Queue chaos at Airports
Discussion
EMA this morning, we didn’t have any bags to put in the hold but the check in desks looked quite, security we paid fast track and it took 15 minutes, people who didn’t pay for fast track got through quicker …
It was very busy on the other side with the ques for anywhere that sold coffee longer than those for the airplane
Majorca was fine, through the e gates, stamp in the passport afterwards then another check point for covid pass and everyone was checked, probably 25 minutes from start to finish
After 2 years of not flying I’m probably not in a hurry to fly regularly, why do people need to stand I. The isle in groups drinking Heineken at 8am
It was very busy on the other side with the ques for anywhere that sold coffee longer than those for the airplane
Majorca was fine, through the e gates, stamp in the passport afterwards then another check point for covid pass and everyone was checked, probably 25 minutes from start to finish
After 2 years of not flying I’m probably not in a hurry to fly regularly, why do people need to stand I. The isle in groups drinking Heineken at 8am
Been through Gatwick and Lanzarote airports in the last 2 weeks.
The worse delay I encountered was at Gatwick security because too many people are stupid and cannot pack their hand luggage within the rules. So many people queuing to be security checked because of what was in their hand luggage. This had the knock on effect of causing delays getting through security for those of us that can read and pack correctly!
This was 4:30am on a Sunday morning. The system does not have the capacity to cope with this level of traveller stupidity when the numbers increase when the school summer holidays begin.
The worse delay I encountered was at Gatwick security because too many people are stupid and cannot pack their hand luggage within the rules. So many people queuing to be security checked because of what was in their hand luggage. This had the knock on effect of causing delays getting through security for those of us that can read and pack correctly!
This was 4:30am on a Sunday morning. The system does not have the capacity to cope with this level of traveller stupidity when the numbers increase when the school summer holidays begin.
Condi said:
30 flights at 200 people per flight is still 6000 unhappy people, most of whom only found out their flights were cancelled having got up early, arrived at the airport and were likely stuck in ques for security or waiting for gates. Not sure how you define chaotic, but it's hardly organised is it?
Any ideas how early to arrive at Heathrow for a flight at the moment? 8am departure from T2. Uggh, sounds like it'll be a very early start.
They were planned cancellations representing just 2% of movements and a smaller percentage of passengers given they were almost exclusively short haul, 6000 is definitely an overestimate. It’s unfortunate for those affected but as the article says they were mostly consolidations as opposed to just leaving people stranded.Any ideas how early to arrive at Heathrow for a flight at the moment? 8am departure from T2. Uggh, sounds like it'll be a very early start.
“Most of whom”? It says “some” but then again it’s poorly written so either could be true.
I don’t have a different definition of chaotic to the dictionary.
6am ish. Don’t believe the tabloids, it’s really not all that bad despite them wanting to spread misery on a slow news day.
Condi said:
30 flights at 200 people per flight is still 6000 unhappy people, most of whom only found out their flights were cancelled having got up early, arrived at the airport and were likely stuck in ques for security or waiting for gates. Not sure how you define chaotic, but it's hardly organised is it?
Any ideas how early to arrive at Heathrow for a flight at the moment? 8am departure from T2. Uggh, sounds like it'll be a very early start.
I am flying at 0800 on Saturday from T2. Aiming to check in at 6am. Any ideas how early to arrive at Heathrow for a flight at the moment? 8am departure from T2. Uggh, sounds like it'll be a very early start.
Welshbeef said:
Jeez been checking out Uk forecast for end of July and it’s looking very changeable ie rain.
FFS camping in rain (again).
So Aug holiday is still to come ….. do we don’t we - airport queue is the off putter whereas ferry might work?
Where would you fly from because as stated on here the problems are different at different airports? FFS camping in rain (again).
So Aug holiday is still to come ….. do we don’t we - airport queue is the off putter whereas ferry might work?
How old are your children, are they manageable over a long car journey/delayed flight?
I think ferry’s and the tunnel will be busy, so best to avoid weekend travel. Same for airports too.
How long are you going on holiday for, is a long drive each way worth it?
Phil. said:
Welshbeef said:
Jeez been checking out Uk forecast for end of July and it’s looking very changeable ie rain.
FFS camping in rain (again).
So Aug holiday is still to come ….. do we don’t we - airport queue is the off putter whereas ferry might work?
Where would you fly from because as stated on here the problems are different at different airports? FFS camping in rain (again).
So Aug holiday is still to come ….. do we don’t we - airport queue is the off putter whereas ferry might work?
How old are your children, are they manageable over a long car journey/delayed flight?
