Leeds Bradford: Passenger Reviews, Q&A, and Travel Advice

[LBAYORKIE]

Out to Geneva yesterday morning with Jet2. It took 10/15 mins to clear security and they have changed the entrance to Terminal extension now opposite Boots. Walked down old arrivals lane and eventually into the extension. Departed from Gate 12 - what a trek - and I actually managed to be last on board. The flight was full, the cabin crew were good (as usual) and arrived on time.
On the way back by easyJet and what a quiet flight, not much for the cabin crew to do, as only 70 on board.
Landed 20 mins early but carried on and had to wait in the loop whilst the BHD landed behind us.
Had to queue at Border Force, but kept moving and out to Sentinel which I left 40 mins after landing.
Now to sort the photos I've taken.

Don't like the sound of the Easyjet figures.

 

[YorkshireLad]

They've been this bad all winter, and were no better last. It's generally accepted that the low frequency and poor timings are probably to blame

I've been following the easyJet loads consistently for around a month now, and can tell you the other routes are not having that same story - in fact I'm rather impressed by Paris and Barcelona in particular

 

[Seasider]

Just to correct my previous post, I went out Fri came back Sat.

 

[leedslad]

Departures observations today

Horrid plastic plants at check-in. Future landfill, dust traps, looks cheap and awful like an 80s sports centre

Check-in area looks modern and clean. Lots of trendy wood panelling though which I fear will be looking dated within a decade. We will see.

Just 4 self baggage check in scales which is nowhere near enough meaning huge queues

Scanner gates to enter security working well now

Security super speedy and a breath of fresh air

Still feels disjointed getting to the new building, presumably this is temp. Overall it's very impressive and looks great. Couldn't locate a water fountain and no usb charging at the seats though.

Very minor criticisms overall and a vast improvement.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Departures observations today

Horrid plastic plants at check-in. Future landfill, dust traps, looks cheap and awful like an 80s sports centre

Check-in area looks modern and clean. Lots of trendy wood panelling though which I fear will be looking dated within a decade. We will see.

Just 4 self baggage check in scales which is nowhere near enough meaning huge queues

Scanner gates to enter security working well now

Security super speedy and a breath of fresh air

Still feels disjointed getting to the new building, presumably this is temp. Overall it's very impressive and looks great. Couldn't locate a water fountain and no usb charging at the seats though.

Very minor criticisms overall and a vast improvement.

Theres a water fountain on the right just as you enter the new terminal extension. The other side of the concourse from the toilets.

 

[leedslad]

Thanks! Couldn't see it for looking

Also the brand new purpose built gates are not large enough to hold a plane load of people, meaning at boarding that messy unorganised queues form in to the seating area. Quite the oversight!!

Final thought, the current check in arrangements absolutely could not cope with even one long haul flight where each passenger checks a bag... Not sure if this is slated to be addressed with ongoing works...

 

[The Pole]

Theres a water fountain on the right just as you enter the new terminal extension. The other side of the concourse from the toilets.

I've not seen the new one but the old one was still in situ on Thursday top of escalator after security clearance just after bureau de change

 

[leedslad]

Used the new arrivals.

Corridor from plane to passport control a little narrow (and narrows further for each set of fire/security doors) which means no scope to pass slow walkers.

Just one plane load seemed to near fill passport queues so wouldn't like to see three arrive simultaneously (or god forbid a long haul).

Very minor issues though.

Other than that no complaints all very impressive. Bags on the conveyor already faster than clearing passport control (e-gates still to come). Very smooth from plane to exit.

Not much/any(?) welcome to Leeds/Yorkshire branding but guess it's still partially finished.

 

[Aviador]

I'll be having my day trip to Dublin this week so I'll provide my experience here too.

 

[JRP]

I'll be having my day trip to Dublin this week so I'll provide my experience here too.

I did it last year for the day, get to Guinness brewery if you get time worth a visit

 

[leedslad]

I did it last year for the day, get to Guinness brewery if you get time worth a visit

Conversely I found it over-rated... You don't even see it being brewed... Just lots of posters on the wall in a huge space. More of a museum than a brewery experience.

 

[Finger66]

Having visited it twice, the first many years ago when it was a more "old" experience, I would say the more "modern" experience is very good and would highly recommend it for anyone wanting to visit

 

[Len Fish]

The problem with modern breweries is they’re factories where everything is automated and enclosed so there’s actually little to see, unlike say a traditional brewery like Theakstons at Masham where the actual full process is viewable from top to bottom literally, as it’s a tower brewery with all the materials for the various stages travelling from top to bottom using gravity.

