Queue chaos at Airports
Discussion
I came back through Terminal 3 at LHR at 7.15 this morning.
Initially we had a 10 minute queue down to immigration as several gates converged at the choke point. Once we reached the hall it moved very quickly, fast walking pace albeit there were 8 horizontal lanes to reach them. The passport readers seem much improved and were getting people through extremely well.
Our suitcases were waiting actually off the belt when we arrived, off the plane down to central bus station and on a coach in 45 minutes.
Initially we had a 10 minute queue down to immigration as several gates converged at the choke point. Once we reached the hall it moved very quickly, fast walking pace albeit there were 8 horizontal lanes to reach them. The passport readers seem much improved and were getting people through extremely well.
Our suitcases were waiting actually off the belt when we arrived, off the plane down to central bus station and on a coach in 45 minutes.
brums evil twin said:
just in Heathrow T3 right now.
Mayhem to get through security (luckily I have fast pass) but its the first time I have had to line up outside the security entrance. The main security was snaking up and town the terminal and looked like passengers would be there for a while.
Fast track took 40 mins to get through - I had arrived at 11am.
I am now sat in my lounge and the plane cannot get onto its normal stand as the departing plane is apparently waiting for all its passengers!!!
But 3 weeks ago, no lines and easy to get through the airport.
Certainly busy here today and not enough ground staff to deal with it.
Interesting as fly out T3 Monday 10th October (all be it at an earlier 1135 hrs) Plan was to maximise time in lounge (don't have to drive other end and it's a 10.5 hr flight .... Mayhem to get through security (luckily I have fast pass) but its the first time I have had to line up outside the security entrance. The main security was snaking up and town the terminal and looked like passengers would be there for a while.
Fast track took 40 mins to get through - I had arrived at 11am.
I am now sat in my lounge and the plane cannot get onto its normal stand as the departing plane is apparently waiting for all its passengers!!!
But 3 weeks ago, no lines and easy to get through the airport.
Certainly busy here today and not enough ground staff to deal with it.
So hitting bag drop @ 0700 hrs. Will report back as to how it goes.After a quick transit through T5 on the way out yesterday morning the way back yesterday evening wasn't anywhere near as smooth. Flight home was delayed by about an hour (presumably due to the hideous weather in the UK all day), then after a fairly bumpy approach (yet impressively smooth landing, so fair play to the pilot) we landed and taxied towards the gate only to wait there for about 40 minutes until they found someone to operate the air bridge for us. Someone eventually turned up, and my guess is a few planes were waiting for the same issue, as the train back to the main terminal and passport control were mobbed.
Eventually got back to the car at 11:30 - 2 hours after we were supposed to land and 30 mins after my pre paid parking had expired. Luckily I wasn't charged any extra, so got out and set about the 2 HR 20 drive home. Fair to say after being awake since 2 30am and just waiting to get home, I made it quite a bit quicker than that....
Things were fairly smooth the other side at GVA, just some lengthy queues for passport control as they only had one person doing it. Not an airport I'd look forward to using again - bit of a rabbit Warren and the decent food places are all before security. Decent sized smoking area though so not all bad.
Eventually got back to the car at 11:30 - 2 hours after we were supposed to land and 30 mins after my pre paid parking had expired. Luckily I wasn't charged any extra, so got out and set about the 2 HR 20 drive home. Fair to say after being awake since 2 30am and just waiting to get home, I made it quite a bit quicker than that....
Things were fairly smooth the other side at GVA, just some lengthy queues for passport control as they only had one person doing it. Not an airport I'd look forward to using again - bit of a rabbit Warren and the decent food places are all before security. Decent sized smoking area though so not all bad.
Nightmare in Manchester out to Morocco a week ago. Coming back wasn't too bad. Friend flew into Manchester from Sardinia last week with Easyjet, big delay back then sat on the tarmac at Manchester on arrival for 40 minutes.
The whole Easyjet system at Manchester is utterly inept, from the bag drop that isn't a bag drop to security and boarding. They've moved buildings (forced?) and it's resulted in chaos.
