Glasgow International Airport

It’s fine. I’m not a huge fan, due to its location closer to Paisley, and the extortionate bus to get there. From what I’ve heard from friends who drive, doing that and parking is not a much more attractive proposal, cost-​wise.
Once you’re inside, it’s like most other medium-​sized airports. There are shops and cafés, enough to satisfy any hunger or thirst, but again for a high price. Route network is not bad within Europe. For some reason, flights to and from Glasgow are often cheaper than the equivalent flights from Edinburgh, so that’s the reason I trek over here now and again. However, given the aforementioned expensive public transit, perhaps it isn’t better value, after all.

This airport is like any other
It has various over priced shops, over priced eateries and helpful check in desk team
The car parking is horrendous, picking people up is extortion, dropping people off you are often ushered away as you are saying goodbye to your friends and family for more than 2.3 seconds
I picked someone up the other day… Drove in went immediately to the pickup point where my friend was, I got out the car and went straight to the ticket payment, I would estimate no more than 90 seconds elapsed from getting the ticket to paying … £4, that is extortion, it’s cheaper to have a taxi bring the person out of the airport grounds than pick them up in less than 2 mins
The check in and boarding is all very straight forward and as simple and as effective as other airports
The security team and the immigration team are where it falls apart, they are the most miserable, rude and unhelpful people you will ever have the misfortune of coming across, don’t even smile at them cause they will have your bag open faster than it takes to sneeze
I have no idea why these people are allowed to be as rude as they are and get away with it.
In all I hate Glasgow airport for that reason… Train the security and immigration in customer relations and possibly I’ll enjoy my travel from there, also reduce your car parking prices you complete robbers

Confession time, I love airports. I am obsessed. I get ridiculously excited at the prospect of travelling by plane, especially when it involves seeing new airports. I blame duty free, and a love for airport-​based documentaries.
Much to my dismay I haven’t seen all that many airports in my time, but the ones I have seen have nearly all cemented my love for Glasgow Airport. It may be due to the nostalgia factor, but I think Glasgow Airport is pretty good going!
The staff are friendly, security is nearly always running efficiently, the duty free is varied and excellent and there’s a decent selection of refreshment options available. It’s fuss free, which is exactly what I want when travelling.
The departure lounge seems to be undergoing a bit of a transformation at the moment, so I’m looking forward to seeing how it turns out with the layout rejigged. I feel like every time I visit the airport something has changed, which just adds to my geeky excitement.

Glasgow International Airport is a nice airport, not much to complain about.
The signs are easy to follow, ticket agents & staff are friendly, and in fact it seemed to move faster than at my home airport.
Loved the duty free shopping, so much to choose from, go a little early to the airport and do a little bit of shopping, or even window shopping.
There are plenty of places to stop and grab a bite to eat and lots of seating areas too, the only thing I that I would have to complain (and it’s really not a complaint) about is that you do not find out what gate you are leaving out of until about 30 minutes before boarding, but it was the same way in Heathrow, so it might just be a UK thing and I’m just used to being told what gate to mosey on over too here in the US.
Traveling through Glasgow International Airport was breeze, I’m sure I will be back though in no time.

Glasgow Airport isn’t too bad as far as airports go. Check-​in and security are usually hassle-​free and the facilities are fine.
If you’re seeing someone off on a flight and looking for food and drink options prior to security you’ve got The Sanderling (a Wetherspoons pub) and Starbucks (and a handy Tesco Express) on the ground floor near Domestic Arrivals, or there’s several bars and eateries just at the top of the escalators from the main check-​in hall.
Airside, you’ve got several bars and pub grub choices — another Wetherspoons pub (The Sanderling), the Beardmore Bar and Restaurant, and the Caledonia Bar. There’s also Frankie & Benny’s, and until recently Eat (not sure if it’s closed temporarily or being replaced by something else).
Once through security you’ll be funnelled through World Duty Free, which I always try to get through as quickly as possible before the perfume sends me into sneezing fits — I hate the fact that you have no choice but to go through this shop! There are some other shops both before and after security where you can pick up any last minute items like travel adaptors, neck pillows, toiletries, etc.
There’s an ATM and a bureau de change next to Domestic Arrivals.
There are several public transport options for getting away from the airport. There’s a taxi rank right outside Domestic Arrivals, and bus stances for the 500 shuttle bus that goes straight onto the M8 motorway and into the city and the 77 which can be quite handy if you’re going to the west end (it’s a local service rather than an express though and stops at a shopping centre and a hospital before it goes through the Clyde Tunnel and heads towards the west end of Glasgow and ultimately the city centre). The nearest train station is Paisley Gilmour Street, which is a short bus journey away on the 757.
There’s a drop off zone at the airport, but pick up points are only within the car parks which you have to pay for.

