A simple "Please" would help.
A simple "Please" would help.
Author
Discussion

bobt

Original Poster:

1,323 posts

226 months

Friday 10th July 2009
quotequote all
Rude fking jobsworths at Gatwick security.

I was in a 50 metre queue behind a 50 year old lady with her frail 85 year old mother in yesterday. Finally arrive at the passport/boarding pass gate, and the surly bh just says to the 85 year old. "look at the camera". Not, would you look at this camera please madam. Old dear doesn't know what camera she is supposed to look at. Surly bh then barks the order again. Old dear's daughter points out the camera. Surly bh says "too close, move back". Old dear takes a wobbly half step back. Surly bh "more!". Old dear moves back, and is then handed back her passprt and boarding card back.

No please, no thank you.

Same st with the security scanner people who insisted her wooden walking stick go through the scanner machine, so she has to struggle to walk through the metal detector.

Not one of the miserable security staff said please or thank you to anyone. What a great impression to leave on our foreign tourists leaving the country.

What do these people get told in training ?

Basic manners and the serious side of security are not mutually exclusive.

Just another reason why I am glad not to live in the UK anymore.

à bientôt.



Edited by mechsympathy on Friday 10th July 11:03

stifler

37,069 posts

211 months

Friday 10th July 2009
quotequote all
From previous threads on here, Gatwick is possibly the worst of all British airports. Firing squad is the answer.

WildCards

4,061 posts

240 months

Friday 10th July 2009
quotequote all
I was always taught that good manners cost nothing. Alot of people seem to believe saying 'please' or 'thank you' will make them a lesser person, or that they're cool or important for not having to.

But again, it's a basic parenting skill which seems to be dissapearing along with countless others.

Deva Link

26,934 posts

268 months

Friday 10th July 2009
quotequote all
bobt said:
Rude fking jobsworths at Gatwick security.
Where they British? I went on a trip around Europe recently that started in Liverpool and I was surprised that most of the screening people in Liverpool seemed to be Eastern European. All extremely polite, although I was in the fastpass or whatever it's called line.

sleep envy

62,260 posts

272 months

Friday 10th July 2009
quotequote all
dead end jobs for dead end people

I don't worry about them

Nicol@

3,851 posts

259 months

Friday 10th July 2009
quotequote all
I have always found them friendly and polite.

cottonfoo

6,047 posts

233 months

Friday 10th July 2009
quotequote all
You only have to read pprune to see what pilots and crew think of security staff, they all seem to be turds at UK airports in my experience, in stark contrast to those in the countries I've visited.

Norwegian security guy: "Have you come for our National Day?"
Me: "yes"
Norwegian: "Well, make sure you drink lots of our beer, and check out our women!"

hehe

Mc lovin

5,588 posts

244 months

Friday 10th July 2009
quotequote all
thegavster said:
My great uncle, upon entering America after Cuba:

American Customs: "You've been to Cuba, do you have any cigars with you?"
Uncle: "If you wanted some you should have told me before I went".

I think American customs have their sense of humour removed as part of the training.
laugh reminds me of an old Punt & Dennis sketch,

"Did you pack your bags yourself sir?"

"No, a small bearded arab gentleman packed it for me"

V8mate

45,899 posts

212 months

Friday 10th July 2009
quotequote all
English airport security are just no-brain jobsworths, enjoying using their pitiful power. As Sleep Envy said, it's as good as their life will evr get.

American immigration top the league, however, in deliberate humiliation, piss-taking and passive-aggression.

Last time I flew into Chicago, for example, I was accompanying my OH who was travelling on business. Immigration guy asks where the business will take place; she replies 'the University of Chicago'. We then got a 5+ minute rant about how graduates think they're 'all that', how much he despises people who have an education, if he was in charge..... yad yada yada.

Complete asshole.

robbie t

396 posts

216 months

Friday 10th July 2009
quotequote all
Was the security lady of African origin? I've dealt with quite a few who are through Gatwick and they've all been rude bhes.

This isn't a slur on all people of African descent, merely an observation etc etc

cottonfoo

6,047 posts

233 months

Friday 10th July 2009
quotequote all
V8mate said:
We then got a 5+ minute rant about how graduates think they're 'all that', how much he despises people who have an education, if he was in charge..... yad yada yada.
What a thoroughly disagreeable little man he must be.

chim666

2,337 posts

288 months

Friday 10th July 2009
quotequote all
I was in Brum airport a few months ago, and had to stand in a long, slow-moving queue for the security checks. As we moved along, everyone was told (not asked) to take your shoes and coat off'.
I must say, that the whole experience of standing with my bag, coat and shoes in hand shuffling along in the queue for ten minutes made me feel like a suspect rather than a customer of the airport.

patmahe

5,900 posts

227 months

Friday 10th July 2009
quotequote all
Never been through Gatwick, but Heathrows staff put me off ever going through there again. Staff were rude and unhelpful, moreso than any other (of many) airports I have visited.

hman

7,497 posts

217 months

Friday 10th July 2009
quotequote all
try miami airport if you want to see rude arrogant security staff.

I was nearly arrested for telling them that they had already searched my hand luggage once when they stopped me again about 10 metres from the security scanner.

fking nazi's

Deva Link

26,934 posts

268 months

Friday 10th July 2009
quotequote all
chim666 said:
I was in Brum airport a few months ago, and had to stand in a long, slow-moving queue for the security checks. As we moved along, everyone was told (not asked) to take your shoes and coat off'.
The show thing seems completely random - sometimes it's fine, sometimes it's not.

In the US I asked if I should remove them and they said "it's up to you". confused

Edited by Deva Link on Friday 10th July 11:50

Justayellowbadge

37,057 posts

265 months

Friday 10th July 2009
quotequote all
patmahe said:
Never been through Gatwick, but Heathrows staff put me off ever going through there again. Staff were rude and unhelpful, moreso than any other (of many) airports I have visited.
Heathrow staff give you an aromotheraputic massage, pour you nectar and fast track you through the process on a soft cloud of pure love and joy compared to the orcan thugs at Gatwick.

I absolutely detest the place.

Puggit

49,435 posts

271 months

Friday 10th July 2009
quotequote all
As a regular at Heathrow (normally T1), I don't have a problem with the place except the infrequent travellers who don't know what they are doing (normally yanks).

They are the cause of the queues there...

SiH

1,852 posts

270 months

Friday 10th July 2009
quotequote all
Justayellowbadge said:
Heathrow staff give you an aromotheraputic massage, pour you nectar and fast track you through the process on a soft cloud of pure love and joy compared to the orcan thugs at Gatwick.
+1 (And very nicely put! hehe)

Los Palmas 7

29,908 posts

253 months

Friday 10th July 2009
quotequote all
sleep envy said:
dead end jobs for dead end people

I don't worry about them
yes

If some people haven't got an important job, they make their job important.

Marf

22,907 posts

264 months

Friday 10th July 2009
quotequote all
Gatwick? What do you expect, its right next to Crawley, the ahole of the south east.