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.
EXT8.4
CWL8.5+0.1
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
EXT6.8
CWL7.0+0.2
Food & retail
Best for
EXT
Devon and East Cornwall travellers who want to avoid a Bristol (BRS) transferPriority Pass holders with a long TUI or KLM waitDrivers who can use free P4 drop-off within 30 minutes
Watch out for
EXT
No on-airport rail — Stagecoach 4A/43 thins out on Sundays and Bank HolidaysClassic liquids bag + laptop-out security (not CT leave-in-bag)Ticketed to “Exeter” but flying from BRS Bristol is a common Southwest mix-up
Amenities and tips
EXT
Executive Lounge (airside 1F)Stagecoach 4A to Exeter St DavidsCar Park P4 free 30-minute drop-offFast Track Security
EXT · Compact Devon airport at Clyst Honiton with classic UK 100 ml security, a £27.50 / Priority Pass Executive Lounge upstairs after security, free 30-minute drop-off in Car Park P4, and Stagecoach buses instead of an on-site rail station — confirm EXT not BRS on the ticket.
CWL · Wales’s only scheduled commercial airport at Rhoose — one compact terminal, classic 100 ml security, a cheap 51° lounge that Priority Pass no longer enters, and a TfW + 905 shuttle hop from Cardiff Central. Leisure-heavy TUI/Ryanair banks; do not confuse with Bristol BRS.
Airport taxi rank · ~30–40 min in light traffic
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
EXT6.4+0.4
CWL6.0
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
EXT6.2
CWL6.5+0.3
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
EXT6.0
CWL6.5+0.5
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
EXT6.6+0.1
CWL6.5
CWL
Welsh travellers wanting to avoid the Bristol transfer for TUI / Ryanair sun routesKLM connections via Amsterdam from a single-terminal fieldBudget lounge seekers who will pre-book 51° (often from ~£16) instead of chasing Priority Pass
CWL
No direct rail into the terminal — Rhoose station + Adventure Travel 905 (T9 Express remains suspended)Classic 100 ml liquids still published for CWL in 2026 reviews — do not assume leave-in / 2 LPriority Pass is Y Castell £18 dining credit only — Collinson lounge access to 51° ended in 2019
Coastline Café / Moorland Kitchen / Cove Café
Apple Taxis official rank
Stagecoach 4A is the rail link — there is no station on the airport
Bus to St Davids + train is the public default; weekend 4A gaps are the gotcha — budget a taxi if the timetable thins out.
Still classic 100 ml + clear bag — laptops come out
Pack the clear liquids bag and pull the laptop; Fast Track only buys queue time.
Executive Lounge is £27.50 or Priority Pass — upstairs after security
Real airside lounge with runway views — worth it on long TUI waits if PP covers you or £27.50 beats café prices.
CWL
TfW + 905 rail link51° Executive LoungeY Castell Priority Pass diningRefill Wales water fountainsCar Park 2 free 20-minute kerb alternativeSingle-terminal layout
Train to Rhoose + 905 shuttle — T9 is still gone
Default public option is TfW to Rhoose + 905 shuttle; T9 Express is still suspended.
Pack the classic 100 ml bag — do not assume 2 L leave-in
Treat CWL as classic 100 ml unless the live airport security page says otherwise; Fast Track is bookable, not a published walk-up tariff.
51° is paid / DragonPass — Priority Pass is Y Castell dining only
Pay or DragonPass for 51°; Priority Pass holders should use the £18 Y Castell dining credit instead.
