East Midlands Airport (EMA) in North West Leicestershire - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

The airport is always hassle free, with reasonably priced on-site parking (always book in advance with EMA newsletter promo codes). Easy to amend free on-line or excellent manchester airport group call centre. Security outbound - it's unusual to spend any more than 15 minutes queuing, sometimes only 10 minutes or less. Good selection of eateries and airport lounge. Only negative points are lack of an Airport Shuttle Bus to East Midlands Parkway Railway Station and the local Skylink Bus Service, does not serve East Leicestershire.

Easy check in and Security. Enough space to sit and have food.

Full of mannerless working class people - will cough and sneeze in your face, push past you without care. Felt like I was trapped in the riots. I believe they’re attracted like moths to cheap flights to Spain.

Security seem to make up random rules, they should be clearly communicated with signs, and not the whim of whatever the staff think that day.

This place keeps flying planes very low over our estates and homes. Everyone is sick of it. All hours of night and day very loud planes fly over our residency. My grandson hates it and it affects all other elderly clients especially with hearing aids or sleeping aids. Recently this year has been the worst and is not getting better and these people only get more bad. Please dear god get rid of this unholy place amen.

Small airport, could have better facilities

Never had any issues here. Easy to locate, and to navigate around, they have a smoking area which is a great idea ! (For those who do smoke - located upstairs through the bar!) Prefer ema to other airports

This airport makes impression you are not really in a first world country, UK. There is no drinking water available. One café that had a water dispenser, does not filter it, it's just tap water and you can clearly taste the chlorine. None of Wi-Fis worked. Vending machines have incorrect product arrangement. When you choose something by number, the machine shows different product and therefore incorrect price. To board the plane I had to walk through torrential rain and try to avoid massive puddles. It seems that management of this airport do not care just a tiniest bit about the passengers, it functions just by doing the bare minimum.

Badly run and charge extortionate charges just to pick someone up more than any other airport in the UK.

Had to dock 2 more stars, yet again return flight forced to go through passport control as a family instead of scanners and they had 1 person yes 1 person checking our passports on a return flight which was 80% families. Stark contrast for Menorca airport a larger airport where it took a fraction of the time to get through security both ways. So nearly got a 5 stars departing was amazing straight through and very friendly staff flight on time. Arriving back took an eternity to get through security checks, two flights to get through and 2 people checking passports for families it also took some time for our taxi to get us out, perhaps automatic barriers would speed things up here

Awful airport. Planes leave every 5 mins . No peace or quiet. Inconsiderate low flying pilots. Causes disruption and pain for all elderly and disabled nearby.

Poor! Being an asian I felt targeted. I was taken to some sort of interrogation place. My luggage was checked thoroughly and brutally as If I my luggage wasn’t checked at my departure. Crew was Ignorant and misguiding. It took me almost two hours to get out. I am just 18. Never ever travel through this airport if you are not White.

A conveniently situated airport that’s easy to fly in and out of. Parking, check in and security are all easy and stress free. Reasonable amount of routes to choose from, although I would prefer it if they operated EasyJet instead of Ryanair. Only big complaint is that for some reason all eateries other than the Castle Rock pub close at 6pm for some bizarre reason. I was flying out at 7.30 and was baffled as to why Frankie & Benny’s and even Starbucks were shutting up at 6pm. They told me they reopen at 3am. Why operate such weird hours when there are flights leaving all the way up to 2am!? Passengers in the airport for those 9 hours have no choices for food other than one pub.

Departures are slow. Security very slow. Not enough seating in departures if you do not want to buy food or drinks. We were kept waiting on the tarmac for 20 mins whilst our plane unloaded. Luckily it wasn't raining. Arrivals is ritual humiliation. Bus to terminal building which means waiting for the last person to get off the plane before the bus sets off. Very slow through customs. This means it can take an hour to escape the airport after your plane has landed. Airport in desperate need of airbridges to avoid need for buses.

Very disappointing. Access required, check in desk you still had to wait an age, check point was anywhere will do, flight from the furthest gate which the doors were locked, the accessible seats were miles from the outward door and no seating at gate check in. Very poor.

Security is absolutely miserable, lying jobsworths... inefficient and make stuff up on the go. Train your staff properly and don't say stuff is on your website and in your rules when it isn't. Thanks for the terrible experience.

