Birminghamairport Reviews 

Security at 8pm on a Wednesday night was an utter shambles.

Random request by rude staff to remove shoes, tell you that you don't have to take watch off then get stopped and searched because your watch sets the scanner off, tray with laptop and shoes gets diverted into search area, wait ten minutes and he takes it back to the start of the process with no explanation and you start all over again.

Utter shambles.

I am diagnosed with autism, and for the first time found that due to circumstances I had to fly out of Birmingham (usually Manchester who are amazing). I had contacted Jet2 in advance to notify them that I may need a little assistance due to my neurodivergence. Most of the time I am fine, but as with a lot of autistic people, if something is new and I can’t plan what I need to do, I just need a little help with where to go and what to do, especially if there are going to be crowds of people where I can get sensory overload.
I arrived at Birmingham airport and went to the Jet2 check in (wearing my sunflower lanyard), and the staff there were more than helpful and explained where to go and what to do. I then went through to the initial security desk using the assistance lane ( which actually has a sunflower on it) and again the gentleman on the desk was very polite and helpful. Unfortunately after that is where the problem occurred! Immediately after the desk was another man who was directing passengers to the security scanners, I got to him and said ‘I’m sorry but where do I go next?’ He looked me up and down and looked at my lanyard and with a look of disgust in his face said ‘ where’s your card?’ ‘ you should have a card on your lanyard ?’ I replied ‘I’m really sorry, I’ve registered my neurodivergence with the airline, I just want to know where the assistance lane is?’ Again he looked at me and said, ‘ you haven’t got a card so just join the queue with everyone else!’.
I just want to make the neurodiverse community aware that if you fly from Birmingham make sure you see someone from the airport as well as notifying your airline, even if you only need a little help to get through the airport checks, or hope you don’t come across the same person I did !! And a tip for Birmingham airport, if you are going to advertise your assistance lanes with a sunflower, make sure staff understand what it means. I personally will not y out of there again unless I really really have to.

I fly a lot, I use to use manchester airport but my last 3 visits have being dreadful for many reasons. I wanted to swap!

I tried birmingham and it will now be my go to aiport, everything was super. no problems at all. It was a super experiences, staff where very helpful and even gave me help....

I am very impressed with birmingham airport and if like me you can choose, choose birmingham!

Avoid this airport if you can. It starts with the “drop off area”being a good 15 minute walk to the airport itself. Once there the airport it like an escape room with little clues here and there some are red herrings. minimal signage as you walk through corridor after corridor.
PS. Going through security is torture. Bag after bag is set to the side for searches. Mine was pulled out because of my parking gate remote. This over cautious protocol makes everything move at a snails pace. There is only seating NEAR the gates but not at the gates. I could continue….

The jet2 quick service check in machines of which were many to weigh your baggage etc weren't working, queues started forming so we had to go to the desks. Going through customs there was 1 scanner working
There were 2 people at the counter for your belongings to be put in trays before scanning. As there were long queues I noticed 1 particular member of staff making just women only take off their shoes, not one man had to take off their shoes. One woman in front of me had to take off her sandals and go through barefoot. Absolutely appalling behaviour from the staff. It's the worst airport I've been to.

I am writing to formally complain about the conduct of a member of staff in the security/passport recheck area at Birmingham Airport on 10/05/26 at approximately 7:30am.

I had been instructed to wait at the desk after experiencing an issue scanning my passport twice. A different member of staff had already directed me specifically to that area and told me to go straight there for assistance.

At that point, I was already in the queue and waiting appropriately.

A family who arrived at approximately the same time as me was being dealt with ahead of me. Once they were nearly finished, it became my turn to be attended to. However, the staff member repeatedly instructed me to “go back in the queue” while speaking over me and refusing to listen when I calmly explained that I was already in the queue and had been waiting there as instructed.

The member of staff who had originally directed me there then approached and appeared ready to clarify the situation by explaining that I had already returned after scanning issues with my boarding pass/passport. However, before he could properly explain, the staff member interrupted him and said words to the effect of, “I’ve got this,” effectively dismissing the clarification being provided by his colleague.

