Perhaps the Office of Fair Trading should investigate? Or maybe the Department of Transport Security and Contingencies Directorate since they are playing games with security checks.

If I had been blackmailed like this I would be writing to both. Meanwhile, Manchester airport has finally bitten the bullet and decided to do proper business with low cost operators. Liverpool had better be careful who it annoys....

With the vast majority of Liverpool's traffic being low-cost flights with check-in closures only 40 minutes before departure, it's only a matter of time before everyone has little choice other than to pay the £2 per head or seriously risk missing their holidays.

They do have a third choice - make sure that they arrive in good time so that they have plenty of time to get through security. Yes, all the scheduled operators, low cost or otherwise - tend to only close check-ins 40 mins before departure but they open up at least 2 hours before the flight departs.

I can't see what the problem is with offering a paid for fast-track through security - you can either leave it until the last minute to check-in and pass through security quickly by paying the £2.00 or else check-in early and save the money by allowing yourself time to stand in the queue. And if the problem is caused by operators not opening check-in desks early enough to process all their passengers through check-in and then security in good time for a prompt departure then that's not actually the airport's fault - it's a problem that passengers need to take-up with the airlines not the airports.

SM

So what would your view be if the Government started charging you £2 to get through passport control faster? Security checks should not be a money making business, they were installed to stop terrorists and as soon as you start playing games you undermine that. After all, the easiest way to keep the paid queue moving faster would be to not look as hard and as soon as commercial pressures are applied that temptation would be there. Easyjet were very publicly opposed to this scheme and the new routes from Manchester ought to worry the Liverpool management.

SMa,
According to my tickets, check-in was to open at 06:10hrs;we actually checked in at 05:50hrs and proceeded immediately to security control,pausing for only literally a minute to buy a newspaper.Having checked in twenty minutes earlier than the earliest time our carrier said that we could,I didn't think it unreasonable to assume that we were well ahead of the game,and wasn't expecting a 50 minute queue at security - something we have never experienced at other, far busier airports.Perhaps there is another option that I haven't considered,but it seems to me that this problem was not of mine or the airline's making.
The problem with the fast-track security system is that it makes it difficult to judge the probable wait because, if a large number of people decide to opt for the fast-track, then the main queue tends to grind to a halt for a couple of minutes;when this happens, more people start to panic,leave the queue,cough up the £2,join the fast-track and the problem snowballs.

steve8482 wrote:

So what would your view be if the Government started charging you £2 to get through passport control faster?

Well, I've often been charged far more than that when visiting other countries and had no control over whether I paid for it or not - visas are compulsory for many of the countries I've visited and are in essence a fast track through passport control. The whole process would take longer if there was not that preliminary passport check before you even leave the UK. And non-UK citizens already have to do the same here too but still end up waiting in huge queues a lot of the time - I'm sure many of them would gladly pay an increased visa charge if it ensured fast and efficient transit..

Sagres wrote:

According to my tickets, check-in was to open at 06:10hrs;we actually checked in at 05:50hrs and proceeded immediately to security control,pausing for only literally a minute to buy a newspaper.Having checked in twenty minutes earlier than the earliest time our carrier said that we could,I didn't think it unreasonable to assume that we were well ahead of the game,

I wouldn't have thought it unreasonable either but I would also be asking the question why isn't the carrier opening check-ins early enough to enable passengers to cope with the queues and still arrive at the departure gate in time.

Sagres wrote:

wasn't expecting a 50 minute queue at security - something we have never experienced at other, far busier airports.

I think you've probably been lucky then - we experienced longer delays than that at Manchester in October 2006 and the only reason why we didn't this October was because both my parents now need wheelchair assistance and we were whisked through a separate route but the queues for the ordinary passenger were particularly horrendous. In September transit passengers between terminals at Heathrow where queuing for up to 2 hours and the queues were so huge that they were backing up on to the travelators - I punched the emergency stop button to prevent an accident because people couldm't get off at the end. As a UK passport holder transiting from an international flight to a domestic flight I was able to shortcircuit the queue by going landside through passport control, baggage reclaim and customs and then joining the queue for security to go back airside. I discovered froma fellow passenger on that domestic flight that they hadn't thought of doing that and so did spent 2 hours queuing. Yes, these queues are a big issue but if paying for a fast track enables airports to pay for more staff and keeps the queues moving then I still don't have a problem with a charge.

Of course one could argue that they should be employing more staff as a matter of course but this would still have to be paid for - most likely by passing it on to the airlines by charging increased landing fees but they'd still only pass it on to the passengers in higher fares. Either way it's the passenger who pays - especially with the low-cost operators who have gradually found all sorts of ways of pumping up the basic price of a ticket. I don't think all the blame lies with the airports - the most frustrating thing for me about queuing at security is the number of people who still don't know the rules and hold up the rest of the queue by not being ready for the scanners or by trying to take thing through that aren't allowed.