Glasgow International Airport is located just off St James’s interchange on the M8. Tonight I was picking up family and I liked how well the pick up and drop off areas were marked, meaning I easily found. The area encourages you to park in single file, making it accessible for loading and unloading luggage.

I go through Glasgow Airport mosts weeks, on work travel. Because it’s for work, I’m generally stumbling through the airport at 630am, grumpy and half asleep, and have my head down, so I’m perhaps not taking as much in as your average lucky holiday maker off to have good times in foreign lands.
Ever since a couple of bampot terrorists tried to drive a burning Jeep into the front of the airport, security measures have been put in place which make it quite difficult to drive to anywhere near the front. So if you are getting dropped off at the normal drop off place and have mobility issues, or find walking any distances too tiring, you might be better going into car park 2. You’ll need to pay a charge but it’s about £1.50 — £2 I think. This is where the pick up area is too. Then it’s just a short walk over the zebra crossing into the airport building.
If you are getting dropped off at the drop off area, the walk-​way is at least covered, so if it is beating sunshine (haha) or battering rain (more likely) then at least you have some shelter. (Most folk going to Ibiza tend not to have packed a brolly.)
The check-​in area on the ground floor is simple — it’s just a big straight line of check in desks. Moving upstairs towards the security area, there are tables and free plastic bags for you to sort out your liquids before you go through. Holiday makers — PLEASE sort your liquids before you go through. It’s tedious to be stuck behind you as you prevaricate about which of your toiletries you’re going to have to leave behind because you didn’t read or listen to any of the many instructions about liquids before you got to this point. There are some eatings places here — I have no idea what really — some sort of Tennent’s place maybe — I’m sure I’ve seen a big red T, and a breakfast place perhaps. And a Celtic shop.
Security is pretty quick normally. They have LOTS of machines, and it’s well organised. Staff are normally fairly decent, although I did have an argument once with a security guy about a wrap I was wearing.
Then comes the bit I really don’t like. At most airports, you can skirt round the ‘duty free’ shop. Not here. You have to walk right through the middle of it. It has lighting bright enough to stun a million deer, and far too many skooshes of perfume and aftershave wafting about. At 630am, that is not what I’m looking for. It’s inhumane. Walking through it gives me an instant headache and I absolutely detest being subjected to this with no way of avoiding it. If you ever see someone bolting through this area with sunglasses on and a scarf covering her mouth, aye, that’ll be me.
You then have a fairly dull area before the gates. There’s some sort of electronic shop, the obligatory Scottish shop selling expensive tweed and cashmere items, fridge magnets etc, Accessorise, Boots, some sort of Wetherspoons, a Travelex, some handy cash machines, Frankie & Bennie’s, WH Smith, a WH Smith bookshop, Starbucks and Eat. Maybe some sort of jewelery shop I never go in. If you’re travelling internationally there are more shops further down that end of the departure lounge — can’t remember what — a Dorothy Perkins I think, probably more bars.
Anyway, the EAT is the only place to get some sort of breakfast food or noodle soup or whatever — you’ll know the sort of food you get in Eat.
Then through to the departure gates area. It’s like most other airports really. A big long corridor with pockets of seats at the sides. A bit dull, not much happening here except bored folk waiting about on uncomfortable seats under horrible lighting.
There’s another WH Smith, there’s a coffee place up at the end, oh and another smaller ‘duty free’ shop if you weren’t already sufficiently loaded up with Beefeater gin and perfume.
Glasgow airport could do so much better here. If it was more like London City airport that woud be a good start — they have a range of different seating choices, quieter and busier areas, a few fairly decent places to eat or get a quick drink, and plug sockets to charge your devices — all very customer focussed and convenient. They also have free wifi for as long as you like, whereas at Glasgow it is free, but for only 30 minutes, which just adds to the frustration when your flight is delayed. A word of warning. If you are going to London, particularly London City, during the winter, it is very likely that your flight will be delayed because of fog on the Thames. I have lost count of the times that I have seen passengers just get up and go home at this point as they’ve already missed the meeting they were going down for.
Anyway, Glasgow airport is OK, it’s better than a lot of other airports around the UK, but they could do a bit better compared to the airports which are modernising themselves and becoming more passenger centric. My frequent journeys would be a lot more pleasant if there were some comfortable waiting areas rather than the stark holding bays they currently have in place.

