Belfast International Airport

Belfast International Airport is pretty straightforward and easy to deal with. It’s not too big, so you don’t feel lost or rushed all the time. Check-in and security were fairly smooth, and the staff were helpful when needed. There are a few places to grab food or coffee, which is nice if you have some time before your flight. Seating can be limited when it’s busy, but overall it feels calm compared to bigger airports. It’s a simple, no-stress airport that gets you where you need to go.

Lots of improvements just still lacks in ambition and will drive away passengers by again increasing drop-off costs. Bag drop (EZY) and security completed without any queue or issue. Made use of the very dated and poor Causeway Lounge. Boarded flight early and look to be departing early also. Lots of work continues at the airport and is much improved however a drive to turn a profit will only push passengers to Belfast City or Dublin. Transport links remain very poor and this is ultimately why the airport will never bloom.

Easy airport to fly in and out of, walkway is clearly marked for the flight and no additional shuttle to or from the gate! Desk is well staffed to buy transport tickets for travelling around Belfast and airport signs are navigable to get to the correct areas, plenty of seating to relax while waiting for flights. The building holds a modern design and has ease of access from the bus stop, seating is readily available there too!

Easy airport at 5 AM in the morning. Walked right up to the easyjet counter to deposit my bag. No wait. Short 3 minute walk to security. Took about 4 mins to get through security. Didn't have to take my electronics out. Compact duty-free shopping area, but still with a good selection... got lost in the whiskies... The food selection was quite nice, but as seems to be any airport... there are never enough seats for everyone traveling. All in all, a nice little airport. Easy I and easy out... and Easy Jet was on time!!!

Travelled from Birmingham to Belfast and back. The journey was very easy and quick, only online boarding pass was examined. While traveling back to Birmingham found too busy in early morning in every where. Undergoing construction for improving the passenger journey. I was used bus services from and to Belfast. Duty-Free store offers a mix of global brands and local products, many food and beverage options are available.

A lot of construction work taking place which means they are not many eating places at airline. Even WHS shop is limited in selection. Should be a much better airport in the future. Even today it is a very easy airport to use.

Belfast International Airport is modern, clean, and very efficient. ✈️ Check-in and security were smooth, and the staff were friendly and helpful. There’s a good selection of shops and cafés, making waiting for your flight comfortable and convenient. Overall, a stress-free and pleasant airport experience! 👌

Landed in Belfast through airline Buzz, which is under Ryanair. Coming out of the airport was pleasantly quick. My bag was sniffed by the security dog🐕 - Lol. This was because my bag had my new hat from Budapest. I've also left a photo of it below, as it is made of fox hair, lamb skin and horse hair. After that we were out in Belfast.

Fly to and from this airport several times a year. It's a nice airport, security is fast and the staff are friendly. Just wish there was more choice for places to eat and drink.

Today's highlights:- * Incompetent security staff * Inadequate toilet facilities - many cubicles locked * Unhygienic toilet facilities * £3 drop off charge - avoid this by dropping off at long-stay car-park

We arrived at the Belfast Airport and attempted to check in at the EasyJet counter. We were told we were too early. So, we went over to get the wheelchair assistance and the gentlemen there asked why we had not checked in. We told him that the counter agent told us we were too early. He said the flight was open and we could check in. So we went back and then were able to check in. (The counter agent was not very friendly or helpful.) I guess because we were so early for our flight, we had no problem going thru security. Even though we were early for our flight, we went to the gate. The waiting area was very uncomfortable. We were surprised by the size of this airport. Even though it is Northern Ireland's busiest airport and the second busiest airport on the island of Ireland after Dublin Airport, it is very small. It is also backward when it comes to how you get on to the planes. The planes are parked on the tarmac and you have to walk out to the plane and climb the stairs. As I was in a wheelchair, I was put on a food service truck and lifted up to the plane - not very exciting.

