Prestwick Airport, what a joke!
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Prestwick Airport, what a joke!
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
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
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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.
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.
I will refrain from naming and shaming other UK airports toilet facilities.
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)
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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.
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.
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Runway31,
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
feeble minded spotter supporter of the other Glasgow Airport
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
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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.
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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.
I would also state that if you don't like something don't use it. It's your money so it's your choice.
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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.
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.
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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!
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!
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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'.
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'.
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BALIX,
Well........ my personal favourite is Palm Springs, California.
What has that question got to do with this discussion?
G-AMMY
So Gammy, give us an example of an airport that is not an 'absolute disgrace
What has that question got to do with this discussion?
G-AMMY
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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!
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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.
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.
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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!
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!
Last edited by Globe34; 27th Mar 2004 at 21:37.
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Runway31,
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
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
Out of interest, why do you think that Prestwick can not attract other major Scheduled carriers?
G-AMMY
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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.
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.
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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.
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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
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
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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.
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.