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Talking Point: UK Airports

Share your views on the UK's airports as we strive to find the best and worst offending airports in the country - You could win travel goodies worth £20.*

The UK’s airports are among the busiest in the world, annually sending millions of travellers on their way, and providing visitors with that all-important first impression of Britain.

Unless of course you drive, sail, or take the train abroad, you have to visit a UK airport if you want to get away – and we want to hear about your experiences and views on the UK’s airports. Whether London Heathrow or Aberdeen, Manchester International or Bournemouth, we want to know about every UK airport.

This is your chance to name and shame the worst offending airports, as well as to praise the ones you think do a good job and deserve some credit. Be it long delays, terrible service, missed flights, or, even perhaps, a relaxed environment and superb customer service, share your views with us now as we attempt to create a comprehensive list of the UK’s best and worst airports.

Join the debate now and share your thoughts on this topic by using the Comment on this Article box below. Remember to sign up for our regular monthly newsletter, too, in order to receive all the best travel deals, inspirational guides and fantastic competitions.

*The prize will be a choice of music CDs, travel book or £20 cash.

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User Comments:
From Timothy Erst
Standsted has to be the worst. Miles to walk between terminals, poor choice of shops and poor links into London (or rather very expensive links!)
From Samantha Grey
I agree, Stansted is absolutely awful. It's almost not worth going on holiday at all if you fly from there, you need a holiday to recover from the crowds and the stress.
From Fred
I find that all the airports have a distinct lack of parking available for pick ups, as if you are more than 10 mins they charge you a small fortune
From Andrew
In all honesty, I really don't think our airports are that bad. I think people always forget just how busy the airports are. If you compare our airports to many that I have been to in other countries there is not really anything to complain about!
From Duncan
The last airport I visited was Aberdeen, and whilst it is quite small and seems to get busy at times the staff were always polite and very helpful.
From Martin Gore
Leeds Bradford - whilst the number of flights has exploded, the departure lounge has not increased in size which makes it hellish with thousands fighting over a minute shop and bar.
From N Wallington
Worst is STANSTED by far.
From Cath
My vote for the worst airport is not British but German. Frankfurt is the pits. Scanning security at the gates prevent you from taking water purchased within the confine of the airport after check in and passport control. Once inside the gate, one cannot find any water. One of life's essentials after air! When I asked about this, I was told there were drinks machines. However these contained only poison such as coke and Fanta NO WATER. How does one keep hydrated I ask?
From Steve Price
Humberside, Doncaster and Leeds are all pretty good. Steer clear of STN at all times
From Pete Gutteridge
Heathrow, closely followed by Gatwick are the worst in the UK and are well below most other international airports including many in the developing world. Chaotic, over crowded, creaking at the seams, queues for everything, too many rude staff and a generally unpleasant experience to use. Funny how the brightest newest facilities always seem to be the shopping malls that we're forced to walk through!
From Phil Nuttall
Stansted without a doubt is the worst, I agree. Miles to walk in some areas, big queues and every time I visit, half the baggage check points are not in use. Closely followed by check in at Southampton which appears to have out grown its check in area.
From Glen
Having used a number of the UK's airports, I think we should be proud of them all - especially compared to those abroad. A number of people lable Gatwick as one of the worst, however, I find the turnaround both inbound and outbound to be excellent on the number of occasions I have passed through. However, if I was to site the airport which is my least favourite, it would have to be Luton. Overpriced short term parking being one of the main gripes!
From SHEILA SHARP
Heathrow is the worst airport - the place is filthy, the staff unpleasant, queues long. In fact, I would choose not to go on holiday rather than use Heathrow.
From Helen
Heathrow. It has to be. Its a zoo; parking is atrocious and the queues are terrible!
From Helen W
I like Newcastle and Manchester airports. No delays so far compared with times I have flown from London airports but that probably has a lot do to with size of airport and number of inbound and outbound tourists.
From Daniel Frith
Birmingham Airport is my local airport and despite some problems in the last few years (loss of BA) it is still far easier to traverse than any of the London Airports. Staff are friendly generally and the New Main Terminal departure lounge looks great. East Midlands is easy and hassle-free too.
From Duncan Pettett
First choice for top UK airport for us is Edinburgh. It has some very good off Airport car parking just 5 minutes away, and one almost right on the M9 Motorway. We like the after security Bars and Resaurants, especially the Seafood Restaurant which has superb food and great views. Also the Courtesy coaches have dedicated stands, so on a wet night we do not have to trek along looking for our coach. Second choice is London Gatwick. It gives good service, and has a great variety of shops, bars, and Restaurants, to while away the time between catching connecting flights, and there are good, cheap hotels to stay overnight.
From Paul Burnell