This is a really easy airport to navigate, and security is usually quick, at least in my experience. Coming in through customs is also relatively painless, and a good experience compared to larger airports.
My only complaint is that I hate that you have to wait forever to get your gate number — just post them up!

Glasgow airport and I are perhaps too well acquainted of late but that has given me plenty of time to ponder it’s various pluses and minuses. So let’s take a wander through the Glasgow Airport experience…
Arriving at the airport is relatively straightforward, there are a couple of different bus options from the city centre, various long stay parking lots with transfers and a drop-​off area not too far a trek from the terminal (but beware those picking up a traveller, if you’re planning to head in to the terminal avoid the main short stay parking and go for the much cheaper lot at the side, about 75% cheaper for an extra 2 minutes’ walk).
The main check-​in hall is not too bad, although BA have taken away their self-​check-​in kiosks which is a bit of a pain. Most of the airlines check-​in from the main hall but there is an auxiliary building at the far end with more check-​in desks, mostly for Jet2 flights the last time I was there.
From the main hall you head up to security which is a bit of a mixed bag depending on the time of day you’re heading through. Sometimes you’ll wait 2 minutes max others you might be half an hour. Early morning flights are by far the worse so make sure you allow extra time then (that awful window of the 5−6am check-​in…) On the scale of mild inconvenience to frustrating and intrusive, I’ve generally found the security at Glasgow Airport to be somewhere near the better end of the scale. Staff tend to be friendly and helpful.
Once you’ve made it through security it’s time to run the duty-​free assault course. I can’t comment too much on what’s available as I tend to use the tact of headphones in, avoid all contact, but from the rare side glance I would conclude they have the typical airport offerings on sale.
One the other side you’ll find a selection of shops and eateries to help you waste the time before you flight/​allow you to overpay for that one thing you forgot to pack. There’s not a great selection on offer but it does have all the basics covered: a novelty Scottish gifts store, electronics, a small book store, a newsagent and a Boots for your last minute toiletries needs. There’s a larger section of shops towards the international departures area on the left but it has been under renovation recently so I’m not sure what will end up there.
When it comes to food the options aren’t stellar, there’s an EAT and a Starbucks for coffees and snacks as well as a few pubs and a Frankie and Benny’s if you’re looking for something more substantial. There’s not much more once you head through to the gates (a small café bar at most) so keep that in mind if you’re peckish before travelling.
The gates themselves are split between the 3 arms of the airport so make sure you’re heading to the right one. On left is mainly international departures with domestic flights heading out of the middle and right. From this point on it a pretty standard airport experience although they have been refurbishing areas (originally inspired by the Commonwealth Games) so at least the toilets etc. are nice.
There is WiFi available in the terminal building to help with the wait but only the first 30 minutes it free so use it well!
Arriving on a flight into Glasgow is a relatively straightforward experience where you’re funnelled towards either the international or domestic arrivals. Baggage retrieval is on the whole quite efficient and you can often find yourself standing outside not much more than 10 minutes from stepping the aircraft.
One plus from the point of view of the business traveller arriving home is the small Tesco store just outside domestic arrivals which allows you to pick up a few essentials (usually wine…) before heading home.
Overall, Glasgow Airport gets the job done and isn’t bad for a smallish airport although it would be massively improved by having some better choices on the food front…

