Why are there big queues at Birmingham Airport?

Due to the new £40m construction of a new security hall which is expected to be ready in June 2024, the airport said passengers might find themselves queuing downstairs. Travellers swiftly vented their frustrations this morning on social media due to the long delays.



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It comes after photos and videos showing lengthy queues last summer, stretching from security to outside of the airport terminal. At the time, the airport said the queues had been caused by a shortage of staff and a surge in passenger numbers.

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Put simply, Coronavirus. Airports are still feeling the reverberations of the pandemic, which can largely be blamed for the long queues we're seeing. A mixture of staff shortages and huge pent-up demand for travel has resulted in travel chaos, cancelled flights, and lost baggage.

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The Express Lane is a separate security lane, designed to enable passengers to bypass the regular queues.

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The airport is the biggest in the area and is easy to get to at any time of the day. Congestion only tends to occur around the usual rush-hour times, in the morning, between 7.30 am and 9.00 am and 4.30 pm and 6.00 pm.

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Check in online
If you've already checked in online, you can completely avoid the first check-in queue at the airport, going straight to bag drop or security. You'll also be able to choose your seats in advance, snagging some extra leg room or a window seat before the other passengers get the chance.

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Birmingham airport topped the list for having the longest average delay per departing flight, for a second year in a row. The analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data by the PA news agency considered all scheduled and chartered departures, with cancelled flights not included.

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J.F.K. Airport in New York tops the list with a combined average wait time of 48 minutes and 24 seconds. Following JFK is San Francisco International Airport (47:18) and Miami International Airport (45:54).

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Arrive at least 90 minutes prior to the scheduled flight departure. Know your airline's travel requirements before coming to the airport as guidelines can vary by airline. Use technology whenever possible to reduce touchpoints such as mobile-boarding and paying with your smart phone.

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BHM served 3,090,604 passengers in 2019, and is the largest and busiest airport in the state of Alabama by passenger volume. The airfield can handle all aircraft types. The main runway is 12,007 feet (3,660 m) long. The secondary runway is 7,099 feet (2,164 m) long.

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“I'm in a hurry!” The plane leaves when everyone is on board. That's the non-negotiable truth. People rush into falling in line because they want to get to their destination faster and they feel being first on the plane will give them just that.

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The TSA and airports want you to get there earlier, each for its own reasons. The agency does not like to be rushed with screenings, even if there's a long security line. Airports want you to take advantage of their incredible shopping and dining facilities, which you can't do if you're rushing to the gate.

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Contact the airport, the airline, and anyone else who you may encounter during your trip. You will never know what they will be able to help you with unless you ask. You should be able to get access to Special Assistance at the airport, which will help you fast track through queues.

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Insiders say that on average there's a 50 per cent chance that Express Lane could save you a significant amount of time going through to the airside lounges, bars, restaurants and shops. Do you give up your place in the normal queue to find out if the Express Lane is short enough to take the gamble?

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Saturdays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays also come in as the cheapest days to fly, because they're not popular travel days. Due to popularity, Sundays and Fridays are usually the most expensive days to fly. Holidays always play a major role in not only traffic and delays, but also in price.

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Thanksgiving and Christmas tend to be the busiest travel days of the year, but other holidays like Memorial Day, July Fourth, and Labor Day also see some of the highest volumes of air passengers. So far this year, daily passenger numbers have been growing each month.

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