Feckin Airports

[vetteheadracer]

After the security queue from hell at Gatwick to the one passport kiosk open at Marseilles with 200 hundred people waitings feck to all airport staff for wasting my time.....managed to type all this and still at least 30 minutes from getting through passport control....bds.

[HellDiver]

Mercia wasn't much better last week - 3.5 hours to get from security to airplane, and I was already checked in and had no hand luggage.

[Thurbs]

I wish.

My usual business trips to India involve landing at 4am with 3 other international flights, queue through a swine flu check, then queue for passport control, then queue through the exit of passport control (yes another queue), then queue through customs, then wait and queue for your bag, then queue through another form of customs and then queue to get out the door. Usually takes about 3 hours. Oh and in 35 degree heat.

[shirt]

coming back from israel last thursday, the baggage handlers reported a strange smell in the hold prompting a full on security procedure.

fire engines called out, all bags quarantined, one identified and the police called to come and interview the culprit. only then were our bags released and i could get home. all in all, 3hrs sat in mcr airport baggage hall BECAUSE OF A BOTTLE OF fkING NAIL POLISH!

[davido140]

vetteheadracer said:

After the security queue from hell at Gatwick to the one passport kiosk open at Marseilles with 200 hundred people waitings feck to all airport staff for wasting my time.....managed to type all this and still at least 30 minutes from getting through passport control....bds.

Precisely why I will be driving to the Alps this year!

Door to door there is bugger all difference in the time it takes because of cack like this.

[fergywales]

Thurbs said:

I wish.

My usual business trips to India involve landing at 4am with 3 other international flights, queue through a swine flu check, then queue for passport control, then queue through the exit of passport control (yes another queue), then queue through customs, then wait and queue for your bag, then queue through another form of customs and then queue to get out the door. Usually takes about 3 hours. Oh and in 35 degree heat.

Hmmm, Mumbai per chance? Was always glad after the fecking around to get picked up and have all of 3 minutes to the Hyatt across the road.

[mikial]

Offering a contrasting picture from the o.p. , I flew to Dalaman Turkey from Norwich on the 11th. of September. No queues at Norwich and none in Turkey, including the return flight. I realise it`s not long haul but does highlight that not all air travel are journies from hell.

Footnote: Need a relaxing break ? Try Gocek , Turkey, highly recomended.

[Deva Link]

HellDiver said:

Mercia wasn't much better last week - 3.5 hours to get from security to airplane, and I was already checked in and had no hand luggage.

Had you allowed enough time? I'd never dream of turning up 4 hours before a flight.

Been through Barcelona a couple of times in the last few mths and it's been a breeze.

[knight]

Don't know what all the fuss is about. My carpark ticket at LHR carpark 1A is timed at 18-42 and I'm already airside and have been for about 10 mins!

[Myobb]

Terminal 4 at Heathrow last month was the absolute pits. Difficult to get to from Terminal 5 (40 minutes by public bus), rude Security & 1960s architecture. I am sure the grey plastic seats were designed & installed 40 years ago. The sooner BAA is forced to break up its monoply the better.Just makes me want to avoid air travel as much as possible.