I think ferry’s and the tunnel will be busy, so best to avoid weekend travel. Same for airports too.
How long are you going on holiday for, is a long drive each way worth it?
Kids would have a breakdown if the queues were 3 hours. All been overseas plenty of times but youngest only once and cannot remember it / wants to go in a plane big pools slides etc.
We’re Reading so it’s Heathrow /Gatwick really.
Welshbeef said:
16-19 nights
Kids would have a breakdown if the queues were 3 hours. All been overseas plenty of times but youngest only once and cannot remember it / wants to go in a plane big pools slides etc.
We’re Reading so it’s Heathrow /Gatwick really.
Keycamps or similar in mid to south France? Pick the right one and they have pools/slides. Probably a 12 hour drive in total with a break and some food on a ferry? We did this for several years when mine were young. Kids would have a breakdown if the queues were 3 hours. All been overseas plenty of times but youngest only once and cannot remember it / wants to go in a plane big pools slides etc.
We’re Reading so it’s Heathrow /Gatwick really.
Welshbeef said:
16-19 nights
Kids would have a breakdown if the queues were 3 hours. All been overseas plenty of times but youngest only once and cannot remember it / wants to go in a plane big pools slides etc.
We’re Reading so it’s Heathrow /Gatwick really.
Problem is that asking now what the queue are going to be like in august is like asking what the rush hour traffic is going to be like on the m1 on 20 august at 17.15pm. Nobody knows. Either take your chances or stay at home Kids would have a breakdown if the queues were 3 hours. All been overseas plenty of times but youngest only once and cannot remember it / wants to go in a plane big pools slides etc.
We’re Reading so it’s Heathrow /Gatwick really.
Welshbeef said:
Jeez been checking out Uk forecast for end of July and it’s looking very changeable ie rain.
FFS camping in rain (again).
So Aug holiday is still to come ….. do we don’t we - airport queue is the off putter whereas ferry might work?
I think you should just stay at home. FFS camping in rain (again).
So Aug holiday is still to come ….. do we don’t we - airport queue is the off putter whereas ferry might work?
You’re obviously already worried about it and it’s likely to cause you constant upset and then you’ll make it worse by constantly posting apocalyptic predictions, much like you did during the pandemic.
Anyone else on here I’d advise to stop being daft and wait and see.
El stovey said:
Welshbeef said:
Jeez been checking out Uk forecast for end of July and it’s looking very changeable ie rain.
FFS camping in rain (again).
So Aug holiday is still to come ….. do we don’t we - airport queue is the off putter whereas ferry might work?
I think you should just stay at home. FFS camping in rain (again).
So Aug holiday is still to come ….. do we don’t we - airport queue is the off putter whereas ferry might work?
You’re obviously already worried about it and it’s likely to cause you constant upset and then you’ll make it worse by constantly posting apocalyptic predictions, much like you did during the pandemic.
Anyone else on here I’d advise to stop being daft and wait and see.
El Stovey remember I created this thread to capture real experiences people are seeing etc.
Welshbeef said:
I think staying at home is possibly too late as we have not booked the August banker UK destination.
El Stovey remember I created this thread to capture real experiences people are seeing etc.
Seeing is one thing but what you are asking for in this recent post is predicting and that’s just ridiculous. Either take the risk their will be queues or don’t El Stovey remember I created this thread to capture real experiences people are seeing etc.
Welshbeef said:
https://news.sky.com/story/easyjet-and-tui-flights...
Easyjet and TUI flights cancelled and long queues at some UK airports as passengers face half-term disruption
Again.
So Cardiff Manchester Gatwick Bristol Birmingham etc utter chaos.
Not sure about anyone else but 3 to 40hour queues isn’t viable with children. Certainly not with ours meltdown for sure.
All as a reminder this is the original post of the thread. Easyjet and TUI flights cancelled and long queues at some UK airports as passengers face half-term disruption
Again.
So Cardiff Manchester Gatwick Bristol Birmingham etc utter chaos.
Not sure about anyone else but 3 to 40hour queues isn’t viable with children. Certainly not with ours meltdown for sure.
Welshbeef said:
Welshbeef said:
https://news.sky.com/story/easyjet-and-tui-flights...
Easyjet and TUI flights cancelled and long queues at some UK airports as passengers face half-term disruption
Again.
So Cardiff Manchester Gatwick Bristol Birmingham etc utter chaos.
Not sure about anyone else but 3 to 40hour queues isn’t viable with children. Certainly not with ours meltdown for sure.