So although my previous review still stands, there have been changes (again) so an update then...... I've reviewed my home airport a few times before. The main reason to keep coming back every few trips is that Belfast Intl evolves like no other airport I know, or pretty much any other commercial business I can't think of. Each visit, there seems to be more changes to the infrastructure and layout. This time the most significant change comes to the airside and not of the food areas that has had an extension added on to the terminal to facilitate the addition of some new eateries. Perhaps most significantly is what has been going on in security, with the recent addition of 2 extra lanes. Anyone familiar with the airport may well be only too familiar with the recents stories (which made the news) of people queuing right out the front door and standing in line for 2 hours before even getting into the security hall! Well in order of going through the airport then... while the check in hall is largely unchanged over the last few years, there is now a larger cafe in the hall, which is good for those being dropped off as your lift can now at least sit and have a coffee with you, of course this is all pre the dreaded security so I'd recommend being early if you're going to do that. Check in was uneventful and fairly quick, but then we flew out later in the evening so the airport wasn't busy. Then security....... It was 'OK'. The staff although still far from friendly didn't quite show the surly/flat out rude demeanour I've come to expect here, but they did still manage to get in my bad books. My 6yr old daughter set off the metal detector, which is OK, but this meant she had to go into the full body scanner, again this would have bee OK if it was not for the way the security staff went about it, she was basically thrown in and barked at about which way to stand etc and she was very clearly to all, left scared and upset. It took a fair amount of cuddles and reassurance afterwards to assure her she had done nothing wrong, so security still needs that customer care training that they've been crying out for for years. The security company famed for years to be poor here has been replaced by another (about 6+ months ago now), and yet there is still no real improvement in professionalism. As for times, it was quick enough, but as I mentioned we were going through at a quiet time, so that is just as it should be. Airside has seen a fair amount of development activity, especially for the Fed & Watered, Coco Diablo and Chopped food outlets, which are the ones that had the extension built to accommodate them. Having been burned too many times with poor quality high cost food in the airport we choose to eat en-route. The new eateries 'looked' good, though with the usual inflated airport prices but we did get a coffee in Fed & Watered so we could use some of the more comfy seats, the coffee was OK, not great, and the staff seemed a little distant or distracted, something I've some to expect here. And that finally brings me to the over arching feeling about Belfast Intl. As others have mentioned it's a money making enterprise first and foremost. Most are, but Belfast somehow manages to do it less subtly. Every change and development is always something that the traveller has to pay for at each step. With all the developments there is ever less seating, what there is, is of the hard bare metal variety and located in less than optimal positions either in the corridor going out to the international pier (higher gate numbers) or just in the middle of foot traffic between shops so travellers just feel like they are getting in everyone else's way. So from the 'drop-off' charge for people arriving by car where you have to pay £1 just to drive on site and drop the passenger off at the terminal, to need to avail of an eatery just to have a decent place to wait for your flight, airport management has a hand in your pocket from the moment you are on site to the moment you board your flight. Belfast Intl isn't really going to improve in terms of its user experience until they start to make changes with a mind to genuine improvement for its customers as opposed trying to squeeze in more and more money makers. This is further reinforced by the fact that on return (where there is less money to be made as people pick up bags and go) it was noticeable that despite year on year changes to departures, arrivals looked just the same as it has for many years and the core decor remains unchanged from the early 90's/80's.

Although Belfast International is not the largest or nicest of airports, I have fond memories of it. My first time flying was through here and it has stuff I appreciate like a Starbucks and not having to walk through duty free to get to your gate. On Saturday, going through security was slower than usual, but it was rush hour and lots of people were entering the hall at the same time. We were shouted at for putting our suitcases into the trays but we were told to put them into trays at Edinburgh. I guess different airports will have different systems but it was a bit confusing. Once through, you can go to one of the cafes or shops. I didn't really spot that many though. For shopping, it is mainly just travel essentials like Superdrug, Boots and Duty Free, and there are restaurants like Burger King and Starbucks. They have refurbished the toilets which I was glad about because I remember they were pretty gross before. Some gates will require longer walks than others as they are in annex areas as opposed to being integrated with the shops like in Edinburgh. Why the 4 star review? Because of memories, and I have been subjected to the awfulness of Edinburgh Airport, so I'm glad by how BFS is a bit more organised and less stressful.

I liked this Airport. There are a lot of options after you go through security. Shopping and eating and entertainment. The airport looks updated in some areas and a little worn in other areas, but overall I liked this airport. So easy to navigate. Staff members I encountered were friendly. Taxi stand is right outside of the entrance and I didn't have to wait. As promised by the gent at the courtesy desk, they are right outside the door. The taxi ride from BFS to the Hilton Belfast was only GBP29. Waiting areas at the gates are a bit small, but there is enough room for people to sit and wait comfortably as well as charge your devices. Just be sure to have your power converter readily available.

Belfast International Airport isn't my favourite in Northern Ireland, however it's not too bad overall as far as airports are concerned. It's relatively small scale so getting through security and to departure gates is quick and stress free. Where it really disappoints is in the lack of decent cafes and food outlets because there's not much of a selection. Plus the available eateries aren't great e.g. Burger King and Fed & Watered etc leave a lot to be desired. I feel constantly cold when in International and wish they would turn the heating up/on. The name too very is misleading as this airport is not actually in central Belfast but instead is a full half hour drive and about 20 miles away from Belfast City Centre.

This is a great example of a mid-sized airport that delivers on all fronts. - Easily navigable, which is great when you're arriving early on in the day and don't feel the need to keep your eyes 100% open - Although a bit removed from Belfast proper, it's not as bad as, say, Rome Fiumicino, or even my local airport, O'Hare. The plus is that the route is definitely on the scenic side! (I'd hasten to call it countryside, but it's at least more pastoral than the city.) - Since Belfast hasn't (yet!) experienced the insane glut of tourism that many cities, ahem, Dublin, ahem, have, the airport has the cleanliness and efficiency of a bigger airport, but it is still easy to find your way, get a cab, move through the whole thing quickly, etc. - Nice array of shops and restaurants without oversaturation - At least when I was there, Magner's had monopolized an entire hallway, so the wallpaper made it seem as if we were in an apple orchard. That was cute.

