Queue chaos at Airports

[Petrus1983]

CheesecakeRunner said:

It was all going so well. Trip over to the US was absolutely fine, breezed through all security and no delays.

Coming back today, one of my legs was cancelled. Gate agent rebooked me for Saturday. Not ideal, but not bad, I thought.

But in the process of rebooking, they downgraded me from Premium Economy (O) to Economy (Y). For some that might not be a big deal, but I paid for a Premium seat so I want one, plus it had two checked bags (which I have) and the Economy only has one. To top it off, it’s a 9 hour flight out of Houston and I’m 6 foot 4.

I foresee a long time on hold to their call centre in the morning.

That’s awful. You won’t be on hold for too long (guessing BA) - I went through all the options 5 times last week and at the end they just had an answerphone msg “we’re very busy at this moment - please try again later” and hang up. That’s with my ‘special’ silver membership.

[CheesecakeRunner]

Petrus1983 said:

CheesecakeRunner said:

It was all going so well. Trip over to the US was absolutely fine, breezed through all security and no delays.

Coming back today, one of my legs was cancelled. Gate agent rebooked me for Saturday. Not ideal, but not bad, I thought.

But in the process of rebooking, they downgraded me from Premium Economy (O) to Economy (Y). For some that might not be a big deal, but I paid for a Premium seat so I want one, plus it had two checked bags (which I have) and the Economy only has one. To top it off, it’s a 9 hour flight out of Houston and I’m 6 foot 4.

I foresee a long time on hold to their call centre in the morning.

That’s awful. You won’t be on hold for too long (guessing BA) - I went through all the options 5 times last week and at the end they just had an answerphone msg “we’re very busy at this moment - please try again later” and hang up. That’s with my ‘special’ silver membership.

I decided I couldn’t be arsed in the end. It’s with United and they don’t have a reputation for the most stellar customer service. I managed to buy exit row seats for each leg for a couple of hundred dollars so that’ll make it more bearable. And it’s expensed so I don’t have to actually worry about the money (although they won’t spring for a biz class seat unfortunately).

Small bonus is I get to go on a Dreamliner.

[Alorotom]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I have been debating this with some AirTags since they were released - if for no other reason than that you can know when its close to/on the carousel

[eskidavies]

Well, left Cancun yesterday fri ,sailed through to gates in about 20 mins ,flight took of on schedule about 4.00 pm, landed at Bristol,6.55 am today ,off plane pastport controll ,car loaded and driving out 7.40,I’m actually now in my house in the valleys of s wales stopping at supermarket also for supplies having a can of beer cause I’m still in holiday mode and my body clock is fked

[GT03ROB]

djc206 said:

GT03ROB said:

Always have had overcrowding problems at Schipol lounges in so far as you can’t come in. At the peak of CV would be the only person in the lounge.

I’ve only had the misfortune of flying via Schipol a few times, well Haarlem arguably as most of the time we’ve arrived or departed via Polderbaan. Security there always seemed to have a hefty queue pre covid and the lounge was always mobbed and a bit st. The only reason I subjected myself to it again was a) flights to Africa in particular were way cheaper and b) it’s so easy to ditch bags at left luggage and head into the city for lunch and c) I can’t quite place why but I really quite like the Netherlands.

I have little real choice than to go through AMS monthly. I was using FRA sometimes but that was worse than AMS. Through again on Thursday morning. Currently sat in the lounge in IBZ which as an airport seems to work well, no security queues & all through quite quickly.

[djc206]

RizzoTheRat said:

The biggest issue I had with Schiphol was when they ditched the truffle mayonnaise at the Harvest Market cafe at the D gates!

The bds

[anonymous-user]

eskidavies said:

Well, left Cancun yesterday fri ,sailed through to gates in about 20 mins ,flight took of on schedule about 4.00 pm, landed at Bristol,6.55 am today ,off plane pastport controll ,car loaded and driving out 7.40,I’m actually now in my house in the valleys of s wales stopping at supermarket also for supplies having a can of beer cause I’m still in holiday mode and my body clock is fked

Returning to U.K. after a longhaul trip/holiday. . . .I land and get home and go to bed when I get in. Get up around midday/1 o'clock, stumble around most of the rest of the day and go to bed as normal and that’s usually me sorted.

