Are you lucky enough to be jetting off for a holiday soon? Wherever you’re headed, the airport is often the least exciting part of the holiday – unless you have cash to splash on a first class experience. But with these tips, you can enjoy the VIP treatment before you’ve even left the tarmac – and all without breaking the bank.
Limo Rental
You might think that chauffeur limo hire is a luxury far outside your price range, but you’d be wrong. If you’re travelling to the airport with a group of people, hiring a limousine to take you there can be a surprisingly affordable choice. So why not start your holiday the way you mean to go on, and relax in comfort as your experienced driver whisks you off on the beginning of your adventure?
Airport Lounge
Although most business and first class lounges are only accessible to those with a corresponding ticket, many airports also boast a choice of pay-in-advance and pay-at-the-gate options. With an airport lounge, you’ll enjoy a place to relax away from the crowds, along with added extras like complimentary drinks and food – ideal for kicking things off like a real VIP.
Priority Boarding
Again, priority boarding is something that is included as standard with the more expensive ticket brackets. However, it’s also a feature that regular travellers can choose to fork out for – and it’s often worth the comparatively small expense. In fact, for a relatively small fee you can skip the queue at the boarding gate and have plenty of time to settle into your seat before takeoff. As a bonus, you’ll often get extras like extra baggage allowance too.
Airport Deals
If you’re not making use of an airport lounge before flying, spending hours waiting around can be an expensive pastime. And even if you’re not splashing out on quality dining, even a basic fast food meal for the family can really add up. To make sure that you can treat yourself without blowing a hole in your budget, browse what airport deals are available beforehand. With popular airports like Gatwick and
Top 10 Busiest Airports in the UK
| Rank | Airport | Total Passengers | Total Passengers | Total Passengers |
| 2017 | 2018 | Change in 2017/18 | ||
| 1 | London-Heathrow | 78,012,825 | 80,124,537 | 2.70% |
| 2 | London-Gatwick | 45,556,899 | 46,086,089 | 1.20% |
| 3 | Manchester | 27,826,054 | 28,292,797 | 1.20% |
| 4 | London-Stansted | 25,904,450 | 27,996,116 | 8.10% |
| 5 | London-Luton | 15,990,276 | 16,769,634 | 4.90% |
| 6 | Edinburgh | 13,410,343 | 14,294,305 | 6.60% |
| 7 | Birmingham | 12,990,303 | 12,457,051 | 4.10% |
| 8 | Glasgow | 9,897,959 | 9,656,227 | 2.40% |
| 9 | Bristol | 8,239,250 | 8,699,529 | 5.60% |
| 10 | Belfast-International | 5,836,735 | 6,268,960 | 7.40% |
The above is a list of the 10 largest UK airports by total passenger traffic in 2018, from UK CAA statistics. Information source: Wikipedia
