Southend-2
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I estimate around 45 mins. I took note of the people at the end of the queue right at the top of the escalator and saw them pick up their shoes, bags, belts from x-ray scanners. I had the foresight to buy fast track security cause I suspected it will be a jungle this weekend. My fast track had me through security in 5 minutes.
Join Date: Jul 2015
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Sums it up in a single sentence. They clearly knew this was coming with warnings to arrive 2 hours before departure flashing up on the website. Given Stobart still expect to double numbers within 3 years they will need to act soon before the airport's decent reputation starts to go sour.
It is good to see that this morning's first wave all departed on time. All, that is, except DUB which left 5 minutes late. Could it be that mik3bravo was having a cheeky Guinness before boarding?
It is good to see that this morning's first wave all departed on time. All, that is, except DUB which left 5 minutes late. Could it be that mik3bravo was having a cheeky Guinness before boarding?
Last edited by mik3bravo; 19th Apr 2019 at 11:58.
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"Meanwhile LTN and STN I presume are oasis` of peace and tranquillity !!"...
But yes of course a pure ocean of it as always I suspect.
But the specifics were SEN & things appear to have gone a little awry this AM varying somewhat from the CEO`s oft stated mantra concerning ease of use unlike other London Airports.
But yes of course a pure ocean of it as always I suspect.
But the specifics were SEN & things appear to have gone a little awry this AM varying somewhat from the CEO`s oft stated mantra concerning ease of use unlike other London Airports.
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Actually while Luton is busy it is flowing with all its new security gates now open so I have seen no queues.
Anyway this is is what you all wanted, hands up here who wanted Southend half empty? Who wants even more flights? I guess the folk here do. Welcome to the club of heaving airports.
Still number one next year? Maybe but it sounds like the honeymoon is over.
Anyway this is is what you all wanted, hands up here who wanted Southend half empty? Who wants even more flights? I guess the folk here do. Welcome to the club of heaving airports.
Still number one next year? Maybe but it sounds like the honeymoon is over.
Last edited by LTNman; 19th Apr 2019 at 15:23.
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Anyway I see the airport now offers a fast track through security if passengers pay for the privilege. Seems it has to be done 2 days in advance although I would imagine for an extra fee passengers can pay on the day and queue jump.
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I’m sceptical the queue would have been 45 mins. I queued from the stairs down to check in on a Friday morning in November (lots of stags, hens, groups etc going out to Prague, Amsterdam, Dublin, Alicante) arriving just before 6. Forty minutes later we were in the air.
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I would not question the report from our friend, however as he said he fast tracked by the despairing mass. What I can say is that as someone who - like most I suppose - hates to queue, unless I took the trouble to actually time a delay, 10 minutes would seem like half an hour.
But context is always important. On 22/9/17 Glyn Jones bragged to Simon Calder that 6 minutes was the longest time anyone had ever waited to pass through security at SEN. A proud boast indeed. And one I had hoped could be maintained give or take a minute or two as the airport expanded.
But context is always important. On 22/9/17 Glyn Jones bragged to Simon Calder that 6 minutes was the longest time anyone had ever waited to pass through security at SEN. A proud boast indeed. And one I had hoped could be maintained give or take a minute or two as the airport expanded.
Join Date: Jul 2015
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Look, I was there. I heard at least 4 final calls onnthose flights and then calls out for pax names. The queues were the longest and stalling without movement for the longest eriods I've witnessed yet at SEN.. A lot of security trays backing up the scanner rollers, a lot of trays quarantined for further checks. It looked like SEN was not able to handle the influx of passenger volumes. it was definitely at least 45 minutes because I I know what time I stepped of the top of the escalator to see the crowds assembled, and I checked the time it took the bunch of fellas on what looked like a stag party to come through security clearance. Be sceptical all you want, I was there, I'm certain on my times and the number of repeated final boarding calls before resorting to calling out pax names. At end of the day, it's a holiday weekend, and SEN did stipulate min 2 hour turn up before your flight. Clearly a lot of people didn't bother to take that advice. Very few people came through fast track, majority queued at a stand still whilst security x-ray rollers were jammed up with a lot of baggage secondary checks, it was very hectic.
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I past through Luton last month. Security was like a well oiled machine that only 4 of the 16 security lines needing to be open. One of the things that slows down the queues is the lack of staff efficiency training and using inefficient security equipment. Airports make money from retail and nothing from security lines so it is in their interests to get passengers through security as quick as possible.
One of the issues Southend faces is that the really busy period is probably around 90 minutes but staff won’t work for 90 minute shifts so a balance has to be reached with staffing levels. I see today there are 4 departures timed for 6:30 and then 7:00 and 7:05. Basically that is the busy period over for the day.