For an international airport I do find Belfast to be lacking on a number of respects, however I suppose the fact everything is so compact and close together you don't have a ten mile hike to your gate the most you will have to walk is 5 mins. Sometimes security can be slow so best give yourself plenty of time to get through. Usual duty free shops in offer but not much choice.

I feel like I spend half my life in airports, traveling regularly with work! Belfast International is down there with the worst airports I have been in! When I'm there I feel like I'm in Stuck in the late 80's/early 90's - everything is dated, even the screens displaying flight information, they haven't even turned digital yet! In terms of flights they operate to most routes to Britain and popular holiday destinations around Europe. Jet 2 and easyjet are the main operators here! There's a few decent places to eat and grab a coffee, much needed for those early morning flights, but nothing special! In comparison to the City airport everything feels so cumbersome!

We have travelled extensively & Belfast Aldergrove is the worst airport we have ever used. To call it an international airport is a misnomer. It is the epitome of neglect, a third world airport. The facilities are third-rate. Arriving recently we had to haul our bags up 5 or 6 flights of stairs to the passport control which consisted of 2 desks & long queues. The place lacks character, structure & is totally unwelcoming. In future we will be flying to & from Dublin or Belfast City.

We travel all over the world. Never have I experienced the sheer hell I was just put through at Security. They ripped my carefully packed carry-on and my purse completely apart, then took them both back OUT OF MY VIEW to re-X-ray them. Then repeated the procedure TWICE MORE!! And we got the full body pat down, just for good measure. Yes, I speak Spanish, but I could never be mistaken for a member of a Mexican drug cartel. Along the way they had ample opportunity to steal money or anything else. Did they?? Time will tell. If I had known about the ferry, we could have avoided this insane nightmare. And, for the record, we had priority check-in and clearance at this Mickey Mouse excuse for an airport.

I flew from this airport yesterday. the men's toilets were filthy and backed up, unusable.It took just over one hour to get through security Sat afternoon, this caused numerous flights to be held and delayed. The central bar was full of dirty tables and rubbish. They love money here but detest hygiene.

Belfast international airport is in need of a major facelift. Walking through the airport feels like walking back in time. There's been little or no renovation since the Nineties. The airport in terms of facilities is okay but noting special. Considering that Belfast is an up and coming international tourist destination and the government are pumping all kinds of cash in to tourism you'd think they might renovate the first thing that tourists set their eyes on when they land? Anyway, the international airport offers flights to North America and mainland Europe as well as regular flights to the UK. One positive about the International airport is that Easyjet operate from here abs their flights are much more reliable than those going to the City. Don't forget to bring a £1 if you're picking up or dropping off at the airport.

Getting to the Belfast International airport was the easiest part of the trip. My flight time and hotel checkout time did not match up too well, so instead of wandering around in the rain with my suitcase, I decided to go to the airport about 3 hours early. I went straight from the bus station to the airport with no problems. It went downhill from there. When I got up to the ticket counter the man treats me like I am a complete idiot for arriving so early, but as a tourist, I really had no place else to go. He then tells me that my plane does not fly out until 5 PM when I thought it was supposed to fly out at 2:00. The negatives of this airport when you think you are going to be waiting there for 7 hours are: -The check-in area of the airport has very limited seating. -There is no free wi-fi and I did not feel like paying several pounds for a few minutes, so I had no way to contact anyone or do anything. -There is one small cafe, so I was able to buy some coffee and a sandwich. Luckily, something made me get up and check the departures board and I saw that I had been correct and the man had told me that the flight was leaving 3 hours later. I was so close to missing my flight because of him. I ran up to the counter again and of course get stuck behind an entire rugby team. When I finally get up to the counter I ask the woman if I was going to miss my flight and she just says "I don't know." Zero expression. Thanks, lady. You really helped calm my nerves. I jolted past the rugby team, ran through security (which was luckily fairly speedy) and made it to my gate with a few minutes to spare. Then when they board the plane, they jam a bunch of impatient people into a small area, finally open the doors and let everyone stampede through the rain. NOT FUN.

I love airports. There's nothing I enjoy more than sitting around in a silly airport pub, reading the news paper, drinking the same drink for hours just watching people go by. And now that I'd made that admission of my insanity, I will talk about one of my favourite airports. Belfast International Airport holds a lot of good memories for me. It was always the airport that we went to for our family holidays, so I still harbor this childish excitement whenever I go there. There are a lot of shops, cafe's and bar's to keep you occupied whilst waiting for a flight. More importantly for both kid and adult me, there are a lot of arcade games which keep me busy and decrease my spending money relentlessly. In terms of service, I can't say I've ever been on the receiving end of a delayed or cancelled flight at the airport. But if ever I needed to speak to a member of staff when handing in a bag or finding out directions to my gate they have always been obliging.

