Queue chaos at Airports

[Bill]

The Leaper said:

I made a general enquiry via easyJet re an upcoming domestic flight about Gatwick's special assistance service etc. Broadly, got a negative response and told this was because a lot of people who do not need any assistance are trying to book and use the system so as to avoid queues! Not very helpful IMO. I'll probably struggle a bit with all the standing/walking at the airport.

R

Idiots ruining the system!

[The G Kid]

GT03ROB said:

T3 was not good yesterday morning around 05:15. 45mins to clear security.

Was that Fast Track?

[GT03ROB]

The G Kid said:

GT03ROB said:

T3 was not good yesterday morning around 05:15. 45mins to clear security.

Was that Fast Track?

Nope they hadn't even opened fast track at that time. There was a queue of people at that all wondering why they weren't even moving, when the other queues were at least moving!

[bobski1]

flying from stanstead next saturday, wondering how much extra time to give it for delays?

[prand]

bobski1 said:

flying from stanstead next saturday, wondering how much extra time to give it for delays?

What time are you flying? We arrived for a 1325 flight before 10 and found that was about 2 hours too early as we whizzed through bag drop-off and security, just to be faces with the milling throngs airside. Earlier flights you may find busier especially at the big 0600 rush.

[eskidavies]

Just had email of confirmation from Tui of £260 each compo for our delayed flight to cancun , £520 on its way to me , they’ll have it back when it comes as I’ll just put it as a payment off next year’s holiday anyway

[DeejRC]

Why spend it with TUI though? Why not spend it flying with a real airline instead?

[ClaphamGT3]

Flying Whizz from Luton tomorrow (wow, what a high-roller I am).

Will be interesting to see what its like

[craigjm]

ClaphamGT3 said:

Flying Whizz from Luton tomorrow (wow, what a high-roller I am).

Will be interesting to see what its like

Used wizz to Warsaw from Luton last Saturday and had bought priority security but didn’t need it there was no queue at all, straight through

[eskidavies]

DeejRC said:

Why spend it with TUI though? Why not spend it flying with a real airline instead?

It’s was already booked and fair chunk paid out already

[craigjm]

DeejRC said:

Why spend it with TUI though? Why not spend it flying with a real airline instead?

Why so snobby? Surely when purchasing a holiday sometimes it is useful to buy a package. The airline has been in existence for about 60 years. What real difference is there to any other airline? You can upgrade to premium if you want. Sure there is no first class but 99.999% of people not on pistonheads don’t ever fly first class.

[DeejRC]

Because if you haven’t realised already - modern flying is miserable. Why make it more miserable by cheapening down?
If you chase the downward cost spiral, don’t bloody complain when the end effect is cheap miserableness. We are on a thread that has pretty much discussed the entire end game from this.

[Amateurish]

Currently at Arlanda and the queues are immense. There's a huge queue outside the terminal to stop overcrowding inside. Now stuck at passport control (non EU).

[Deep Thought]

DeejRC said:

Because if you haven’t realised already - modern flying is miserable. Why make it more miserable by cheapening down?
If you chase the downward cost spiral, don’t bloody complain when the end effect is cheap miserableness. We are on a thread that has pretty much discussed the entire end game from this.

Have the "premium" air lines been less affected by this?

[nebpor]

There are no premium airlines - they have all turned into LoCos, so there is no reason to choose one over the other

Tui’s problems aren’t because they are budget, it’s because of ground ops

[Throttlebody]

craigjm said:

DeejRC said:

Why spend it with TUI though? Why not spend it flying with a real airline instead?

Why so snobby? Surely when purchasing a holiday sometimes it is useful to buy a package. The airline has been in existence for about 60 years. What real difference is there to any other airline? You can upgrade to premium if you want. Sure there is no first class but 99.999% of people not on pistonheads don’t ever fly first class.

Some of us on PH certainly do. If you’re going long haul, makes a big difference.

Is First Class better than Business? Depends on how much you crave the bespoke service in First. The right seat in Business can be just as comfortable.

[craigjm]

Throttlebody said:

craigjm said:

DeejRC said:

Why spend it with TUI though? Why not spend it flying with a real airline instead?

Why so snobby? Surely when purchasing a holiday sometimes it is useful to buy a package. The airline has been in existence for about 60 years. What real difference is there to any other airline? You can upgrade to premium if you want. Sure there is no first class but 99.999% of people not on pistonheads don’t ever fly first class.

Some of us on PH certainly do. If you’re going long haul, makes a big difference.

Is First Class better than Business? Depends on how much you crave the bespoke service in First. The right seat in Business can be just as comfortable.

Yes but as I said it’s a tiny minority and you don’t do it on every flight. I will use it long haul if I’m not paying. I am currently on the way to Amsterdam and in that context you would be stupid to pay the upgrade to business.

The vast majority of people flying anywhere on holiday do it economy you can’t argue that point. Due to that there is no real difference between charter, low cost, of flag carriers for the vast majority of passengers

[Throttlebody]

craigjm said:

Throttlebody said:

craigjm said:

DeejRC said:

Why spend it with TUI though? Why not spend it flying with a real airline instead?

Why so snobby? Surely when purchasing a holiday sometimes it is useful to buy a package. The airline has been in existence for about 60 years. What real difference is there to any other airline? You can upgrade to premium if you want. Sure there is no first class but 99.999% of people not on pistonheads don’t ever fly first class.

Some of us on PH certainly do. If you’re going long haul, makes a big difference.

Is First Class better than Business? Depends on how much you crave the bespoke service in First. The right seat in Business can be just as comfortable.

Yes but as I said it’s a tiny minority and you don’t do it on every flight. I will use it long haul if I’m not paying. I am currently on the way to Amsterdam and in that context you would be stupid to pay the upgrade to business.

The vast majority of people flying anywhere on holiday do it economy you can’t argue that point. Due to that there is no real difference between charter, low cost, of flag carriers for the vast majority of passengers

Agree with all that, economy short haul often also comes down to the best airport location, lounge use and a potential points grab, within the usual route availability of course.

Going out through T5 and the Concorde Lounge can be part of the long haul holiday. Difficult to put a price versus value on that experience.

[HTP99]

Flying from Gatwick with Tui on Saturday morning at 06:10 to Menorca, what time do people recommend I get there, I'm thinking 2.5-3 hours prior to be safe?

[0a]

Deep Thought said:

Have the "premium" air lines been less affected by this?

I work in the industry and this telegraph table showing the percentage of flights cancelled mirrors my experience. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/advice/avoid-su...

Ryanair are the best big airline to fly with (ie have the least % cancellations).

3rd column is % flights cancelled.