Beauvais Airport

wandererz

I have flights booked into and out of Beauvais Airport. Return is around 10pm.

However, based on online reviews I'm having second thoughts.

I can change the return to Orly instead for a minimal cost.

Would you recommend doing this or has Beauvais improved?

Berberis

I've used Beauvais quite a few times and its adequate. The coach from Paris centre is grand and easy enough to use. we have flown out a few times as late as 10pm and sure that means you will probably get the coach from Paris at 7pm.
There is a small restaurant/cafe before you go through security, but once in there is practically nothing but a few seats to sit on while waiting to find out what gate you will be leaving from.
Its small and basic but adequate but not the best place to wait if you have long delays

lc180

I flew in & out of Orly last week with Transavia and really liked it. It's a nice airport, close to the city with good train and bus connections. I'll definitely use it again next time I'm in Paris.

I've flown from Beauvais quite a few times and I must admit I kinda hate it. Its not a pleasent experience but for cheap and cheerful flights it more than does the job. If you've got flights booked already I wouldn't change but Orly is definitely a better option.

Strumms

I can't speak of Orly but Beauvais is a dump. The one and only time I flew there was back in March, late flight in and late flight out. For what we had to pay for the return coach trips which was astronomical considering, paying that and some more extra I would have gladly done to get an Aer Lingus flight. CDG isn't my favourite airport but it's fit for purpose and not a glorified shack.

On the way into Paris despite it being late the bus driver insisted on playing loud music of the very cheesy reggae varity. We were fortunate enough to have the same guy drive us back late after a long day and same ****.. Just a ball ache

On arriving at the terminal we found everything is shoehorned in, long Qs and too many people at that time anyway for the space available, most people stressed. The cafe or restaurant / bar airside is outrageously expensive even by airport and Paris proportions due to the lack of any competition.

Swore I wouldn't do it again, ever. It was stressful and not worth the saving. Go to ORY or CDG where you can at least get a Carte Visite that you can use to get into Paris on the RER and use the Transport while you are there in the city. I'm sure some people will swear by Beauvais but not me. If you are into reliably stress free travel and airport experiences avoid it.

Louche Lad

Yes, Beauvais is a dump. Poor quality staff, no evidence of management interest in improving things.

My overall feeling is the place seems to be run for the benefit of staff. As an example, there are two cafés/restaurants land side, but both keep strictly normal French lunch hours so you cannot get a decent meal before you check in. A place like an airport has people arriving at all times of the day, not conveniently for lunch, so making proper food unavailable to most of the customers is absurd.

Usually smaller airports are quite good, but not this one. Try a proper airport.

ScottSF

For me if the savings on Ryanair are significant (and they usually are), Beauvais Airport is worth it. Yes it's not much of an airport, the buses are a bit stressful, but you are not going to Paris for the airport right? It is the low-cost way to do a 2 or 3 day weekend to Paris.

I often run into delays at the main CDG airport in Paris. Last time on the way back to the airport by train for the return flight, there was maintenance happening at night. The announcements were only in French but we luckily figured out that we need to get off at an earlier stop and switch to an overcrowded bus to drive the rest of the way. We didn't have a lot of time to spare.

Also Beauvais is good if you want to hire a car and drive to Normandy for holiday there. CDG is a good option if you want to do a trip to the Champagne region or elsewhere by train directly from the airport station.

SusanC10

To be honest my opinion of Beauvais is that it is a glorified shed masquerading as an airport !

I had flown out of there many many years ago on my own and a lot younger and didn't remember it being so bad but earlier this year I used it with Husband and 2 kids in tow and would avoid it next time. We have used both Orly and CDG in the past couple of years with the kids and either of those is fine but I would avoid Beauvais if at all possible.

sbsquarepants

I don't know, what do people really want in an airport? Once it has somewhere to land the plane that's good enough for me. I've been through Beauvais and whereas you wouldn't want to spend a weekend there, I wouldn't want to spend a weekend in any airport in the world. Plane lands, you get off and you leave - who cares what it's like?

henryporter

I remember when Ryanair first started using Beauvais, that it was still more or less a French military base - the terminal was just literally a shed. It has improved greatly, but if there's any way of avoiding the two hour bus journey each way to/from Paris, I would go for it.

Louche Lad

sbsquarepants wrote: »

I don't know, what do people really want in an airport? Once it has somewhere to land the plane that's good enough for me. I've been through Beauvais and whereas you wouldn't want to spend a weekend there, I wouldn't want to spend a weekend in any airport in the world. Plane lands, you get off and you leave - who cares what it's like?

It's fine for landing - I just use the toilets then get on the bus. The problem is departing, when you have to make sure you arrive in good time, so you turn up too early, then you're trapped amongst screaming kids for ages and then they announce Ryanair are delayed (again).

Strumms

sbsquarepants wrote: »

I don't know, what do people really want in an airport? Once it has somewhere to land the plane that's good enough for me. I've been through Beauvais and whereas you wouldn't want to spend a weekend there, I wouldn't want to spend a weekend in any airport in the world. Plane lands, you get off and you leave - who cares what it's like?

