Birmingham Airport - any tips?

[jeaux90]

Flying out from here 6.30am. I have never flown out of this airport before, know all the ins and outs of all the other major airports but no clue about best parking, etc any advice?

Probably too late to book the Car Park 2 and 3 which are a 10 min walk to Departures. Not used any other car parks there, but they do have a shuttle bus. Allow the full three hours as they were doing lots of work . There is a Costa just to the right, round the corner of the main entrance to departures which helps if bag drop isn’t quite open.
Buy water in the duty free not the shop in the main lounge, it’s cheaper.

If you have booked assisted travel, be prepared to wait ... and wait ... and wait ... and wait some more for any assistance.

@seagullstolemypie sorry to hear that! It’s bloody soul destroying! @redfishcat not flying until end of August so thanks for the parking and coffee tips!

I mean to the left, go in through the departure doors and straight ahead is the drop off and loos to the left side of the desks. The Costa is to the left of the doors along the outside wall.
Good job I don’t drive often as left and right are interchangeable in my experience.

And then keep walking all the way through the departure lounge for breakfast at Spoons or in the Peaky Blinders pub. Both are fast and reasonable for airport catering.

Park as close as you can imo. Birmingham airport has always been fine in my experience. Just be thankful you are not flying from Stanstead which is fucking awful.

We park at carpark 1, booked in advance, 2 minutes walk to the terminal. Check in should be fine. Security queues can be very long so allow time for that.
It's great because you can take plenty of liquids through security, and don't have to take anything out of your bags (despite this the queues were still long but maybe they will open up the other security area in the holidays).
We have breakfast at Giraffe. Some of the gate areas also have eating places but you'd have to look that up as I can't remember the details.

Car park 1 is closest. There’s usually discounts if you register with them for emails

we last flew from there for Christmas. We’d prebooked fast track security but there was hardly any queues so it wasn’t needed.

We always stay in the Premier inn either for early flight out or late arrival. We leave the car in their car park and get a cab to airport.

Thanks for all the advice! Really appreciate it.

Conversely one of the things I LOVE about Brum airport is that any of the official car parks (1 - 7) are walking distance, yes 6 and 7 are a decent, 15 minute walk but doable, even pulling suitcases and corralling young DC - I find the shuttle bus so much hassle and the closest car parks (in any airport) are £££ so love booking Birmingham for better value and still able to walk!

B’ham has a good number of early flights so don’t think ‘oh it’ll be so quiet, I won’t go too early’ is my main tip.

Liquids are still limited to 100ml

No, liquids are allowed more than that...
https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/important-updates-customer-advice-on-liquids-when-travelling-out-of-birmingham-airport/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17794050896&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrZTRBhDSARIsAHidYfdu5jDktCJzZWLisUKfQi9QVImp0iUcDH9LnXl_3W-_v8PvsHEVR9caAl1OEALw_wcB

No need for parking, the train goes right to the airport.

Only handy if you fairly live near to a train station!

Liquids Definately not limited; we have taken several 500ml bottles of water through this week.

And not many trains will get you from your home to Birmingham International for about 3.30 am, which is when the OP needs to get there for a 6 am flight.

Very true and then they will think your flight is being called and won’t listen to you and take off pushing you in the wheelchair and realise their mistake after 5 minutes! I was in a wheelchair as I had had major surgery and thank goodness I won’t be flying through that airport ever again hopefully as the surgery was a success!

We use car park 1 to 4 usually-the prices do vary, sometimes 2/3 cheaper than 4 -all walkable. Have also used AirPort Express on Brickenall lane - 3 min transfer, very helpful staff, good value.
There is a free water filling station immediately after security so you can take your own empty water bottle. If flying Jet 2, they use the gates in what used to be known as T2 years ago- now all in one terminal but need an extra few minutes to get there -sometimes easier to get a seat down that end.
We have done a few early flights and security has been relatively quick so fingers crossed.

Sorry you had this experience.

My 81 yr old friend has used assisted travel at Birmingham twice in the last 4 months and can't stop raving about how helpful it was.

That is good news to hear. Maybe somebody listened to and took action from our formal complaints. I would like to think so.

When did you last fly from Birmingham? Unless there is a recent problem, liquids have been allowed up to, I believe 2 litres, for a while. Certainly there is no problem with taking through full sized toiletries and a 500 ml bottle of pop or water.

No need to remove from your bag and no need to remove electronics either.

With an early morning flight in August I would probably still book fast lane at security, but at other times it’s quite speedy now.

Who are you flying with @jeaux90?

If it’s Jet2 , the baggage drop/check in area is in a different place to the other check in desks. You need to either go in through the first set of departure doors (to the left as you approach) or turn left if you go through the main departure entrance. All other check-ins are to the right. There are a set of lifts which take you up to security and these are between both check-in areas.

Eateries within the airport are likely to be busy for an early flight, particularly the Wetherspoons. It’s worth knowing that if you are flying from Gates 1-20 there is an All bar One which just serves these gates and is normally quieter. Most Jet2 flights go from this area but it’s not guaranteed. Also worth knowing that if you do manage to get a table in Spoons - use their toilets as they are less busy.

And if you are staying in a local hotel and getting a taxi in rather than parking at the airport, an Uber will drop you at the drop-off point near the car parks (10 min downhill walk) whereas some of the local taxi firms will take you right down to the terminal building.

Right, we booked parking in Car Park 6 as height restrictions are ok (camper van) and yes @Shinyhappyapplegoing with Jet2. Really helpful comments
on this thread, thought it was a really niche question but super helpful!

I’ve got to park in Birmingham airport then get to Manchester as my flight was changed. Flying back into Birmingham. Will they allow that?