East Midlands Airport Avis 

EMA rapid drop off. 06/01/25 6:40 ish, I used Google earth to make sure I knew the lane. Found it even with the snow/sleet (it wouldn’t have been easy without checking it online first.) Then it went crazy, they’re working on half the Rapid drop off area, people couldn’t pull in to drop off as the queues within the area trying to get out of it were massive. Got to the barrier to pay to leave, it was dark snowy I saw a pad, tap my card (it was the wrong pad but I didn’t know this) nothing push card into slot nothing, get another card try again. Then suddenly notice through snowed up glasses another smaller card pad lower down, finally paid and got out. Now I understood why the queues were crazy. So, the rapid zone was causing its own problems, with half closed off and a dysfunctional payment barrier, 15mins for £5,EMA can afford to give us human help, or what about an option to pay after we’ve left the area.
I tried to pay before getting there but that was even more expensive at £8 for an hour in the short stay.
EMA come on, help your customers. I tried so hard to get it right but ultimately it was still too difficult! So instead of blaming customers when everything’s going wrong, start thinking about how you can make it easier for everyone. 😔

Arrived about 20 minutes ago at the airport. 5 minutes to check the car in at meet and greet. Now sat in the Castle Bar relaxing with a beer following a relaxing and easy transition through the new airport security area. Well done EMA if only all other airports were so easy to arrive and transition through

21/12 - still no response, what a disgrace.
So called "EAST MIDLANDS ADVANTAGE PREMIUM SUPPORT", total waste of time NEVER answer the telephone, NEVER reply to online queries despite promises to respond within 24 hours.

Daylight robbery, £5 to drop someone off for 30 seconds. Confusing signage, no mention of collection area just drop off.

Went to make a pick up on a dark rainy night with poor visibilty, got confused by the parking instructions (as they didn't seem to match those on the website) and had to stop in what I thought was a layby. Saw a car nearby that said something about parking on it, so my wife went to get out and ask for directions. She then realised the car was taking photos of us so we quickly drove off, and had to drive round a while trying to work out where to park. Later received a £100 fine notice! It's absolutely cynical and abhorrent behaviour - shame on EMA, they're an utter disgrace for this corrupt robbery!

7 30pm nothing open
Bar upstairs only
Music so loud you cant even speak to someone on a phone as its too loud.
Not 1 shop open
Awful facilities

For years I have avoided this airport and driven past it to either Luton or Stanstead, it used to be a disorganized mess with long queues and unhappy to borderline evil staff from check in to boarding.. That said I've used it a few times in the last 2 years and it has kept getting better and better.

On a recent trip all the staff were friendly and courteous, notably both security staff on the way out and passport control on the way back, were friendly, smiling and courteous! - This is a real shocker as most airports in the UK these are usually both horrible experiences with rude staff.

Whatever has been done to transform the experience at this airport, I hope it wasn't a fluke and its changed for good.

I hope this isn't a one off and this is how the airport will be run from now on.

The staff at the meet and great must be the most friendly and helpful staff I’ve encountered and I travel a lot with work. On arrival you are greeted at the barrier with a friendly helpful voice and the directed easily to the parking space a few yards away drop the keys at the service office desk 50 metres away and walk straight in to check in. Could not have been easier. The guys who man the desks always have a smile and always polite and helpful. A rare thing these days. East mids give them a pat on the back they make the first experience a 5 star at your airport.

The main thing I find is that on return from a lovely country the bus area at the back of the airport is appalling
The waiting area is dirty
It was covered in chewing gum
The room where you sit inside is most uninviting
Soooo dreary and a dreadful first impression for anyone just arriving

Mean security staff - a woman was not allowed through with baby milk because her 3 year old autistic son was considered of an age to be eating and not need it. She explained he needed it as an emotional comfort, without success.

No free drop off anymore

No public water points to fill your bottle

Used the airport a couple of times now. Staff seem really friendly and efficient at their jobs. On arrival, baggage reclaim was really quick which is a blessing if arriving late at night. The only small glitch we had was leaving the car park, the sensor would not read our number plate.
After finding a member of staff, the situation was quickly resolved.

