Liverpool John Lennon Airport — Local services in Liverpool

Disappointing! We were going on a weekend trip with hand luggage only. At security we had the normal process of removing metallic objects, separating electronics etc. on taking out our bag of liquids (all under 100ml) we were told that it was not possible to take all that. However the tray still went through but on the other side we did the walk of shame for the security check. After waiting over half an hour in a queue of others whose belongings were being checked I also found my bag there even though it had non of the liquids in it. Eventually being seen the lady there was less than helpful just saying that we had too many liquids in one bag and it was just her job to tell us this and if we want to complain to go and speak to the office. She said the liquids needed to be reduced and put it a smaller bag that they will sell to us for £1 and we can only have one bag. Reluctantly we purchase a bag only to find that you get two bags (even though you can only use one!). I ask why our clear bag is not acceptable only to be told that the rules are a bag of approximately 20x20, which I duly explain that you can’t have a rule that only gives you an approximate to work with as this leaves it open to interpretation and ultimately our liquids were al visible so why split it down and reduce. Again zero answers other than it is not my job and speak to the office. During all this another less than helpful member of staff turns and interiors asking if the bag is mine but has not even looked at or done anything with it. I say yes and he just says “take it away then” I ask why hasn’t he done is security checks on it seeing as it has been separated from all other bags and he just ignores me. Not much of a security check then is it? After all this, I actually get to keep all my liquids none of them are actually checked by the staff and simply get put back in a tray and back through the scanner which took another 5 minutes. For what purpose I know not. This experience was not just happening to me, the lady next to me had a similar experience. I will not be in any rush to go back as the security staff evidently aren’t interested and it makes the experience a poor one. The only reason I haven’t given this 1 star is because everything else such as parking and then the rest of the airport was...

There was only one board showing the check-in gates for each flight. When we arrived, there was information for some flights, but ours was blank, so we waited. After about half an hour ours was still blank, and we began to feel concern that we weren't aware of anything else on the board having changed. We then walked to the opposite end of the check-in hall, where we found that there was a single, large, queue for all flights, being served by just two desks. We started worrying that we might miss our flight, although, to be fair, it did only take about 25 mins to reach the front of the queue and they did call out for anyone for one of the earlier flights to go to the head of the queue (so hopefully they would have done the same for our flight).

I hadn't flown since before the pandemic, and, when we got to security, I would have appreciated signs indicating what items needed to go into the trays. When I last flew, from Manchester, there were such signs. Nor was it clear where we needed to go. We placed our trays on one conveyor belt, but nothing seemed to be moving. I asked one of the staff where we should put our trays. He gestured that he could not make out what I was saying (it was quite a noisy environment). I had to repeat myself twice, at louder volume each time, and then he seemed to believe that I was raising my voice because I was angry, whereas in fact it was because that was what he had gestured that he needed me to do. Apparently there was a problem with the scanner. We stood for some time in this queue, before they decided that they could not fix the problem with the scanner and we then had to join the other queue.

We had paid for priority boarding, but were unable to take advantage of this due to arriving at the boarding gate when boarding was already in progress; if we had had correct information we would not have been late. When we were still about five minutes away from reaching the front of this queue, there was an announcement that our flight would be closing "in two minutes". This did not worry us, as we did not imagine that they would stop boarding with people still in the queue, but we thought it was ironic that the one piece of information that the airport proactively gave...

Liverpool John Lennon Airport is always our choice of departure over and above Manchester, even though LPL is further away and the train doesn't go directly to it.

On 25 Feb 2025, we were informed a few days before our flight that the new Security System scanners were being installed and to allow up to 3 hours for the Check-in and Security Check in order to avoid missing our departure, as there had been some issues - but it appears these had been on the very early morning slots which are now much busier since Jet2 have taken up the majority of them.

Our flight was at 14:50hrs and we entered the Terminal doorways from our taxi drop off point at midday.

A personal check-in at the manned desks with no queues, passport check, bags weighed and tagged and then off to the upper floor (stairs, escalator or elevator), whichever takes your fancy.

Security Check: the usual jacket has to be removed, boots above the ankle etc and placed in the tray with your carry-on bag.

No liquid items or electricals need to be removed.

I had my credit cards in my pocket so pulled over for a quick scan, including my new trainers which were sniffed on a machine I haven't seen before on my many transits at LPL.

My trainers went back through the scanner in a separate tray and I was free to go.

Duration from entering the building to entering the Duty Free Shopping area = 11 MINUTES (including the extra check and re-scan for me).

The staff at Liverpool John Lennon Airport are all friendly and polite at all times.

On the return at 22:30hrs a week later - we were pleased to see the Passport/Immigration Check booths are still fully staffed by real people (no machines), yay!

Friendly faces as always and a cheery 'safe journey home' as we exited to the baggage collection carousel.

Bags were already rolling around the belt as we approached it. I spotted mine as we reached it, then the belt stopped dead... Nothing was happening and no sign of movement. My partner went further along the belt and found theirs was already through.

That was it, all bags had already been fully offloaded, hence why the carousel stopped rolling.

Thank you LPL, see you again...