Cardiff Airport for all your travel needs and Airport Parking
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Contact Information
Cardiff Airport - CWL
Cardiff International Airport, CWL
Vale of Glamorgan
CF62 3BD
Wales
01446 711111
infodesk@cwl.aero
General Information
Cardiff international Airport is situated in Rhoose, 12 miles west of Cardiff City Centre and 10 miles from Junction 33 on the M4. Exit at Junction 33 on the M4 and follow the A4232. Take the first exit off the A4232 at Culverhouse Cross and follow signs to the airport along the A4050 and A4226.
A rail link now connects Cardiff International Airport to Cardiff Central and Bridgend. Trains run each direction every hour, with onward connections possible to other destinations on the rail network. Cardiff Bus 'Airbus Xpress' service X91 operates direct between Cardiff City Centre (including Central Station) and the airport with up to a half hourly frequency on Mondays to Fridays, hourly on Saturdays and Sundays.
Disabled facilities include:
Dedicated spaces in the car parks;
Use of airport wheelchairs throughout terminal building;
Passengers may retain their own wheelchairs up until boarding;
Low level kerbs at terminal entrance and exit;
Lifts between all floors;
Specially designed toilets on first floor, departures lounge and arrivals hall;
Ambulift for boarding aircraft;
Minicom facility for the deaf or hard of hearing is available at the Information Desk;
Flight information monitors and tannoy announcements of all flight related messages.
The information desk is located on the first floor of the terminal building landside and is open for all departing and arriving flights. The friendly staff there can provide flight information and offer advice on local transport and accommodation, as well as offering Fax and photocopying facilities.
There are two games zones to be found at the airport, one landside and one within the departure lounge.
A Chaplaincy is located on the 1st Floor of the departures lounge adjacent to Burger King.
There is a Children's Play Centre in the airside departure lounge. The play centre is equipped with a wide range of toys for children between the ages of 2 and 8. Parents are requested to supervise their children while they enjoy the facility.
Airport Hotels
Staying in an airport hotel on the night before your departure date enables you to have a more relaxing start to your holiday ? if you are travelling by car, no travel delays stuck in traffic or bad weather, so no pressure about missing your flight. It can also save money on parking, as hotel + parking often works out at only a few pounds more than a room alone, or sometimes the package works out cheaper than the parking charges alone. The principle airport is the Cardiff Copthorne Hotel. To search for and book your airport hotel stay, use our quote engine for excellent rates.
Airport Parking
Short-Stay Parking is for travellers who are leaving their car at the airport for a short duration, as it is most convenient, but more expensive than long-stay parking. Close circuit TV is in 24 hour operation throughout. Long Stay Parking is for travellers who are leaving their car at the airport for more than 1 day. A courtesy bus is available during Summer months to take passengers directly to the terminal entrance. Close circuit TV is in 24-hour operation throughout. Business Parking is the best choice of car parking for speed and convenience for business travellers. On arrival at the car park, Business travellers should utilise the Short-Stay car park entrance. Priority Pass users can park in dedicated spaces that are located to the fore of the business car park, again utilising the Short-Stay entrance. Close circuit TV is in 24 hour operation throughout.
Disabled Parking ? There are dedicated parking spaces in both the short and long term car parks. There is a dedicated ramp access from the short stay/business car park to the main terminal. Charges are the same as the short and long stay car parks. You can use our quote engine to search for and book online your best car parking option. If you pre-book, not only do you guarantee your space, but you also save money.
Car Rental
The car hire companies represented at Cardiff International Airport include Avis, Europcar and Hertz Click here for a wide choice of vehicles from cheap economy options through to luxury vehicles.
Check In
There are 25 check in desks for international and domestic flights located on the ground floor of the main terminal building. Passengers travelling on scheduled flights should check in 2 hours prior to departure. All passengers on charter flights should check in 3 hours prior to departure. Hand luggage should not exceed 7 kilos and must not contain any sharp objects, replica guns, etc. You should also not take anywhere in your luggage such items as flammable or poisonous liquids, etc. (see below for a more comprehensive list).