Gatwick South Terminal is a national disgrace. Especially the facilities for domestic and CI passengers. Timothy Erst please note it is Stansted not Standsted.
From Jenny
I didn't realise this was only about UK airports. Would be much more useful if it covered international ones. If you ever do such an article, I vote hands down for Germany's Frankfurt airport as being horrible for wait times, flight cancellations, delayed flights, long queues, overly zealous security and horrible shops!!By comparison, all UK airports are great!
From Lynne Huffam
Gatwick is by the worst for arrivals back into the UK. The line at immigration is awful.
From noreen
I would definitely vote for Belfast International Airport, compared to mainland UK airports it is much more friendly, less crowded and a pleasure to fly from.
From Kiran
Glasgow Prestwick is without doubt the worst airport in the UK! The only good thing is that it has a direct train line to it. I couldnt say much for anything else though sadly!
From Alistair Macdonald
The best thing that could happen to Aberdeen Airport is for someone to demolish it and start again. The building was built in the 1970s and tries to cope with many times more passengers than it was designed for. There is not enough room at the check in areas; most of the 'dolly daydreams' who check you in take for ever; the queues for security are enormous; the landside shop opens one hour after the first check in; car parking requires a second mortgage; at times they try to board more than one flight from the one gate; the arrivals area is an embarassment - domestic is outside the bar in the main terminal and if more than one flight at a time arrives internationally you can be queued right out of the building. Arriving or departing at Aberdeen Airport can only be described as stressful (and I use this airport on a very regular basis). Oh and finally - there are no air bridges - a major requirement with the Scottish weather!
From Guy Sissons
Top marks to Liverpool John Lennon. Very quick and convenient.
From Alex
When departing from Bournemouth International, I had my hand luggage checked FOUR times and twice by the same person. When I questioned why, I was told if I didn't co-operate I would be held for questioning and miss my flight. Nice people. I now sail.
From Joe
Gatwick, why does it take a minimum of an hour to get your bags when you landed at 1.15am and there were only two other flights at that time? Close that airport!
From Jeremy Jones
I used to travel a lot with my job and unless things have changed I would vote Catania, Sicily to be the worst from those I've experienced. There are almost no facilities for passengers awaiting flights. The snack bar/bar is virtually none existent and seating is just a row of plastic seats - don't arrive too early !
From Sarah
I agree with what airports are doing and am very pleased that the security is of a higher standard - keep up the good work!!!
From Aaron Robinson
Southampton airport is great. International flights, easy parking quick check-in and no long walks to terminals. Clean and friendly bars and staff.
From Nicola Cook
I used Heathrow in August, was absolutely dreading it because of the media reports, but there wasn't a delay. Few complaints, they should charge supermarket price for drinks now that we have to dump all liquids, and can't the shops etc open earlier, I caught a 6.20 flight but not much was open. Apart from that it wasn't the dreadful experience I was expecting.
From roger nelson
Always feel cheated at Heathrow. Signs at carpark not clear re charging. As an airport is the first and last thing most visitors to this country see, wouldn't it be nice to not rip them off, giving them a good start or a pleasant last memory?
From Joanne Ogden
Comments on Birmingham International.Car parking - easy and convenient for departures - long term parking for holiday travellers is plentiful in my experience. Facilities in departures i.e shopping and restaurants are also very good (we had an excellent meal before boarding our flight). The only negative experience of our recent departure was the delays to get through the security checks. People were starting to panic that they were going to miss their flight due to the huge queues. The need to remove shoes/boots etc was causing massive delays - I understand and appreciate these additional security checks - but the staff really do need some help - additional staff are needed!
From Marvis Thurley
My husband & myself flew from Johannesburg (S.Africa) to Newcastle airport last year, via Heathrow where we were in transit. It was such a pleasure to arrive in Newcastle that if possible we will never fly from Heathrow again. Newcastle staff and facilities are really good, a pleasure instead of a penance.Belfast City airport(N.Ireland)is also good, have flown from Newcastle to there several times in the past 12 months, all good, pleasant experiences.
From JAMES BURKITT
Top marks to Liverpool Airport - clean, friendly, and hassle free. Never experienced a delay there and I travel at least 4-5 times a year from there. Great selection of routes at affordable prices.
From alison claxton
Luton airport is fab - clean and bright with some of the best shops. It may be a small airport but it has some of the best food shops and there is always a promotion going on to keep you entertained.
From anne stephenson
Leeds Bradford. We went early afternoon and there was nowhere open to get coffee, all the facilities were closing with just one bar open but no hot drinks. The airport was dirty, tables full of used plates and rubbish. Toilets also left a lot to be desired.
From Fiona Banner
Nottinham East Midlands Airport is the worst because it's hard to find the terminal building and check in desks once inside. The facilities are useless especially the car park as it's too small and hard to find a space. The staff knew nothing which annoyed us more as we didn't have time to waste.

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