Ok so in theory you just need a runway. ? Jeez. For me travelling is part of the holiday and should be enjoyed so far as possible and not endured. I like it to have some small level of comfort, somewhere that isn't overcrowded, stressful, the facilities while if limited are at least not a rip off, with convenient connections that are the same. Beauvais provides that exact opposite.

Factor in what I payed for the cheap flights, add the expensive coach charges there and back. The extra we payed for food and drinks while waiting for the flight back. When you add it up the saving by using Ryanair was negliagable and whatever it was certainly wasn't worth the hassle for enduring Beauvais. Never again.

Transavia seem to have great deals to ORY I was pricing them up today, got a quote for 85 Euros return from Dublin leaving Thursday week and coming back the following Monday.

Jimmy Iovine

Busaras is nicer than Beauvais. A dump is putting it kindly.

It is a cheap alternative though and the bus service is great, if over-priced.

imme

its an airport, what do you want, jam on it?


Why not save the fee for changing airport and have a drink in a Champs Elysee hotel or a fancy lunch somewhere in Paris.

wandererz

I

imme wrote: »

its an airport, what do you want, jam on it?


Why not save the fee for changing airport and have a drink in a Champs Elysee hotel or a fancy lunch somewhere in Paris.

Yes, it's an airport. And no, i don't want jam on it.

I booked these flights, haven't had too much problem with Ryanair fights before. Then i read the nightmare description of this airport and experiences online.

I don't mind flying into it. But some of the reported experiences of flying out of it are quite concerning.
e.g. hr+ long queues, being forced to wait outside the airport, attitude of staff etc.

All of this can ruin the experience, especially as in this case it's an anniversary.

In most airport's in Europe i can turn up 1hr-1hr15mins before, drop the car off at the rental agency and have more than enough time to get through security etc. with very little problem.

The reports i've read online seem to suggest otherwise... so i asked the question...

I will be in the champagne area so will be having that fancy lunch and drink anyway. But all of that can be very easily ruined by the final experience of departure. I would rather spend an extra €100 euro to negate that by flying out of Orly or elsewhere if the experience is better than having to wait outside like cattle.

I'm simply trying to limit the hassle i encounter. And the combined experiences of people in replying will hopefully help others as well.

No need to be the usual boards dipsh*t poster.

I don't need jam, and if i wanted it i know where to get it.
I may in fact decide to drive to Chantilly and get some cream for my scones together with jam. It's not too far away.

And in Paris, some of the best meals are to be had in small unassuming and unfancy cafes/restaurants.
It's typically what takes one's fancy when passing by. But if i can find a traditional Brittany creperie i prefer that to a "fancy lunch".

And apologies for sounding like a dick, but sometimes one reaches a certain age and these little things do make a difference. And if you have paid for the previous flights beforehand and they're done and dusted and forgotten about, why not try to improve the situation if you have a chance to do so.
It's one thing buying those two glasses of wine at 5euro each on the return flight to toast the end of a great weekend away but entirely another story if you've had hours of frustration to get onto that flight in the first place.

This isn't After Hours, it's the Travel Forum.
So, has Beauvais Airport improved??

DivingDuck

imme wrote: »

its an airport, what do you want, jam on it?

No, but seats on the toilet would be a start?

I flew through there a few times around 2010/2011, and none of the toilets had seats. I don't expect a lot from an airport, but basic facilities would be nice. So far as I remember, the airport consists of a restaurant which shuts early, a cafe with a limited selection of food, a combined newsagent/giftshop, and a few hundred RyanAir passengers sitting on the floor or queuing for the six or so toilets available to customers.

I'd use it again if the savings were sufficient, but as someone said upthread, if you haven't been before, you would be better to prepare yourself for arriving to/departing from a French version of Busaras than expecting it to compare to your normal understanding of an airport.

If you're happy with that, it's a great way to save a few bob. If not, changing would be a good idea.

CelticRambler

After a very miserable experience several years ago, I had to fly to and from Beauvais in March/April. Bearing in mind that all of my "local" airports (Limoges, Tours, La Rochelle, Rodez - anything within 4 hours is local!) are little more than glorified sheds, I would say "shed" is too good a word to use for Beauvais. Without a doubt, the staff are the most obnoxious French people I've ever met (I live with the French full time) and appear to go out of their way to be unpleasant. Contrast that with the people at Tours, who could have been the model for the new cuddly Ryanair experience

My lasting memory of the out-bound flight from Beauvais in March is of the priority-boarding passengers being herded out the door at the scheduled time even though the 'plane wasn't ready. They spent half a hour waiting in the sleet and snow on the apron and couldn't get back into the departure lounge because the gate staff were trying to bully the non-priority passengers through the door into the blizzard ...

