Travel operator issues urgent warning to people flying to Spain, Greece, Turkey and Portugal

One of the biggest travel companies has issued urgent instructions to travellers going to countries like Spain, Greece, Turkey and Cyprus from Birmingham Airport. TUI spoke out after days of big delays at check-in where long queues have been reported. Passengers complained they were stuck for ages from 4am today amid issues over luggage. One holidaymaker took to X to write: “Carnage at Birmingham Airport. Three lanes of queuing at 4am.”

In the wake of the problems, TUI is advising customers flying from Birmingham Airport to arrive three hours ahead of flights to Europe and four hours before a long-haul departure. In its online advice, TUI warned that customers arriving any earlier won’t necessarily be allowed to check in and pass through security early.

TUI also offers a day-before bag drop service for customers flying before noon, which is available on flights to all destinations except the US. The airline said: “We’d like to remind you to arrive at the airport with sufficient time before your flight. At the moment, we’re recommending giving yourself three hours for flights to Europe and Africa, and four hours for long-haul flights. That way, you’ll have plenty of time to check in your luggage and make your way through the security queues.

“Arriving any earlier won’t mean you can check in or pass through security early. On that note, don’t forget that if your flight takes off before noon, you can drop your bags between 2pm and 9pm using our day-before bag drop, making your departure day easier. You can do this for all flights except those to the USA.

“And, just so you know, if you’re driving to the airport to drop your bags, you can use the Premium Set Down Car Park for up to an hour, for the special price of just £4 – just let the customer service booth know you’ve used the bag drop as you exit the car park.”

TUI destinations from Birmingham Airport include Austria, Barbados, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Lapland, Mexico, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey and the United States Of America.

A rule limiting liquids in hand luggage to 100ml was supposed to be scrapped this week, but the Government changed its mind on Friday and delayed the change. The Department for Transport has said there is no end date for restrictions on luggage which have been brought in at six UK airports. In an update the DfT also said it would not elaborate on the reasons for the change which was brought in at the last minute saying it would not comment on specific aviation security arrangements.

The DfT has come under fire for the 11th hour change which was brought in last Sunday, throwing the plans for travel at the airports into chaos with massive queues at check-in recorded at some. New high-tech scanning equipment has been installed at six airports to allow people to for the first time in years carry larger liquid bottles onto plans and also not have to take out their laptops and phones when their luggage goes through.

New scanners which produce 3D images should mean liquids up to two litres and laptops can be kept in hand luggage to go through security. The scanners were supposed to be installed at airports by this summer - but many failed to do so in time.

London City, Teesside, Newcastle, Leeds-Bradford, Aberdeen and Southend had complied on time and dropped the old liquids rules – some as early as Spring last year. Birmingham completed its installation but was told to keep the 100ml limit while waiting for regulatory approval.

A Birmingham Airport spokesperson said: “Our new security area was designed, and resourced, to accommodate the increase to two litres being carried in cabin baggage, this currently cannot be operated with the temporary restriction. In order to have full compliance to this new directive we have further amended our operating process.

“We now have ‘liquid check stations’ at all entrances to the terminal where colleagues are directly assisting passengers to ensure liquids containers over 100ml are removed.

“With these additional checks we have seen a large proportion of customers still arriving with liquids over 100ml in their bags and these have to be regrettably removed and disposed of. Containers that can carry more than a 100ml are permitted but, need to be completely empty.”