Birmingham Airport

MY ADVICE

Avoid whilst the refurbishment is happening

OMG. I usually fly from Heathrow to LA, the Middle East and Russia 🇷🇺 so when my friend said she’d booked us a quick week in the sun leaving from Birmingham and asked me where best to park I couldn’t offer any insight.

FYI the parking was fine. We did the meet and greet with Maple Parking Meet and Greet through Holiday Extras and the people who looked after us and the car were very pleasant and everything went smoothly. Not expensive either about £80 for the week and the most convenient option available. You do have to call them before you arrive at the airport as the time in the drop off zone is limited and this is strict.

The experience in the airport was really grim. Now that may be because it was an early morning slot, unsociable hours flying with Tui (formerly Thompson’s Airlines) my first time.

The security had been moved because of the refurb which caused havoc. The volume of people they were managing seemed far too many for space available. The security rules on liquids had changed so they seemed to be checking more bags than usual rejected by the security system. My bag was unpacked in front of me to check my flip flops they said, something in all my years of travelling has never happened on the outbound flight. Also our jewellery somehow came out of the tray and got lost under the conveyer belt causing frustration for other people in the queue while they stopped everything to retrieve the bracelets. We did get them back.

When we got into duty free it was so hot (no air conditioning) we couldn’t shop and when we got to the Factory Bar and Kitchen, a funny thing that did happen when I ordered the breakfast on the app was the most popular drinks to go with the breakfast, a pint, a gin and tonic, if you wanted a cup of tea that had to be searched for and water was at the bottom of the list. Incidentally if you wanted water you couldn’t buy only one bottle you had to buy two.

the all day Breakfast Brunch offering, paid up front with an hour to spare before boarding but the service was so slow we had to leave our breakfast behind and go to the gate without eating.

A funny thing that did happen when I ordered the breakfast on the app was the most popular drinks to go with the breakfast, a pint, a gin and tonic, if you wanted a cup of tea that had to be searched for and water was at the bottom of the list. Incidentally if you wanted water you couldn’t buy only one bottle you had to buy two.

Only to find last call for our Tui flight wasn’t last call at all, it was done to get the people already enjoying a holiday cocktail out of the pub, and When we left the Factory Bar and Kitchen, Birmingham airport we had to stand in another queue for half an hour whilst they attempted to board the flight.

NEVER AGAIN