Originally Posted by
chrissw
8 Aug LHRT2 at about 0430 BST: long queues for economy check-in. Business check in an absolute breeze however. BUT fast track security had a sign saying closed until 0500. Someone in the queue waiting for it to open said he had been told it would open at 0445; that did not happen, though while we were waiting before we decided to give up, the previously long security queue had reduced by a lot so we just went there instead. It took no more than 15 minutes, but the staff were telling everyone to just leave everything in their bags including laptops etc.
One of the issues is that, with stories of taking two or more hours to get through security (and equally of carriers going for on time departures closing the door and going, leaving them behind), passengers for the first wave flights are turning up way earlier than previously. Possibly including yourself. However, the pay agreements for security staff, certainly at one airport, are that for report times before 06.00 you are paid night rate. For the complete shift. So there is still minimal staffing of security before 06.00, just one station open (if at all) by which time huge queues form.
I believe that at London City, where the terminal building is closed overnight and opens the front door at 04.45, significant queues for the first wave have sometimes formed there in the dark outside. Once let in, security and concessions still not open.