I then had to ask other passengers standing behind me to confirm that I had in fact been waiting correctly, and they did confirm this to him. Despite this, the staff member continued to dismiss what I was saying and repeated his instruction again.

The interaction felt unnecessarily confrontational and humiliating. I was spoken to in a dismissive manner throughout and was then accused of being “rude” despite the fact that I was simply trying to explain the situation and be heard.

I even apologised and said, “forgive me if I was rude,” in an attempt to de-escalate the situation, despite feeling that I had been treated unfairly from the beginning. Rather than calming the situation professionally, the staff member continued with an unnecessarily patronising attitude.

He then asked what time my flight was and, after I explained it was in one hour, responded dismissively by saying, “you’ve got time,” despite the fact that passengers can and do miss flights due to delays and confusion in security areas.

What concerns me most is not simply the delay itself, but the manner in which I was treated: being ignored, repeatedly spoken over, publicly dismissed in front of other passengers, and then accused of misconduct when I was attempting to clarify the situation respectfully.

The incident had a significant emotional impact on me. Being repeatedly dismissed and spoken over in front of other passengers was deeply humiliating and left me feeling embarrassed, powerless, and emotionally drained for the remainder of my journey. I found the interaction genuinely upsetting, particularly because I was already in a stressful airport environment and was trying to cooperate throughout.

I also feel the way I was treated negatively affected my confidence and self-esteem. Being made to feel as though I had done something wrong, despite following instructions and remaining respectful, was degrading and unnecessary. No passenger should be made to feel publicly belittled while simply trying to navigate airport security correctly.

I would like this incident to be formally reviewed, including any available CCTV footage from the relevant security area at the stated time. I would also appreciate confirmation that this complaint has been logged and investigated appropriately.

Passengers should expect to be treated with professionalism, fairness, and basic respect, particularly in already stressful airport security situations.

More information about the person who treated me unfairly: I don't know his name but he was black, slim, and had dreads/braids.

Overall the actual airport and its convenient location is not too bad. However on multiple occasions we have now experienced unacceptable security delays.
These were quite rife during the major upgrades that were taking place to these areas some time ago, and whilst these were still very frustrating and annoying the situation then was understood and accepted. However, 57 minutes in a queue to get to one of only two operational scanners [out of the eight that could have been manned in the departure hall] is totally unacceptable for the volume of passengers present, particularly when the airport will have very good estimated daily figures that will be well known in advance]
Clearly this has been an operational choice by the airport to do this - and why not, lets keep costs down at the expense of all the passengers that have no choice.
This will certainly influence decisions to use this airport in the future.

Possibly the worst airport in the uk. From dropping off to security just a mess. Been lucky recently to fly from Heathrow, JFK, Charles de Galle and Gran Canaria all of which are quick and efficient. Queued for security for over an hour and a half, expensive drop off or walk for 10 mins. Whoever is in charge needs sacking

The process through the Jet2 security was appalling. Treated like convicts and literally told off when pushing a tray forward on the belt when not offered any guidance. From then the staff member was blunt and very rude. The staff in duty free stand around talking amongst themselves offering no assistance until interrupted. Do the staff not want to work here as that is how it seems. Terrible customer service all round.

Landed at Birmingham Airport on Thursday afternoon after a long flight from Australia we had a good flight and a well deserved relaxing holiday, until we got to Birmingham Airport then reality hit. The queue to passport control was ridiculous it took ages to get through and when we finally arrived at the so called new scanner for our passport checks it didn’t work so I was told to get assistance which I did, she told me to try again but to no avail I said the new machines are not working properly as I have travelled half way around the world and with no issues until I get here, she then said rudely you are getting on my nerves you will have to get in the queue to get your passport manually checked. I did that and by the time we collected our baggage I was so stressed out I didn’t feel like I had been away. I think it’s disgusting how the staff treat people with a rude and dismissive attitude. I have come to the decision that my wife and I shall not be using Birmingham Airport ever again and they need to see how other airports around the world operate, I.E Dubai which is a huge airport the staff are friendly helpful and the system works. Sorry Birmingham Airport but if that’s how you operate you should be ashamed.