Eating at normal times (for where you want to become acclimatised) and getting light when you’re up seems to make the biggest difference to jet lag for me.

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 18th June 12:30

[CheesecakeRunner]

Alorotom said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I have been debating this with some AirTags since they were released - if for no other reason than that you can know when its close to/on the carousel

I stuck one in my suitcase, and laptop bag this trip. It’s been very handy to see where the suitcase is.

[phil-sti]

Just done Manchester to JFK and back with zero issues. About 45 minutes through security and check in. me back today, landed at 8am everything cleared with bags for 9:15

[anonymous-user]

CheesecakeRunner said:

Alorotom said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I have been debating this with some AirTags since they were released - if for no other reason than that you can know when its close to/on the carousel

I stuck one in my suitcase, and laptop bag this trip. It’s been very handy to see where the suitcase is.

I’ve been doing this since they came out and work as aircrew so put my case in the aircraft hold a lot.

I’d say the tracking is interesting but sporadic at best, it will help you if your case is left behind or goes to the wrong destination but unreliable if you’re wondering if it’s on the aircraft yet after you’ve boarded.

It’s certainly not good enough to let you know if it’s near the carousel very often as it relies on someone with an iPhone very nearby picking it up and tracking it constantly.

[MiniMan64]

Flying Bristol-Belfast return in 2 weeks for a Saturday wedding but EasyJet have just cancelled the return flight into Bristol that Sunday. And all the other Belfast-Bristol flights that day so no wedding for us.

What are the chances of them refunding the outbound flight too? It was all one booking but my wife who made the booking is implying they won’t.

[craig1912]

MiniMan64 said:

Flying Bristol-Belfast return in 2 weeks for a Saturday wedding but EasyJet have just cancelled the return flight into Bristol that Sunday. And all the other Belfast-Bristol flights that day so no wedding for us.

What are the chances of them refunding the outbound flight too? It was all one booking but my wife who made the booking is implying they won’t.

Yep they have to refund if they can’t get you back on the day you booked.

[MiniMan64]

craig1912 said:

MiniMan64 said:

Flying Bristol-Belfast return in 2 weeks for a Saturday wedding but EasyJet have just cancelled the return flight into Bristol that Sunday. And all the other Belfast-Bristol flights that day so no wedding for us.

What are the chances of them refunding the outbound flight too? It was all one booking but my wife who made the booking is implying they won’t.

Yep they have to refund if they can’t get you back on the day you booked.

That’s what I thought but she can be a non-confrontational about these things sometimes.

I wonder if the issue is EasyJet crew or Bristol airport staff since they’ve cancelled all 3 Belfast-Bristol flights that day?

If I’m perfectly honest, I’m not too bothered about not going as I wasn’t entirely looking forward to the possibility of a manic airport or being trapped on the wrong side of the water with a last minute cancellation

[CheesecakeRunner]

It was handy for me the other day when my flight got cancelled. I was stood in the two hour queue at the gate getting the flight rebooked and could see my case go to the baggage carousel and then be taken off to the baggie reclaim office.

[Petrus1983]

CheesecakeRunner said:

It was handy for me the other day when my flight got cancelled. I was stood in the two hour queue at the gate getting the flight rebooked and could see my case go to the baggage carousel and then be taken off to the baggie reclaim office.

Baggie reclaim office you say??

[CheesecakeRunner]

Given the legalisation in NY it was tempting.

[LTEcactus]

Breezed through Heathrow on Thursday afternoon and on my return last night.
Flights delayed but not massively.

I think this has been blown out of proportion by the press tbh.

[craig1912]

I’d agree, just back from Crete today and both Heraklion and Gatwick were superb. No queues anywhere.

[telford_mike]

BHX - ZRH this morning (with Swiss). No issues at all.

[Welshbeef]

It does sound that the media really are pushing the huge bad news on airports whilst on the minuscule but varied sample we have on PH the feedback is quite the opposite.