Prestwick Airport, what a joke!

[G-AMMY]

Glasgow Prestwick International Airport is an absolute disgrace.
The facilities are poor, the terminal is grotty and the toilets........i'll leave that to your imagination. No wonder they can't attract other scheduled airlines other than the locos.
What are other peoples views on Prestwick?

G-AMMY

[wangi]

Never heard the saying "fit for purpose"?

L.

[Scottish Flyer]

I must disagree strongly. The 1960's terminal does suffer from being of such a design that makes upgrading very diffiicult - the departure lounge was deliberately "sunk" below apron level to reduce noise level from the 707's and DC-8's operating then. Much has been achieved though in a very short time and the airport's owners are aware that there is still a lot to do. As passenger figures continue to rise (the 2 million mark should be rached in the next 2 months) facilities will be improved. I have used Prestwick regularly (12 times in the last year) and what makes it special for me is the friendliness of the staff and the efficiency of the whole operation. I have never had to wait more than a few minutes for my baggage to be delivered and sometimes it has been on the carousel before I have reached it. I can be out of the airport and on the road within 10 minutes of arrival - I have even achieved this when I have picked up a hire car as well.
As for the toilets - yes they could be better but I have seen much, much worse. I will refrain from naming and shaming other UK airports toilet facilities.

[WHBM]

I will refrain from naming and shaming other UK airports toilet facilities.

I won't !

One of the worst terminals for toilets has to be the main terminal at Stansted, you know, the one that won all the architectural awards before the design problems became known.

The basic concept was a huge open internal area that could have all the various facilities erected and changed inside in what are effectively a series of portakabins that can be plugged in and out as required and as needs change. A laudable basic concept. But how do you ventilate the toilet modules effectively in such a structure ? With difficulty. So there is the pervading smell which gets out of the toilet units themselves and into the surrounding corridors and areas. Most unappealing.

This is all basic stuff from Architecture School Year 1 which the grandiose overall plan appears to have forgotten. If aircraft designers had the same lack of grasp of basic aerodynamics we would never get off the ground !

By coincidence another low cost base (although I have to say not a low cost building)

[Runway 31]

I am afraid that the joke here is a feeble minded spotter supporter of the other Glasgow Airport who feels the need the attack an enterprising growing business competitor in another of the my ones bigger, better than yours, arguments.

I agree with the sentiments of Scottish Flyer, the terminal while not being the biggest or the best, serves its purpose and improvements have and are being made with more to come.

Unfortunately Prestwick is not bankrolled by BAA using profits made in the south east of England but money is being spent from the profits being made by Prestwick from the current operations. These profits are being made from an airport which started from nothing with next to no passengers and is clawing its way up in the business.

More power to the small guy.

[G-AMMY]

Runway31,

feeble minded spotter supporter of the other Glasgow Airport

Ha ha ha ha....... runway31, you could not be further from the truth.

Does it make you feel big when you insult other people?
Everyone is entitled to have their own views and in my opinion Prestwick is a disgrace.

G-AMMY :D

[james170969]

I agree that Prestwick Airport needs upgrading badly and that the toilets are a bit "grotty" but, I have seen a heck of a lot worse. I wouldn't let that stop me from using Prestwick not when I can fly to Charleroi for £21 as I did two weeks ago, or Gerona for £14. Also, the new catering facilities leave a lot to be desired. It's expensive and not the best of food and drink.

[Runway 31]

I agree with what was said about the catering facilities. I used it the other week and it was not the best. Incidentally the same company have an outlet within the domestic departures at Birmingham and it is the same fare.

I would also state that if you don't like something don't use it. It's your money so it's your choice.

[Findo]

I use PIK very regularly. I have absolutely no objections to the facilities and appreciate the upgrading that has been done as the passenger numbers have risen.

I am far more impressed with the very quick baggage delivery and ability to check in and be on the flight in minimum time.

Instead of building a glorified shed and calling it termial 2, PIK have chosen to target their spending on getting airlines to open new routes never before served from Scotland. Following on from that the passenger numbers have risen and the ability to generate cash has allowed plans to be brought forward for reasonable upgrading.

[Globe34]

I have travelled through Prestwick twice and it was chaos! On my 1st trip I had to wait 30 minutes to check-in for my flight and again when I travelled recently I had to wait 50 minutes. The queues were horrendous. The facilities were poor, and the toilets were dirty.

