Recent PAX @ BHX opinion
Changing tack on the thread, used the airport as PAX 4 times in the last 6 weeks back and forth to ALC - so (for what its worth) an update on my latest observations and findings.
The work is ongoing in departures.... Ranging from the mess at security to the mess at the far end of the departure lounge. the entry area is fine and duty free is quite nice and open. But because of the work it gets darker and dingier the further down you get towards where the soft shoe co, and other were based. Until it is finshed the area is quite small and cramped, not a nice place to be really.
Most people end up congragating around the new bar (which is very nice) and the duty free - just to have a bit of light, I think my grump is that it is all taking so long - this "only" a shopfittng excercise after all.
Not sure how they are going to do it but it needs a light and airly feel that many contemporary departure areas have (Luton is MUCH better)
The security area into departure is being slooooowly made ready for opening in May and it wont be a moment too soon. Its really awful and slow and very tortuous.
I understand there will be 5 or 6 input lanes which will help enourmously. At the moment you almost have to walk to T2 to get in !
Inbound immigration is finished but it baffles me how / why it is now slower than before, The serpentine queue to get through can take an age, There NEVER seems to be any planning as to what flights are coming in - I think that has been previously mentioned - is it just happenstance as to how many people are on the desks ? There are definately more people standing watching the process and at the desk behind than actually looking at passports. The other Sat am as I walking to my gate they were actually queing out of the aircraft airbridge exit gate towards the escalators !!! - My estmate is that it would take at leat 40 minutes to get throught BEFORE waiting for your luggage!
My big worry is that immigration inbound is now the slowest achilles heel of the place. I dont undestand how this "improvement" can slow the exit process down so much. It not subject to any more work or imporvements so this is how its going to be (gulp)
The IRIS system is working and now I have registered perhaps I can escape quicker until everyone else cottons on !
Overall - they have a plan and it may be quite good when finished, but oh so slow.