Using Leeds Bradford Airport Questions & Reviews

[stevemej]

To be honest I included a link to the thread so he can see all of the comments by users of this forum. If he wasn't already a member he might find it interesting to get a different view of his airport.
I realise that many users on this are aviation enthusiasts and naturally want to give the benefit of the doubt to lbia. I actually like using lbia and find it convenient as I live near Wakefield.However, even users of this forum have documented repeated occurrances of queueing down the corridor towards arrivals, queuing to get into and out of the car park, broken exit barriers in the car park, incorrect information in the luggage hall.
Even Michael O leary now recognises the importance of customer service.

I really am interested to find out what steps are in place to deal with these reccurring problems. What happens to Servisair when they turn around and say you can disembark from the plane not now but in 30 minutes.

 

[Aviador]

I am sure people would welcome airport managers onto here with open arms to answers questions directly. I think it is unlikely we will see them on here though because they seem to prefer to steer clear of forums. It is a nightmare for them to be honest because every answer would have to be carefully vetted by their PR team before they could submit anything onto here. They seem to prefer to use Facebook and Twitter because they can control the questions and answers.

 

[a300boy]

I think we all support the place and thats why we get a little heated at times. I did my Oz trip to see the kids from Manchester this year and have not used Lbia this year at all as I travel so much less now. When I had to travel to Bahrain every 21 days plus three holidays a year abroad I had no complaints at all. But maybe I was just lucky.

 

[lbaspotter]

I am a big supporter of LBA but with all this doom and gloom been reported on this forum lately maybe Bridgepoint Capital should take a leaf of Peel Groups handling of Teeside Airport. Close up shop and tell the airlines we don't won't you business any more, That way they'll be less complaints from passengers as they'll be non left. Oh last one out don't forget to lock the gate up behind you!
I'm sure Doncaster-Sheffield and Manchester would be happy with the extra business. Plus it I'll give everyone on here something proper to complain about.

End of me rant for now... Can we see some positive for once! Also I'll like to just point out It's not that I disagree with complaints as they should be heard by the airports management and of course I know everyone is entitled to the own word on this matter using this forum. Its just that its getting a little depressing, that's all..

 

[Aviador]

We are a neutral forum LBAspotter so opinions from all sides are welcome so long as people stick to the rules of the forum.

 

[a300boy]

I agree lbaspotter lets get happy ! onwards and upwards eh ?

 

[stevemej]

Just to confirm - I like using LBIA.

I emailed Tony Hallwood but as yet have not received a reply. maybe he's on holiday.

 

[yorkshire]

I was working in Leeds to day and looked out of our window and saw a couple of Jet2 staff walking down the Headrow with a dog with a red bow on it?

Is there a new promotion/sales drive there doing today??

 

[tleeds]

I've heard about that 'Yorkshire' - I think they were just promoting their Summer routes and schedules in the city centre..!

 

[imagineif]

Dear me!

Some dreadful and damaging reviews on Leeds Bradford Airport.

Same complaints over and over and very difficult to find positive reviews.


http://www.airlinequality.com/Airports/Airport_forum/lba.htm

 

[michael]

Don't you find that in nearly all cases the only people who complete these reviews are those that have a gripe? Bad news travels far faster than good news and some reviewers are only too pleases to pull a place to bits whereas those who have a pleasant experience often don't bother with reviews. I run my own business which involves customer service and have have to say I don't usually take much notice of reviews - but good ones are always nice to read. Most of the issues in the reviews have been discussed many times on here - buses, security, arrivals hall, drop off charges etc, but as we all know things won't improve until Bridgepoint decide to splash the cash - which has also been thrashed to death on here!!

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Dear me!

Some dreadful and damaging reviews on Leeds Bradford Airport.

Same complaints over and over and very difficult to find positive reviews.


http://www.airlinequality.com/Airports/Airport_forum/lba.htm

Many, many years ago, I was on the McDonald's management program (please don't judge me - I was young and needed money). The statistic we were given was that if someone has a good experience, they will tell one other person. If someone has a bad experience, they will tell ten other people.

