Belfast International Airport Reviews 250

TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

1.7

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 55 reviews, most reviewers were let down by their experience overall. Many people were dissatisfied with the staff, finding them rude, unhelpful, and aggressive, especially in security and customer service roles. Customers also frequently encountered issues with the airport's facilities, such as dirty toilets, a lack of drinking water stations, and inadequate seating. The location was often criticized for being inconvenient, with long walks and poor signage, and many felt the prices for services, food, and parking were excessively high. However, some customers also noted positive experiences with special assistance services, finding the staff helpful and the transitions smooth. A few other people also felt that passport control officers were welcoming and efficient.

What people talk about most

Staff

Reviewers highlight negative aspects of staff, frequently citing rudeness, incompetence, and a general lack... See more

Location

Customers consistently note negative experiences with the airport's location and layout. Many reviewers found... See more

Service

Reviewers express widespread dissatisfaction with the service. Many customers report long waits for baggage... See more

Facilities

Users describe negative interactions with facilities, often citing unhygienic and overcrowded conditions,... See more

Price

Consumers consistently express dissatisfaction with pricing, describing many charges as a "rip-off."... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Airport information is 500m from the exit which is NOT ideal. Public bus info screen lists all destinations as Belfast dispite there being multiple routes to get there. Corridors are all very blind si... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Still do not have drinking water stations widely available. Trekked to gate 14 and there is a station dispensing luke warm water. Website states that food retailers will fill bottles but when i a... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Went to the Aspire lounge to be told we could only have 2 drinks and not unrestricted as previously. Food selection was very limited as usual and the host had little or no personality as we have com... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

50 mins to get through security, Saturday morning only 2 scanners running, rest sitting idol as que backed up to entrance. Profit before service at its worst. Pay for more staff!


Company details

  1. Airport
  2. Airline
  3. Airport Shuttle Service
  4. Flights Search Site

Information provided by various external sources

5 NM northwest of Belfast in Northern Ireland. Formerly known as Aldergrove Airport, after the nearby village of Aldergrove, Belfast International is Northern Ireland's busiest airport and the second busiest airport on the island of Ireland after Dubli...


Contact info

1.7

Bad

TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

250 reviews

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Raymond M

Worst airport in UK 1hour to get from plane to carpark on arrival Poor ground staff, Struggling up 6 flights of stairs , stood 15 mins in Border UK queue ( only 1 plane! ) 15 mins luggage . WOW
Another 10 minutes waiting on carpark van

March 17, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Platform 9 3/4

Currently on a boat to Liverpool after awful experience in international airport. I proceeded to gate 18 as instructed, on time. Sat at signage that read gate 18. Looked at the board again thinking there must be a delay.. it read departed. Found a random member of airport staff with great difficulty, was lead back to security to be told I’d missed the flight as I was supposed to go through a set of doors and down a flight of stairs. This is a joke. I wasn’t in a bar or shopping or even on my phone. I was at an area with signage saying gate 18.

March 12, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Poor service to encourage paying for speedy seevice

Security is an absolute disgrace. Lots of fancy equipment to make it faster for travellers but only one lane open. The queue was ridiculous. The same thing happened me 2 weeks ago around lunchtime and I nearly missed my flight. Security staff are, practically children, rude and unhelpful. By bag was selected for a search and only 2 people actually searching them the queue was ridiculous for it too. I had one man who was so pleasant to me when he searched my bag as he seen how upset and frustrated I was. The manager standing on the huge pedestal shouting down to me was a disgrace....who are these new security people? I have never been treated like this before at Belfast international airport. I suspect that this is done intentionally to make people have to pay extra for fast track. Being a regular commuter from Belfast to England return, this new system has no benefits for the customer.