Reviews about airports are really not necessary, unless you have a 10 hr overnight layover so currently it would be your place to crash for the night. Almost all airports have a connecting hotel where you can stay so you can catch the early flight out and I thought about it for moment whether or not I needed to book a room for a few hours just to sleep. I've talked to a couple folks who slept in airports and told me it's relatively safe but took it with a grain of salt. However, when the airport staff told me it's better to just crash on one of the benches for a few hours then blow 80 euros for a room, then I develop a crush on you. Belfast International is relatively small and found most of it deserted for the night which sounded good since I could probably pass out for a few hours and not worry about all the traffic around me.... I actually did pass out and got lucky since I found a couch comfy enough for me to stretch out on. I must have been exhausted as well because I didn't hear anyone vacuuming or rolling by. So, 8 hours later I woke up and found a young man staring at me. I was too groggy to be freaked out but at the same time hoped I didn't leave a puddle of drool which would explain why he was staring at me. Oh well, like I'd run into him again and went on my way.

I was quite amused when arriving at this airport ... one entrance and one exit door. Its a compact airport with a reasonable sized duty free area. Shop wise there is a superdrug, whsmith, statbucks and a burger king. Easyjet seem to run the show here with loads of flights to all parts of the UK. It was a dream to get through security with ease and chill out in departures waiting to board. I feel for an international airport some upgrading is required but overall it does the job. The screens displaying the flights needs to be bigger. Need a magnifying glass to be able to read it! The 300 airport bus picks you up and drops you off at the door and is £10.50 return to the city centre.

When I think of airports I immediately think of Hawaiian shirts, tearful departures and joyous reunions. But I think this is only what airports are like in the movies and my emersion into popular culture has helped create this image in my head. Belfast International Airport has helped dispel this myth from my mind. It is a no nonsense, no frills airport and this is fine with me as it offers the cheapest flights into Belfast from England. It seems to operate a business like approach to air travel. There are not many fancy gimmicks in the International airport. When you are flying into the airport you are practically dropped at the baggage reclaim which is handy as in many other airports you have to walk through a maze of corridors before you are shepherded into the same zone. Then before you know it you are at the front entrance, or exit in this case, of the airport. But let me assure you, there will be no joyful reunions here as cars are no longer able to drive past the airport doors and you must say your hellos or goodbyes in the car park. Now if I was a cynic I would say that this may be a money making scheme to make family members or friends park their cars and pay the parking fee while waiting for arrivals. But I feel that it is a security precaution so I am inclined to let them off on this occasion. The airport is a little bit off the beaten track, so if you are flying in do not expect to be landing among the skyscrapers (who am I kidding) of Belfast. Transport links from the airport are pretty good. They operate an airport express (or the 300 express) to Belfast City and Londonderry. These Buses are nice and regular too, so you should not have to wait any longer than 15 minutes. I would advise this as the best method of travelling from the airport as you are dropped right in the city centre. Also it is relatively inexpensive at £4, it does take a while though so my advice would be to finish or start your holiday book on the journey. The only other real alternative is to get a taxi to your destination, there are always taxis at the rank, and I mean always, trust me I have been at the airport at some odd times. As I mentioned before the airport is very business like and the staff seem to follow this ethos. Customer care is of high importance and in my opinion the staff represent the hospitality of Northern Irish people, always available for a chat and willing to help you in every way possible. Even if it is 4am.

I have the unfortunate pleasure to frequent a number of UK airports. Belfast International is a harsh mistress for me, Harsh because although I am a Belfast native and arriving into the airport always warms my heart, as soon as the cabin door opens the arctic conditions chill me to the bone. Especially when departing in the early morning and making use of the decently priced long stay Car parking (and I mean decent in regards to what some airports charge), one is subjected to a climate that only polar explorers have encountered. This is completely regardless of month and season! Amenity wise, Belfast International or 'Aldergrove' as people of an older generation may refer to it, has a few restaurants, 2 coffee shops, a Boots, a superdrug, a pub and the mandatory duty free shopping. Pricing for the most part follows along the line of most Airport shopping monopolies so don't expect many bargains but we all enjoy Guinness at an inflated cost... Don't we? Pass me the Tayto Cheese and onion please...

