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Contrast with BRS last week, boarding a rammed A319 from gate 15 (out of the trap door at the end ten tin sheds nailed together). Flight called for boarding at 15:50 for the scheduled 16:25 departure. Gulped my Thatchers cider down and marched down the sheds to the gate, where all pax zigzagged within a pen, waiting time around 20 minutes before the doors were opened.
We were still ten minutes late off stand (no issue for me), as the local crew were not ready for pax until ten mins before scheduled.
No beef with the airline as such, just frustrating as SLF having the "herding" treatment when the dispatcher (and maybe the crew talking to the dispatcher) could have managed things better"
Couldn't agree more. I've had the misfortune to catch the late evening Newcastle a few times recently. Everytime, herded through the sheds to stand in a snaking queue in a bare depressing hall, up to 30 mins before the aircraft is on the ground, never mind on stand.