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“After a whirlwind trip of Dublin and Belfast it was...”

written by Clair on 13/06/2006

Good Points
Handle complaints very quickly.

Bad Points
The bad attitude of some of the staff.

General Comments
After a whirlwind trip of Dublin and Belfast it was time to fly home from Belfast International. After using this airport for many years I do know what to expect, but after having such a good experience in other airports it's clear to see how poor this airport is on a scale to others.



On entering the airport (via car) you have to park your car in an uncovered car park in all weathers (Liverpool is the only other I know where the car park is not covered) and walk across. Once in, you can see how dated the airport is, as you are greeted with security/police doing random searches. When past the foyer you enter the vast check-in hall where staff are only too pleased to help.

Then you go through to the first departure lounge where you can sit with family and have drinks before being told your flight is cancelled or boarding. After you have said goodbye to loved ones and you walk through the security, there is a range of shops which are of good quality, and they are just the right size to browse before making that flight. That is however if your flight has not been cancelled and it is after 10pm. In my experience, on June 12th when my BMI Baby flight was cancelled, the staff were not as friendly as they should have been. This was evident when I was threatened with security when I tried to lay my three year old daughter and six year old son on an empty sofa after 11pm. Apparently, this sitting area was closed and not to be used, not even for children who have been delayed such a long time and who have school the following morning. It would probably be easier to explain this rather than come shouting across an empty hall with even emptier threats, or at least that is what the duty manager said when a complaint was made.



Despite this experience, the airport is of a below average standard, but this could be improved with a face lift and some money invested. The airport is always of a clean standard, and as for airport prices go, they are slightly better than most, but that's just because us locals will not accept the prices too high, as we are just not as cosmopolitan as the rest of the world.