Somethings are clearly betting this year. Gone are the traffic queues to the terminal which was caused by a single lane drop off area with 4 pedestrian crossings. The new layout works but will move again in a few months time so the queues might or might not come back as submitted plans show the return of pedestrian crossings in the next drop off area although the layout could change.
The exit route works with the additional exit barriers but the buffer zone between the drop off area and the pay barriers will be removed when the pay barriers are moved to inside the ground floor of the new multi-storey. Any tailbacks will block the drop off lanes.
The passenger search area which is causing nightmares at Stansted and Southend seems to be working really well. I have yet to see any queues forming as passengers scan their own boarding cards before disappearing into the search area.
The problem is upstarts with too many people in what is still a small departure area with a new shopping centre attached. Plenty of seats though if you know where to look with most of them located in pier B but passengers wait to be called before heading down a pier.