One interesting note is that whilst this was going on there were 5 (presumably agency) staff twiddling their thumbs doing the liquid checks pre-security. Now how about some real innovative thinking that if there are no pax passing through security (cos there are no flights) they are redeployed in some way to assist the 1,000 milling around in the check in area.
These are employed by BAA, and they are a pain in the **** doing the liquid and hand baggage checks so I would not trust them doing anything else!!!
The time of day didn't help either as a lot of shifts were finishing, not the customers problem but makes it harder to get people re booked and on their way to hotel / home.