Glasgow Airport- A Paradise For Plane Lovers! (Glasgow International Airport (GLA))

Member Name: Machair1

Product:	Glasgow International Airport (GLA)
Date:	02/01/09 (67 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Newly upgraded to be safer and more comfortable.

Disadvantages: None

I wanted to do a review of Glasgow Airport for two reasons. Firstly an intensely personal one because on 30th June 2007 when two terrorists attempted to bomb the terminal I should have been sitting in the coffee shop waiting to check in to board a flight to the Outer Hebrides. The very coffee shop right at the international arrivals where the incident occurred. I wasn't only because I had to change my plans at the last minute to drive as I had to collect some of my daughter's university possessions on the way to North Uist so had decided to catch the ferry instead. As it happened I was caught in the traffic queue on the approach roads past the airport just after the incident happened and was listening to it on the car radio. It was a sobering and surreal experience and came on top of a similar incident the previous year when my husband and I were in The Outer Hebrides when a bomb destroyed a train he would have been on that day in London were it not for the fact he was on holiday with me. The second reason I wanted to review it is because I adore planes and flying and here you can see a wealth of aircraft from the small twin otter which flies to land on the beach at Barra through to large international planes crossing time zones.

Since the tragic events of the Glasgow bomb it has been all change in the airport and 31 million pounds has been spent on upgrading the terminal which opened its new doors on 28th October 2008 and so this review is to help anyone who is visiting the airport especially if you have not been for sometime. It is also of paramount importance if you are going to catch an internal flight to one of the islands or down to London that you leave a lot more time because the security areas have all now merged with international departures and although the transit time through these is good the walking to the gates is now much further and takes much much longer than it did before. Also to note many of the island routes are now run by Flybe under the Franchise operator Loganair and these now have strict gate closure times which mean you must not saunter up to the gate thinking you can board at the last minute as everything is understandably much tighter.

Arriving at the airport from the M8 is quick with only 15 minutes to travel from the centre of Glasgow and excellent buses run every 10 minutes to the airport. If you are early and want to rest before check in I highly recommend Café Nero which is by International arrivals on the ground floor far left as you enter the main terminal. It is quiet and relaxing and in an area forgotten by many so you can enjoy a quiet drink away from the crowds.

In the main terminal there are check in desks for all the major carriers and terminal 2 which is just a short walk away caters for some holiday flights and Easyjet. The difference now is that due to the extensive building work which has now been completed many of the shops which used to be this side of security and so available to all members of the public travelling or not most of these are now beyond security. This is excellent if you want to buy last minute drinks and items for the plane and many of the usual shops are now on your way to the gates. Also beyond the security screens are the business lounges which are excellent if you are flying long haul as these provide a calm and relaxing environment in which to wait for the flight. Glasgow does operate flights to places as far away as Dubai and to Canada so these are a good option if you have long to wait and they can be booked by visiting BAA.com. Glasgow airport has flights operated by 30 different carriers to 80 destinations worldwide.

Parking at the airport is much cheaper than in the south and it is a good idea to visit the official BAA website where competitive quotes can be obtained. Another good way to book is to use companies like Holiday Extras who offer competitive rates and these can be booked through cashback sites like Quidco. What I normally do is to visit Moneysaving Expert where there is a cashback site maximiser tool so when you have selected the company you prefer to quote for your parking you can see who is offering the best cashback deal.

Of course you may wish to stay overnight in which case there are 5 main hotels on the site and I have stayed in all of these. It is possible to obtain a quote for parking as well as overnight accommodation especially good if you are flying off early.

In order of preference these are

1. Express by Holiday Inn

This is my favourite hotel but it is the second closest reached by a covered walkway. The rooms are freshly painted in warm colours and they are clean. Breakfast is self service and complementary and you can stay here and park for £5 overnight but if you wish to leave your car for longer you will need to obtain a quote. There is one point to note if you are a couple make sure you request a double bed as they have some rooms with wide singles pushed together which have an uncomfortable gap between them. This chain offers membership of a priority club and I have joined this. Each time you stay you can build up points towards free nights and there will be a simple check in where your keys and details will be ready for you to collect by envelope speeding you through on arrival.
www.hiexpress.co.uk.

2. Holiday Inn

This has a superb dining room and breakfast and is the closest. I stayed there last year and the bedroom was shabby and in need of renovation. If this was improved it would be excellent so check before you book if any of the rooms have been improved because if not it is not a good choice. Again part of the same chain as the Express by Holiday Inn and so priority club membership is possible.
www.hiexpress.co.uk

3. Travel Inn

This is further away and they offer a collection/drop off service for a small charge. A good hotel but one I don't use these days -rooms are clean and comfortable though and you can walk to it if you have a pull along case for example.

4. Travelodge.

This is further away on a site shared with The Ramada and is reached by courtesy bus which you call from the airport. You can walk too but with a case I wouldn't advise it. Quite a new build with excellent walk in shower but the dining area is in reception so lacks all cosiness. Not included in those cheap offers Travelodge often have so will always be at least £40. I don't use it anymore as I found calling the bus annoying as we had to wait a long time on several occasions.

5. Ramada

This is a luxury hotel with a breakfast price tag to match. The windows have sliding mirrors across them to block out noise. The transfer to the airport is by the same bus as the Travelodge. Only stayed there once as I felt the cost, the distance from check in, and the price of the meals was too much.

For anyone worried about flying I would say security has been tightened up so much now at the airport and as a result particularly if like me you are a frequent flyer to the islands you now need more time to check in and to pass through the security.

I love the airport, for me it is the gateway to some of Scotland's wildest and remote islands. You can take off from concrete runways and land on shell beaches and remote island hideaways. For me it heralds the start of an exciting expedition every time I go there!

Last weekend we were due to fly on Flybe service to Benbecula due to depart at 7.20 am. It was dark and the airport icy. The plane is a small Saab with 36 seats and was only half full. A ton of newspapers were to be carried in the hold servicing the news needs of many islanders who depend on the plane for supplies and for transport. The weight was critical we had to all sit at the front to balance the plane and the trim. After 15 minutes de-icing and a technical fault we were offloaded to the terminal while the engineers were called. It didn't matter -we were given vouchers to spend in O'Brien's and enjoyed the most delicious banana muffins and hot coffee and were soon on our way.

Landing at Benbecula the lochs were sparkling and the sky was red with the morning sunrise. Leaving behind the Glasgow City for the peace and quiet of the far west was a joy and a lovely way to end the year. So for me Glasgow airport is a special place and now with increased security hopefully a safer one.

Summary: A great airport with a good choice of shops and places to eat.