But still plenty more baby flying tonight !!
Haven't been subjected to the new central search area yet, but I've heard about the queues back down to check-in. It was bad enough before, but it's just brought the problem even closer !
Right, back to the vino !

'Scuse me guys - this is starting to become a bit of an MSN MEssenger conversation.

Please can we keep it to Rumour & News and move any Spotter info (Aircraft numbers and Reg details) to the Spectators Balcony Forum.

Many thanks

:ok:

egnxema is absolutely correct. THIS IS NOT A CHATROOM. One poster will find the majority of his posts gone as they were inane and spotter laden.

Lets get this thread back on track now that it's been cleaned up a bit.

Cheers,
The Mods

The bus interchange, as it's glamorously named, really isn't anything special, essentially a stand-alone building which has been built next to the arrivals exit and in the coach park, which houses a larger Spar shop, a smaller information desk and the games arcade with a couple of seats for waiting passengers. Eventually I've heard that the public transport buses will be dropping into there to pick up arrivals passengers, before driving round to a new set of recently installed bus shelters to drop off departures passengers and then to the stop by the pick up point for the staff shuttle bus. I haven't been through the new search or been inside the pier yet, but the elevator is now in the departure lounge and the pier is supposed to open first week of May. All other work in the terminal has apparently been on time and in budget.

The new Interchange has a couple of very odd features.

Why (there must sure be a reason) is the exit from arrivals and the entrance to the interchange ony about 2 metres apart? With a barrier to direct everyone through the new interchange building it means that in cold and wet weather everyone has to go through this 2 metre wide section of outdoors - what is that all about? For the sake of a bi of roof!!

Is EMA getting rid if the Information desk in the same way LTN have? The new desk is tiny and has so little visual impact as to be hardly worth the effort.

After visiting I think the layout of the new arrivals area is very very poor. The only exit doors were blocked with meeters and greeters standing waiting, while the areas infront of the car hire desks and Costa Coffee were deserted - in fact no-one would have need of venturing up there unless they wanted a car or a coffee.

I visited at 1630 on Friday evening - and i can only guess that summer evenings, especially late evenings when all the babies and the Ryans come home will be cramped and caotic in there!!!

There new central search looks light and spacious inside, but with only apparently one post for ticket/boarding card presentation I imagine the morning queues are very long.

Will be interesting to see how the summer unfolds.

More selfish money grabbing at EMA
 

First Mrs Coates started charging 50p for a plastic security bag - now she has removed the 2 "free to use" cash machines in the departures hall and installed an expensive travelex cash dispenser that charges nearly £2 a go!!

Madam - Fleece the pax if you must but remember the many staff who work long hours onsite.





EMA- once a very nice place.

Be nice
 

Staff can still use a free cash machine landside, and lets not forget most staff at EMA work in cargo like myself. EMA has come along way over last few years and I would like to say Thank you to Penny, fine she has made a few mistakes like giving the aviation shop (air trans) shop tiny little shop for now, and charging 50p for a bag. But come on people, look at the growth! The growth comes from not just pax but also cargo. Even TNT might be adding an extra flight monday-thursday, and the normal routine for friday night/sat morning.
I would like to moan about Group 4, the staff are all over the place, unfreindly and sometimes just plain rude. I personally normally only meet group 4 staff at the east ramp. I have noticed group 4 seem to pick on TNT staff, we have noticed this since november. We complained in november and one of our lads almost lost his airside pass over it, his manager was rang up, and he was called into the office to be moaned at, for asking questions. Actually a few times out aircraft has left late due to Group 4 messing about getting our ramp lads to take shoes off etc, come on do the lads really need to take the shoes off each time, the ULDs dont get checked........ Dont get me started on the 1 in 3 rule was was told, which group 4 only seem to use when it suits them!

I understand the new arrivals area has gone down very well. Surely the only reason you would venture up to Costa Coffe or the car hire area is if you wanted a coffee or to hire a car????!!!

The elevator opened over a month ago and the escalator opened two weeks ago!

work is caracking on with the remainder of the building now that central search has moved.

Granted, there were some queues to start with: but coupled with a brnad new search and machines and easter and pax 25% up on last year, no wonder it is busy...may be the airport should drop its pax figures to please some who dont like it busy and people around!