Needed assistance this time, staff couldn't do enough to help.

The bar was open at 04:30. Top drawer.

Should be ashamed of themselves. £5 to drop people off at the airport! You thieves. Daylight robbery.

Easy and straight forward not long at security

Not the biggest of airports but has expanded since our last visit. Very busy in the bars and food area, a nit of queuing at check-in, security and passport controls etc , still a lot better than using the largest airports imho

Nice little airport fast security check in nice food restaurant designated smoking area

expensive when only collecting family taking all of 5mins

Basically no lines which is great!

Had a early flight this morning to be faced with peoples cases literally all over the airport stacked in piles not many staff on at all which you would think so in school holiday times used this airport a few times never had any problems up and till we arrived in Lanzarote and 2 of the biggest cases we had packed with just about every thing for our family holiday have gone missing and can see exactly why bad management and not enough staff at all not good enough even to be classed as an airport with what I saw this morning with 100s of cases all over the airport at this point in time would give them less stars it's called wrong people in the wrong job

The airport is pretty good up the scale. Overall it's 4 stars. There are multiple airlines that use this airport. One time my flight was delayed by 2 hours but that was my ever experience with a delayed flight. The parking is absolutely massive. Most of the spaces are occupied so when parking, you'll have to find an empty space.

If I could give a zero score I would! We recently missed a flight to Dublin due to the airport website and screens in the airport showing the incorrect departure time. The airline have informed us that this error was due to the airport. Not only have the airport refused us any compensation for the flights they will also not allow any reduction on the airport parking which has resulted in costing us nearly £50 for less than 3 hours! This was our first flight abroad in over 20 years due to my ill health and we were really looking forward to our break away!

Departing from this airport is always relatively okay, but arriving is a bloody nightmare and always so slow, whether it be no busses or stupidly slow arrival security, it puts me off using the airport completely

I was really impressed with East Midlands airport. Help given from Car Park attendant on drop off and the assisted travel was second to none. I think his name was Jonathan and he went above and beyond to make our journey a pleasant and stress free one. Highly recommend this airport and all the staff. Kind regards Di Godfrey

No toilet paper, no soap, what a welcome to the UK..

Another EMA Parking fail. Yet again, a 20 minute delay exiting SHORT STAY CAR PARK 1. And yet again, the phone and online directions to complain lead you round in a circle. At the end of the phone tree you tell your "valued customer" they may only complain online. On the EMA Parking website, there is nowhere to submit said complaint. Someone has designed a nice little earner here. No way to complain. Tonight we paid the exorbitant £8 for 20 minutes at the pay station 00:01, got stuck in the exit queue behind people who couldn't get through the single working exit barrier. Once we made it to the barrier at 00:17, we discovered why the delay: we could only leave by paying another £6. There is no response to pushing the button for help. Everyone is angry. Everyone who delays at the gate trying to call help increases the liklihood that the people behind have to pay again. This is robbery and useless systems design all rolled into one. Your Designed-by-Psychopaths systems are tarnishing the brand of the rest of the airport. Sort it out. You're as bad as Ryanair.

Got told at security that our liquid bags were too big despite them being described as airport security toiletry bags online and having used them in multiple airports before! Small airport with very little seating for number of passengers, bad WiFi and restaurants shutting at 5pm. Security queue and boarding was quick and efficient.

flying Ryanair from this Airport is the worse airport I have experienced in the World On top of this paying a kings Ransome for pick up & drop off is fraud & deception compared with Heathrow T5!?! the Q for security leading almost out the building is unacceptable. the Draconian dining £100 for alleged drop offs at the BP garage is also fraudulent. avoid this horrible facility. I have the misfortune of Flying from my local Airport & I am faced with locked doors to the Gate that I should be boarding in 5 minutes PS the parking regime is still unacceptable