The whole Easyjet system at Manchester is utterly inept, from the bag drop that isn't a bag drop to security and boarding. They've moved buildings (forced?) and it's resulted in chaos.
craig1912 said:
This thread is a waste of time. No issues any more
Tbh there’s always issues, as airports need people, good weather, electricity etc to work properly and things will undoubtedly go wrong. Manchester is still experiencing man power shortages in some areas like push back crews but it’s nothing like a few months ago.
craig1912 said:
This thread is a waste of time. No issues any more
Packed a relative off to Oz last night through T4 at LHR - absolutely no issues. What I would say is that Heathrow is still handling some of the BA and all of the Virgin holiday fleet that was previously at Gatwick (I think Virgin have left LGW completely ?)
When we left through T3 three weeks ago it was carnage, just sheer weight of numbers. On return no air bridge for our Virgin Atlantic flight and although there were long queues they moved quickly.
I guess the new test will be half term but yes staffing wise they seemed to have got on top of things.
Edited by DT1975 on Wednesday 5th October 18:24
kwits could use the e gates.Interesting experience at Geneva airport last week. The security queue was massive, yet moving fairly steadily.
When we finally got to the front, the x Ray machines they were using meant you didn’t have to take any items, liquids, computers etc out of your bag. Just chuck everything into a tray, what a revelation.
Despite the volume of people and relatively few scanners, they were able to keep the queue moving steadily due to the reduced processing times.
When we finally got to the front, the x Ray machines they were using meant you didn’t have to take any items, liquids, computers etc out of your bag. Just chuck everything into a tray, what a revelation.
Despite the volume of people and relatively few scanners, they were able to keep the queue moving steadily due to the reduced processing times.
juggsy said:
Interesting experience at Geneva airport last week. The security queue was massive, yet moving fairly steadily.
When we finally got to the front, the x Ray machines they were using meant you didn’t have to take any items, liquids, computers etc out of your bag. Just chuck everything into a tray, what a revelation.
Despite the volume of people and relatively few scanners, they were able to keep the queue moving steadily due to the reduced processing times.
When we finally got to the front, the x Ray machines they were using meant you didn’t have to take any items, liquids, computers etc out of your bag. Just chuck everything into a tray, what a revelation.
Despite the volume of people and relatively few scanners, they were able to keep the queue moving steadily due to the reduced processing times.
I've been through Berlin, Marrakesh and Athens in the last few weeks and all were smoother than Manchester. No problems with Geneva last Spring, or ever, come to think of it.
popeyewhite said:
I've been through Berlin, Marrakesh and Athens in the last few weeks and all were smoother than Manchester. No problems with Geneva last Spring, or ever, come to think of it.
seyre1972 said:
Interesting as fly out T3 Monday 10th October (all be it at an earlier 1135 hrs) Plan was to maximise time in lounge (don't have to drive other end and it's a 10.5 hr flight .... So hitting bag drop @ 0700 hrs. Will report back as to how it goes.
Long Story short - took about 1hr from checkin to Virgin lounge (with 10 mins in Duty Free) So hitting bag drop @ 0700 hrs. Will report back as to how it goes.Ok - here now in the Virgin Lounge. Checkin for Economy was mobbed - snaking queue (plenty of desks open). Thankfully flying Upper (2 people in front of me, with 4 desks open) (not a ooh look at me, as I use Virgin Points/Airmiles etc)
Private Security line took about 30 mins to get through (always busy 1st at this time in the morning). Looked V busy through rest of security/lots of people having bags checked.
I should use Rotterdam Airport more. Took us longer to walk from the taxi drop off to the entrance than it did to get through bag drop and security!
Originally had tickets from Schiphol but Transavia moved it to Rotterdam a couple of weeks back presumably due to the chaos and reduction in flight numbers at Schiphol. Just a shame its a bit harder to get to.
Originally had tickets from Schiphol but Transavia moved it to Rotterdam a couple of weeks back presumably due to the chaos and reduction in flight numbers at Schiphol. Just a shame its a bit harder to get to.
craig1912 said:
So one family left themselves less than two hours from arriving to flight departing ? I think Ryanair are advising 3 hours at present.craig1912 said:
We actually flew from Bristol but in the evening and it was dead , I'd definitely opt for pm flights.Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff