Birmingham International car park - is it safe?

[BanburyBlue]

I need to go to Belfast later in the month, flying from Birmingham and staying overnight. One of my colleagues did the research and worked out that parking overnight at Birmingham International Station car park is a lot cheaper than parking overnight at Birmingham Airport car parks. Does anyone have experience of Birmingham International car park? I know you can never guarantee these things, but are there any reports of vandalism etc? Will I come back to half a car?

On a slightly different note, anyone got any experience of check in a Birmingham Airport in the mornings? My flight is at 08.30, so trying to work out what time I need to be there.

Thanks.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I can't imagine it being any less secure than the airport car parks. It's a modern multi storey with CCTV etc.

 

[BanburyBlue]

I can't imagine it being any less secure than the airport car parks. It's a modern multi storey with CCTV etc.

Thanks. LOL, I don't know, turn your back for 5 minutes. I must admit I haven't been there for years - last time I went it was still the hard standing opposite the station, with the narrow spaces. Lucky to leave with your wing mirrors intact. That's set my mind at rest.

 

[Cantab26]

I need to go to Belfast later in the month, flying from Birmingham and staying overnight. One of my colleagues did the research and worked out that parking overnight at Birmingham International Station car park is a lot cheaper than parking overnight at Birmingham Airport car parks. Does anyone have experience of Birmingham International car park? I know you can never guarantee these things, but are there any reports of vandalism etc? Will I come back to half a car?

If you mean the railway station multi storey, to the extent there are issues it’s more in the way of vehicle theft rather than vandalism.

If you’re only away for one night then you’ll probably be okay - the thieves identify cars that haven’t shifted for a few days on the basis that the owner is more likely to be away for a longer period, thus facilitating a getaway.

On a slightly different note, anyone got any experience of check in a Birmingham Airport in the mornings? My flight is at 08.30, so trying to work out what time I need to be there.

It’s been a little while since I caught a morning flight from Birmingham, but if you have only hand luggage then arrival about 90mins to 2hrs before departure would be sufficient. If there is a delay in the security queue then you can flag down one of the floor walkers and they will normally be fairly good at triaging people with closer flight times.

 

[Harpo]

Does anyone have experience of Birmingham International car park?

Son-in-law uses International station car park for all flights & holidays from Birmingham. He is content to leave his car there for a week or two.

As a side issue, it’s unfortunate that there is no rail/air connection to & from central Birmingham overnight making the car use unavoidable.

 

[Bletchleyite]

As a side issue, it’s unfortunate that there is no rail/air connection to & from central Birmingham overnight making the car use unavoidable.

Rail no, but the X1 bus is 24/7. Only hourly overnight, so people might choose to drive or taxi to keep the overall journey time down, but there is public transport.

 

[BanburyBlue]

Is the multi-storey new? Just looked on Google Maps and it doesn't seem to be there.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is the multi-storey new? Just looked on Google Maps and it doesn't seem to be there.

It's been there at least ten years now I reckon; it was certainly there before COVID. Google Maps Streetview has a habit of being very out of date on private land as the cars don't visit it often.

 

[swing]

Is the multi-storey new? Just looked on Google Maps and it doesn't seem to be there.

It's visible on Satellite view, although as the camera is quite overhead you might miss it at first glance. It's also on Streetview in all 4 dates for Station Link Road, going back to 2009.

 

[bleeder4]

There's also an open air long stay car park right across the road from the main pedestrian entrance to the station, accessed via barriers. I usually park there as it's a bit less of a walk to the station concourse from there.

 

[75A]

I need to go to Belfast later in the month, flying from Birmingham and staying overnight. One of my colleagues did the research and worked out that parking overnight at Birmingham International Station car park is a lot cheaper than parking overnight at Birmingham Airport car parks. Does anyone have experience of Birmingham International car park? I know you can never guarantee these things, but are there any reports of vandalism etc? Will I come back to half a car?

On a slightly different note, anyone got any experience of check in a Birmingham Airport in the mornings? My flight is at 08.30, so trying to work out what time I need to be there.

Thanks.

In my experience Birmingham Airport is the worst for getting through Security in the UK.
I regularly fly from Belfast International to either East Midlands or Stansted instead.
For Long Haul I always use Dublin.

 

[vicbury]

On a slightly different note, anyone got any experience of check in a Birmingham Airport in the mornings? My flight is at 08.30, so trying to work out what time I need to be there.

I've travelled out of BHX twice in the last year, most recently last week, and sailed through bag drop and security in no more than 15-20 minutes. Beware that if you are dropping hold baggage and flying with Easyjet, they strictly enforce the maximum of two hours before your flight.

 

[Hadders]

I've flewn out of Birmingham airport a couple of times in the last year, for a day trip or overnight trip. Both times I left my car in the station car park without incident.

Security was good on both occasions.

 

[class26]

In my experience Birmingham Airport is the worst for getting through Security in the UK.
I regularly fly from Belfast International to either East Midlands or Stansted instead.
For Long Haul I always use Dublin.

No longer true now the new security hall is fully open. I have been through Birmingham airport several times since May and a breezed through in minutes .

 

[LowLevel]

20 minutes the other day on a Friday afternoon to get through BHX security.

 

[E B]

In my experience Birmingham Airport is the worst for getting through Security in the UK.
I regularly fly from Belfast International to either East Midlands or Stansted instead.
For Long Haul I always use Dublin.

In may last year I went from Coventry Station to being airside at Birmingham Airport in about 20 minutes, and most of that was the train and monorail journey!

 

[75A]

No longer true now the new security hall is fully open. I have been through Birmingham airport several times since May and a breezed through in minutes .

Thanks for this, the last time I used Birmingham was Christmas 2023, i'll give it another go because I prefer using Belfast City Airport to the International.

 

[dk1]

In may last year I went from Coventry Station to being airside at Birmingham Airport in about 20 minutes, and most of that was the train and monorail journey!

I’m flying out next week. Can’t abide early flights regardless of how cheap they are so perfect for the train.