The International Airport is one of two Belfast airports, the other being the City Airport, or the George Best to all you Norn Iron fans. This one is the larger and in my opinion the better of the two. I've been to this airport both in the morning time where you see shops beginning to open and in the evening time where you hardly have enough room to swing a cat (but I'm not going to do that again). It's a good airport, complete with all the essentials - books, burgers, tea, coffee, pub. Something for all the family! The check in desk people are very friendly and I don't know how they don't get incredibly jealous being stuck here at four in the morning whilst they see a bunch of rowdy drunks going off for a week of non-stop drinking and partying (and I'm not doing that again either). The security are lovely and are more than willing to chat to you ask they frisk you up and down but please resist the urge to make jokes about bombs and terrorism because that usually results in less shopping time and more nice chats with security (and I'm not doing... you get the point) Although I know this has very little to do with the airport, I've not had my flights delayed here by anything too substantial that I would get up and complain. Great airport and lovely people!

The international airport does the job, check in, security and facilities are all present and correct and work well and reasonably efficiently by any standards. However, so much of the airport feels run down and dated that it's a really depressing experience just being in the place. Worst of all is the arrivals area and luggage collection which is a complete mess, total throwback to the 80s! Bars and food are overpriced and average as you would expect but it's hard to beat a few beers or cocktails before you fly out to somewhere nice!

This airport is a joy, easy to navigate, small enough to be manageable and plenty of facilities to wile away an hour or two. First off the journey from Belfast city itself was spot on, the brief 25 minutes in the bus flew by and we were dropped right outside the main entrance. As we'd done the online check in thing we went straight to the security check which was surprisingly busy for the early hour. Thankfully all the machines were well staffed and it was a matter of minutes before we were through and contemplating a snack. There is a long concourse with various shops...WH Smiths, Boots and several eateries ranging from Burger King to Deans Café. The gates are split into two sections so it's easy enough to be sat at one end of the airport only to realise you need to hotfoot it to the other end. Plenty of helpful staff and a pleasant clean environment made the whole trip a painless experience. Our flight left on time to the minute which added greatly to the experience. Pros: Small, easy to get around, plenty of facilities. Cons: Not a place for serious retail therapy.

This airport's main unwarranted rip-off is in charging you £1 to pick someone up (which is nothing compared to the George Best City Airport's racket - see review). Doubtless they call it a fair-pricing strategy. If you enter in your car you cannot leave without paying £1. I'd love to call it false imprisonment, since you are prevented by them from leaving unless they say so, but I seriously doubt that's what it is legally, but I'm no expert so I couldn't say for certain one way or the other. It's netting them over £2 million a year so I doubt they care about the negative publicity. The International Airport is about 17 or 18 miles from the city centre, so you have a few options to get to and from here. You can get the bus, which is quite handy. The bus stop is right outside the terminal, and finishes at the Europa bus station in the centre of town. The buses mostly depart every 15 minutes. The price has gone up quite a bit in recent years. Last I checked it was £7 each way, or £10 return, but that was a few years ago. Annoyingly, the Ulsterbus section of the Translink website isn't as good as the Metro section (the latter gives you the price of fares), and I'm not phoning them to find out just because they can't organise heir website. You can also get a taxi, which are always in plentiful supply, costing around £30.

This airport is straightforward to navigate, with plenty of facilities along the way. The taxi stand is directly outside of the Arrivals Hall. The journey to central Belfast should take around half an hour. The baggage and check-in area is spacious and clean, with clear instructions and several retail options (in addition to the usual money exchange and car rental desks). Unlike some airports in the UK, luggage trolleys are free to use. The security staff are very professional and get an awkward job done with efficiency. Beyond the security area the Departures lounge has plenty of bars, cafes and retail options. The view of the runway is a fantastic sight and best enjoyed from the seating area of Starbucks.

We flew into Belfast International from Leeds Bradford and as I'd already done my homework in terms of checking the transport links into the city, we were all set and ready and got our Airport Express 300 bus tickets (£10 open return) with no problems. The way back to LBA was a bit different - the check in area at Belfast International is awful. Really, really awful. Soul destroyingly so. Those ridiculous stools in the Caffe Ritazza place, and the five or six metal chairs by the entrance - it's enough to make you want to cry. Once you've dropped your bags off and got through to departures it's all sunshine and smiles, with a Burger King, a pub, a wine bar and a huuuuuge and comfy Starbucks, but you'd never know this while you're waiting for Jet2 to open their bag drop desk, counting down the minutes as you sob into your overpriced coffee...

Friendly staff and easy airport to negotiate. Lovely new business lounge with helpful friendly staff. Pleasant chap Alan made us feel very welcome in the newly refurbished business lounge prior to our flight and Alan epitomises what customer service should be. Will return.

Aldergrove is around 30 mins from Belfast and is now almost finished refurbishment. It has improved dramatically inside and seems more like an airport. Theres a few extra shops but it is still lacking for an international airport. For domestic flights i prefer to go to the city airport but international travellers are well catered for with the now daily scheduled flight to New York. Good but room for improvement. Oh and take away the parking charge for pick-up and drop-offs!