At 04:30, Thursday 11 July this year, I visited East Midlands Airport, using the passenger drop off facility at the Long Stay 2 car park. I use this service quite frequently. On arrival at the barrier, the machine usually dispenses a green plastic token, providing a free 1-hour drop off. On this occassion, despite pressing the button several times, no token was issued. I therefore pressed the intercom button for assistance. And waited. There was no repsonse until I had pressed the assistance button at least half a dozen times. By which time cars had started to queue behind me waited to gain access. Eventually the intercome was answered by a very rude female assistant, who told me I had no right being there; only prebooked parking was permitted. I explained that I wanted to use the drop off facility, and the barrier was raised without any further communication. I enquired as to what I would need to do to exit the car park. I received no response and it was clear that she had simply terminated the contact. I entered the car park, dropped off my wife and proceeded to the exit, where again I pressed the intercom assistance button. This time it was answered promptly by a very polite male assistant, who apologised, saying, "No problem Sir." The barrier was raised and I exited. In conclusion, I would add that it appears a retraining issue is appropriate for the rude female assistant on duty that morning.

This is our go to airport with good long stay car parks and just off the M1, smaller than other airports but that's a good thing imo.

We must say we were very with parking staff at EMA .I left my car keys in car and did not realise until I arrived in Italy On 5th July I contacted Airport and spoke to a lady in Manchester called Dorothy and explained situation she said she would get someone to check car and she called me back with in an hour to say the keys had been found and would be left meet and greet office. The person who found them checked the car to ensure the ignition was working. He was Pete Bradley. It was such a relief to know car was safe. Well done to Dorothy and Pete Bradley. 5 star service It was lovely to pick up keys and thank Pete We would also give 5 star to mid stay 2 car park

Flew in early morning from Palma ! The arrivals place at East Midlands , was a mess dirty, tatty and just felt run down. The ladies loos were filthy and this was at 11am the sinks were all badly stained with brown stains disgusting - most of toilets dirty.

Toilets are grim. Leaks coming through the ceiling. Toilet bowls, handles, floors and basins in a dirty state. Seems to have no pride taken in the building land side.

Great airport helped my. Partner would fly from there again

Security staff were really polite, cheerful, efficient and professional.

The airport is terrible, stretched out pointlessly, dirty, the service is terrible and slow. The woman turned me into a terrorist because I overlooked a 3 ml, closed advertising sachet with a sample of the hand cream in my purse. She knocked over my suitcase for an hour and did a million tests to finally confirm that I was not a threat. And she could have just thrown it away. I invite the pompous employees of this facility to Wrocław to see how beautiful, clean and friendly the airport can be

Quite a nice airport, nice service It improves a lot from year to year, which is why I change my opinion to 5 stars

20/6 depart 27/6 return wife required assistance via wheelchair. What a faultless & superb service all the staff involved need commending would give mire than 5 stars if possible. Well done EMA

There was no one to direct the plane in for some reason but resolved after about 10 mins, only then we remained on the plane for another 20 minutes for some reason before we could de board. Passport control was as packed, however moved forward quickly.

It's pretty much my go-to airport for going anywhere. Never really had an issue with the place. I personally think that it is amazing and does everything right. I am saying this entirely because I am an avgeek and love how the airport itself is designed. A duel taxiway would've been favourable but it isn't like they get a whole lot of traffic. Yeah I don't have a whole lot to say honestly the place is great.

Really easy to get through and upon return too. I will definitely use again, very convenient for me

Easy to drop off people. £5 for 15 minutes. No traffic, pick up 10 mins and I paid £6

Simple and easy airport to fly out of and return to. Needs some long haul flights again. Can they not persuade Virgin or TUI to launch some routes?

Thank you to the special assistance team based at EMA. Very friendly staff, professional, the pink lanyard that was being trialled this past week worked really well. Easy to spot by staff and helpful to get to the right area for boarding. Thank you all .

Brilliant airport. The Burger King was top quality worker called rupsha was very nice.

Lovely airport apart from the free wifi not working at all

Worst airport to go to. They close the short stay carpark at night so you paying £5 for 15 minutes (drop off) and then £1 per minute after. Your sort of stuck if your picking any one up. I would definitely advise booking your flights to go to the other airports. The security/ airport staff are rude and need training. Never had this issue in any of the other airports. We pay for the parking, that's appreciated, but this airport is a total nightmare. Definitely not a option.

Too small and not the great experience it used to be. Hopelessly old fashioned and needs updating.

I was due to board a flight here today 14/6/24 when I experienced a massive panic attack ...All the colleagues who noticed this unfold were absolutely AWSOME I cannot thank everyone enough . Sadly I physicaly wasn't able to board the flight .but at no point was I made to feel bad or silly ..I was surrounded by very caring people which enabled me to feel safe and also shield me from other customers which eased any negative vides I was giving off to others .FANTASTIC FANTASTIC and THANK YOU ALL .