When I arrived back into the airport I had to wait for over 1 hour for my luggage to arrive and furthermore there was not a trolley in sight. It certainly doesn't create a good image to tourists visiting Scotland.

Prestwick advertise that their airport is quick and hassle free. What a lie!

[BALIX]

As a bus stop it is second to none ;)

Grotty terminal? So what. All I want to do in it is check in and get on the plane, or get off the plane, collect my bags and get the hell out of the place. It fulfills those purposes admirably.

So Gammy, give us an example of an airport that is not an 'absolute disgrace'. :confused:

[G-AMMY]

BALIX,

So Gammy, give us an example of an airport that is not an 'absolute disgrace
Well........ my personal favourite is Palm Springs, California.
What has that question got to do with this discussion?

G-AMMY

[Phil Dubai]

Findo says" Instead of building a glorified shed and calling it terminal 2". Whats this thread got to do with having a go at the real Glasgow Airport? PIK is a 70s style disaster zone, with one airline calling the shots. Really and truly its interior is a disgrace!

[Runway 31]

G-AMMY

Concentrate on the main bit here as you were using the toilets at Prestwick I assume you were using it as a passenger. Was your flight on time and was the price paid for your flight agreeable to you.

As I said money is being spent on the facilities but when you are starting from nothing as was the case at Prestwick after years of neglect by BAA it takes time to get everything in shape. The facilities at Prestwick are improving and while sometimes things go wrong they learn from them. Show me an airport anywhere in the world that does not have long queues.

I am afraid that starting with the title, the thread has degenerated into an my airports better than your airport argument that does no one any good. When you look at where respondants come from it shows the polarised views which will not change. Obviously people from Glasgow and Renfrewshire will support their airport and people from the Prestwick area will support theirs.

I like Prestwick and have done for 40 odd years and will do so for a while yet. The range of flights from here suit me at a price that suits me so I will continue to use it but if I can get a better flight at a better price from anywhere else in Scotland then being a mean Scottish git I will go there.

Power to your pocket. If you don't like something don't buy it or use it, no one forces you to.

[Globe34]

Runway 31

The initial post is about the airport and NOT about the cost of airline tickets and the punctuality of the airlines using Prestwick.

You obviously like travelling through an airport that is tatty and grotty!

[G-AMMY]

Runway31,

I assume you were using it as a passenger. Was your flight on time and was the price paid for your flight agreeable to you
No, I am not a passenger. Furthermore, in all the airports that I have visited in my life, I have never witnessed such a shambolic operation!

Out of interest, why do you think that Prestwick can not attract other major Scheduled carriers?

G-AMMY

[Runway 31]

Hi Globe 34,

I don't think that the airport is tatty and grotty.

What I would ask though is what was the response from the customer services following your complaints if you made them, regarding your view of the facilities provided.

If you have not complained it is not to late as you can use the contact us section of the airport website. I am sure that they would welcome any comments good or bad.

[Scottish Flyer]

I am saddened by some of the postings on this topic that seem to be bent on a personal attack on Prestwick. All the criticisms against Prestwick could also be directed against almost any other airport at some time or another. As for "never experienced queues quite like Prestwick" I can only assume that this was a bad day as I have used Prestwick something like 60 times in recent years and never had such an experience. Try Terminal 2 at Heathrow early on a Saturday morning where I have stood in a check-in queue twice in the past year for well over one hour! I could give many other examples. I am not biased as I have also used Glasgow Airport over 100 times and live nowhere near either. Give Prestwick a chance - I like it as it is much more personal than Glasgow and usually very efficient. Like all airports - it can fail sometimes. As I pointed out before, the main drawback is a 1960's terminal design which is difficult to upgrade. With growth rates currently of 30% plus it is hard for an airport to expand its facilities fast enough. I am sure it will come and in a few years time the terminal will be much improved. Give Prestwick a chance.

[Bigscotdaddy]

I've used Preswick recently, and maybe I was lucky, but there were very small queues, and I was checked in within about 10 minutes.

I seem to remember that they used to advertise that if your check-in took more than so many minutes, you would be automatically given compensation.

The terminal is of course old fashioned, but it still does the job reasonably well.