 

[Aviador]

Review: Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
I flew out of Leeds Bradford Airport yesterday, and it’s clear the site is still currently a tale of two halves. If you haven’t visited for a while, the ongoing transformation makes for a bit of a mixed bag, though there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel.

Arrival and "The Walk"
We opted for the Free Drop-off Area, which is a great cost-saving shout and it allows you to stretch your legs prior to the wait in departures. The walk itself is short and manageable, but the location of the free parking feels rather awkward tucked away in a spot that feels a bit disconnected from the main flow, making the initial approach to the terminal feel slightly clunky.

Check-in and Security
As we were travelling light with cabin bags only, we bypassed the check-in desks entirely. From a quick glance, however, the concourse didn't look overly congested, and the queues appeared to be moving at a decent clip.
Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for security. The queue stretched right back toward the entrance, and it took a solid 40 minutes to clear the scanners and reach the departure lounge. It’s certainly worth arriving with plenty of time to spare, as this remains a significant bottleneck.

The Departure Experience
Once through, the layout is currently a bit of a "rabbit warren." Due to the extensive construction work, navigating your way to the newer facilities requires a fair bit of winding through temporary corridors.
However, once you reach the new extension, the atmosphere changes completely.








Space: It feels far more modern and airy.
Facilities: A significant step up from the cramped conditions of the old terminal building.

Ambience: It actually feels like a 21st-century travel hub.

Final Thoughts
The new extension is a huge improvement and offers a glimpse of what LBA could become. The real test will be seeing how the airport management manages to "tie up" this sleek new addition with the older parts of the building once they’ve completed the renovations. For now, pack your patience for the security queue and enjoy the new lounge once you finally find it!

 

[Aviador]

The Arrival Experience at LBA​

Touching down at Leeds Bradford on a late-night flight from Dublin around 22:20 provided a stark contrast to our departure. While the efficiency of the "back end" of the terminal was impressive, the journey from the tarmac to the kerbside highlighted some of the growing pains the airport is currently enduring.

Tarmac Delays and the "Bus Situation"​

After landing, we were parked at a remote stand well beyond the usual walk-in gates. We sat on the aircraft for several minutes before disembarkation even began. There was a further hold-up, seemingly due to a shortage of shuttle buses.

Interestingly, the crew informed us that LBA only had one working bus available for all Jet2 and Ryanair flights that evening. I took this with a pinch of salt, however, as I spotted a second bus manoeuvring between stands shortly after. Whether it was a genuine shortage or a logistical mix-up, it added an unnecessary layer of waiting to the end of the trip.

The Shuttle Squeeze​

When the bus finally arrived, "cosy" would be an understatement. It was crammed to capacity, and the driver asked everyone to place their bags on the floor just to squeeze in a few more passengers.

Once moving, our transit across the ramp was briefly interrupted as we had to give way to a KLM aircraft pulling onto its stand a fair enough delay, but it added to the feeling of a "clumsy" arrival.

The New Arrivals Hall​

We alighted the bus and headed straight into the new arrivals hall.

• First Impressions: It wasn't quite as spacious as I’d anticipated, though it’s important to remember the hall is still technically unfinished with a further 2 carousels to come.
• Comparison: Even in its current state, it is a vast improvement over the old, cramped setup we’ve lived with for years.

The "Rabbit Warren" Exit​

The journey didn't end there. To get out to the terminal front road, we had to navigate another "rabbit warren" of temporary walkways. It feels disjointed at the moment, though I must admit the actual speed of moving through the terminal building itself was incredibly fast and compares impressively with other airport at home and abroad.

Final Verdict​

The experience currently feels a bit awkward and unrefined. While the physical speed of getting from the bus to the exit was great, the logistics on the airfield and the temporary routing through the building make it feel like a work in progress.

Like many regular LBA users, I’m genuinely looking forward to the day the construction wraps up and the flow becomes as seamless as the new extension promises.

#LBAreview#LeedsBradfordAirport

 

[Len Fish]

Are the shuttle buses EVs do you know?

 

[Aviador]

Are the shuttle buses EVs do you know?

I don't think so.

 

[White Heather]

I don't think so.

But will be. Eventually.

 

[Finger66]

Clearly not the "current" fleet!

 

[Len Fish]

There’s got to be a raisin why they’re not using EV buses yet.