Wondering where to start your next journey from? Here are five airports to consider when you’re booking your next trip
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If you are flying from the UK, there are lots of options available to you in terms of where you fly from. So how do you pick the right one to start your trip from?
Obviously you need to pick an airport which flies to your chosen destination, that goes without saying. And you’d probably like to pick one that is close to your home as well to cut down on travel time..
For instance, I often fly from Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool airports as they are all within about 90 minutes of my home in Shropshire.
But there’s a lot more to take into account, so here are some of the best UK airports to fly from.
Heathrow
Heathrow airport is the largest airport in the UK and it handles over 80 million passengers each year. As such, you will find that they host flights to hundreds of destinations. So no matter where you want to go, the likelihood is that you will find a flight from Heathrow.
They have lots of bars, restaurants and cafes to choose from while you wait for your flight, and you can pre-order your meal to save time. And there’s also a long list of shops to pass your time in, to make your airport experience more enjoyable.
Heathrow airport even has its own loyalty scheme called ‘Heathrow Rewards’, which is great if you travel a lot for leisure or business.
As you spend in the airport’s shops, bars, restaurants and more, you can collect points. You can then use your points to buy reward vouchers that you can use in the airport shops and restaurants. You can also use them use to buy vouchers to spend on travel.
Birmingham International
If you don’t want to travel over to London for your flight, then why not head to my local airport, Birmingham.
You can fly direct to over 150 destinations from Birmingham International Airport, so there’s a good chance that your destination is on the list. And as it is located just off Junction 6 of the M42, it’s easy to access from all round the country.
You can also get to Birmingham International by train. The airport is directly linked to Birmingham International railway station by a 90 second monorail ride.
Once you’re through security at the airport, you’ll find everything from family friendly restaurants to cool champagne bars. There’s also a host of high street names for some pre-flight shopping,and a range of airport lounges to make the wait for your flight more comfortable.
London Luton
Luton isn’t as central as other London airports, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a lot to offer. With over 130 destinations, it’s a great option for your next flight. I used to fly from Luton to Slovakia and its location on the M1 motorway made it really easy to get to.
And there are great parking facilities there that will make your experience even more hassle-free. The Luton Airport mid term parking option is one of the most popular choices there.
Mid term parking at Luton is great for slightly longer stays. And once you have parked your car, the five minute shuttle to your terminal runs every 15 minutes for your convenience.
It’s the most cost-effective option and you can save up to 60% by pre-booking online. You can also be safe in the knowledge that your car will be completely safe and secure at the airport. There’s more information on mid term parking at Luton Airport here.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh airport is of course located in the capital of Scotland, a vibrant city with lots of things to see and do. This is Scotland’s largest and busiest airport with over 13 million people travelling through its door each year.
One of the cool new concepts this airport has come up with is the “Edinburgh Airport Noise Lab”. This online noise monitoring tool lets you check the levels of airline noise as well as flight info like altitude and position. And it works pretty much in real time – there’s about a 5-minute delay.
You can also have a look at the historical data of previous flights. This is perfect for those of you who like to get more flight info before travelling.
Glasgow
Another Scottish Airport, Glasgow airport hosts more than 9 million passengers a year. I flew into this airport when I visited Scotland a couple of years ago.
This airport has lots going for it in terms of facilities, some of which you can book online to make your travel experience easier. The new Lomond Lounge opens in September this year, and promises to be a VIP experience for customers.
For just £40 per person, adults will be treated to an a la carte menu as well as some beautiful signature cocktails. You will be able to enjoy all of this whilst looking out over panoramic views of the runway. This is definitely the place to start your trip the way you mean to go on. Head to the Glasgow Airport site to see some of their sample menus.
There is also an UpperDeck lounge which is a more cost-effective option at £23 for adults and £17 for kids. There are complementary drinks and nibbles, and you can even splash out and buy some champagne or prosecco for a special occasion. You can make use of the lounge for up to 3 hours before your flight leaves.
So if you are flying from the UK and aren’t quite sure which airport to go for, or you have seen a holiday from an airport you haven’t visited before, don’t worry. You’ll be in safe hands if you leave from these top UK airports!