The one thing SOU has is the train station and decent road links - BOH has neither, the airport is approached by a country lane and continues to shaft its passengers by charging them a drop off/pick up fee which is not only a rip off but obstructive in my view to airport development and easy access which imho is off putting and crass.
BOH could usurp SOU in getting rid of this drop charge.

I would say at this time with no mainline carriers at BOH that a Lounge would benefit.
Would the likes of FR and TOM pax pay for Lounge access?
Some maybe would as a treat for their Hols but I doubt it would be taken up by that many to be viable.
I would say the airport needs to sort out its infrastructure, car parks etc rather than toy with vanity projects.

Re the BOH-SSH canx flights - I recall was this was the first season to fly there from BOH to Egypt? but sadly coincided with the effects of the Revolution and the downfall of the successive MBH Govt.
Since the MetroJet crash no SSH flights from the UK at all.

Likewise Bristol has neither to speak of also, so although desirable to have, not essential it seems.

Think you'll find the drop off charge for 30mins at SOU is in fact more than at BOH anyway.

Thanks - I have only used the train at SOU which is a superb link as long as SWR is running (but not very well today!)

You are correct the drop off fees at Southampton are £2 up to 15 mins, £3.50 for 15-30mins & £5.50 for 30mins to an hour :o ! Although you can get free drop off in the long stay car parks up to 30 mins, it's more of a distance to the terminal. So people saying they'd rather go to Southampton over BOH's £3 are going to lose money (especially with the extra fuel cost and hassle getting onto the often congested M27...). It's a no brainer to go via Bournemouth.

Both Bristol and Southampton offer viable alternatives (public transport!!!!) to paying a drop off fee. Bournemouth doesn't, therefore the drop off fee is effectively unavoidable and people feel more ripped off

Bristol''s "viable" option is no different to Bournemouth''s.....train to town centre, then bus shuttle to the Airport, it's also actually a quicker transfer than Bristol''s option as well.

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Bournemouth Station > Bournemouth Airport = 45 minute journey, one bus every two hours
Bristol TM Station > Bristol Airport = 25 minute journey, one bus every 10 minutes

Not sure how you can claim that BOH is better

Because a few new/returning routes have been announced and all of a sudden its the best thing since sliced bread in certain peoples eyes! True BOU has things going for it but also will never compete with BRS & SOU on others!

The drop off fee i am afraid was the only thing that helped kept the airport active and substainable when Ryanair suddenly pulled the plug for 3 / 4 months during the winter period a few years ago now

There were days when there were no flights at all . Of course its not a perfect situation charging to drop customers off i absoultly agree on that one , but the airport has to make money its not a charity for Mother Teressa , and has bills to pay like every UK airport thses days
Who knows , if more flights and revenue come in then it could be possible they drop the charge a little ( it wont go away , thats for sure )
The airport is not blessed with transport links , never has been , and i would imagine the bus service is the next item to be looked at hopefully !!

Regarding the Sharm flights they started back in the hey day of summer 2010 with Thomson and did very well , operating throughout winter and summer until end of winter 2013 . The service re started very briefly in winter 2014 but only lasted for a very short season , loads dropped off and that was that

There is a plan which is being actively investigated by BCP council to link up with Chinese investment to develop a monorail between Poole, Bournemouth City Centre (Lansdowne/Interchange area), JP Morgan HQ & RB Hospital, Castlepoint, Bmth Uni and then the Airport (for park & ride & business park). But how soon this can be provided will be the key to unlocking the public transport links the airport really needs.

Given the current passenger throughout, public transport to the airport is not viable. But linking up with a park and ride scheme for the 4,000 staff at JP morgan and the airport business park which employs 2,000 staff, it would start to look more interesting.

This will no doubt turn out to be yet another of Bournemouth Council's fantasy projects that will never materialise. The cost for a route of that length would be astronomical.

Is it April 1st?

They've teamed up with a consultant called Lyle Lanley. He's sold monorails to Brockway, Ogdenville and North Haverbrook, and by gum it put them on the map!

I for one can't wait to see it in action.

Probably when hell freezes over.