Hats off to the team at EMA. They have done a huge amount in te time it takes some airports to even make a decision

Well said. Does make me wonder if the airport will be sold.

The work is all supposed to be completed within three weeks, so as mentioned almost all the work you should have expected to see has been completed or is in the final stages of completion. Landside there is still a free cash machine, it's just obscured by the fact that search has been moved so much further forward. There are now barriers just in front of Ritazza with no trolleys past this point though queues do go past here and into the check-in hall, I'm sure there are ways they can better utilise that stretch of space. I wonder if the queues will put people off going into Ritazza.

The new pier, like the glamorously labelled bus interchange, isn't supposed to be very exciting - essentially a cheap, functioning addition to the terminal. I noticed how small the new information desk is (something I noticed now having to walk outside to get from Arrivals back to the check-in hall, wonder how that'll be in the winter) and am not sure how well placed it will be when there are lots of people with enquiries. Luton does have the right idea, the customer service staff are visible walking throughout all areas of the terminal rather than being stationed in one place, and there are also information kiosks all over in case you can't find the staff. EMA, being a bit smaller than LTN, might do well following that scheme.

Can't say I've had any hassle from the G4 Securicor people, always think the terminal and pass people are chatty and friendly. There are two boarding pass inspection posts, as there has always been since the airlines started internet check-in, though a third post and staff profiling people before they get into a queue for security (checking they only have one bag, no sharp items and liquids in a clear bag) might speed it up further.

Arrivals is fine - the car hire desks are clearly visible, and there is a coffee shop (Costa) for people waiting for their relatives. The airport has installed barriers to prevent people surging forward which makes sense, and the G4S people are now visible to check how the crowd is moving. My only complaint would be it's quite dark and dingy in there, plus the gap between the main building and the bus interchange could do with being roofed over.

About time BMI
 

Budget airline bmibaby is to launch a new three-times-a-week service to Ibiza.

The flights from East Midlands Airport are on sale now and begin on June 30 and end on September 9.

The route means the airline flies to 13 destinations from the airport.

David Hodge, bmibaby marketing director, said: "It's great to be able to announce another new route from East Midlands Airport."

Caroline Plant, the airport's director of marketing, said: "We now serve over 100 exciting destinations across the world."

dumdumbrain,

Unfortunatly if you would of read the post in full namely post number 245 i think, you will find this has already been put on here a week ago, but thanks anyway for the info.

Regards

Stu

Parkway
 

The last time I checked with Network rail, the money has be asigned all £24 million of it, yes the midland mainline franchise is coming an end, but network rail said it has taken charge of the station.

*TNT should be having a change of aircraft later this year at EMA as the A300s are meant to be undergoing an 'upgrade' (sallys words not mine), for a few months we shall be having the Tupelov, again on lease from Egyptain air cargo. The first two to be took out of operation will be the two spanish aircraft.

p.s. if anyone if would like some pictures of TNTs aircraft at EMA both the A300B4 203F and the 146s, just send me a message.

Someone should start an EMA thread in the spotters balconey section.

ATMs
 

Be Aware EMA staff - the new banking machines do carry a charge of £1.75 per transaction both airside and landside!!!:= There are no warnings at any point during your transaction and on the ATM that they will be charging you!!! Make sure you check your bank statements!!:mad:
I have to admit i thought it was good practice to provide charging warnings - anyone got any legal knowledge about this?
Apparently the Spar does cashback for a 50pee charge.
Ho hum.
:confused:

Cash back
 

BP does cash back for free, well the two ladies on at night do anyway.

The cash machines should have a note on them somewhere about the charge, if not on the wall at least on the screen!!

If not they surely cant charge you, i will be claiming it back!!!

I thought all of the cash machines had a message flash up on the screen after you've inserted your card saying "this machine will charge you £x.xx for usage" or words to that effect. The airport is under no obligation to provide a cash machine, nor are they obliged to check the running of the machines, it is all with a third party company - I'm not saying it's right, but also it's not the airport's fault that in the past they used a more benevolent money provider.

I'm off to Spain on Monday so looking forward to seeing the terminal changes airside as my last trip was plagued by long security queues and gate changes which meant I didn't have too much time to meander, then the end of the month it's off to work ... maybe even some Ibizas ... :\


Continued: http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?p=3227820#post3227820