Some bad security personnel that need improvement in attitude.

A small airport, but everything is fine. Sometimes the inspection is very long and detailed (I recently came across interns and it took a very long time), but sometimes the briefing is normal. Nice service, smile and no unnecessary questions. All in all - as far as I'm concerned - I didn't notice any problems and I haven't had them during my several stays.

Expect predatory parking charges. Do not stop your car at any cost! I stopped for 1minute at 2am with no other cars on the road and received a threatening £100 penalty notice.

Unfortunately, the invention of WiFi, 4G or 5G Internet has not reached the airport in East Midlands. People from the airport staff say that the Internet is only a theory and in fact, there is no hard evidence of its existence.

Always quick to get through, airport parking easy too

Just witnessed my boyfriend experiencing racism by the border force police. I am an English white lady and they stopped him because he is black and asked judgemental questions. They NEVER asked me a question once!! Am completely disgusted with how he was treated considering we are one of the biggest multicultural cities in the UK. I interrupted to show our taxi tracking system of our taxi arriving. They suddenly changed and the interrogation stopped when I said they were being racist. Absolutely appalled, upset and terribly ashamed to see and witness this as just happened. East midlands Airport sort yourself and staff out!!!!.

An absolute joke of a so called rapid drop off. If you are going to charge £5 to rapidly drop off someone at least make it rapid. It's slow. The Contactless pads are positioned too low and larger cars can't reach down to it. The Contactless frequently don't work and when they do they are slow. If you press for help it takes ages to answer. it needs 4 exits there are 2. overall pathetic would give zero if I could.

Easy to navigate from the airport to every major location in East Midland

I recently had the profound misfortune of navigating East Midlands Airport. This airport is a great example of the morally bankrupt priorities of its designers, who have shamelessly chosen profit over passenger experience. From the moment you step inside, you’re assaulted by an overwhelming array of shops and advertisements. Every available inch of space is dedicated to consumerism, transforming the airport into a grotesque monument to commercial greed. The focus on squeezing every last penny out of travelers comes at a severe cost to comfort and convenience with a total lack of space for passengers to wait to board. The airport uses the technique of retaining passengers in a common shopping area, withholding gate information until the last minute to maximize consumption. When gates are indeed called, passenger must go to a livestock waiting area with insufficient space and screaming airport agents doing their best to control crowds that are too big for the remaining space that hasn’t been converted into a shopping centre. The space allocated for actual travel needs, like gates and seating, is shockingly minimal. The cramped, war-like conditions create an oppressive atmosphere, especially during busy times when it feels like a battle to find a seat or even navigate through the crowds. It’s a disgrace that passengers are subjected to such a hostile environment simply to maximize retail space. The designers of East Midlands Airport have displayed a blatant disregard for the comfort and well-being of travelers. This airport stands as a testament to their greed, where the needs of the passengers are an afterthought, buried beneath a relentless push for commercial gain.

very nice airport, open 24 hours, there is praying rooms, snack vending machine, seats without arm rest, can charge your phone.

£7.25 for pint of San Miguel...outrageous.. please explain..!!!???

All the staff starting from the shuttle bus from the car park were extremely friendly and polite, never had an experience at an airport like it! The amenities are really good and the toilets are really clean, best airport in the UK I’ve been too by far, if it costs an extra 10% I’d definitely still pick it just for the experience!

For God's sake sort out the toilets here. On landing the loos are filthy with scum around the taps - wet floors in each loo. The baby change area is filthy. Sat 1st June 2024 3.30pm

Best airport I’ve been through always hassle free

Fly to and from there regularly. Never had any problems good airport. Extremely well run. That said, I had a very bad experience today. The security at departures was appalling. I've noticed a decline in any form of customer service from most of the operatives in this department some are just outright rude! I don't know if they are now being trained in North Korea, but most have a major attitude problem and consider passengers an inconvenience. A little bit of power has gone to their heads!.......

Horrible! Gave us a fine for out suitcase being "too big" even though it fit in the Ryanair standards! Even the woman giving the fine was so rude for no reason! Also, they literally damaged our suitcase, we tried to clean it but failed! Stay away at all costs.

