GATWICK
Join Date: Mar 2008
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If there is confusion on here as to what it means, gawd help the oblivious travelling punter. Theyll pay no heid and it will be queues galore... That sort of text just induced queue panic
Join Date: Feb 2001
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Age: 70
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The point is that the text from EZY is going to induce people to turn up earlier than they normally would as they will panic, whereas the one on the website clearly says 'do not arrive more than 2.5 hours ahead.' A rather confusing set of messages.
My question as to what is happening to have triggered these messages remains unanswered, but it would seem that they are expecting some sort of abnormal situation.
My question as to what is happening to have triggered these messages remains unanswered, but it would seem that they are expecting some sort of abnormal situation.
Join Date: Feb 2001
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LGW TN was bedlam when I arrived at about 1400 local, never seen it so busy, not quite queues out of the doors but right across the terminal.
easyJet+ card was a real bonus, only queued for 10 minutes for bagdrop, and security was well managed too.
easyJet+ card was a real bonus, only queued for 10 minutes for bagdrop, and security was well managed too.
Paxing All Over The World
On Tuesday evening we were back through the North with EZY. The French ATC delay was three hours but the Priority Pass lounge at IOM was a nice place to be!
We arrived at a bussing luggage point (belts 11 + 12, I think) and the bags from a BA EDI were there but no pax.
The belt was full of the EDI bags circulating and when the IOM bags arrived, the very smart system would not eject them on to the carousel as it was full ... after watching the belt do a full circuit with no bags being take off, I started hauling the bags closer together. The auto system had very neatly spaced the bags out and as each went past me, I pushed them closer together to create gaps. I found that the system liked to have at least a metre of space before it would deposit another bag!
It took about seven minutes of hard work until our bag arrived! Fortunately, the IOM pax were all on hand and started collecting immediately to ease the congestion and then the EDI pax arrived. There were no staff there as it was a bad day and we were so late.
We arrived at a bussing luggage point (belts 11 + 12, I think) and the bags from a BA EDI were there but no pax.
The belt was full of the EDI bags circulating and when the IOM bags arrived, the very smart system would not eject them on to the carousel as it was full ... after watching the belt do a full circuit with no bags being take off, I started hauling the bags closer together. The auto system had very neatly spaced the bags out and as each went past me, I pushed them closer together to create gaps. I found that the system liked to have at least a metre of space before it would deposit another bag!
It took about seven minutes of hard work until our bag arrived! Fortunately, the IOM pax were all on hand and started collecting immediately to ease the congestion and then the EDI pax arrived. There were no staff there as it was a bad day and we were so late.
Paxing All Over The World
Well, it was an interesting exercise - literally 
but I was rather 'warm' by the end of it and my companion was nagging me about possibly hurting my back. I had to explain to her that we could have waited another 15 minutes for our case and we were already 3hrs later!
but I was rather 'warm' by the end of it and my companion was nagging me about possibly hurting my back. I had to explain to her that we could have waited another 15 minutes for our case and we were already 3hrs later!
Join Date: Dec 2011
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I was on the Air One to Catania last week, I think Blink's comments are true.
Aircraft was on stand on time, we boarded on time and only after our scheduled departure time were the inbound bags offloaded. Sometime after our baggage was loaded and all doors closed, a truck came along with another few bags followed by a single bag after that. We departed 30-40 mins late
Aircraft was on stand on time, we boarded on time and only after our scheduled departure time were the inbound bags offloaded. Sometime after our baggage was loaded and all doors closed, a truck came along with another few bags followed by a single bag after that. We departed 30-40 mins late
Paxing All Over The World
I forgot to say how irritating it was to find two flights bags crowding onto belt 12, whilst belt 11 alongside - was empty and stationary. 
I know, of course, that the strike had upset all the planning but LGW must be well used to French ATC by now...
I know, of course, that the strike had upset all the planning but LGW must be well used to French ATC by now...
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Flew out of South Terminal on Thursday aft. Aircraft on stand 1 hour before departure time. Called to gate 50 mins before departure time. Stood in corridor waiting for gate agent who arrived 25 mins before departure time. Made mistake logging into system or system problem (never explained) and then did a manual board using one person only, boarding started 10 mins before departure time at a painfully slow rate, boarding direct to aircraft took nearly 45 mins. Departure delayed consequently. Air crew furious. It really is now operating as a slick shopping and leisure centre with some pesky planes parked up round the back. However I do have to commend security which was busy yet slick and efficient.
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Southampton, U.K
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Flynas cannot be helping themselves launching routes at such short notice, apparently loads ex. LGW and MAN have been very poor so far. I assume they are hoping loads will pick up during Hajj. Nevertheless I wish them well on their new routes, AirAsia X seem to be doing quite well operating a low cost long haul model on primarily <8hrs routes so it would be nice to see Flynas replicate this in the future.
