GATWICK
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: west of the Tamar
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I totally agree, I had a similar experience at LHR when I arrived on a BA flight from Delhi recently.
The aircraft couldn't pull onto stand due to a defective airbridge, so we had to deplane and use a cement-floored staircase, which some pax had difficulty in negotiating. I know this kind of problem happens at other airports, but over the years I've used LHR many times and problems with airbridges or aircraft parking seem to happen more frequently at LHR. The terminals are definitely showing their age (roll on the T5 opening!) and yes, the toilets are often filthy. Why does BAA love acres of swirly patterned carpet so much? It looks so dated and an eyesore. The signage is appalling, and of course, assumes everyone understands English.
One of my main gripes has always been the bus stations.The T4 bus station has no departure information such as monitor screens, which means bus pax end up asking their equally bemused travellers about which bus leaves from which stop. The central bus station, amazingly, also has no system of monitors near the bus stops with departure information, although departure information is posted on a board in the booking hall. In my experience, drivers and supervisors can be relied on to be over-officious and unsympathetic in their dealings with travellers. And yet we are constantly exorted to use public transport to travel to/from the airport.
Despite this, some airlines do go the extra mile to give very good service at check-in. Full marks to Virgin Atlantic, United, Air-India amongst others. Nil points to BAA though.
The aircraft couldn't pull onto stand due to a defective airbridge, so we had to deplane and use a cement-floored staircase, which some pax had difficulty in negotiating. I know this kind of problem happens at other airports, but over the years I've used LHR many times and problems with airbridges or aircraft parking seem to happen more frequently at LHR. The terminals are definitely showing their age (roll on the T5 opening!) and yes, the toilets are often filthy. Why does BAA love acres of swirly patterned carpet so much? It looks so dated and an eyesore. The signage is appalling, and of course, assumes everyone understands English.
One of my main gripes has always been the bus stations.The T4 bus station has no departure information such as monitor screens, which means bus pax end up asking their equally bemused travellers about which bus leaves from which stop. The central bus station, amazingly, also has no system of monitors near the bus stops with departure information, although departure information is posted on a board in the booking hall. In my experience, drivers and supervisors can be relied on to be over-officious and unsympathetic in their dealings with travellers. And yet we are constantly exorted to use public transport to travel to/from the airport.
Despite this, some airlines do go the extra mile to give very good service at check-in. Full marks to Virgin Atlantic, United, Air-India amongst others. Nil points to BAA though.
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: South East UK
Age: 69
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Agreed, it's certainly not a pleasant experience going through Gatwick these days. The South Terminal is looking very tired now with filthy carpets, broken doors, plenty of black and yellow sticky tape and pidgeon droppings on floors and handrails......and that's just the journey from the car parks - a "first and last impression" !
In my opinion there are a number of factors in all of this :
1. The terminal buildings are virtually at their capacity, allowing no window for proper maintenance, cleaning and development work without creating further disruption and inconvinience.
It's all well and good talking about bigger aircraft and load factors to bump up the throughput on the runway(s), but the terminals can't cope.
2. Money. Of the other airports named, how many are privately owned and demanding of a significant return on investment ? BAAs new owners are in this category, and like all businesses in the UK consider cleaning to be an overhead to be squeezed, many often specifying reduced frequencies and not cleaning above "reachable height" as ways to contain costs.
3. Culture (1). Let's face it, in the UK we think of cleaning and cleaners as some form of underclass, and cannot recognise the value of this service until it is missing. Cleaners generally have the lowest wages and unsociable hours in society. OK, I know the work is labour intensive and does not require a lot of mental agility, but perhaps if they had better pay and conditions they would have some pride in the job which would reflect in the results.
4. Culture (2). Just whos mess is it the cleaners are picking up ? Not theirs that's for sure, so perhaps the travelling public, to some extent, get the environment they create ? It's the travelling public that drop the litter, spit out chewing gum, appear not to be toilet trained, use seats as footstools, spill drinks, leave empty cartons and bottles on tables, etc etc.
In my opinion there are a number of factors in all of this :
1. The terminal buildings are virtually at their capacity, allowing no window for proper maintenance, cleaning and development work without creating further disruption and inconvinience.