Absolute joke of an airport, security still in the dark ages. They don't have up to date scanners made to take everything out of luggage. This place needs serious investment. Even though it's my closest airport I will avoid having to travel from here ever again.

Larger choice of restaurants than 4 yrs ago. Long walk to Gate 23!!

Airport is small staff are polite, quick through security check .the reason for 1 star is : 1st. I had to throw the water for my little kid because apparently she is to big (5yr old) 2nd. We we're asked to throw the hot drinks before passing the gate for security reasons ,even though there are no visible signs about this or any warning whatsoever. Thanks 11£in the bin .Put some signs next time please.

This airport is an absolute joke all they are interested in is ripping you off for all they can and make your holiday experience unhappy. Let's start at parking you book on line months before hand at extortionate prices for parking place give registration plus vehicle details turn up at designated time no parking spaces at all they are selling spots that do not exist spent three quarters off an hour to find spot after driving around several time until space became available. The airport is soo ruin down with uneven surfaces water stained ceiling tiles in terminal and toilets that do not work. Passport control and customs an absolute Joke at the end of the day they are cheesed off because you are going away on holiday and they aren't. So we're do I start you go through border control and they have signs up stating Bare with us as we are protecting you from terrorist and illegal imagrants your average holiday maker is not a terrorist and imagrants just come in on rubber dinghy and do not fly as holiday makers. I am sick on tired off being pulled to one side as I have two metal tents fitted in my heart which sets metal detectors off you are made to strip even though you show card stating metal tents fitted. All they are again interested in is drugs. officer was adamant that they were going to find drugs on me. Checking around my waste line wallet and everywhere else because slight cocaine trace was on one off my twenty pound notes. I stated only drugs I take are prescribed medication and every twenty pound note in the uk has traces off white powder on them so doesnt make me a drug dealer they were not impressed. The other thing is you constantly having to show your passport for everything you board plane do not stop off at Moor way services or pick up hitch hikers and when you arrive at your destination same process even though our government and other countries governments know who is leaving the UK what time and for how long plus same on other border control no wonder imagrants just walk into this country under false identities when they spend there time wasted on us easy prey I suppose other option catching illegal imagrants too much paperwork. The so called quick passport identity control does not work or if you are lucky 4 out off twenty working. They state that 120 million is being spent on airport on what I would love to know. I am sick and tired off being treated like a criminal when I was born in the uk white British and loved her for over sixty years. Restaurants and shops in airport absolute rip off on prices extortionate perhaps if they lowered priced instead off taking advantage they might sell more duty free the same as high street prices or Internet you have to be dislusional to believe you are getting bargain

Should have a bar on its own like it use to have.

Arrived in the early hours to pick my wife up. Struggled to find arrivals and looped through the short stay car park twice (£10), stopped the car to read a sign (£100 no stopping even at 2am for 45 seconds). Birmingham is much brighter, better lit and has car parking that makes sense. Avoid if you can, else get a taxi.

Great place. Easy to use. Good bus service to car park. Thanks Phil

Must be the worst airport I have ever arrived at , on arrival No information desk , just a Greggs and a shop ! no info as how to get too and from the car hire " village " which must be 1 kilometre from the arrivals . Very poor yet they have no problems charging 5 pounds for pick up and drop off a disgrace , what foreign tourists think when they arrive I cannot imagine. I would like to add that on the departures side the food , staff and service is very good having flown from there on many occasions such a shame that this is when leaving the U.K. !

Busy...even on a bloody Sunday morning early hours !!

Exit barrier never worked poor service drop off fee ripped off

So easy to park staff outstanding

The Rapid Drop Off (far from Rapid) is the worst I've seen at any airport. They increased the amount to drop off to improve the car park. But somehow it's slower. You see people struggling to pay at the exits. The screen is hard to see on a sunny day. There should be more then 2 exits.

Easy to navigate EM airport with great bus links to different areas of Nottingham. It's been really nice to see the upgraded waiting area with charging points. Retailers have also improved layouts..just the toilets need some refurbishment, and it's would be wonderful. We always find this one of the best and easy airports for travellers! Keep it up🌄

As per previous reviews double red lines around the airport and £5 for a dropp off of 1 min is ridiculous. In normal airports like Dublin or Alicante the drop off is Free for 10 mins. Enough to unload the passengers and say proper good bye.

