Sensory Story: Your Journey Through Glasgow Prestwick Airport
A step-by-step guide to help you feel prepared and confident, whilst travelling through Glasgow Prestwick Airport. This story highlights what you may see and hear at each stage of your journey.
Arriving at the Airport by Train
| What you will see | What you may hear |
|---|---|
| Trains | Trains |
| Platforms (stay behind the yellow line to keep you safe from trains as they pass through the station) | Tannoy Safety Announcements (to help keep us safe) |
| Information screens (showing times of the trains) | Noise from the Escalators - they may squeek |
| Automatic and manual doors | Other people on their journey |
| Outside and inside waiting areas with benches | |
| Inside Help Point (Press if you require help) | |
| Escalators, stair and a lift |
When you arrive by train, you’ll see platforms with yellow lines to keep you safe, as well as waiting areas, signs and information screens. You’ll find lifts, stairs and escalators to help you get around. Listen for safety announcements and the sounds of the station environment.
Train Station to the terminal
| What you will see | What you may hear |
|---|---|
| Other people (maybe with their suitcase) | Other people (talking/pulling suitcases) |
| Cars going under the walkway | Noise from vehicles moving below |
| Car Parks for the Airport | Tannoy Safety Announcements |
| The Terminal building |
There is a covered walkway from the station to the terminal that crosses over the busy road below. The walkway is enclosed, but it has glass windows along the sides so you can see everything around you while staying protected from the weather and traffic. At the end of the walkway, there are automatic doors. From here, you can choose how to get down to the check-in area — either use the escalators straight ahead, or turn left and follow the corridor to find a lift or stairs.
Arriving at the airport by car
| What you will see | What you may hear |
|---|---|
| Car Park Barriers (help button available to speak with staff member) | Cars (In the car park and road close by) |
| Cars | Other people (Talking, pulling suitcase) |
| Luggage Trolleys (you may need to use one) | Trolleys being pushed |
| Other people | Aircraft (Landing and departing or in the air) |
| Zebra Crossings (to keep you safe) |
As you arrive by car, you’ll enter the car park through a barrier. If you need help, press the button to speak to staff. You’ll see other people, vehicles, and luggage trolleys you can use. Zebra crossings help you get safely from the car park to the terminal. You may hear nearby traffic or aircraft.
In the Terminal Building – Check-in/ Bag drop
| What you will see | What you may here |
|---|---|
| People (other passengers, staff members identified via a lanyard) | People talking |
| Information Screens (Check Aircraft information) | The escalator |
| Check-in desks and baggage belts | The baggage belt |
| A convenience store | Tannoy announcements |
| Seating Areas | Buzzers - some of our doors and systems make a buzz or alarm sound |
| Outsized Baggage area | Phones ringing |
| Police officers - keeping the airport and passenger safe |
The terminal can be busy and a little noisy. You’ll drop off your luggage at the check-in desks, where your bag will get a tag and travel on the belt behind the counter. You can visit the shop or sit down in one of the seating areas. There is also an Information Centre if you need help from staff.
In the Terminal Building – Security
| What you will see | What you may hear |
|---|---|
| People - other passengers, staff members | People talking - can be busy so may be loud talking |
| A separate queue if you are unable to wait in the longer queue (speak with staff member for assistance) | Noise from security equipment |
| Scanners (baggage/item scanners plus people scanners) | Noise from the security trays |
| Tables to help you get organised before and after going through security | |
| Police officer making sure everyone is safe |
Before boarding, you’ll go through Security. Place your belongings in a tray, including coats or sometimes shoes, then walk through a scanner. You will be asked to stand like the image on the scanner and you may be searched by a security officer. The officer will inform you what they are doing and why they needs to do this. You’ll get your items back once they have been screened in the x-ray. If queues are difficult, ask staff for assistance.
In the Terminal Building – Departure Lounge
| What you will see | What you may hear |
|---|---|
| People (other passengers, airport and shop staff members ) | Other people |
| The Duty Free shop (bright lights and items to buy) | Music from shops/bars and restaurants |
| A bar and restaurant | Tannoy announcements |
| A convenience store with snack and books to buy | Hand dryers from toilets |
| Loads of seating | |
| Display screens | |
| Police officers - keeping everyone safe |
After Security, you enter the Departure Lounge. You can walk through the Duty Free shop or take a quieter route marked with a sunflower symbol. In the Duty Free, you might notice the strong smells of perfumes and aftershaves. As you move further into the lounge, you may smell food being cooked and served from the nearby bar and restaurant. The lounge has seating, shops, and snack options, as well as a quieter Assistance Area at the top if you need a more peaceful space.
In the Terminal Building – Departure Gates
| What you will see | What you may hear |
|---|---|
| People - other passengers and staff members | People talking and cases rolling |
| Staff members behind podiums to check passports and boarding cards | Tannoy Announcements |
| Queue of people waiting to board aircraft | Scanners - these will have a beeping sound. |
This is the final step before boarding the plane. Staff will check your passport and boarding pass. If queues are tricky, ask a staff member – you might be able to board early or later, when it’s quieter. Once you’re through the gate, it’s time to board your flight!
Need Help?
If you need help during your journey, just ask a member of our friendly team. We’re here to make your trip comfortable and stress-free.
