Description: Blackpool International Airport is a great little airport at the end of the M55, that serves various cities, ski resorts and beach resorts in the UK and Europe. It's easy to get to, easy to get around and has all the facilities you need from an airport, without all the hassle you get from the big city ones, such as Manchester and Heathrow.
As someone who is based at the airport for work (I'm cabin crew with one of the airlines) and who uses it as one of many bases for jet-setting, I thought I'd give you an idea of where it is, how it works and why I love using it.

Also on ciao.co.uk under the same user name.

-Getting There-

*By Car* Like I said before, it's right at the end of the M55, for which you leave the M6 at junction 32. The airport isn't signposted on the M6, but is well-signposted once you get near the end of the M55. It's about a five minute drive from the end of the motorway.

*By Train* There is a direct train to Preston to Squires Gate Lane (a five minute walk from the airport) every hour at about 10 to the hour. From Preston you can get anywhere in the UK.

-Car Parking-

There are a couple of carparks at the airport, with plenty of spaces - I have never had any problems finding a space. The parking is now free for up to 15 days - you just get a ticket as you go through the barrier on entry and then get it validated in the terminal before you exit. After the 15 days it is charged at £8 per day.

If you are picking up/dropping off, you get 15 minutes free and then charges apply. The prices are well signposted on entry to the car parks.

-Destinations-

There are a number of airlines operating services out of Blackpool. Since times, frequency and destinations change, I'll just give you a basic rundown of some of the airlines and destinations that are currently being operated (more accurate details can be found on the website):

Air Arran - Dublin

Manx Air - Isle of Man

Jet2.com - Alicante, Belfast, Faro, Geneva, Ibiza, Mahon, Malaga, Murcia, Palma and Tenerife.

There are also various charter airlines that operate at different times through the year to other destinations.

-Facilities-

*Landside (before security and passport control)*
- 14 check-in desks
- WH Smith
- ICE currency exchange
- Information Desk
- Airline ticket desks
- Hertz Car Hire
- Cafe
- Cash machine
- Toilets
- A small selection of arcade games

*Airside (after security and passport control)*
- Seating for 600 people in the lounge
- Bar
- Cafe
- Duty free, selling perfumes, cosmetics, gifts, essentials, cigarettes and alcohol.
- Games arcade
- Executive Lounge
- Toilets

- Leisure Flying-

There's also plenty of oppurtunity for leisure flying at Blackpool, with various companies offering flying lessons (I can strongly recommend this as a birthday present - I was in the good books for weeks afterwards!), pleasure flights over Blackpool and helicopter lessons.
For more information check out the links on the website.

-My Opinion-

I love Blackpool airport! It's so convenient for me and there is no hassle involved in it. It is a really tiny airport although it is just starting to undergo a massive renovation and expansion project that will see it introduce more destinations, airlines and facilities.

But, personally, I think it's small size is it's biggest advantage. There are journeys from the carpark on buses that seem to take hours to come - it's a twenty-second walk accross a zebra crossing. There's no trawling the internet for hours looking for the best parking price - it's free. There are no massive queues for checkin - there are 14 check-in desks and generally only one flight at once departing. It's just a stress free way to travel.

Everything you need is there once you've checked in and there are no long walks to find anything. Plus there aren't any long walks to the gates for departure - it's right there, next to the comfy chair you've sat down in to read your book!

The staff are all friendly and efficient - ready to give you the good old Northern welcome.

There is a great range in the duty free shop. Plus, you don't have to spend hours traipsing round shop after shop of the same thing in a bid to occupy your time because you don't have to be at the airport a gazillion hours before departure since everything runs so smoothly here.

Seriously, I know I ssound like I'm waxing lyrical here, but Blackpool International Airport really is a chilled out way to begin your holiday. So, much so that I've metpassengers who travel from as far as Scotland becuase it's so much easier and cheaper than their local airport.

So, in conclusion, I have to say that I recommend Blackpool airport to anybody who lives close (or not so close)! Hope you've enjoyed the review and found it useful - thanks for reading!

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