I chose to opt out of the scanner and didn't mind a search the guy told me I have to go through the scanner as its mandatory I told him it wasn't he said I wouldn't be able to board my flight otherwise this is against the law and against my rights he was uneducated and we all know that these scanners haven't been tested enough to see if they cause cancer with the high concentration of rays absolutely shocking I was denied my human rights by un educated staff I want someone to contact one why I was denied my rights

Always fly from here since Bham stopped smoking in their airport

I really don't know what to say. Landed at 2350. Whizzed through passport control. Luggage was already at the carousel. Home by 0040. Didn't have time to take photos as was In shock how quick it was to go through everywhere. Maybe we was lucky that no other flights landed at the same time

Honestly, this pains me to write. I have used East Midlands Airport for the past two years and have had amazing experiences, from the time it gets through security to the beer lounges. However, despite this, my most recent experience was not good. As is usual for me (I carry camera equipment for vlogging), I had my bags searched, which wasn't an issue. Normally, I would be treated with some dignity. However, on this occasion, some old auntie decided to treat me and my equipment as poorly as humanly possible. If it helps with identifying the individual, the number 7 was visible on their badge. Despite several times telling this person that my equipment was delicate, they proceeded to treat it like a piece of garbage, to the point where I had to stop them from placing a very large bag on my camera. This whole ordeal was shocking, and they were mocking me for putting the camera through, despite my telling them that there was a camera in the bag. EMA, please let my faith in this airport be rectified by coaching this individual on how to interact with the public.

Disgusting toilets and washrooms in arrivals This is the face of England as you arrive into the country a bladdy shambles … Get your act together ! MAG.. sending the health and safety inspectors in

Missed my flight to Alicante due to lack of coordination between the security control agents and gate people. Got into the airport with one hour and half to spare and somehow it takes more than an hour to get by the security checkpoint. They opened a new line and I dont know what happened but the scan machines just stopped working for almost 30 minutes in my line. Then 4 people in front of me dont know how to pack and ended up with 5 of their trays for observation. One of my four trays also had to go to observation because of a snowglobe souvenir (it could have been a bomb who knows????). But the problem is how slow they work searching each tray afterwards. When they started to search I told the woman that my flight was due in 20 minutes and she told me not to worry cause they would wait (no one radioed the gate) after finishing I ran literally to the other side of the terminal....just my luck the gate is in the opposite side of the terminal. When I reached it I told them what happened and one of the women at the counter just gave me the default line "im sorry theres nothing I can do about it" with a grin on her face. Ive been to so many airports in my life and this never happened, normally theres communication between gates and security when theres issues in lines or a passanger is missing that already passed control.

Be aware of their policy against Jewish travelers.

Stuck on the aircraft due to lack of staff and buses when we could have walked to the terminal, then to find the biggest queue ever to get through passport control, guess what, lack of staff!!! The UK airports are some of the worst in the world and I wouldn’t travel through East Midlands airport again unless I was absolutely desperate! Shocking customer service at 1am in the morning!!!

Fine leaving uk, uk boarder control on way back in is a joke!!! File all Families into a que where only 2 staff check passports, while 3 flights worth of ppl without kids go through by the time they have processed 5 Families. Why are there not more desks occupied with staff?

I've been there so many times. Airport is very nice and staff is very friendly. Restaurants, bars and shops have very low prices and good quality of items and food. I'm going to say that's my favourite airport in the UK. I wish I'm going to be there in the near future. Greetings Oscar!✈️

Particular thanks to Chloe Beadle and Sean Dethick for their excellent help and time given to sort a problem out for us on our return to the airport. It was very much appreciated

Fed up with people saying this is in Leicestershire - ITS DERBYSHIRE!!!!

It was very good with good choices of Viewing Areas to go to.

Once again, taken out of the gate in the rain… and the Ryanair flight hadn’t even stopped yet alone disembarked its passengers! How many more times? Very poor

Nice small airport, essentially a ryanair hub. Expensive to fly from but otherwise its OK

The Boarder control coming back is appalling and absolute disgrace in time taken to get through took us over 40 mins The new arrangement is not fit for purpose