Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our Southampton Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
If you’re waiting for a ferry early in the morning and are thinking of spending the night at the (rather small) airport, forget it. – Anon
SOU Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Southampton Airport.
What to Expect
Southampton Airport (code: SOU) has a small terminal that handles a variety of European routes. Facilities are limited to two eateries, a cafe, a duty-free shop, and a newsstand. WiFi is free for four hours. Economy class passengers can pay to enter an airport lounge. See Airport Lounges in the guide below for location and access information.
Sleeping in Southampton Airport
It seems that this airport closes nightly, so overnight stays are not possible. For uninterrupted sleep, a hotel is located on airport grounds. See the Airport Hotels section below for locations, or read traveller airport reviews for more tips.
To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos. You can also visit the airport’s website for current information. For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our Southampton Airport Guide.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security. For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.
Airport Hours
The airport opens at 5:00 AM – 11:00 PM or after the last arrival.
Airport Hotels
If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there is a hotel near Southampton Airport:
- Premier Inn Southampton Airport Hotel – Three-minute walk to the terminal. » Check Rates
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels in Southampton, search for deals and read traveller reviews.
Airport Lounges
Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships
Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there is a lounge that you can enter by paying at the door, purchasing a lounge pass, or using a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and learn how to gain access with just an economy class ticket!
- Spitfire Lounge – Location: Airside, in the Departure Lounge on the 1st Floor. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door • Prepaid lounge passes • Lounge membership programs.
Related Pages: Southampton Airport Lounges
Rest & Relaxation Zones
There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.
More Airport Information
ATMs / Cash Machines – Not available
Baggage Trolleys – Need a hand with your luggage? Baggage trolleys are available free of charge.
Currency Exchange – Not available
Drinking Water – Thirsty? Drinking water fountains are available free of charge to refill your water bottles. Location: Ground Floor, Departures Hall.
Duty-Free & Shopping – Duty-Free and a WH Smith are available.
Food & Drinks – Two food concessions are operating at the airport. At the time of this update, there are no 24-hour dining options. • The Olive Tree (Departure Hall) • Costa Coffee (Main Terminal and Departure Hall).
Information Desk – Have any questions? A “Help Point” is available in the main concourse, between Arrivals and Departures, which can give you information about flight schedules, directions and airport facilities. The airport also has ambassadors available to assist.
Luggage Storage & Lockers – Store your bags securely at the airport’s Left Luggage Desk. Location: Main Terminal, Landside, near Check-in Desks. Rates: £10.00/bag/day.
Medical Services – If you feel unwell or injure yourself, first aid services are available from qualified first aiders. Reach out to a staff member if you need help.
Mobile Charging – If you need to recharge or power your electronics, a few locations provide free power sockets. Locations: at the desks in the departure lounge and The Olive Tree also have power sockets for your convenience.
Post Office – Drop off your last-minute postcards to friends and family from the airport’s mailbox. Location: Landside, outside the airport terminal, near the short-term car park. Note: Stamps are available at WHSmith.
Showers – Not available.
SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.
Smoking Areas – A designated smoking area is located outside on the central forecourt. Smoking is prohibited anywhere inside the terminal, both before and after security.
Viewing Areas – If you want to watch the aircraft, there is a viewing area on the upper level of the departure lounge in Costa Coffee that overlooks the runway.
WiFi/Internet – Free WiFi is available at Southampton Airport for 4 hours. Connect to the “Free SOU Airport” network. Beyond that time, you can purchase more time for £4 (24 hours) • £7 (7 days) • £20 (30 days) • £130 (1 year). There are also Internet-connected PCs available Landside and Airside.
Bus
A few local and regional bus lines serve Southampton Airport. Uni-link buses link the airport to the city center through bus lines U1C (going from airport to city) and U1A (going from city to airport).
Car Rentals
These car rental agencies offer service on-site: Alamo • Avis • Budget • Enterprise • Europcar • Hertz • National.
Hotel Shuttles
See also Airport Hotels above.
Taxi
Metered taxis are readily available for hire in the ground transportation area. If you wish, you can pay for your journey before boarding a taxi if you stop at the Checker Cars taxi booth in the Arrivals Hall.
Train
Connected to the airport by footbridge, Southampton Airport Parkway Station offers speedy train service connections to Southampton city center, London Waterloo, Reading, Winchester, and more.
Last updated: 2024-01-30
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.