BIrmingham airport delays question

elsien

Two of us flying out with Jet2 on 27th June. I am presuming that as it's standard luggage and we have checked in online that we can use the self service bag drop rather than queueing at the check-in desk.
Is anyone able to give an update on how things stand with queues for security at the moment. I'm looking at booking the express security but wasn't sure how far ahead of the flight time to do that as I don't know if there's also going to be queues to get into the building to drop the hold bags off there in the first place?
Words of wisdom from any recent travellers?
Thanks

SiliconChip

It may depend to a large extent on what time your flight is. If it's one of the multitude of flights due to leave at the start of the day it's very likely that it will take you most of 3 hours to get to your gate, part of it waiting to get into the terminal, part to get upstairs to departures, and part to make your way to and through security - I was told that the only part that went smoothly was passport control (this was for an 05:55 flight on 6th June, hand baggage only, not sure how much extra time you'll need for hold luggage). Oh, and don't think you can circumvent any of the queuing by entering on the monorail from Birmingham Internation with the intention of already being upstairs, they make everyone go downstairs to join the back of the queue. 

But someone who went for a 13:15 flight today arrived soon after 08:00, waltzed straight into the building and was through security and airside in less than an hour (and then had a 4 hour wait before the gate opened).

Alan_Bowen

The real problems are first thing in the morning, by 0930 the crowds are at least through into the departure lounge. The problem is not check-in but moving floors to reach security. For no sensible reason they closed the escalators and the stairs leaving only 2 lifts to move everyone from one floor to the next. Jet2 issued advice last Friday that you should arrive three hours before departure, if you have an early morning flight, I am not sure I would leave it much later. If you are travelling later in the day, then 2 hours should be fine. 

elsien

It’s an afternoon flight ETA - gate closes midday. 

Inforapennyinforapound

Spooky that I just found this post. I am flying at 0700 Tues 25th June from B’Ham. I heard today from a relative that somebody said it took them 2-2.5 hours to get through security!

I will try to be there 3-3.5 hours before departure methinks..

Westin

I was there this afternoon elsien and I would say it was mixed. 

I came off the shuttle from the railway station into the new departure security area and it was a mess. People queuing up and down tenser barriers. Hundreds of people.  I took the lift down stairs to the lower level and more passengers were being held on that level queuing post check in. They seemed to have staff holding people back downstairs before allowing them to go up to the security area.  This was all at about 4.30pm.

I went up to the Jet2 check in area, then stopped at Costa in the arrivals area. About 50 minutes later I made my way back to the shuttle for the railway station. Whilst the airport was busy, the queue at security had more or less gone. I could actually see the machines that read your boarding pass before letting you into the security area. 

The airport is a mess at the moment. They have tenser barriers up everywhere. I hope you don’t have problems when you fly out.

TELLIT01

We flew out at 12:40 on Tuesday 4th June and there were no holdups at all when checking in with Jet 2.  We arrived about 9:45 and were in the departure lounge within 15 minutes.  We did have Fast Track security which was a fiver each well spent as the queue for normal baggage check would be about 20 minutes at a guess.  Although we checked in online we just checked bags in as normal.  There were 10 check in desks open!

Neil49

TELLIT01 said:

We flew out at 12:40 on Tuesday 4th June and there were no holdups at all when checking in with Jet 2.  We arrived about 9:45 and were in the departure lounge within 15 minutes.  We did have Fast Track security which was a fiver each well spent as the queue for normal baggage check would be about 20 minutes at a guess.  Although we checked in online we just checked bags in as normal.  There were 10 check in desks open!

The recent problems were added to by the change in restrictions on liquids (which were then reversed) causing big issues in the security area. This occurred after 4th June when you were there. 

elsien

Yes, I believe it's still the 10 items under 100ml back in force again.

Pollycat

TELLIT01 said:

We flew out at 12:40 on Tuesday 4th June and there were no holdups at all when checking in with Jet 2.  We arrived about 9:45 and were in the departure lounge within 15 minutes.  We did have Fast Track security which was a fiver each well spent as the queue for normal baggage check would be about 20 minutes at a guess.  Although we checked in online we just checked bags in as normal.  There were 10 check in desks open!

I think the problem is with queues for early morning flights - 6am onwards.

elsien said:

Yes, I believe it's still the 10 items under 100ml back in force again.

There is confusing information about liquids.
This is from Birmingham Live:

BHX is also issuing daily warnings to passengers urging them to only carry up to 100ml in liquids in their hand luggage to speed up the queuing process. "Do not put them in plastic bags in your hand luggage and do not remove them at security," warned BHX.

Birmingham Airport latest live as passengers issued warning amid travel chaos - Birmingham Live (birminghammail.co.uk)

However, Birmingham Airport website doesn't say anything about not putting liquids in plastic bags:

• Liquids, pastes and gels, up to 100ml should be left in hand luggage during the security search.

Security Advice - Birmingham Airport Website

No wonder people are confused.

Tri2012

We’re travelling at the beginning of August  and would hope the situation is improved 😢🥴😂

I thought jet2 didn’t use the lifts as need to use the stairs or are the stairs now closed as well? 

Fast track looks like no longer available each time I’ve tried to book