Though pretty small, Belfast airport is very convenient and easy to fly into and out of. Parking is very close to the entrance which makes for easy access. Check in counters are not very big, so be ready for a long wait at United or others for large flights. Security is a breeze, definitely pay the extra 3 pounds for the priority screening which gets you through very fast. The larger gates are a bit of a hike from security, so leave some time to get to the gate before boarding. There are a few shops inside to kill some time, but not much beyond coffee shops and a pub or two, so you won't have that many options.

I have never had a problem with this airport so far - also handy that i live close. Have also found the staff quite pleasant - especially the security ones who I have had a laugh with on a few occasions. Not the most exciting of airports but as long as theres a coffee shop and somewhere to buy a book I'm happy :)

I used to pick my ex-girlfriend up from there. I have to say I liked it a lot because it was never a problem to get in, park, find my way around, and leave again. Hassle free because it wasn't overly busy. Parking was great too...I much prefer it to the overly-crowded Dublin airport.

If you enjoy the smell of hot urine and sitting on the floor, this is the airport for you. Arrived from Scotland at 730am made to collect bags for next flight at 3pm. There was no where to sit, charge phones, relax at all. We and many others sat on the floor while workers filled balloons, played music, ate cupcakes and made arches to celebrate the 4th of July...all while refusing to take our bags so we could go through security to departures where we could sit in what was promised to be a 'much nicer area'... (a folding chair that wasn't sticky with decades worth of failure would've felt like the Ritz.) Once we made it through the urine smell continued. The bathrooms were just as foul (but at least we'd located the source of the stench) food was horrid (but don't worry, it was also exorbitantly priced), flight was delayed again and again for no clear reason. I've travelled quite a but but this was probably the sloppiest smelliest airport I've ever had to use. If this is indicative of Belfast's workmanship and pride the Titanic, sinking makes complete sense.

A good size, with a quick security that's well organised. staff are generally very friendly and when we were taking our baby through they wouldn't have been more helpful. There's not a great range of shops, but there are some and a nice starbucks. The burger king isn't great and the fries are pretty much inedible. You have pay £1 to even drop off or pick up, which is shocking.

It's a fair way outside Belfast to start with . Entrance is a little difficult to understand in terms of who the hell designed the place . It's pretty basic on the check in and security . It feels a little provincial since it's got the tag international . However on the plus side has a good airport side , plenty of eateries and shopping . Layout confusing though .

It's been quite a few years since I flew from this dump. I do know what it is about this airport that makes me genetically disposed to dislike it and I've felt this way about this place for quite a time. It's a dull, scruffy place, it's a poorly maintained place and it's very much in need of repairs. This is lousy management who haven't learned from experience. Everyone pays to drive in. No free car/taxi drop off, and it doesn't matter to this bad management if you are elderly or disabled, your disability is their increased profit margin. They couldn't care less about customers, they just want as much of your money as they can wrench from you. Next we meet the pigeon-minded security staff - they have a toy. It's a machine that they place you in for a few seconds and you raise your arms about chest level. Once it spins around a few seconds and it clears you, you'd think that was that but oh no security still ask to frisk you. This was 04:30 in the morning. I was in a good mood. I was off to the sun but this bored numbskull searched everybody already cleared by the machine as I stood to put my shoes back on. What's the point of having the freaking machine. It's probably more reliable than him anyway, in fact the only thing he has in common with it is neither has an in built capacity for rational thought. So next I was off to Starbucks. The sane, friendly young lady said she would open in 5 minutes so I followed some of my companion travellers to the pub. The person behind the bar counter was on her mobile phone, not talking but looking like she was reading messages. She was asked if the pub was open and she said yes without even looking up from her phone. Wow, the sheer bad manners toward customers was startling even at that early hour. So I left my companions for a good Starbucks coffee and a great server. She was ace and courteous. I eventually returned to my companions. I noticed that the girl behind the bar was still mostly on her phone punctuated by the odd bit of customer service; customers were really an inconvenience here. I'd say she would need surgery to separate her from this technology. A machine would be better here too. Then off to the plane through an area that clearly deserved a lick of paint donkeys years ago. Now slurps of paint won't do. Obviously bad management are milking this cash cow until it crumbles. The good old Northern Ireland 'do ye rightly' attitude thrives inside this dystopian private sector business. Those who complain about the public sector would do well to think on.

Not much to say, an airport is an airport with the usual shops, bars, and Starbucks. Usually an easy experience, but depending at what time you come can really influence the type of experience you have. Friday evening is usually a bad time to go as it is packed out with the weekend Crowd. The bars especially are not a recommended place to go to at this time as it is near impossible to find a seat, or even get served if you're not already famialiar with their queuing rules. A man I had seen was there before most waiting on service and after about 10 minutes of being ignored he conplained and was simply told that he had to queue. A sign or a hint would have been nice. Not much else to say.ł

For the main airport in and out of N.I. this airport is quite inadequate. The amount of space by the gates is much too small and the queues to the gates sometimes reach down the corridors. There is a nice little selection of shops and eateries, including a gorgeous Starbucks, but as a whole this terminal is half the size it needs to be.