Whilst the number of people having a bad experience is normally far lower than those having a good experience, they are the ones that will shout loudest and longest. Therefore it is unrealistic to simply ignore the negatives. If people are not happy, that is an area for improvement, even if only one person is unhappy.

I make a point these days of telling someone when I have had a good experience as I am more than happy to tell someone when I haven't. I find myself feeding back a good experience far more than bad experiences. However, not everyone is like me. Similarly, when I have reported on this forum on the good experiences I have had at LBA, almost nobody has shown any kind of interest. When I reported on the one bad experience I had (baggage reclaim following a flight from Heathrow), it stirred up a whole host of reaction.

The good news is that if you were to look through websites such as the above, you will find that LBA is not alone - every airport in the world will have a bad review of some description. However, it is important that it is all kept in perspective. There are some airports, such as Schipol, that are absolutely fabulous. There are others, such as Geneva, that are atrocious however the overall number of complaints vs compliments will be roughly similar.

The best advice I can give to any business reflecting upon customer opinion is to take the negatives seriously and ensure that those areas are worked upon without forgetting that there are far more positives than negatives and celebrating what they do well.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Arrived at Agp beginning of this month, only 2 staff reading all passports and those with bio-metric passports diverted to readers which had no instructions and it became obvious you had to insert your index fingure as well as the eyes reac.
we were in row 8 of the plane and it took us an hour to get through, friends in row 22 took over 2 hours.
maybe LBA not all bad.

 

[imagineif]

Some interesting and valid feedback!

It is true that life is full of complainers but several of those are singing from the same hymn book.

People don't like the underhand charges, the lack of seating & the confusion. Comments such as "back to Manchester" should not be ignored.

Parking/Drop off should again be made clear - & LBA needs to deliver a more regular or larger shuttle bus service to the car parks.

Perhaps more Passenger Service Ambassadors should be deployed - to assist passengers in departures and help reduce gate confusion. The map of the terminal as seen on the LBA website & in the airport itself really does not make much sense unless you know the in's & outs of the building like somebody who works in it...

 

[chrisd80]

Can I say in regards to the bad reviews LBIA get, the replies on this forum over the past few days I agree with finding them fair and correct. I find UK airports are not that brilliant in general being cramped and over crowded. However Leeds is one of the better ones. For me there is good access to the airport with one of the best off site car parks I have ever used. The only bags that have to be carried up any stairs are cabin bags, but yes the queues thru security can be bad but as is with most airports.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Travelled AGP to LBA today. The walk from T3 security to gate B18 in T2 is very long at malaga.
Our Jet2 aircraft parked at stand 13 and we had the long walk back to passport control, a small distance compared to the walking at malaga.
People complain about this walk, but on arrival at malaga you can be made to walk to T3 for passport control and then back to T2 to collect your luggage, you pass the luggage hall and wave to your case and 10 minutes later meet up with it.
We arrived from Ibiza into malaga last week and got the farthest gate in zone B T2 and then frog marched to T3, fortunately we had no hold luggage so could escape the airport.
For me LBA is small and beautiful, for us oldies walking great distance is not a pleasure.

 

[Aviador]

Can I say in regards to the bad reviews LBIA get, the replies on this forum over the past few days I agree with finding them fair and correct. I find UK airports are not that brilliant in general being cramped and over crowded. However Leeds is one of the better ones. For me there is good access to the airport with one of the best off site car parks I have ever used. The only bags that have to be carried up any stairs are cabin bags, but yes the queues thru security can be bad but as is with most airports.

Putting things into perspective, there is definitely a lot right with LBA, but let's not get carried away because there are so many things that can be done to make LBA better.

 

[chrisd80]

Can I say in regards to the bad reviews LBIA get, the replies on this forum over the past few days I agree with finding them fair and correct. I find UK airports are not that brilliant in general being cramped and over crowded. However Leeds is one of the better ones. For me there is good access to the airport with one of the best off site car parks I have ever used. The only bags that have to be carried up any stairs are cabin bags, but yes the queues thru security can be bad but as is with most airports.

