Birmingham Airport
Netflights.com has ranked 20 major airports in the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands to find out which ones provide the most family-friendly experience.
As fun and relaxing as summer holidays may be, it isn’t always perfect, as travellers may deal with unforeseeable airport stress. It just comes with the territory, especially when travelling with little kids and the whole family. We all want the best for them, but unfortunately, sometimes airports are lacking family-friendly facilities and services.
We find out which ones provide the most hassle-free experience, as the booking platform, Netflights.com, ranked 20 of the best airports on the following criteria:
- Airport pick-up and drop-off facilities
- Breastfeeding facilities
- Dedicated children’s areas
- Fast-track security services
- Flight punctuality
- Free water fountains
The best and the worst
According to the research, Birmingham Airport (BHX) is the most family-friendly airport in the UK and Ireland. The airport covers the essentials like free drinking water, free Wi-Fi, and play areas where children can spend time while families wait for flights.
On the airport are facilities designated to baby changing, breastfeeding, and travellers can even book an Express Lane, where they can fast-track security for GBP 3.75 (USD 5) each. Additionally, airport parking (which can sometimes break the bank) and drop-off are free for 30 minutes – all of which adds to a better family experience.
In contrast, however, Leeds Bradford Airport hit the bottom of the barrel, with no water fountains and a simple drop-off charge for 10 minutes that sets you back GBP 3.
The survey
For further research, Netflights.com surveyed 2,000 UK travellers and revealed that keeping kids entertained, fed and watered while waiting to board a flight costs parents almost GBP 45 on average. And finally, although 92% of respondents considered themselves organised when they go on holiday, 66% said they still find airports stressful.
The image below shows the airports ranked and the facilities they offer:
