Bussing on Landing From Ireland

[donnlass]

Just back from a lovely 3 days in Ireland (despite the "weather") lol.

When we landed at Dublin we exited through a smart tunnel and were welcomed with smiles and Hellos even by the Security Agent checking our passports etc.

On returning to MAN, as soon as the plane was at the gate we had to board buses and be ferried round to the back of beyond and then on leaving the bus enter the Terminal past glum looking Airport staff glaring at us like we were criminals.

Why does this always happen to a small selection of flights?

We entered past a sign stating Police Control and Border Agency ( joke).


If anyone from Ireland was intent on doing damage they wont be coming in via Aer Lingus from Dublin but by more hidden means so why are we always made to feel like a special case worth extra scrutiny?

Last time we had to walk past some wallah in a wheelchair who had a face on him that would freeze the devil.


There's no need for it Manchester.


Where's all this "Customer Care" you keep winning awards for?

[AircraftOperations]

Passengers from Ireland to the UK are not allowed to go through Passport Control and have to be treated as domestic passengers due to the Common Transit Area.
Depending on the domestic/international passenger facilities at an airport (and in different terminals), the only way to separate "domestic" passengers might be to bus them "around" the border to collect luggage. However, Special Branch are still keen to monitor inbound arrivals.

The staff you see will not be airport staff. The airport would only be responsible for the route you take to get your bags/exit, not the people.

[donnlass]

Thanks for your reply, it has made things a lot clearer.:ok:


Once off the bus mind, it is quicker to arrivals etc but even so, its a dark and dingy entry.

But thanks for answering so quickly and Aer Lingus if you are reading this, thanks for two wonderful flights.:ok::ok:

[edi_local]

At EDI there is still one door for Northern Irish arrivals and one door for Republic arrivals. They are at opposite ends of the terminal building. Up until very recently Northern Irish flights could only be boarded through 1 gate, they can now go through 2. Irish flights can presently use 3 gates. At no time will an Irish and Northern Irish flight board next to one another at EDI.

If an aircraft from NI arrives at any other stand than the one opposite the NI arrivals door then people are bussed round to it. Same for flights from the ROI. People from the ROI go through customs at EDI and collect bags from the International baggage hall, but do not go through Immigration. Not sure if customs officers are active when ROI flights arrive, but if they co-incide with another international arrival then there's not much that can be done to avoid that. The NI door leads out right next to the normal domestic arrivals area and in to the same arrivals hall and baggage reclaim as flights from London or Birmingham for example. They are just ferried past a small desk where someone stands and watches the passengers.


I agree that it's archaic in this day and age to separate people like this, but the people in charge clearly have reasons for not allowing airports to change the rules, even if it means more work and cost for airports and their staff.

[donnlass]

When I flew BMI Baby to Belfast a few years ago we went from T3 but the aircraft was right in the middle of the apron way way from the Terminals and we were bussed out to it.