Summer holiday season is well and truly under way, with millions of Brits set to jet off abroad throughout June, July and August to enjoy glorious sunshine and sandy beaches.
Newcastle International Airport saw over four million passengers pass through its doors last year, and will be bustling with holidaymakers in the coming weeks as they head off to one of the airport's 74 destinations, including sun-soaked tourist hotspots like Palma, Ibiza, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. If you're coming to Newcastle Airport this summer, there are a few things worth knowing before you go to ensure a smooth and stress-free journey.
From getting to the airport and parking, to tips on making it through check-in and security hassle-free, to where to eat, drink and shop before your flight, we've rounded up all the need-to-knows for holidaymakers below. You can find more information on the Newcastle Airport website.
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Getting to the airport
Newcastle Airport can be reached by car, bus, train or Metro - for drivers or taxi passengers, the A1 bypasses the city centre and leads directly to the airport. The drive takes just 15 minutes from the centre of Newcastle, around 45 minutes from Sunderland or Durham, or two hours from York, Edinburgh or Leeds.
The airport is also well-connected to the North East rail network via Metro, with a Metro station at the airport itself - the journey from Newcastle Central Station to the airport takes around 25 minutes. There are Metro trains approximately every 12 minutes, which can also be caught from one of the 60 stations across Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Gateshead and Sunderland.
And finally, there are options available to travel by bus to the airport from Newcastle's Eldon Square. Bus numbers X77, X78 and X79 all run from Monday to Saturday up to Ponteland and Darras Hall, stopping off at the airport along the way.
Preparing for travel
Check-in times vary depending on your airline and destination - for full details you should check the information on your ticket or contact your airline or tour operator for advice, Newcastle Airport advises. Some airlines, including British Airways, KLM, Air France and easyJet have online check-in facilities.
Passengers are strongly advised to check-in at the airport at least three hours before a charter flight and two hours before a scheduled flight. You can also download the new Newcastle Airport app, which offers real-time flight updates, exclusive departure lounge offers and saves all your bookings in one place - search for NCL Airport on the App Store or Google Play.
In addition, holidaymakers should consider the advice put forward by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCDO) to help British nationals stay safe abroad. Their top tips are as follows:
- Make sure you have valid travel insurance, even if you’re only planning a short trip. And make sure it will cover you for wherever you’re going and whatever activities you plan to take part in while you’re there.
- Visit your GP as soon as possible before you travel. They will check that your vaccinations are up to date and give you helpful health advice for your trip.
- Read up on your destination, including local laws and customs. A good travel guide should give you this information, and it’s also worth talking to your travel agent or tour operator about possible risks.
- Make photocopies of your passport, visas, insurance details and any other important travel documents. Take one copy with you (packed separately from your real documents) and leave another copy with a relative or friend at home. Alternatively store them online using a secure data storage site.
Car parking
There are a number of options for anyone planning to take their car to Newcastle Airport, whether you're making a quick drop-off or want to leave your car there while you're away. If you're going to stay for one day or longer, you can save up to 60% on the cost by pre-booking your space on the Newcastle Airport website.
Options available for drivers include Express, Short Stay, Long Stay, Premium Fast Track, and Premium Meet & Greet. Here is the price list for the Express car park, which is located closest to the terminal, depending on the length of your stay:
- Up to 10 minutes: £4
- Up to 30 minutes: £7
- Up to 45 minutes: £10
- Up to an hour: £11
- Up to two hours: £22
- Up to three hours: £33
- Up to four hours: £44
And here are the prices for the Long Stay car park if you're planning to leave your vehicle for a day or longer:
- Up to one day: £30
- Up to two days: £52
- Up to three days: £64
- Up to four days: £76
- Per day or part thereafter: £12
Baggage and security
Travellers are advised to check baggage allowances with their airline when booking to avoid confusion or complications at check-in. You'll also want to make sure you know the weight of your baggage before you check in, to avoid having to repack or remove items in the queue.