The comment about the reason other operators are not using Prestwick due to the state of the Terminal simply doesn't hold water! Airlines operate on a purely commercial basis, and if an Airline were depending on connecting passengers for much of it's business, it would, of course, use Glasgow or Edinburgh.

I personally operate out of Glasgow, and have no personal axe to grind on this subject

[sparkymarky]

I like travelling through Prestwick. Never seen big queues there and the baggage is usually on the carousel within 10 minutes of disembarking.

Once its collected I can be on the road home (or in the train station) in about 5 minutes.

The facilities are dated but as other posters have commented, the growth rate is so high it must be difficult to keep up, and improvements are being made.

[Eric T Cartman]

Don’t rise to the “Bash Prestwick “ bait again people ! Remember Danny’s warning : -
As these are anonymous forums the origins of the contributions may be opposite to what may be apparent. In fact the press may use it, or the unscrupulous, to elicit certain reactions.

@ G=AMMY
I did a search on your posts out of interest – not exactly an impartial commentator to kick off this thread are you ? LOL

Some examples :-

Topic: Ryanair Taxi Tactics
posted 8th March 2003 20:52
I know what you mean! Do airside speed limits not apply to some pilots? Also, quite often I see a lot of pilots not even following the taxiway centre-line markings and cutting corners just so that they get on stand sooner.

posted 8th April 2003 05:19
As a Ryanair dispatcher the rule is………………
--------------------------------------------------
posted 9th April 2003 23:26
…………….. G-AMMY is an experienced Ryanair Dispatcher and was Dispatcher of the month!!
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posted 28th December 2003 07:04
…………I live in Glasgow……………….

By deduction then, G-AMMY, you work at Prestwick – are you really a Ryanair Dispatcher or an employee of PIK dispatching Ryanair aircraft – as they say in Private Eye, “I think we should be told!” . In any case , have you made your concerns known to the Chief Pilot or your Supervisor – no ? Thought not !
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posted 3rd March 2004 23:31
……..but its only for a University project…………….

OK – this narrows your ID down a bit ! ;-)
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posted 26th March 2004 13:49
…………..Ha ha ha ha....... runway31, you could not be further from the truth.

Does it make you feel big when you insult other people?
Everyone is entitled to have their own views and in my opinion Prestwick is a disgrace.

--------------------------------------
On 1st September 2003 05:04 you posted ………. BAe 146-100
Where do you get your info from?
You seem to think that you know everything! ………………

Doesn’t tie in very well with your comment above does it ?

posted 27th March 2004 11:39
……………………No, I am not a passenger. Furthermore, in all the airports that I have visited in my life, I have never witnessed such a shambolic operation!

Out of interest, why do you think that Prestwick can not attract other major Scheduled carriers?
---------------------------------

OK – 1) I’ve spent 4 hours stuck in a DC10 on the apron @ KBOS – that’s what I call shambolic
2) Have you made your feelings known to PIK Management so they can take remedial action if required ?

3) Perhaps you would enlighten us with your wisdom and tell us why Prestwick can not attract other major Scheduled carriers? I’m sure Mr.Wilson is dying to hear your solution !! [Mind you, as the airport had a record 133,948 pax in January, obviously the lavvies cannae be that bad !! ]

[G-AMMY]

Eric T Cartman,

The purpose of this discussion was to highlight the clearly outdated facilities at Prestwick.
What are other peoples views on Prestwick?
Everyone has the right to their own opinion and I was looking for general thoughts and opinions on the services and facilities available at Prestwick.

G-AMMY
(By the way, I worked in Dublin for Ryanair for a short period and now work at Edinburgh Airport)

[Eric T Cartman]

G-AMMY
"The purpose of this discussion was to highlight the clearly outdated facilities at Prestwick."
==============================
Why pick on Prestwick ? If you are at Edinburgh, why not make it your mission to highlight the clearly outdated transport facilities there and Glasgow too , for that matter ? They still don't have a railway station at their Airports - Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester do - & guess what - so does Prestwick.....
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Everyone has the right to their own opinion and I was looking for general thoughts and opinions on the services and facilities available at Prestwick."
==============================
Same question - why the interest in Prestwick ? - & when you have those opinions , what will you do about it ?

