We've had a similar story last year with friends who came up for a weekend conference.
They ended up having to check all of their bags through as luggage, which were then sent through the conveyor system and dumped on the tarmac where they could then pick them up being air side and carry them to their bird.
At least at Ronaldsway (arrived in a Citation and didn't arrange handling through Manx Flyers) security met us at the information desk and took us airside through the staff entrance bypassing all checks ... ditto at Lydd ... just seems like Blackpool can't quite understand how to treat "Air Crew" when they own the plane themselves
It definitely makes more sense for airfields to have separate GA handling ... and even more so considering the costs they impose on us these days