Belfast International-2
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
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Having said that, I understand some improvements are on the way. Notably new check in toilets at long last.
Join Date: Apr 2012
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Again,only parts do. Plus, it is only aesthetic and is not gonna generate revenue, whereas retail is and will be a priority. I think they will extend the search area too.
If you take a hypothetical flight. Drop off and check in are fine, as is the front of the terminal (waterfall canopy excepted) for all of the 20 seconds you spend walking in. Escalators to and the search area are fine as functional areas and are bright enough. The cafe areas and main departures area are fresh enough. Lounge at gt 10 is ok with the new floor. Business lounge is also recently refurbed if that is your bag. The outbound intl corridor and the intl lounge are well in need of an upgrade and the stairwells at the gates are poor. Of that journey though the amount of time spent at the old areas is minimal. I think we Northern Ireland folk tend to be a bit critical of our own and are a bit blind to the same issues that occur everywhere else too.
If you take a hypothetical flight. Drop off and check in are fine, as is the front of the terminal (waterfall canopy excepted) for all of the 20 seconds you spend walking in. Escalators to and the search area are fine as functional areas and are bright enough. The cafe areas and main departures area are fresh enough. Lounge at gt 10 is ok with the new floor. Business lounge is also recently refurbed if that is your bag. The outbound intl corridor and the intl lounge are well in need of an upgrade and the stairwells at the gates are poor. Of that journey though the amount of time spent at the old areas is minimal. I think we Northern Ireland folk tend to be a bit critical of our own and are a bit blind to the same issues that occur everywhere else too.
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: UK
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I think the airport is generally fine compared to any other airport. My complaints would be the security nightmare and baggage reclaim. Is the international pier vacant at ground level for part of the length? If so they could move passport control towards the West end of the pier. From here a set of stairs would take you down to a long space with several baggage reclaim belts leading eventually into the current baggage area.
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: N.Ireland
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Flights to Carlisle next year, but which airline? or which Belfast airport?
Carlisle to London for under £100, reveals city airport | News & Star
Carlisle to London for under £100, reveals city airport | News & Star
Not more retail
I don't go to an airport for shopping. Bristol is horrendous - shops prioritised over security until a recent upgrade. You go through security and end up in a mass of shops and have to fight your way to the gate. No wonder they ask you to turn up two hours before for an 0700 departure.
Having worked at BFS for Servisair in the 1980s before the volumes increased and now travelling for business and VFR, I like BFS and BHD. Its pretty easy (at least at the times I fly) to get from the taxi to the departure gate. I haven't used the international pier at BFS so can't comment on that, but the main terminal just needs freshening up, not a massive building programme funded by a shopping centre.
We have lost the plot in this country - airports should be paid for by landing and handling fees and shops should be ancillary for those that want to use them, not part of an IKEA style maze to stop you getting onto the plane.
Having worked at BFS for Servisair in the 1980s before the volumes increased and now travelling for business and VFR, I like BFS and BHD. Its pretty easy (at least at the times I fly) to get from the taxi to the departure gate. I haven't used the international pier at BFS so can't comment on that, but the main terminal just needs freshening up, not a massive building programme funded by a shopping centre.
We have lost the plot in this country - airports should be paid for by landing and handling fees and shops should be ancillary for those that want to use them, not part of an IKEA style maze to stop you getting onto the plane.
An express ticket to bankruptcy for most airports bar the likes of Heathrow. Ryanair would b****r off immediately for a start.
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: UK
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Ryanair Based - Summer 2018
I was looking at the times for the two based Ryanair aircraft for BFS.
And seen there are some gaps in the schedules for both Aircraft.
- Aircraft One that does the Stansted flights has a gap from about 14:15 to about 20:00 everyday.
- Aircraft Two that does the European flights has gaps everyday expect Monday & Friday. Gap is from about 12:00 to about 16:30. And on Tuesday morning there is nothing until the afternoon at about 16:40.
Does anyone think they will add any other UK route to full some of the gaps. Surely EMA or LBA could work by using one of the gaps and then use a non based aircraft in the morning and evening?
And seen there are some gaps in the schedules for both Aircraft.
- Aircraft One that does the Stansted flights has a gap from about 14:15 to about 20:00 everyday.
- Aircraft Two that does the European flights has gaps everyday expect Monday & Friday. Gap is from about 12:00 to about 16:30. And on Tuesday morning there is nothing until the afternoon at about 16:40.
Does anyone think they will add any other UK route to full some of the gaps. Surely EMA or LBA could work by using one of the gaps and then use a non based aircraft in the morning and evening?
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Greater Aldergrove
Age: 52
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Blackfriar,
I have a lot of sympathy with your views. Stansted is the worst I’ve seen recently but Gatwick South isn’t far behind now.
Heathrow T5 is how it should be done. Plenty of shopping for those who want it, but a free flow from security straight into the departure lounge area for those who don’t...that’s what BFS should aspire too, albeit on smaller scale. This forcing of passengers down a yellow brick road of high end tat is an insult!
I have a lot of sympathy with your views. Stansted is the worst I’ve seen recently but Gatwick South isn’t far behind now.
Heathrow T5 is how it should be done. Plenty of shopping for those who want it, but a free flow from security straight into the departure lounge area for those who don’t...that’s what BFS should aspire too, albeit on smaller scale. This forcing of passengers down a yellow brick road of high end tat is an insult!
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
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An insult? Catch a grip. You are a self steering human being who can walk by all the shops if you want to. As has been mentioned above, the airport must do this to supplement the fact that you don't want to pay to fly anywhere either.
BFS should aspire to T5? Holy delusions Batman
BFS should aspire to T5? Holy delusions Batman
Join Date: Aug 2001
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Calm yourself man...and read again, slowly.
On the reference to T5, did you not see the "albeit on a smaller scale" bit? I doubt BFS will ever resemble T5, but I think anyone reading my post with a titter of wit would understand that I was talking about the design philosophy...
And as for the rest of your rant, yes, we're all self steering. But the modern approach to airport shopping treats us like a flock of sheep that need to be herded along a shop-lined avenue, that wends its way in the least direct route possible from security to lounge. By way of illustration, T5 is the exception which lets you go straight to the lounge.
On the reference to T5, did you not see the "albeit on a smaller scale" bit? I doubt BFS will ever resemble T5, but I think anyone reading my post with a titter of wit would understand that I was talking about the design philosophy...
And as for the rest of your rant, yes, we're all self steering. But the modern approach to airport shopping treats us like a flock of sheep that need to be herded along a shop-lined avenue, that wends its way in the least direct route possible from security to lounge. By way of illustration, T5 is the exception which lets you go straight to the lounge.
Last edited by NWSRG; 16th Dec 2017 at 20:48.