Main Terminal
Prestwick’s entire passenger operation runs through one building. Ryanair is the only carrier the airport’s own check-in, baggage and lost-baggage pages mention, flying to 11 sun destinations across Spain, Portugal and Italy — Alicante, Barcelona, Faro, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Malaga, Murcia, Palma, Pisa, Tenerife and Turin. Past security, the Elvis Presley Bar marks the airport’s best-known claim to fame.
Check-in desks open three hours before departure and close 40 minutes before it; the airport recommends arriving three hours early. Ryanair only offers online check-in — via its website or app — opening up to 60 days ahead for a pre-reserved seat. Baggage drop is at the front of the terminal; passengers with only hand luggage who have already checked in online can go straight to security.
Standard UK rules apply: liquids, gels and lighters must stay under 100ml each, packed together inside a single see-through zip bag measuring 20cm by 20cm at most. Security body scanners use millimetre-wave technology with Automatic Threat Recognition — no body image is created or stored — and staff are trained in Disability Awareness, Stomawise and Dementia Friendly assistance.
The airport has its own railway station on the Glasgow Central–Ayr line, reached from the terminal by a short covered walkway. Two trains an hour run each way — about 40 minutes to Glasgow Central, about 10 to Ayr — but tickets are not sold at the station itself: buy online in advance or on board.
Tell your airline at least 48 hours before you fly if you need assistance. The airport reports a CAA accessibility rating of “Needs Improvement” — worth knowing before you book unbooked, day-of assistance is not guaranteed. Lost or damaged baggage is logged as a Property Irregularity Report with a 10-character reference; general lost property is kept for three months.