Check your route before leaving home
Ongoing major HS2 motorway and road works around the West Midlands continue to cause unpredictable delays on the approach to Birmingham Airport. If you are driving or taking a taxi, check live traffic apps specifically for the M42 and A45 junctions and build an extra 30 minutes of buffer time into your journey.
New security rules with CT scanners
Birmingham Airport has fully transitioned to advanced CT scanners. Now, you can leave your laptops, tablets, and liquids inside your hand luggage. Do not take them out, and do not use those small, clear plastic zip bags anymore. The airport allows liquids, pastes, and gels in containers up to 2 litres in hand luggage. However, insulated water bottles or metal flasks must be completely empty before going through the scanners. You can refill them at water fountains in the departure lounge.
Arrival times for a stress-free start
Arriving five hours early doesn't help if your airline's check-in desks aren't even open yet. For short-haul flights, arrive 2 hours before departure. For long-haul flights, arrive 4 hours before departure. Flying with Jet2 or TUI on an early morning flight? Take advantage of their Day-Before Bag Drop if you live locally. You can drop your heavy luggage off the evening before and breeze straight to security the next morning.
Birmingham Airport is 'silent'
Once you clear security, don't rely on tannoy announcements to tell you when your flight is boarding. Birmingham Airport operates a strict silent airport policy. Keep a close eye on the digital flight information screens scattered throughout the departure lounge. Set a timer on your phone for your gate opening time so you don't get caught out while browsing Duty-Free.
Check-in zones to avoid wandering
To avoid wandering the terminal with heavy bags, know exactly where to go as soon as you walk through the doors: Zone A is for Jet2, Zone D is for Emirates, and Zones B & C are for all other airlines (including Ryanair, easyJet, and TUI).