Join Date: May 2005
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The poor performance of the employee was hardly the fault of the airport.
Join Date: Aug 1999
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Gatwick - What a nightmare
Arrived into LGW NT at 0100 Sat morning, an hour and a half late. What a dump that place is. Despite being late, had to wait 15-20 mins for ground staff to arrive. Then after winding our way around tatty corridors, arrived at passport control to find it bursting at the seams. Almost an hour later, went to get the bags and had to wait a further 20 mins before they arrived. All in all it took over 2 hours to get out of the place. Welcome to Britain in 2014.
Compare that to Hong Kong where I've parked on the furthest stand from immigration, passed through the airport, onto the Airport Express and been in Central in under a hour. I've also been to 3rd world countries where the experience has been far better.
When are people with some responsibility going to admit that the Airport is either badly run, badly managed, under funded, over capacity or any one of a dozen more things that are probably also contributory factors? The only saving grace was that at 3 in the morning the M23 and M25 were quiet.
Unless people in high places take some bold decisions that put the country first and stop pandering to various minority groups that swing their votes, sadly nothing is going to happen and people forced to use this sorry excuse for an airport will see no change.
I know a lot of good people try their hardest to make things work, but the old phrase "you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear" is very apt; some serious modernisation is needed. One thing the whole experience taught me was to avoid the place at all costs unless absolutely necessary.
Compare that to Hong Kong where I've parked on the furthest stand from immigration, passed through the airport, onto the Airport Express and been in Central in under a hour. I've also been to 3rd world countries where the experience has been far better.
When are people with some responsibility going to admit that the Airport is either badly run, badly managed, under funded, over capacity or any one of a dozen more things that are probably also contributory factors? The only saving grace was that at 3 in the morning the M23 and M25 were quiet.
Unless people in high places take some bold decisions that put the country first and stop pandering to various minority groups that swing their votes, sadly nothing is going to happen and people forced to use this sorry excuse for an airport will see no change.
I know a lot of good people try their hardest to make things work, but the old phrase "you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear" is very apt; some serious modernisation is needed. One thing the whole experience taught me was to avoid the place at all costs unless absolutely necessary.
Last edited by SandLat650; 30th Jun 2014 at 16:54. Reason: Errors.
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Oh dear,some people do get rather worked up when they experience the unforeseen.
The reference to minority groups is also rather unpleasant. I assume the poster means anyone who doesn't agree with his viewpoint.
Gatwick has had rather a lot of money spent on it in the last 4 or so years and I am afraid the place you describe I just do not recognise. I am sorry your journey did not go as planned but the rant is a little over the top. Unfortunately I believe as the airport expansion debate moves towards(hopefully) a decision we shall see more posts like this, from all sides, trying to dam the opposition. I hasten to add I am not involved with either organisation. V.
The reference to minority groups is also rather unpleasant. I assume the poster means anyone who doesn't agree with his viewpoint.
Gatwick has had rather a lot of money spent on it in the last 4 or so years and I am afraid the place you describe I just do not recognise. I am sorry your journey did not go as planned but the rant is a little over the top. Unfortunately I believe as the airport expansion debate moves towards(hopefully) a decision we shall see more posts like this, from all sides, trying to dam the opposition. I hasten to add I am not involved with either organisation. V.
Last edited by vectisman; 30th Jun 2014 at 19:08. Reason: Text spacing
Join Date: Jan 2014
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Funny, I was talking to a group of non-aviation interested friends at the weekend and the overall view was that Gatwick is seen as a wonderful airport now. I really huge improvement over what we had before and certainly my choice over any other London airport (well, perhaps City aside, but that isn't a fair comparison).
We all have stories about good and bad airport experiences across the world, but overall I have to stick up for Gatwick.
We all have stories about good and bad airport experiences across the world, but overall I have to stick up for Gatwick.
Join Date: Apr 2002
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chris789 I agree Gatwick has seen some significant improvements of late. But the venture capitalists are trying to lever the decision that they want (by spending money) whereas the real question is where would an additional runway benefit the UK the most? 
Join Date: Dec 2011
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Chris789, I don't fly from LGW very often. My outbound journeys (minus the issue I described below) have been positive and South is much improved. Where I would grumble is about the inbound experience as all three journeys have encountered lengthy delays for both immigration and collecting baggage. One flight parked on a remote stand from which we were bussed to North not South Perhaps I have been unlucky, but my issues don't appear to be unique.
I would say they are looking after their outbound pax as it is they who browse the shops. Inbound pax are perhaps a necessary evil and investment maybe hasn't been so forthcoming
I would say they are looking after their outbound pax as it is they who browse the shops. Inbound pax are perhaps a necessary evil and investment maybe hasn't been so forthcoming