With no public transport on offer for those passengers and reported long queues maybe Southend in the early morning is an airport to avoided? This would be a real shame.
One of the issues Southend faces is that the really busy period is probably around 90 minutes but staff won’t work for 90 minute shifts so a balance has to be reached with staffing levels. I see today there are 4 departures timed for 6:30 and then 7:00 and 7:05. Basically that is the busy period over for the day.
With no public transport on offer for those passengers and reported long queues maybe Southend in the early morning is an airport to avoided? This would be a real shame.
Last edited by LTNman; 20th Apr 2019 at 05:53.
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I would be shocked if the actual wait wait time was anything like 45 mins.
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I see no reason to doubt what M3B has said. I guess teething troubles are to be expected since this was probably the first day when pax numbers were so high in such a short time space. The important thing is that Stobart learn from this.
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Queues = £.
No queues = ££££
More like a case case of Stobart looking at their back pocket.
Got to be honest why would SEN need more than one or two lanes anyway as Southend’s busy period is actually not that busy. Just 4 departures and then a half hour gap.
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I'm a big fan of SEN, I want them to succeed and to listen and learn. They should review their cctv footage for queuing times at serious peak periods. Anyway, a lesson learned - SEN need to flood the security check area with staff and have all scanner lanes open, and running like military for the next bank holiday.
Meanwhile, my second time to use Ryanair into SEN tonight, and delayed 30 mins, was scheduled to depart DUB 21:35, delayed to 22:05.
Two weeks ago, the Carry on Fire Engine packed up on SEN runway, combined with delays down at Malaga, totally ballsed up that Ryanair quite spectacularly from its original 21:35 and became at 23:05 Delayed departure. These graveyard slots are Russian Roulette.
Meanwhile, my second time to use Ryanair into SEN tonight, and delayed 30 mins, was scheduled to depart DUB 21:35, delayed to 22:05.
Two weeks ago, the Carry on Fire Engine packed up on SEN runway, combined with delays down at Malaga, totally ballsed up that Ryanair quite spectacularly from its original 21:35 and became at 23:05 Delayed departure. These graveyard slots are Russian Roulette.
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#DC3 Dave - yes, was up really early to catch the redeye out. I'm only up the 127 from SEN so easy peasy. SEN were advertising on radio stations to rock up 2 hours beforehand. Looks like I was the only one who actually listened and followed orders. I had fast security anyway but took no chances cause I know just how crazy airports can be at holiday peaks. Fail to plan, plan to fail. I spend most of my time in airports or in the sky, so I pay closer attention to details and got my routines well oiled to get me through all the chaos.
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Now that Southend is getting busier it is getting harder to justify the terminal closing overnight. If 2 hours is the recommended minimum time to arrive at the airport those arriving 3 hours before departure will find themselves locked out for some of those early departures.
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Ever was it thus! Last flight of the day UK-Ireland are often the 8th sector of the day. Even 10th sometimes. It’s easy to pick up delays and there’s no time to make them up. If the anything the delays tend to build as slot times are missed.
Sadly, this is not limited to Ryanair or Southend. Something to bear in mind when booking late flights. Don’t cut it fine with the last bus/train. You’re likely to miss it!
Sadly, this is not limited to Ryanair or Southend. Something to bear in mind when booking late flights. Don’t cut it fine with the last bus/train. You’re likely to miss it!
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Southend based aircraft seem in the main to do 3 round trips a day rather than 4 so should show less delays I would have thought. Also Southend aircraft seem quite leisurely in their first flights of the day which never leave before 6:30. Does Southend’s night time restrictions end at 6:00 or 6:30?
No departure can be scheduled before 06:30.
Odd that I could find no other reference to security delays on Good Friday morning - nothing on social media, no press reports. Even on the FB forum 'Southend Airport Movements and Operations' there was only mystification that PPRuNe was talking about it; no one there seemed aware of it. Of course calls for specific passengers to go to the Gate are commonplace as any regular traveller knows, so don't mean anything in that context. I really do find it hard to swallow that 45 minutes to get through security wouldn't have raised comments elsewhere - but it evidently happened.
Odd that I could find no other reference to security delays on Good Friday morning - nothing on social media, no press reports. Even on the FB forum 'Southend Airport Movements and Operations' there was only mystification that PPRuNe was talking about it; no one there seemed aware of it. Of course calls for specific passengers to go to the Gate are commonplace as any regular traveller knows, so don't mean anything in that context. I really do find it hard to swallow that 45 minutes to get through security wouldn't have raised comments elsewhere - but it evidently happened.