Birmingham Airport has issued a travel warning to passengers amid reports of early morning queues – with one holidaymaker slamming BHX as “an utter joke”. The flyer took to social media to vent over queues snaking “right around the airport” this morning, June 18.
It follows a month of travel chaos at BHX and only 24 hours after passengers reported being ‘stuck’ in a two-hour queue to get through security. Airport bosses have blamed long delays on ongoing construction works inside the building.
BHX is also issuing daily warnings to passengers urging them to only carry up to 100ml in liquids in their hand luggage to speed up the queuing process. “Do not put them in plastic bags in your hand luggage and do not remove them at security,” warned BHX.
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The airport’s new scanners will eventually allow passengers to carry two litres in hand luggage, but last minute government rules meant holidaymakers were still confined to just 100ml bottles.
Despite airport bosses hiring another 100 workers to help with delays, many are being asked to turn up for their flight hours ahead of schedule to ensure they get to their flight on time. One passenger flying today asked on social media: “Have to travel for work tomorrow, flight is 8.40am, been told to get to airport by 4.30am. So ridiculous!”
This is a live news story. Continue following this blog for the latest updates on travel at Birmingham Airport today.
07:57Harry Leach
Passenger slams BHX as ‘an utter joke’
A passenger today slammed BHX as “an utter joke”.
Venting on social media, the holidaymaker said: “6am in the morning and queues right round the airport and out into the streets. Give this airport a miss – they have it badly wrong.”
06:04William Morgan
BHX passenger voices concern of many
05:00William Morgan
Passenger reports parking issue
Someone who dropped a traveller off at BHX this morning has reported trouble finding a spot to park, even in the premium drop-off area.
Bryn called it a “mess”, saying: “Not one parking space this morning to drop off passengers in the premium drop off car park. If only they had the same system as Heathrow and Gatwick.”
04:28William Morgan
What is causing the delays?
As well as some confusion over the 100ml hand luggage rule changes, many passengers have reported difficulties even getting to security, as ongoing construction work at the airport has changed the normal queuing process.
BHX have said: “Our new security area construction works are still on-going. This means the queuing area for security is mainly downstairs.
“Please note that all passengers arriving by train are required to head to the ground floor to join the queue for security.”
This change is reportedly part of the reason for the delays. A passenger said yesterday: “Queues this morning to get from monorail arrival to lift. At one point new arrivals from the monorail struggled to alight the monorail because of the queue.
“Then joined another queue outside the airport to go back up to the same level, in same lift, all BEFORE you get to the Security queue.”
04:13William Morgan
What is the 100ml rule?
Despite plans to relax restrictions on the 100ml liquid rule for hand luggage due to improvements in security technology, the failure to install these improvements at every airport caused the Government to change their guidance at the last minute, reverting the change just over a week ago.
You can only carry 100ml containers in your hand luggage. BHX states the rules explicitly on its website:
- Only liquids, pastes and gels in containers up to 100ml can be carried in hand luggage – anything larger needs to be in checked in luggage.
- No liquids above this size.
- Anything above the 100ml will be removed and destroyed.
- There is no limit on the amount of under 100mls containers that can be carried.
- Containers that can carry more than a 100ml, such as insulated bottles, are permitted but need to be completely empty.
- Do not put your liquids, pastes and gels into plastic bags (please leave them loose in hand luggage).
- Do not take them out of your hand luggage when you’re in the security search area.
- Leave all electricals in hand luggage during the security search.
- When going through security please ensure all items are out of pockets including phones, keys, coins and tissues etc. Watches can be left on.
04:06William Morgan