You should also make sure you inform your airline or handling agent about any outsize or unusual items of baggage well in advance of departure. Newcastle Airport asks all passengers to follow its baggage policy in order to ensure a smooth check-in, which is as follows:
- You must pack all your bags yourself. Do not allow anyone to tamper with them or take gifts on behalf of others.
- Ensure that all your bags are clearly labelled with your name and your destination address.
- Never leave baggage or personal belongings unattended in the terminal building. This is a security risk and as such, they may be removed or destroyed.
- Sharp items such as nail files and scissors should be packed in your main luggage and not carried in hand luggage. Any such items will be removed from hand luggage.
- Please observe the weight allowance shown on your ticket or your online booking confirmation.
When it comes to taking your hand luggage through security, passengers are reminded that there are a number of restrictions in place. Follow the advice from Newcastle Airport below to make your trip through security hassle-free and avoid queues building up:
- Liquids, gels and pastes should be packed into hold baggage where possible. If carried in hand luggage, they should be in containers that hold 100ml or less, and packed into a sealed, clear plastic bag (maximum 1litre capacity) which must be placed in the tray at security. However, empty flasks or bottles can be taken through. Our catering outlets are more than happy to re-fill bottles for passengers.
- Food or powders should be packed into hold baggage where possible. Although these items are permitted in hand luggage, they can obstruct images on the X-Ray machine, or may be mistaken for suspicious items – so putting them in the hold will help reduce the need for additional checks. Passengers who need to take these items on board should therefore allow extra time at security.
- Sharp items and tools cannot be carried in hand luggage at all.
- Large electrical items such as laptops or tablets can be taken into the cabin, but must be removed from hand luggage at the search area and placed in the tray.
Food and drink
The airport has several food and drink outlets for holidaymakers so you can fill up before your flight. Here's the full list of all eight eating and drinking places you can find when you get there:
- Greggs
- Bar11
- Caffe Ritazza
- Burger King
- The Beer House
- Cabin
- Quaystone Bar and Kitchen
- Upper Crust
Shopping
If you're partial to a pre-holiday shop or need some last-minute essentials for your trip, there's plenty to browse before your flight. Here's the full list of retailers to be found in the airport:
- JD Sports
- Traveller
- Accessorize
- Boots
- InMotion
- World Duty Fre
- WHSmith
- ChangeGroup
Travelling with children
If you're going on a getaway with little ones, there are plenty of facilities at Newcastle Airport to ensure a smooth start to your trip. There are four baby-change stations located throughout the airport, two before security and two after, all of which are clearly signposted and located alongside the toilets.
Boots in the departure lounge stocks a full range of baby milk and baby products, and you can also opt to pre-order your milk within five working days of your flight to collect it from the store when you arrive. The World Duty Free shop also stocks a wide range of sweets, travel games and toys for children.
WHSmith is also home to stationery and creative material to keep the little ones entertained at the airport or during their flight, including a Crayloa range, children's books, magazines and colouring books. And most of the airport's food outlets cater for children too, with the Quaystone and Bar 11 restaurants offering a range of food options for kids.
Passenger assistance
Newcastle Airport can help special assistance passengers, including those who are disabled or have reduced mobility, in a variety of different ways both inside and outside the terminal building. Passengers must notify their airline at least 36 hours before arriving at the Airport and communicate their arrival on the day of departure at designated points inside and outside the terminal.
In addition, a hidden disabilities lanyard is now available for passengers who may need more time or assistance whilst travelling through the terminal. The lanyard discretely lets airport staff know someone might need additional support.
This could mean giving them more time to prepare at check-in and security, allowing them to remain with their family at all times, or giving them a more comprehensive briefing on what to expect as they travel through the airport. The Lanyards are available free of charge from the Airport Duty Managers desk or the Passenger Assistance desk on the main terminal concourse.
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