This is based on other airports in the UK.
No1 it's nice they have a greggs - not because I particularly like greggs, it's nice that it's not £15 for a sarnie and drink, regular prices.
Getting through the airport was straight forward 35 minutes from bag drop off to through security, not sure why so many bad reviews.
Coming home we had to wait about 15 mins to get to passport officer, but I've been through Manchester and waited an hour and a half, so to me this was fab.
It's easy to access, it's got some good flights and not an aggro to go through, couldn't ask for much more.

The staff for the place where checking people in and people have to put the metal things belt and bags in the basket are so rude never use polite words or respect to people .never have seen such rude staff in any other airports..they say we have a sensitive jub that's why we insult people.it's a shame for such Illusionist people..

I booked assisted travel for my friend and I was his helper and we were very impressed with the help offered. At the desk he was checked in and the assistant asked 'How can we assist you today?' We replied that I was the helper would take him to the gate and could we go a smoothy as possible. He was given an Assistance Lanyard which allowed 'Fast Track' and priority boarding.
Excellent Service

Attended Birmingham airport to pick up my mum and sister on Thursday 16th April at about 8.50pm. Heading to car park behind the airport a newish vehicle 25 registration over took us, it was roughly driven at high speed round the bend of the road in the outer lane. When we passed the airport car wash just a few seconds behind a lad who looked like a worker was parking the vehicle up for a valet or wash. I thought to myself some poor traveller has left behind there possessions using car parking facilities. I was and still am shocked and disgraced what I witnessed.

Potentially the worst airport experience I’ve ever had.
I have flown hundreds of times in my life and I have never encountered such rude security staff.
They were aggressive, dismissive, and demanding.
As a teenage girl, I felt vulnerable and unsafe, particularly by an older female member of staff, whom I identified as deliberately singling me out.
I still am confused by what I experienced, but the next time I visit my boyfriend I will not be flying from this airport again.
If you are a teenage girl and do not wish to be subject to unnecessary checks, borderline strip searches, and bullying, do not come to this airport.

Try your best not to fly to/ from here.

We spent over two hours to check in bags and go through the line at security with our toddler for departure.

When we arrived, we were led through multiple corridors to baggage collection. Queues of people from multiple flights collecting baggage, absolute chaos.

The worst part was the large clock still said the time before they went forward weeks ago. Thousands of passengers and the main clock doesn’t even have the correct time! Holes in the walls, wires hanging from the ceiling and half the ceiling missing. Absolutely terrible for a first impression of people travelling to the UK.

Oh my goodness, Birmingham Airport is utterly dreadful. I would give it no stars if it would let me. One of the worst experiences of my life and that's saying something! How frightening and embarrassing to think that this is our second city's airport. We arrived via the train station to be confronted by very long queues waiting to board the monorail link to the airport. Only one train was operating! Chaotic queueing and endless building work when we got there. No logic to the systems they have put in place for handling such a large number of passengers travelling. We queued for hours to go through security, people were on the verge of hysteria because they thought they were going to miss their flights. The staff were rude and surly and who ever is in charge should be utterly ashamed of themselves. If they think this is an acceptable way to run an efficient airport they need to be retrained or sacked! We have used this airport for several years and it has gradually got worse and worse until it currently resembles a shambolic building site. Please sort it out because it is such a dreadful advert for our country and a deeply traumatic experience for airport customers.

Lone delays getting through security, over 1 hour stood queuing in poorly air conditioned rooms. It’s been appalling for over 5 years so has nothing to do with the structural changes they are making to the airport. Avoid if possible

Recently travelled through Birmingham Airport and the security queues were terrible. Allow an extra one hour minimum! The first queue is to join a queue for one of 4 high capacity elevators to transit one level to join the next security queue. The staff seem to care very little about the mass delays. The biometric and electronic passport scans are super sensitive and take ages. That’s all before the physical body scans and x-ray hand luggage checks. A real nightmare. We all understand security is important but if you live near Birmingham Airport, my advice is fly from Manchester instead.