Getting to Aldergrove (as it known rather than Belfast International) can be difficult if you're not driving (its about £20-25 in a taxi from the city so i've been told). This airport is no where near Belfast, which is probably a good hour's drive away. Thankfully I usually get a lift. Parking is more than ample and is well laid out with the spaces being quite generous (I judged this from a Mitsubishi Warrior that parked next to us and I still had loads of room to get out of the car). On entering the terminal its much the same as most medium sized airports, just one big row of check in desks. But the terminal is bright and doesn't feel claustrophobic like some older terminals (even when its packed for the last flight out on a sunday). Once you have checked in you can proceed through to the area before security. There is a food court here with choice to suit most tastes : A pub; Fresh juice bar; Burger King; Cafe/Restaurant (cooking hot food all day, the menu changes daily. It also sells sandwiches, pastries, cereals, baby meals and beverages) and a coffee shop. All the prices here are roughly what you would expect in an airport (on the expensive side), e.g. Roast chicken with veg and chip was £6.99; scampi and chips £5.99; a ham salad sandwich (wholemeal bread) £3.50. There are two gift shops here, one is really a newsagents (with quite a good pick and mix selection) and an Irish gift shop (lots of guiness items, tourist tack and of course Butlers confectionary which is a must!). Security itself usually doesn't take long to get through and then its through to the revamped lounge. The main hall now boast a large gift shop (I believe it will be another world shopping store but they didn't have the signage when I was there). This shop takes up most of the main hall with corridors leading off to the left and right to the gates and a small area for seating in front of the store. The store is quite bright and very well laid out. There is a section on the left as you enter the store that is mostly gift items (of American designers), watches, handbags and scarves in a rainbow of colours (all the watches and handbags were £10 and were very good quality). They also had a very good selection of costume and fashion jewellery (which all come with gift boxes). The selection of cosmetics is still probably the 3rd largest next to Heathrow and Gatwick. With lots of 'Airport only' deals on special gift sets. The perfume and cologne sections also seem to have exapnded. The range of drink/tobacco seems to have remained the same with only the top brands being stocked (and some very good deals on champagne). The range for children is quite limited. It consists of a few teddy bears, beanie toys and some travel games but at least with the revamp the toys aren't next to the sweets as they were before! Gadgets and gizmos are quite limited and I was quite disappointed as before the revamp they had a Dixons electronics shop so i was hoping there might be something similar. I was told they would be adding more lines once all the revamp work was completed, so this may have changed now. Also stocked are a very good range of chocolates, confectionary and novelty tourist items as well as a good (but small) range of sunglasses. The staff were very friendly and helpful. I loved this new store and could quite easily spend an hour here but I'm afraid the credit card might take a bit of a hammering! On moving to the gate areas, these were still the same with one newsagents for the whole area (4 gates). If you are at the gates downstairs these are still untouched and there is still only two vending machines for this area. I must admit these areas downstairs are in dire need for a revamp especially after being so impressed with the shopping upstairs. All in all if you are flying out of Aldergrove (and your a girl) you'll love it. The shop in the main hall is fantastic and a chance to pick up some really good bargains or presents. If your a bloke then unless its changed (and the gadgets have reappeared) it might be a little boring for you, unless (if you're wise or looking to score some brownie points) you fancy picking up a present for your girlfriend/wife/mother. I'm sure they'd love anything from here and if you ask the staff nicely they'll help you pick something. If you're flying into Aldergrove, then the baggage hall is just that I'm afraid. There are two carousels and if you are waiting to be picked up, there is a small cafe (similar prices to the cafe in departures) and a sandwich bar (which was quite pricey) and a newsagents. Which by the way sells bouquets of flowers. The airport is very clean though now that parts have been revamped it makes the older parts look grubby even though the cleaners work very hard to keep the place spotless. The airport staff are very friendly and the airport is laid out to be easily manageable for disabled access (work is going to be done on the arrivals hall to improve disabled access there,

'Belfast's' International airport like many is situated a reasonable distance from Belfast itself. Aldergrove as it was previously known shares the same characteristics as many of its Irish and European counterparts. Slightly dated, but charming to some extent. This is the hub for most travellers who leave these shores and have decided on going as far as at least mainland Europe. The last time I was here was last year on a trip to New York (one of the very few if only non-European destinations this airport flies direct to) It was with Continental Airlines, and to be honest was a fantastic experience. Quick, no issues and above par food on board at no extra cost. The airport itself has a place in my heart as it does for most. There is a half decent little pub and it's a reasonably comfortable place to hang out, but still, once you've seen airports of varying size elsewhere you'll realise it really is more akin to a large bus station.

Clean and well maintained, if a little small. Cafeteria and seating area supplied good tea and coffee facilities. Excellent croissants! Helpful staff guided us in the best route for our onward journey.