March 9, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Airport security are not fit for purpose

The security screening at this airport is an absolute disgrace and shambolic. I normally fly from Dublin airport, and won't be using this airport again. Utter chaos at the xray machines at 8.30am on a Thursday morning. They had 2 lanes open, and the xray machines kept making a bleeping sound with a red light and passengers bags were put through the machine for a second time. The queues were ridiculous. As a frequent traveller I know the security regulations regarding 100 ml liquids in hand luggage, but today my experience has questioned these rules. When my bag went through the xray it was flagged to the other side for a manual search. The security person wanted to see my liquids. He then opened my clear plastic bag and randomly chose my 75ml shaving gel and 75ml moisturiser and performed a TSA swab test. I was then advised that my 75ml liquids didn't pass the test and he would have to confiscate them. I asked him what he meant and why as my liquids were under 100 ml? I didn't get a satisfactory explanation, he just said they didn't meet the standards. Both these products were purchased at Boots. The whole security team should be sacked as they're not fit for purpose! An embarrassment of an airport with equally embarrassing inept staff.

February 27, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Pathetic sitting on plane

Pathetic sitting on plane. Waiting on steps. Pathetic service. Sitting on plane near 30 60 minutes waiting stay to bring steps over. Pathetic service worse ever..sort it out

February 23, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Fast track non existent today

Fast track security as usual a shambles … it was closed and the lane took us to the top of a massive queue …. People looking at us… NO-ONE there to direct which wouldn’t have looked so bad … just looked like we were pushing in … small young guy was extremely unhelpful…. He needs retrained

February 17, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Security queues

New scanning system has ruined security. Queues take forever since they made the change to full body scanning every single person. Zero benefits to this change.

February 11, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A fantastic turnaround at Belfast…

A fantastic turnaround at Belfast International. Once know as the worst UK airport is now one of the best. Keep up the great work guys. Brilliant improvement. Can't wait until its all finished.

January 13, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Arrived last night at 11.40pm to find…

Arrived last night at 11.40pm to find no staff to get us off Geneva flight, 40 minutes on plane, then 40 minutes through passport control only to find an angry baggage area where some people were waiting 4 hours already - police arrive, no baggage staff at the airport, 2am mayhem, crying, people confused. We left. No baggage. Trying to call. no answer

January 5, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Worst airport ever

Worst airport ever. Tonight we were left on the runway for 2 hours. Flight arrived at 9pm. Now waiting on luggage it’s 1:30am. Really busy, a lot of angry people. Awful awful airport. This is not the first time this has happened to us. In future we will be flying from belfast city or Dublin airport. Absolute disgraceful 🤬

January 5, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Flight delayed

Flight delayed, no where near enough seating (or flight schedule viewing screens), people sat around on the floor all over. Paid almost £20 for fish and chips and cafe seat - cafe shut at 9.20pm and everyone kicked out 🤦🏼‍♀️

Toilets are a throw back to 70s, the place is drab, dark, tired, weary and needs a complete overhaul. Seemingly, lots of £££ being spent on tarting up the outside when actually the departures and arrivals areas need serious attention.

Echoing other comments, seems crazy to have multiple scanners and only a couple operational whilst there are enormous queues? On the plus side, staff were friendly though obviously very stretched.

Imagine there must be serious operational management issues. Sadly/embarassingly it's an 'International' Airport in name only.

January 3, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

The queues! run to catch your flight!!!

The queues …
The employees shouting through the security absolutely ridiculous and unprofessional yet it seems normal in Belfast..
Not enough lines open almost didn’t make the flight despite being there 2hrs 15mins prior and no announcement if the flight will wait or fly without you..
I’m embarrassed living here I really am.
The airport feels like 100 behind

December 28, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

£millions spent and yet again the…

£millions spent and yet again the airport pulls defeat from the jaws of victory. The security section has the most up to date equipment available and yet no sign to say what to take out of bags (or keep in) not a single sign. Then too few staff, so it all bottlenecks again - all in all, such a shame where even some basic management and thought could make this so much of a better experience

December 30, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A big thankyou to Duncan at Belfast…

A big thankyou to Duncan at Belfast international airport police security. Duncan helped get my son’s hand luggage safely back to him after someone had mistakenly taken it. Duncan was very professional, helpful and friendly throughout

December 23, 2024
Unprompted review

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