One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
BOH8.2+0.4
BRS7.8
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
BOH6.8
BRS7.2+0.4
Food & retail
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
BOH6.6
BRS7.4+0.8
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
BOH5.8
BRS7.6+1.8
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
BOH6.5
BRS7.3+0.8
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
BOH6.7
BRS7.3+0.6
Best for
BOH
Jet2 / Ryanair / TUI leisure trips from Dorset, south Wiltshire and western HampshireTravellers who want CT leave-in-bag liquids up to 2 L without a London hubDrivers who can pre-book CP2 and treat the airport as a car-first regional
BRS
Southwest England leisure and VFR trips on easyJet/Ryanair/Jet2/TUIPriority Pass holders clearing security before 19:00Rail travelers connecting via Temple Meads + Airport Flyer A1Compact single-terminal navigation without changing buildings
Watch out for
BOH
No Priority Pass / LoungeKey lounge — Bourne & Acre is pay-as-you-go dining onlymorebus 737 is sparse weekdays, not a turn-up-and-go city metroTicketed to “Bournemouth” but flying from SOU Southampton is a common Solent mix-up
BRS
Essence/Escape lounges both close 19:30 — late banks miss themReturn-leg liquids: BRS allows 2 L containers left in the bag, but your return airport may still apply 100 mlNo jet bridges — apron walks/buses in Mendip weatherNo on-site rail; Flyer fares are separate from Bristol Zone tickets
Amenities and tips
BOH
CT security — liquids ≤2 L stay packedBourne & Acre Bar and KitchenExpress drop-off / pick-upmorebus 737Free BOH Passenger WifiJet2.com / Jet2holidays base
Bring up to 2 L of liquids — leave bottles and laptops in the bag
CT is the real BOH win — pack ≤2 L liquids and keep the laptop in the bag; Fast Track only buys queue time.
morebus 737 exists — but it is not a frequent city shuttle
Treat 737 as a limited weekday option, not a metro link — budget a taxi or car unless the PDF timetable matches your flight.
Bourne & Acre is the airside hangout — there is no PP lounge
Pay-as-you-go dining airside, not a Priority Pass lounge — plan food spend or eat before you fly.
BOH · Dorset leisure airport at Hurn with genuine CT screening (liquids ≤2 L stay packed), Fast Track from £7, Bourne & Acre dining instead of a Priority Pass lounge, £8/30-minute Express drop-off, and a thin morebus 737 instead of rail — do not confuse with Southampton SOU.
BRS · Compact West Country single-terminal leisure hub with a strong Flyer bus link and early-closing Escape lounges — easy when banks are calm, punishing when summer queues and 19:30 lounge closes collide.