Many people flying from here are going to a mainland UK destination, which is an internal flight. So you may think that the security checks would be less onerous than usual, but you'd be wrong. The day I went through they were being extra thorough with many people being asked to take their shoes off to be scanned separately through the x-ray machine. Make sure you arrive at the airport in good time to allow for this.

I regularly travel through Aldergrove, and each time I detest it! If you are lucky enough to be able to check-in online, you can at least avoid the draughty impersonal check-in hall, in which you will inevitably have to join a queue. As you proceed up to the area pre-security, there is a Burger King and a little cafe, that sells extortionately priced food. There are also a few shops, although the airport is undergoing some redevelopment and there may be more retail in the future. Security itself is possibly one of the most unpleasant I have encountered. On having your boarding card checked by a surly security agent, you are herded to a bland and constantly packed security area, where there are six metal detectors available for use. The staff are generally rude and unpleasant, and one feels that being prepared for security (i.e. pockets emptied, jackets/belts off, liquids out) serves only to heap suspicion upon oneself and inevitably ends up with a thorough search of your bag and a body search as well. Daring to wait for one's travel companions will quickly attract the attention of the more senior members of staff, who will shout at you to move on. Once airside, the range of shops is limited and the seating uncomfortable. This is particularly noticable at gates 10-14, where more comfortable seats were replaced with hard metal ones a few years ago. Perhaps the management at BFS should take a look at other International airports, and begin to value their customers and provide a more pleasant start to people's journeys. - I should also add that the airport is not actually in Belfast, but is nearer to Antrim. There is a bus service costing £6 one way £9 return (at time of writing) to and from Belfast City Centre. *UPDATE 30.12.09* I travelled through BFS the other day, and it is beginning to look like an International airport now! However, the same old problems at security as ever - now there are only three metal detectors and they haven't installed extended conveyor belts for people to place their belongings before being x-ryaed; instead opting for wooden tables at the end of each belt. One would hope that this is just an interim measure, and that rather than doing a half-assed makeover passengers get the international airport experience they deserve.

Belfast International airport is about 40 minutes drive from belfast city centre so it can be a hassle to get to if you don't drive. However, ulsterbus run a bus service from europa buscentre that stops outside boots and H&M in the city centre, before heading up the motorway to templepatrick and then onto the airport. The bus service runs 24 hours, with a bus every ten minutes at peak times, and every half hour after 7pm. It takes about 40 minutes to get the airport and costs £7 for a single ticket and £10 for a return. Its so much easier than taking the car if you don't live close to the airport.

I find this a cold airport where I can't wait to leave! The food on offer is nothing more than slop and the prices are appalling! I was unfortunate enough to get stuck in this airport again after I missed my flight and had to wait hours for the next one. I went into the pub to have something to eat and kill a couple of hours! The place was like a walk in fridge, music blasting continuously , slow & obviously unhappy staff & a great selection of hard chairs to sit on! I took a chance and ordered food and a pint, which turned up like a dogs dinner with no sauces, cutlery etc unless asked for. I had to go hunting for a knife and fork and found some dusty ones in a even dustier cutlery tray! The food was just a greasy mess and they charged me nearly £14.00 for an Alcatraz inmates dinner. I've been in a lot of airports in my time but this has got to be the coldest, noisiest & overpriced airport I've ever had the nightmare to be in !

BFS has gone from providing a reasonable service to one to be avoided when at all possible. Trying to squeeze every penny from you now includes keeping you standing for so long that you do have to think about paying for'priority. It is now the worst airport I have ever had the misfortune to have to use. Positively unpleasant security staff long queues minimal seating - try another airport if you can

Short walk from the plane to baggage collection and you're out of there before you can say 'pawer shawer'. Taxis on the doorstep and a pint of harp in your hand in no time. Decent.

It's functional and gets you where you need to go, so that's good, but the selection of restaurants is minimal compared to most international airports. I would avoid it for a long stop-over, but it's not a problem for use entering and exiting Northern Ireland.

i love this airport the staff are brilliant and the airport is pretty big.

I'm always happy to be in this airport, because it means I'm on the verge of a holiday or break away somewhere nice for a change, and in my world that doesn't happen often enough. Along with Belfast City Airport, this airport serves most of Northern Ireland. Most recently they have started offering direct flights to New York and other further destinations, which is fantastic because in the past we would have had to go to London or Dublin on a connecting flight. It's well run, clean and organised, and the shops aren't bad - although there could be more of them as you would run out of stuff to browse through pretty quickly if you were delayed for a long time. The security in my experience is much swifter than in other UK airports, and they have Boots, Starbucks, a newsagents, a bar and Paul Rankin Cafe (overpriced for what they offer) among other Duty Free shops and some clothing outlets. Most of all, the planes, in my experience usually leave on time and the staff are always nice.