Birmingham Airport Delays on Departure

[peteb]

Social media today show long queues again stretching out of the airport, people waiting to go through security.

Is this due to the new system requiring everyone to use a lift from ground to first floor where security is located?

Aren't there escalators and or stairs anymore?

 

[Belperpete]

The last time I went there, there was no circulation area on the upper floor before the security and screening, so the queue stretched back down the escalator and out the building on the ground floor. The escalator was switched off, as otherwise it would just have been pushing ever more people upstairs. I suspect that the queue configuration changes depending on what areas are blocked off by the building work at any given time.

 

[westv]

All seems a bit farcical to me. Airport issues or airlines cramming too many flights at the same time?

 

[Belperpete]

Major building work at the airport, leading to large part of the airport building being out of use. Don't think Birmingham has the space to build a completely new terminal, so are having to improve the existing - which will inevitably mean disruption.

 

[blue87]

The only way to the security entrance at present is via lifts from the ground floor, even if you come on the monorail from the railway station which brings you out by the entrance to security they now send you downstairs in the lift to join the queue for the lift back up.

 

[Andy Pacer]

Seems to have got steadily worse over the past year or so, must be very confusing for passengers who are unfamiliar with the airport.

 

[Belperpete]

Seems to have got steadily worse over the past year or so, must be very confusing for passengers who are unfamiliar with the airport.

It was confusing for me, and I was familiar with the airport!

 

[peteb]

It's true each time I've visited this year the route has changed.

By the way forget fast track. They now walk down the queues trying to find people whose flights are imminent. They then allow these people to push in at the front of the fast track queue which in turn is delayed. On the last occasion I was asked to allow someone to push in front of me just before the tray went on the conveyor "or they'll miss their plane". They didn't and luckily neither did I, they were on the same plane as me!

Early morning is particularly bad, there's often holiday flights to eg: Montego Bay, which have literally three hundred plus passengers all converging on security at about the same time.

I used to think anytime between 11am and 1pm was quieter but after my last hour in the fast track queue I'm now not so sure.

 

[WestCoast]

Sounds dreadful, used to use Birmingham regularly and it was usually rather stress free.

Even Manchester which was a hotspot for this sort of thing is now claiming to have most passengers queuing for less than 15 minutes, so perhaps Birmingham will be bottom of the rankings this year.

 

[Belperpete]

Sounds dreadful, used to use Birmingham regularly and it was usually rather stress free.

Agreed. A big shame, Birmingham used to be my preferred airport, certainly better than any of the London airports. Hopefully it will be back to normal once the building work is finished.

 

[peteb]

Just been through security at BHX. Arrived at back of queue 0920am. By 1005am we were through. But queue was about 15 minutes (120 more people) longer by the time we got to the front of it.

There is no need for such a wait, however, as there are 7 security machines/conveyor belts yet only 2 were in use, and one of those was for fast track.

I guess BHX considers it sufficient and a 45 minute queue standing and shuffling is ok?

Personally I will continue to use BHX but until they staff the security adequately it's the lack of machines in use rather than the building works which are causing the delays. (There was direct access off the people mover from International station and just a longer walk to the cafes etc once through security).

Maybe someone (press) will invite the CEO to comment?

 

[nap666]

Arrived 04:30 for 07:15 flight today checked in and through security by 05:15 Jet2 now has route to security from zone A, no need to go out to tent and use lift

 

[peteb]

Arrived 04:30 for 07:15 flight today checked in and through security by 05:15 Jet2 now has route to security from zone A, no need to go out to tent and use lift

Interesting, I flew with Jet2 last week, so these must be new arrangements!

 

[nap666]

Interesting, I flew with Jet2 last week, so these must be new arrangements!

Was told it was a new route, it seemed to use parts of the old security route. I spoke to a duty manager in the security area, they said there will have another stairway in a few weeks as well.

 

[Butts]

I was there last week flying out at 7pm to Glasgow and although I'd purchased Fast Track the queue was minimal at 4.30pm when I went through.

Seems the main problems are early doors.

 

[peteb]

Yes, my experiences with queues is usually bad in the early morning. They have loads of flights all with very similar departure times which obviously leads to everyone arriving at the same time!