Do not use meet & greet, what a shambles. Dropped car of which was fine however on return went to collect car keys and after standing in a queue for an hour was told my car wasn’t on site. The place was packed and this was 2.00am with some people waiting for 2 hours.
They asked me to look on the board where they store the keys it see if I could see my car key. They eventually turned up with my key only to be told my car is in a compound and won’t start and I would need to arrange breakdown assistance (it’s a new car). The compound is @2miles away and clearly they had left something on. The compound is off site with no lighting or security it is not secure.
Think before you use this service.

A smaller regional airport, so perhaps not as flash as neighbouring Birmingham or the London airports.
Despite moans on here, the direct parking is quite reasonable in comparison to other airports and Check In etc. is reasonably stress free.
If you suffer mobility issues, the compact nature of the airport means less walking than bigger locations and if you smoke, there is an airside facility unlike other UK locations.
We like it, it's local, compact and easier than other airports.
Passport control on return to the airport can be somewhat overwhelmed but then that's on Border Force (UK govt) not the airport.

No public water fountains in any communal areas forces patrons of the airport into purchasing water which is a basic human right in the UK.

You are also charged for the privilege of simply dropping someone off.

Every single aspect of the airport is engineered to extort, fleece and tax you out of money.

East Midlands. You have created a monster that even satan himself would be proud off.

The drop off car park (Outsourced & run by NCP) is a complete disgrace, The barriers are slow functioning which causes long tailbacks, compared some other airports where it's drive in/put & you pay online which is the way forward!

Since MAG (Manchester Airport Group) took over ema they have run it down & not invested in the infrastructure except for the cargo areas where they may the real money!

Parking at the airport is a complete joke and a rip off,rapid drop off is chaos and the cost is robbery,then it comes to being picked up and I do not know where to start like I did not know where to be picked up,but if you stop anywhere they will soon fine you £100 (£60 if paid quickly.When picking up my parents both in there 70s and unable to walk far I decided to stop and pick them up as I could see they were struggling with cases etc,no sooner had I stopped then a van with a man with a camera stopped and took a photo of car etc,I just hope that one day he will be insame situation and the same happens to him,in the mean time I hope he and whoever runs the parking sleep ok at night.Fined (£100) £60 if paid quickly.

The rudest ground staff I have ever encountered

The dream team EMA.
24th Sept. 2024
It could have been a disaster

Perfect holiday, perfect flights in and out.
All customs and boarding/landing swift and efficient.

Then, on my bus journey returning to Nottingham I discover
I have lost my shoulder bag!
Phone, driving license, books and money  lost.

Returning to EMA by car i was panicking.

However, from the lovely lady at the car parking speaker who coordinated my lost property concerns to the lovely lady who handed me my bag at security desk 00, I received nothing but polite, calm, kind, well organised support.

My bag had been xrayed swabbed and returned exactly as lost.
First class security as well as service.

EMA may not be the largest airport in the world.
But it certainly has the biggest heart.

Thank you all so much.
Adrian Hamilton.

I am not usually one to give negative feedback but back in the day, this was a great little airport! I mean 30 odd years back! It looks like it hasn't been touched in certain places for 30 years! It's tired and dated in a lot of places!
It is poorly organised!
We got fast track through security on the outgoing flight, which was pointless as it was also used for assisted travel or it was on the day we travelled and we didn't get through any faster! Therefore it was a complete and utter waste of money!
After landing back at East Midlands we were packed onto buses like sardines and then expected to wait while the bus drivers helped with removing the baggage of the plane. I know luggage is important but we are humans…

In my view, this airport is in a prime location, just off the M1 and it's in desperate need of some money spent on it to bring it up to date.

Arrived on sit (long stay 2) at 6 am. The barrier did not recognise my registration , eventually got in via the telecom on the barrier. No signs for pedestrian way to the nearest bus stop - ended up walking along the road to the nearest buss stop which was half way to the terminal ( there were other people doing the same). Busses advertised on line ( holiday extras) as operating every 10 minutes, however the information at the bus stop says every 20 minutes. More pedestrian direction signs needed and it should be clear on all booking sites that busses are every 20 minutes - not every 10 minutes. Sort it out ! It’s not rocket science