All as a reminder this is the original post of the thread. Easyjet and TUI flights cancelled and long queues at some UK airports as passengers face half-term disruption
Again.
So Cardiff Manchester Gatwick Bristol Birmingham etc utter chaos.
Not sure about anyone else but 3 to 40hour queues isn’t viable with children. Certainly not with ours meltdown for sure.
This is exactly the same as during the pandemic when you kept posting disastrous ‘what if’ worst case scenarios that never happened.
Travel during uncertainty obviously causes you stress that you make far worse by looking for and then posting worst case scenarios all the time.
Then you get upset and usually banned from the thread.
What you need to do is change your outlook as what you’re doing isn’t working for you.
Yep, small regionals are brilliant (assuming plane doesn’t go tech) - we came to PMI from PIK last week and literally walked straight up to bay drop and straight through security
Ok, you are restricted in terms of destination, but that’s ok - you build your holiday around that. Then little stress about busy airports
Ok, you are restricted in terms of destination, but that’s ok - you build your holiday around that. Then little stress about busy airports
Unfortunately our Easyjet Flight Belfast to Barcelona in mid July is on one of the proposed strike days. 
Not helped also that it was a weekend / friday flight in to Barcelona, and a mid morning flight back.
And finally its in the "July Fortnight" timeframe where people here in NI usually head off on hols (though not the thing it once was).
Not sure if they'll cancel or what will happen but it feels like a candidate for a lot of hassle before in terms of worry and then on the day in terms of will it / wont it fly.
So we've booked RyanAir from Dublin on the Thursday instead. 06:00 flight and also a weekday so should be less holiday flights. We'll aim to be down there for 02:00. Bag check in opens early now so hoping to get checked in by 03:00. We've also fast track security at both ends.
We've also dual citizenship, so we'll fly on our Irish passports, which might make passport control a bit easier. Less Covid paperwork too, as we're flying EU -> EU.
RE: Easyjet the plan is either wait on them to cancel it (a possibility) or when we get to Barcelona with Ryanair we'll change the Easyjet flight to a holiday next year.
A lot of faffing but its for a cruise i booked for my wifes 50th as we otherwise go out of season. Theres six flights a day out of Dublin to Barcelona so many more options than the twice per week out of Belfast.
Next holiday is September so hoping it should all be a bit calmer by then.
Not helped also that it was a weekend / friday flight in to Barcelona, and a mid morning flight back.
And finally its in the "July Fortnight" timeframe where people here in NI usually head off on hols (though not the thing it once was).
Not sure if they'll cancel or what will happen but it feels like a candidate for a lot of hassle before in terms of worry and then on the day in terms of will it / wont it fly.
So we've booked RyanAir from Dublin on the Thursday instead. 06:00 flight and also a weekday so should be less holiday flights. We'll aim to be down there for 02:00. Bag check in opens early now so hoping to get checked in by 03:00. We've also fast track security at both ends.
We've also dual citizenship, so we'll fly on our Irish passports, which might make passport control a bit easier. Less Covid paperwork too, as we're flying EU -> EU.
RE: Easyjet the plan is either wait on them to cancel it (a possibility) or when we get to Barcelona with Ryanair we'll change the Easyjet flight to a holiday next year.
A lot of faffing but its for a cruise i booked for my wifes 50th as we otherwise go out of season. Theres six flights a day out of Dublin to Barcelona so many more options than the twice per week out of Belfast.
Next holiday is September so hoping it should all be a bit calmer by then.
I wouldn’t worry about covid, yes they were checking everyone at pmi on Thursday but it was scan the qr code and which airport did you come from
The airport didn’t seem too bad compared to when we usually come in September
Cala Dor resort is very busy though, all the restaurants are full, all the sun loungers on the beach are taken, school holidays could be very busy
Personally I’d fly with hand luggage only, East Midlands could be fun, unless you wanted to que for 30 minutes for a coffee I’d just find a quite spot to sit.
With Ryanair they are showing the departure gate on the app a long time before it shows on the board, they were on time too, it’s just some of the customers they attract that makes them a dubious choice
The airport didn’t seem too bad compared to when we usually come in September
Cala Dor resort is very busy though, all the restaurants are full, all the sun loungers on the beach are taken, school holidays could be very busy
Personally I’d fly with hand luggage only, East Midlands could be fun, unless you wanted to que for 30 minutes for a coffee I’d just find a quite spot to sit.
With Ryanair they are showing the departure gate on the app a long time before it shows on the board, they were on time too, it’s just some of the customers they attract that makes them a dubious choice
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