Front Line Experience
This was posted on another forum, but it is a harsh indictment on airport culture and security.
This is a long post, but worth a read for the chuckle....
Anyone in the Hell Hole called t5 today?
I have had a sh*t of a time..... both with BA and BAA.
It started off at security, when I presented them with my online checkin printed boarding card (no baggage). They told me the boarding card was invalid.
I ambushed one of the thousands of staff wearing the "Can I help you..." tee-shirts and they said, oh, it probably means your flight has been cancelled.
I checked one of the big flight boards, and sure enough, they dont now say "cancelled" they say "contact airline" - cant have pictures of cancelled on the front cover of tomorrows press can we!?!?
Off I went to a huge queue, that had 109 people infront of me... but thought, hey, I have a gold card, l'll call the exec club.
The exec club girl laughed and moved me onto another flight.... great... a 4 hour wait..... but at least its my own bed tonight...
Another hour passed... and then the next flight was cancelled.... exec club again... moved flight.... another time passes...flight cancelled... AGH!!!
Phoned exec club again (queues were terrrrrrrible....) and no more flights today... so booked on first flight tomorrow morning....so we will see....
Next hassle... how do I get out of here? T5 airside has NO exit signs... I could not escape. I asked 4 BAA staff and was sent from one end to another (remember just how big this place is...) and I could not get out.
I eventually found what looked like a senior BAA guy, and started the conversation with the statement around " its a criminal offence to detain someone without cause or charge" in the uk.... you are detaining me and not allowing me to exit your premesis. Turns out that T5 airside has no escape route! I questioned fire exits, and was told that they take you from building A to B to C and not outside!
Anyway...70mins later I managed to get down a staff route into arrivals.... to be presented with customs.... so off I trotted thinking if I get stopped...it will be fun.... walked through...
Next, yes, you have guessed it, immigration....!
I was at the front of the queue... eventually and was asked for a passport..."sorry, dont have one" was my reply... "you have to have one...." I was told.... "where did you come from"..... "slough"......I replied.... "how did you get here"...taxi, I quipped....it went on and on... then a few heavies appeared.... oh no I thought... started the "where is your passport" again... "edinburgh" I replied....yawn....
So , next they say, ok... "can we have some other ID....." "nop"e I say... "we need some ID".... " I ask "what rule or law requires that given what and where I am going?"....they look at eachother....
They then ask for photo id or credit card.... I tell them I have that, but under data protection laws, they have no power to request or record those details......
Anyway...it went on and on.... and thankfully they saw the funny side... I , although really pi**ed off, was cool and jovial....
I eventually escaped the place.... and my favourite hotel put me up for the night at my usual rate, having kicked out some poor soul lower down the "social" ladder..... I hate doing that, but it beats a park bench.... all the LHR hotels are full tonight and its dog eat dog!
Anyway... advice to anyone (and me) - steer clear of Ba and T5 for a few weeks.....