SM

I would also be asking the question why isn't the carrier opening check-ins early enough to enable passengers to cope with the queues and still arrive at the departure gate in time.

As I said,we checked in two hours and twenty minutes before the advertised departure time.... and you think that this is not early enough? Two hours is generally the norm for non-transatlantic flights and,lucky or unlucky, has been enough for a more than comfortable transition from land to airside in at least eight airports I've used during the present level of security restrictions -so why not Liverpool ?
The problem is that they've devised a system, for whatever reason, be it financial or otherwise, over which they have no direct control.The fast-track system has introduced a factor which never applied to the 'first come, first served' process - and that is the whim of the travelling public at any given hour of any given day to use it or ignore it - a system in which one can actually go backwards in the queue dependent on how many people, who arrive after you at the airport and may well be departing on flights much later than yours,decide to by-pass the queue.I've spent as much time in queues as the next guy and have no objection at all as long as it's done on a level playing field.If someone decides to tilt the field and it's done in the interests of better security,then that's o.k. by me as well, but this has nothing to do with improving security,it's to do with improving the balance sheet.

Make sure you take your clear bags for liquids with you.......
At Liverpool they are only available from vending machines at the cost of 50p for two !!!!

John

personally after all the publicity regarding carrying liquids if you get to the airport and you are only charged 50 p for two bags then you are getting off very lightly .Do people still not understand the threat to their safety that still exists this is not a money making charade at the airport but a very real and potent threat to our lives

I'm thinking of using LJL to fly to Granada with Ryanair, as the East Midlands to Grananda route has been cancelled.

From what I have read it sounds as though the car parking facilities are good and near to the terminal - is this right? Also, what facilities are at the airport with regards to (a) eating and (b) shops etc...?

Many thanks
Louise

louise225,

The main long stay car park is adjacent to the terminal building. As LPL isn't exactly a large international airport, facilities are limited but there's everything you might need. Refer to Liverpool John Lennon Airports for more details.

Darren

Thanks Darren, it looks good. If I'm travelling up from Derby I would want to get there in plenty of time, but as I travel alone, I hate sitting around waiting by myself - bit of a catch 22!!!

My other option is to travel EM to Malaga, but then its a very long drive in Spain. Have you, or anyone else, used LJL airport? Is it generally quite organised?

Many thanks
Louise

louise225,

I'm one of the photographers covering aircraft news at LPL so I've been on a few occasions! It's a nice enough airport, nothing special. You'll find lots of information on this thread. It can be a pain getting through security at peak times so you need to allow plenty of time to get through, but apart from that, it's a nice enough experience. I have a few photos of the terminal here (ignore the old terminal photos, thats now the Marriot / Crowne Plaza hotel!).

Darren

Thanks Darren, great photo's, makes it real!

Think I'll give it a go, apart from anything else, seems unfair to ask my boyfriend to drive the equivalent of four 2-3 hour journeys when it will take me two of 2 hours.

Thanks again
Louise

We have an afternoon flight in December and thought we might try something different......

Has anyone tried the exec lounge at JLA and is it worth it?

Well, I'm pleased to say that everything went really well both outbound and returning to Liverpool (using the Liverpool to Granada Ryanair flight). I was quite impressed with the airport...

I used Long Stay car park 1, which was no more than a five minute walk to departures. Check-in opened early and went smoothly (apart from the numerous people who ignored their booking info and tried to get away with more than 15kgs luggage, so started moving all their belongings around as they didnt want to pay the surcharge, but didn't mind holding the rest of us up!!)

Although the queue to go through security was long, it was organised and moved very quickly.

The facilities/shops were good on both sides of security but I wasn't overly impressed with the choice of food after security - although I maybe didn't look around enough as I was really hungry!

On my return it couldn't have been more efficient. We were moved very quickly through border control and my suitcase was the second one off, so I was in my car within 20 minutes of landing and that included getting a drink at the shop.

Pity the airport isn't a little nearer, East Midlands will always be my first choice as its only 30 minutes away, but I would definitely recommend Liverpool.

Louise

Ryanair slashes Liverpool services ... click here for more details in our Ryanair topic.

David

Just a thought, but the APD and Sterling issues affect every airport in the UK - so why have Ryanair only done this at Liverpool?

does anyone believe anything ryanair say .We use them when they are the cheapest but we do not like this airline one bit.Have a look around and see how they try to bully airports

I am flying from John Lennon airport for just a long weekend - anyone recommend which one of the car parks to use? To be honest there is only a difference of a couple of pounds for just parking at the short, mid or long stay in advance so other than the distance is one of them more secure or better located?

thanks