Putting things into perspective, there is definitely a lot right with LBA, but let's not get carried away because there are so many things that can be done to make LBA better.

Yes anything can be made better. However for me living locally I find the location excellent. Car parking at Sentinel is the best service I have found. I regularly catch early morning flights. I arrive early especially in the summer months so as to avoid the congestion. I don't need a international or regional hub as all the flights I need can be taken with low cost carriers. Yes the lack of Sky Bridges can be a pain especially on a cold winters evening and I do hate being packed on a shuttle bus but I have only experienced this with Jet2 which is never my first choice. But having previously lived in the South West and having the long drive to the big London Airports I would take Leeds Bradford any time.

 

[Aviador]

Right here goes then, here's my full review of Leeds Bradford Airport having just used the airport for a family holiday to Majorca. I'll try to be as honest as I can.

We had a mid week flight flying with Jet2 LS257 Boeing 757-200 (AG) departing LBA at 06:30 to Palma.

We used Arrow Taxis to get to the airport to take advantage of their door to door service. The taxi was on time and we were dropped off outside the main doors at LBA. We arrived at LBA in good time at 04:00 to avoid any potential queues at LBA. Something we didn't fancy with two young children in tow especially having had to wake them in the early hours.

B-Hall check in was quiet, check-in was quick and the Jet2 staff were courteous and efficient. The terminal was clean but the terminal configuration was confusing according to the wife. (Something we're all too aware of on here)

Security was quiet with only a handful of passengers passing through when we went through but it was noted that the security officer on the boarding card point was juggling between two entry points. As a passenger, this seemed inefficient. On passing the boarding card check-point we were processed quickly and without any further ado. The security staff were polite and courteous.

On entering the departure area there were ample seats available in the food and beverage outlets which were all open. We used the Camden Foods outlet which we found very expensive but we used them anyway as we were "on holiday". The Camden Food outlet staff were polite and courteous.

By 05:00 we decided to move because the area was starting to get busy and the wife wanted to have a look at the World Duty Free before we boarded. We made one small purchase in the World Duty Free outlet. We used a till towards the exit near gate 10 as there was a queue for the main tills. The staff were polite and helpful.

We carried on to the Saltaire and by this point the departure lounge was becoming busy. We sat in the Saltare without making a purchase, something the wife thought we shouldn't be doing but accepted it was worth it with the limited seats available at that point. The terminal was warm and sticky and there appeared to be no air conditioning throughout the building.

A boarding call was made and we used Gate 7(A), the air bridge on stand 8. We found the gate area snake queue system was awkward to navigate with a pushchair but otherwise boarding was quick.

We had an on time departure from the gate and the flight was good.

On return to LBA the flight was good (AA), the landing was a little bumpy but not uncomfortable but the aircraft used all the runway to stop and needed to go the wrong way round the loop. We used the new shelter to walk into the terminal. Inside the terminal the arrival walkway seemed too narrow with much of it sectioned off for departing passengers. (The wife's thoughts)

There was a queue for Passport Control but we found it was comparable with queues at other airports. The UK Border Force staff were polite and courteous.

The baggage hall didn't seem too busy. A Monarch flight and one other flight landed soon after our flight.

Our verdict on LBA.

Overall our experience was pretty good. Our experience at check-in, security and in the departure area was very good. When the terminal became busy shortly before we boarded our experience deteriorated because of the lack of space and seats in the departure area and because it was warm and sticky. We thought we were lucky to have used one of the two air bridges on departure and we thought our experience of LBA would not have been as good had we had to use the downstairs "walk on" departure gates. On return we found the lack of an air bridge had a significant impact on our passenger experience using LBA. We felt the price we paid for our holiday with Jet2 did not represent the low-cost facilities at LBA although our overall experience at LBA was good but it lets itself down in key areas.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

How did you find Palma in relation to LBA, its zone system to some can confuse.