Nice airport with hotels within walking distance. Everyone I met was friendly and helpful. Many duty free shops that you can’t avoid, because they are setup so that you have to walk through them once you pass security. Security was very efficient, unlike heathrow. Plenty of stations open so there was a limited queue. Looking forward to my next trip through here.

I had flown to Dublin from here. I was worried of how I was going to print my tickets out. To save you all losing sleep as I did.
You can print your tickets off on the ground floor as they have computers & printers close to Tesco if I remember. I think it was £1 for every 10 minutes, and £1 I’m sure per print out copy.

Arriving from Heathrow T5 this airport seemed even smaller than it actually is. Despite the size there was an inordinately long walk to arrivals. In both arrivals and departures there is a reasonable selection of places to eat and drink, though it is far from a destination in its own right. However, what swung four stars for me was the fact that you can easily get a 500 bus straight into the centre of Glasgow which takes only fifteen minutes. This makes flying to Glasgow airport a much better option that taking the train-​especially if it takes hours longer than flying. My one disappointment was that I recall the duty free being a lot bigger than it was-​hey ho.

I spent all my stay in Edinburgh and had an outstanding experience. The city was gorgeous and everyone is super friendly and welcoming. I left thinking this is the perfect country… Well until I got to Glasgow Airport anyway. Most of the airlines employees and shop clerks were rude and unwelcoming. Right before check in (in line for check in at the ticketing desk) airport employees with IPads and a long list of stupid questions waste a good 15 mins of everyones’ time. I understand security concerns and appreciate extra caution but I cannot handle stupidity and completely pointless procedures. I travel a lot and never seen anything similar… Especially not when leaving a country.
That said, I loved, loved, loved Scotland. Next time however I’ll do my best to avoid this airport at all cost… My hope is that this **** hole of an airport is not a reflection of the city of Glasgow.

Glasgow Airport does not suck.
Easy & well-​staffed security, lots of seating, and well-​marked to make it easy to get around. There’s time-​limited free wifi (30 minutes, if I recall), which would be better if it were longer if you, like us, end up waiting for a delayed flight, but overall it’s a nice offering.
A good little airport!

OK so I don’t travel too often from the UK by plane but I have to say that Glasgow airport has seriously improved over the past few years putting it up there with the easiest airports to navigate, clear through security and even kill time before your flight.
Security rarely takes more than a few mins to get through and then your have the departures lounge to chill in. Working through from duty free to the main shopping area you have the obligatory Scottish keepsakes, a boots for those last minute essentials, a w h smiths to pick up some light reading. Now there is a maplin to supplement the long standing dixons store. Food wise you are spoilt for choice as far as
an airport is concerned various restaurants and bars including a weatherspoons, frankie and bennys and an eat. Along with a Starbucks to start the day with a wee caffeine kick.
Nobody wants to spend too much time in an airport but at least there is a few things to do and places to grab a bite.
Oh and for wherever you may be travelling. Have a great time and haste ye back!

An airport with TWO JD WETHERSPOON pubs you say? Yes that’s correct, one landside and one airside! In addition to the perfect send-​off for your journey, there’s also a normally-​priced Tesco Express by the landside JDW. Not only is this great for picking up items for your empty fridge back home, it’s also great for picking up presents for people you’re either flying to see or who are just about to pick you up!
For me, security has never been so bad, especially compared to Edinburgh which is awful.

I’ve changed my mind so time for a star upgrade and review. The more I see other airports the more I realise how much I like Glasgow compared to most. It’s small yes and has limited options from a shopping perspective, but it does what it needs to. It’s gets you on and off your plane quickly and safely with minimal fuss or hassle.
It’s also holds good memories for me of leaving to go to exciting far off places and is a point of relief for when you return shattered from a work trip and are keen to get home.