I've never flown from Orly; CdG is okay-ish as bus-stops go. At least the seats are fairly comfortable while you're waiting for your delayed Aer Lingus flight. :pac:

Louche Lad

CelticRambler wrote: »

After a very miserable experience several years ago, I had to fly to and from Beauvais in March/April. Bearing in mind that all of my "local" airports (Limoges, Tours, La Rochelle, Rodez - anything within 4 hours is local!) are little more than glorified sheds, I would say "shed" is too good a word to use for Beauvais. Without a doubt, the staff are the most obnoxious French people I've ever met (I live with the French full time) and appear to go out of their way to be unpleasant. Contrast that with the people at Tours, who could have been the model for the new cuddly Ryanair experience

My lasting memory of the out-bound flight from Beauvais in March is of the priority-boarding passengers being herded out the door at the scheduled time even though the 'plane wasn't ready. They spent half a hour waiting in the sleet and snow on the apron and couldn't get back into the departure lounge because the gate staff were trying to bully the non-priority passengers through the door into the blizzard ...

I've never flown from Orly; CdG is okay-ish as bus-stops go. At least the seats are fairly comfortable while you're waiting for your delayed Aer Lingus flight. :pac:

Agree, Tours is excellent. I wonder if part of the difference between Beauvais and Tours is it's maybe difficult to get staff for Beauvais: the local town is much smaller than Tours, and any competent people from Beauvais just get a job in Paris.

wandererz

Thanks for the previous replies.

As an update to my original post, i just thought i'd post my eventual experience.

Arrival in Beauvais
Landing in Beauvais and getting through immigration etc was easy peasy.
There was a slight waiting period as several flights arrived around the same time.
One thing i do remember during that waiting period in the queue was the sewer type odour in the air within the terminal at/before immigration.

This area is quite small, so if there are too many people then some are left standing outside. Happy days if it's cold & raining outside.

So, it's cold/rain and potential darkness outside or warmth/dryness and the smell of the sewers inside - take your pick.

However, this was a relatively smooth experience for me overall.

Followed the signs to the bus and boarded (had pre-purchased tickets).

Return Leg - Paris to Beauvais Airport
The problems arose on the return trip. We had the last flight home @9.50.
We arrived at the bus station at approx 7.10pm due to a delayed train and a restroom break.

It turns out that there is one bus, and one bus only. It leaves 3hrs before the flight (@ 6.50pm) and it had departed.

The guy at the ticket office simply would not entertain any questions except to say that the bus had departed. Too effin bad i guess.

The only option available to us was a taxi - at a cost of €150.

Ryanair return Dub-Paris was €150 for 2.
Beauvais-Paris return shuttle bus was €64 for 2
Taxi Paris-Beauvais was €150 for 2

So €364 plus a whole load of strife.

If i had booked the entire trip via Orly or CDG i could have simply waited for the next train to the airport (or the next one after that, or perhaps the next one after that as well...) and saved a good bit of money and hassle.

If i had booked (re-booked) the return section via Orly when i had the doubts (reason for the original post) and kissed goodbye to the Ryanair return leg - then i would have saved at least €100 and the hassle.

Now i know all about why Beauvais is NOT Paris-Beauvais. It really is only ryanair who considers it so.

Return Leg - Beauvais Airport
We got to the airport, the bus passengers had already gone through security and through immigration and were left cooped up in a small waiting area. Lord knows how long they had been there.

We got there and still had a 1hr wait.

It's ridiculous having to cut short your trip to Paris by having to be at the bus station at least 3hrs before, with no other option except for an expensive taxi journey.
Add to that possibly 30mins-60mins of travel time to the bus station (if you are in Paris central). That's already 4hrs.

G*d forbid if you have an early morning return flight.

In short, before you book this Ryanair flight, consider other options. In my case, never again.


P.S. The cafe after security and before immigration was great. It had a good selection of sandwiches/salads and the staff were very friendly. I cannot commend them enough. The cost of food & drinks was not extortionate and on the whole cheaper and better than the alternative on-board offering.


PPS. On the flight over i ordered the ratatouille. It was served uncooked. Pasta was cold and hard and stuck together, the fork would not go through it. They took it away, reheated it and it was immediately better. By that time though, it was landing time and i had to forfeit the meal after a few bites. Thanks Cryin Air!

ScottSF

Thanks for posting the update for future reference. My past worry about Beauvais was not arriving in time (3 hours isn't so awful since the bus ride takes over an hour) but the bus being full. I have no idea how they handle that situation!

Related to this issue of flying to the way-out-of-the-way airport, Frankfurt Hahn (nowhere near Frankfurt the city) has other worries. A couple of years ago I checked the bus timetable about a month in advance and made a note of the exact bus to take for the return flight to Dublin. However I didn't realize that the bus schedule for Hahn changes over from a summer to a winter schedule sometime in October. So I missed the bus as it left 10 minutes earlier in the winter season and had to take a similarly super expensive taxi ride. There goes the saving like you said!

At least you didn't have to book a new flight the next day. I bet that last minute plane ticket would have been even more expensive than the taxi.