Lounges
A new exclusive 51? Lounge is located in the newly extended International Departure Lounge. Business class customers can benefit from this service free of charge, and for other passengers there is a fee. Business facilities such as fax, photocopier, telephone and wireless internet access are available. There is also a wide screen TV and a selection of newspapers and magazines. All this can be done whilst enjoying a hot or cold beverage and a light bite. The Executive Lounge is open from 5am - 9pm, is a no smoking area, and children under the age of 12 are not permitted.
Security Information
All passengers and hand luggage will be searched before entering the Departure Lounge. Enhanced security can take time, so please be patient with any additional personal and luggage searches and please carry only one piece of hand luggage. Please ensure that your hand luggage does not contain any of the following:
- Toy guns (plastic or metal)
- Knives with blades of any length
- Metal cutlery, except teaspoons
- Catapults
- Razor blades (unless permanently set in a fixed cartridge)
- Tradesmens tools (e.g. box cutters, drills, drill bits.)
- Darts
- Scissors
- Hypodermic Syringes (unless required for medical reasons)
- Knitting needles
- Corkscrews
- Large sporting bats and clubs (e.g. baseball, golf clubs, cricket bats, hurling sticks)
- Billiard, snooker or pool cues
- Lighters shaped like a firearm
- Ice skates
- Skateboards
- Fishing rods/reels
- Fireworks, flares (including party poppers, toy caps)
- Non safety matches
- Lighter fluids
Other security advice includes:
Never leave baggage or personal belongings unattended in or around the Airport;
Always use your own bag and pack it yourself;
Keep baggage securely locked at all times;
Answer baggage questions at check-in and remember it is a criminal offence to give false information;
Never check-in bags for other people;
Never carry anything onto an aircraft for other people;
Your home address should be placed inside your baggage with your name and destination only on the outside;
Keep money, jewellery, cameras and other valuables with you and don't check them in with hold baggage;
Carry travellers cheques and credit cards rather than large amounts of cash.
Close circuit TV is in 24 hour operation throughout the car parks. To book your secure airport parking at discounted rates, use our quote engine.
Banks and Money Exchange
A Travelex bureau de Change is situated on the first floor of the terminal. It is open for all outbound international flights and provides instant availability of all major currencies and travellers cheques. A wide variety of payment methods are accepted including Dinners Card and American Express corporate card for the convenience of the business traveller. Other services offered by Travelex include travellers cheques, BT phoncards and travel insurance. Travelex also provides a Bureau de Change facility in the baggage reclaim hall where inbound passengers can exchange unused foreign currency and travellers cheques. The location is open for all inbound international flights. There is an HSBC cash point machine located within the check in hall, close to the entrance. A Travelex cash machine is also situated in the Departures Lounge and accepts most credit cards.
Bars and Restaurants
Landside (no boarding cards required) has a food court area, which is located on the first floor of the departures building and overlooks the runway at Cardiff. A wide range of catering options are available at the 'Food Village', which includes sandwiches, snacks, hot food and beverages. Burger King is also located in the food court area, and is adjacent to the Food Village. The Scrum Half Bar is open for all departing flights during normal licensing hours and serves a full range of alcoholic and soft drinks. Airside (boarding cards required) has a Caf? Ritazza, which offers a range of hot and cold drinks, delicious pastries and a wide variety of coffees and teas. The Echo bar is a lively, modern bar that looks out on the aircraft stands at Cardiff. The bar has a video wall that plays all the latest music videos and has a full range of alcoholic and soft drinks, as well as a comprehensive food menu.
Shops and Duty Free
Passengers travelling to destinations outside the EU can buy a wide range of duty free goods from the Travel Shopping tax and duty free shop, owned by Nuance, which is located in the departures lounge. Items include wines, spirits, cigarettes, tobacco and cigars. All passengers regardless of destination can purchase goods such as perfume, cosmetics, chocolates, CD's, electrical items, swimwear, sunglasses, jewellery, watches and gifts at tax free prices. Shopping outlets at Cardiff International Airport include two World News outlets (one Landside, one Airside) which sell a full range of newspapers, books, snacks, gifts, tobacco and confectionery.