Glad you are sorted out, Jazzy-B. (‘Who to choose’ thread yesterday)
A word about Blackpool - the parking is free,
but you do have to purchase an 'airport development tax' ticket at £10 per person,
from the machine in the check in area. This ticket is scanned to give you access to the departure area (security checks etc). You retain your car park ticket and when you return, you validate it in the luggage collection area which allows you to exit the car park with your car. However this year only one of the car parks was issuing tickets on arrival - the machine was broken on the other car park. Apparently it had been broken for some while and may still be broken!
Fuller details at
Blackpool International - We offer an exciting range of UK and European destinations with both charter and scheduled flights.
There are two long
stay car parks -as you look at the front of the airport building, the one on the left is a 'conventional' i.e hard surfaced car park and if you have wheels on your cases a short easy walk in to the terminal. As this is the popular option it is generally difficult to find a space. The second one (P1, I think) is to the right and down the side of the perimeter fence. This is more exciting in that it is part hard surface and part field. As the Palma flight will be getting in rather late it is well worth taking careful note of where you left your car, particularly if you are out on the grass. A supermarket plastic bag tied to the radio aerial could be a good idea. Also if you are a bit precious about your car, if you end up on the grass and get too near the perimeter fence, your car may feel the effects of jet engines as your plane manoeuvres on the apron.
We have found the best way, irrespective of which carpark you use, is to drop off passengers and luggage at the short stay car park (free for 10 mins) in front of the terminal building, and the driver then going to park the car in the long stay. You don't want to be dragging your cases across the field if that's where you end up. Depending where you get parked, reverse the process on your return.
If you are coming down from Cumbria, you may be ready to have a meal before departure. The airport food is adequate but very limited. If you are not proud, there is a Morrisions immediately before the airport which has a semi-self-service restaurant which is very good value. On the airport site there is the Air Balloon Blackpool, Lancashire - Pub Restaurant - which was given a good report by Mrs Clinkham earlier this year. If you need to stay overnight, there is no shortage of PremierInn/Travelodge accommodation in Blackpool, as well as more traditional B&Bs. This one,
Premier Inn Blackpool Airport Hotel UK is adjacent to the Air Balloon.
Here is a 'Streetview' view..
Google Maps If you zoom in a bit, the long stay carpark is in front of you, the short stay/dropoff, and beyond it, the terminal building, is slightly to the right. To the right, the Air Balloon and Premier Inn. For a view of the 'field' long stay car park zoom in this Streetview
Google Maps between the two no entry signs - you can just make out the beginnings of the car park to the right of the blue building.
Once you have got through all this, take a seat in the departure lounge and observe your plane arrive. You driver almost puts the nose of the plane into the departure lounge for you to board -far more civilised than Manchester, though sometimes things get busy with the odd Belfast or Isle of Man
flights getting mixed up with the international travellers!
Blackpool is a stress free start to your holiday - no big crowds, no in your face retail opportunities, long walks to the stand or obnoxious security operatives. Quite the opposite - we had a long delay in June and the airport official gathered all the smokers together and took them outside for a fag - twice! As he said, this is a friendly airport, we value our customers - you wouldn't get to do this at any other UK airport! He was probably right.
There is one downside
the road humps around the air balloon and short stay car park are vicious -do take care!