East Midlands Airport - our opinion after very recent use...
Our flights arrived and departed on time, which is the prime function of an airline and airport, but our problems started as soon as we stepped off the aircraft and were repeated on our departure.
The basic problem is that this previously small airport is punching way above its weight and appears to exist only to fleece the public while making them jump over hoops and walk round in circles. On arrival we had to negotiate maze-like crowded open walk-ways for 20 minutes before arriving with 200/300 others at the cattle-crush of passport control which was under-manned. Our son, who met us, was surprised to be charged £3 just for picking us up, but said that that was common these days. He also said that access off the M1 was complicated and very busy.
On departure we checked in through an automatic turnstile and were processed very efficiently through security. Then we had no choice but to fight our way through a vast, noisy, in-your-face commercial market-place, which was badly sign-posted. We exited it irritated and frustrated. But our problems were not over. The huge disjointed gate area was fortunately empty, very long, narrow and austere and split into two parts with 24 exit gates. We took our chances and sat at gate 11. Our flight was called 40 minutes or so before departure and we joined a steeple-chase back to gate 1 and fought our way through queues of other departing passengers. Our passports and boarding passes were checked and we then joined a scrum in the open air for the plane 10 minutes away - and we were priority passengers. If it had been raining it would have been a complete disaster, so perhaps we were lucky. There were transit coaches around but they were not being used.
Overall, our journey worked out well but our experience of the airport itself was not a good one. As emergency measures the airport needs to install much clearer signage and awning cover over the extensive outside walkways. At present the whole place is an obstacle course which exists only to squeeze as many people through as possible while extracting as much cash out of them in the process - £1.99 for a small bottle of water and £4.50 for a tiny pork pie! But to end on a positive note, the staff were very friendly and helpful, the seats were comfortable and the toilets were clean. It was just a pity that the whole airport did not live up to the standards of their toilets!