[G-AMMY]

Eric T Cartman,

I see what you are saying. I visited Prestwick last week while dropping a friend off and I was a little surprised when I saw the condition of the airport terminal inside. If I was a passenger, I suppose that I would see the airport in a different light as I would be there for a different reason. I will try and travel from Prestwick in the near future and see if my views change.

G-AMMY

[Eric T Cartman]

@ G-AMMY

Good onya' ;) :ok:

[kpiko3]

g-ammy,

You and the rest of us kow that BAA dumped Prestwick back then.New owners took over, now do you realy expect them to have the money at the moment to upgrade it to your qaulities?
Put it this way, Prestwick can get you where you want to go and when you want to go,who cares about the facilities.As far as I am concerned PIK is doing fine and the facilities are fine at the moment.

About major airlines, BWIA certainly were not put off by the facilities.If I remember right they filed for permission to fly to PIK.
kpiko3

[G-AMMY]

Kris,

It would still be nice to hear opinions from passengers that use the airport frequently. I think that your views are biased slightly (along with many others in this thread) due to the fact that you are an aviaion enthusiast, who lives in Prestwick and of course you will support your local airport.

G-AMMY

Some interesting views from passengers on www.airlinequality.com (http://www.airlinequality.com)

[Findo]

You are right GAMMY. Here is the last posting on Prestwick. He presumably didn't try to access the observation terrace which is currently closed but otherwise he seems satisfied.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport by John Crockett

20 February 2004

I have recently used the much underused and underated other International Airport of Glasgow at Prestwick. Although the airport is about 30miles from Glasgow the access is trouble free and reliable in the form of a train service and motorway both leading to Glasgow. It may be a bit of extra hassle getting to airport but while other airports may be suffering ice and snow it is a good bet that the runway at Prestwick will be open due to it's mild micro climate. The airport is mainly used by Ryanair and charter aircraft. The airport is under private ownership and not BAA like most other UK airports. The interior of the airport is old but it is efficient, no crowds and every process from checking in to boarding is hassle free. There are bars and restaurants and even an observation balcony. All in all quite pleasant and much under utilsed by the major carriers.

[BALIX]

Well........ my personal favourite is Palm Springs, California.

I asked the question Gammy as it is always interesting to make comparisons. Alas, I've no experience of Palm Springs.

The truth of the matter is that in my experience virtually all airports are a bit grotty. It is all down to the problem of letting Joe Public use them. Prestwick is by no means perfect though it is better than it was. It does not, however, deserve to be singled out and certainly does not warrant the word 'disgrace'.

I use both PIK and GLA a fair bit and had fewer 'bad' experiences at PIK. One example last year at a temporary cafe at GLA was particularly bad but I wouldn't completely slag off Glasgow on the back of it as you seem to have done based on one bad Prestwick experience.

[goatface]

Over the last year I have become a frequent user of Prestwick as a passenger (twice a week on average) for business reasons.
Its location is not as close to Glasgow Airport as to where I need to be, but it's a lot cheaper to fly into, and a lot quicker to get to and from than Glasgow.

Admittedly, it's decor and infrastructure is beginning to compete with Dublin Airport for that "worn and well used" look, but it's functional and there are very rarely any significant delays.
I fully understand that airports are, by their very nature, very expensive beasts to run, and if you are reliant on low cost airlines to provide a substantial slice of your income, you can't afford to make major investments/improvements without very careful planning.

The big advantage of Prestwick Airport is, although it's not pretty, in a month of flying in and out of there, I probably spend less time in the terminal than I do in 5 days at Stansted, and that to me, is a big plus factor.

[GroupCaptain]

Whilst I don't frequent websites to do with railway stations at all, I'd be a bit surprised to read similar stuff about them if they did exist (railway station websites that is). The point of an airport is to allow the safe and efficient embarkation / disembarkation to / from aircraft. Is that not what PIK does? In these days of low cost, taking the plane is like / better than taking the train; why would there be an expectation that the airport should be so much better than a railway station - after all, the fare charged for air travel is often lower than that for rail.

[kpiko3]

G-ammy,

Yes I do live in Prestwick and I like to stick up for my local airport, but I dont think the airport deserves to get called a disgrace as you put it.

Its doing well at the moment and hopefully once the airport starts getting lots more pax through it will have done enough to generate the cash needed to upgrade facilities e.g toilets,terminal.........

Kpiko3