stansted check in took 4 minutes and security took 6 minutes. On the return it was 12 minutes from leaving the aircraft. and collecting luggage to leaving the airport. I have never had a bad experience at this airport and use it about 8 times a year.

Some tips I think to people who harp on about the drop off zone parking charges etc etc. There are several ways in which you can avoid this if necessary. First of all the Metro rapid transit system if you live on the network I have used this very successfully to get to the airport from both the city centre and East Boldon station near Sunderland. It brings you right to the airports own station. Also there is a fantastic off airport carpark Q Park which is cheaper than the longterm on site. Its run efficiently and friendly and the courtesy bus drops you off in their own designated spot in the short term carpark avoiding the standard drop off zone. There are no queues here and its just a short walk to the terminal from here. The main longterm car park is good too and there are lots of ways of booking this online to obtain substantial discounts on the gate price. Its still far better than Heathrow! All airports are not perfect and in this day and age of increased security and increased volumes of traffic you can expect to encounter problems now and again.

The parking goes from bad to disgusting. There are no charges displayed until you reach a barrier so how on earth are you meant to know what constitutes "short stay" "drop off" "long stay" or whatever they have changed it to this week. The only consistent aspect of this hell hole is scamming its unfortunate customers more every day. Cars now park on the roads around the airport causing more congestion. The downstairs lounge stinks. The flight info screen has been out of order for months. Every week the 17.50 Sunday Gatwick flight disappears from the board. There is no way for me to know whether my son's flight has taken off. A vile experience. Avoid.