Most of my trips abroad have been from flights from good old Glasgow airport, and the place always has fond memories; from the giddy excitement boarding a plane to Florida, to the bleary eyed pathway to more exotic climates.
On this my most recent journey to Glasgow bound for a flight to JFK via Dublin, check in was relatively quick and smooth meaning more time to hang out at the shops.
I always enjoy picking up some magazines in the WH Smith and stopping off for some food tea in Eat. Given that plane food is rarely up to much, I also think its helpful to stock up on sandwiches and a few Boots meal deals always come in handy for the flight. I always forget though that you can’t take liquids through security so be sure not to be caught out trying to glug litres of Diet Coke at 6 am in the morning!
Never had a problem getting a seat and the airport always feels familiar. Its a relief at the end of a holiday to get back on home turf and I’ve always managed to get through the baggage reclaim pretty swiftly and reclaim all my belongings with no great hassle.

What to say about Glasgow Airport? Meh. Does the job but could do better.
Good points: Free Wifi (but limited to 30 mins), Tesco metro branch landside handy for picking up essentials (milk, wine) on arriving home, the barman who checks that you’ll have time to get you your gate on time, and the new automatic passport gates are fast and work well.
Now the not-​so-​good points: Security often take ages, (the large dedicated security hall only ever seems to have a couple of lanes open), the dangerously-​inadequate staircase to the Easyjet gates — I had to take the disabled/​pushchair lift to get by passengers completely blocking the staircase unnecessarily (by queuing 3-​abreast for a particular gate) preventing access to all other passengers trying to enter or leave the area.
Overall the airport does an OK job, but I wish they’d get rid of that awful tatty carpet!

An airport isn’t really the most romantic place, but to me Glasgow Airport will always be the place that I walked through the arrivals gates to see my (now) husband pop out from behind a pole on my first visit to Glasgow. That was more than 5 years ago now, and I’ve been on countless trips through this airport — both for trips back to Australia as well as across Europe.
Glasgow Airport is better than functional as I can’t remember ever encountering any difficulties here. Of course it varies as to which airline you’re flying with, but most will let you check-​in online which means that you can just go to bag drop and be on your merry way. I find security is generally quick and hassle free, I’ve probably never waited more than 10 minutes to get through.
Then you’ll find yourself in the sea of perfume and booze in the duty free area. For some reason I’ve rarely looked at these options as it just doesn’t interest me when I’m travelling. I’m all about the in-​flight entertainment and food.
Glasgow Airport only loses a star because I don’t really fancy any of the food options here, and being a worrier, I’m always at least 2 hours early for my flight. The best of an unimpressive bunch tends to be Eat where I’ll grab a salad or fruit bowl and pass the time with a book/​laptop or on my phone ( Unilocaling, obviously).
The gates are all a relatively short walk away and always easy to find. There’s plenty of toilets and some food options around the gates.
Arriving into Glasgow Airport, I’ve always been able to grab my bags really quickly off the conveyor belt, I feel like they are extra speedy here. Sometimes you will have a long walk from the gate to departures but I quite like that when you’ve been sitting down for hours. There’s a handy Tesco by the arrivals area which can be good if you need to pick up some meals but personally I prefer to arrange to have groceries delivered when I get home where possible (especially after being away for more than week).

Wenn dieser Flughafen nicht am Arsch der Heide wär, gäbe es mehr Sterne. Aber auf den Bänken kann man hervorragend pennen! Sehr bequem!

Sehr moderner Flughafen, der sehr Zentral in Glasgow liegt! Man hat von hier die Möglichkeit mit dem Bus in die Stadt zu gelangen, was aber in Schottland üblich ist! Der Flughafen wird seit dem Terroranschlag zum Teil renoviert bzw es wird dort jetzt auch noch ein neues Terminal angebaut! Ist sehr übersichtlich und man weiß sofort bei der Ankunft, wo man hin muss, sowohl beim Abflug als auch bei der Landung!