It's all well and good talking about bigger aircraft and load factors to bump up the throughput on the runway(s), but the terminals can't cope.
2. Money. Of the other airports named, how many are privately owned and demanding of a significant return on investment ? BAAs new owners are in this category, and like all businesses in the UK consider cleaning to be an overhead to be squeezed, many often specifying reduced frequencies and not cleaning above "reachable height" as ways to contain costs.
3. Culture (1). Let's face it, in the UK we think of cleaning and cleaners as some form of underclass, and cannot recognise the value of this service until it is missing. Cleaners generally have the lowest wages and unsociable hours in society. OK, I know the work is labour intensive and does not require a lot of mental agility, but perhaps if they had better pay and conditions they would have some pride in the job which would reflect in the results.
4. Culture (2). Just whos mess is it the cleaners are picking up ? Not theirs that's for sure, so perhaps the travelling public, to some extent, get the environment they create ? It's the travelling public that drop the litter, spit out chewing gum, appear not to be toilet trained, use seats as footstools, spill drinks, leave empty cartons and bottles on tables, etc etc.
Passed through the North Terminal this week (BA from BLQ). After immigration, we waited by the screens to show us which baggage re-claim to go to downstairs ...and waited ...and waited ...for half an hour, after which I said I'd go downstairs and see what's up.
Got downstairs to see our bags going round-and-round and to hear an announcement (which was not being broadcast upstairs) telling us which reclaim to go to
It can't be that hard, can it?
Got downstairs to see our bags going round-and-round and to hear an announcement (which was not being broadcast upstairs) telling us which reclaim to go to
It can't be that hard, can it?
Join Date: May 2003
Location: All over the place
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It says on the Rumours and News forum that the gas leak is today. The only delay we encountered coming into LHR yesterday was a KLM a/c still on the runway when we were on approach, so had a go-around.
The weather was fine at 1900 local too, so not sure why the QF ended up at LGW.
The weather was fine at 1900 local too, so not sure why the QF ended up at LGW.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Milan MXP
Age: 48
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Today at LGW South Terminal open the first Yotel.
Yotel is a new hotel chain of capsule hotel japanese style but with luxury features for a cheaper price.
Is possible to take a room only for hours or for entire days
The second Yotel will open before the end of year at LHR, in next years will be open a lot of Yotel in many major airport and city in the world
Yotel is a new hotel chain of capsule hotel japanese style but with luxury features for a cheaper price.
Is possible to take a room only for hours or for entire days
The second Yotel will open before the end of year at LHR, in next years will be open a lot of Yotel in many major airport and city in the world
Join Date: May 2006
Location: LGW
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I was passing through LGW again en route to ABZ last week for a few more days up there. A few questions for the LGW spotters!
1. What was a North American B757 doing there last week?
2. What was the DC10 in there on Thursday afternoon? (I really thought I had one too many drinks from the bar when that came into view)
3. What is happening with TAAG starting their LAD service?
Cheers
Dan
1. What was a North American B757 doing there last week?
2. What was the DC10 in there on Thursday afternoon? (I really thought I had one too many drinks from the bar when that came into view)
3. What is happening with TAAG starting their LAD service?
Cheers
Dan
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: UK
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2. What was the DC10 in there on Thursday afternoon? (I really thought I had one too many drinks from the bar when that came into view)
Subbing for a MYT flight or something similar
3. What is happening with TAAG starting their LAD service?
Not gonna happen anytime soon as they've been banned from the EU
Subbing for a MYT flight or something similar
3. What is happening with TAAG starting their LAD service?
Not gonna happen anytime soon as they've been banned from the EU
Join Date: May 2006
Location: LGW
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Thanks for the info. TAAG not starting the LAD service means that I will to go out to LAD via CDG with Air France unless they are banned by the Angolan's. One of the crew on my BA flight last week mentioned that there was a private Il 62 in the other week for a few days. Can anyone confirm?
Finally, the security is as you would expect. If after you have got through security then you have the shops and eating which at the North terminal is pretty rough. For an international airport, the choice is awful.
Finally, the security is as you would expect. If after you have got through security then you have the shops and eating which at the North terminal is pretty rough. For an international airport, the choice is awful.
