Heathrow security
Thread Starter
Heathrow security
Is it still taking literally hours to get through LHR T4 security? I went out on Feb 13: arrived at T4 at 1005, checked in at First Class (Gold cards are useful) and then spent until 1225 getting through security. The queue was
enormous stretching out of the building into the marquee, and even out of that. Security was no different to usual though. A colleague going through T1 that day had just as long a wait.
Strange thing is that there doesn't seem to have been anything in the newspapers about it. It seems BAA are blaming the DfT, but in fact, if BAA were anything like efficient, they'd have enough security people to keep the queues more manageable. They can do it at ORD, PHX and so on!
I ask becasue I've got a flight on the 27th at 1745 from T4: I'm currently aiming to get there by 1315 in the hope this will be long enough......
enormous stretching out of the building into the marquee, and even out of that. Security was no different to usual though. A colleague going through T1 that day had just as long a wait.
Strange thing is that there doesn't seem to have been anything in the newspapers about it. It seems BAA are blaming the DfT, but in fact, if BAA were anything like efficient, they'd have enough security people to keep the queues more manageable. They can do it at ORD, PHX and so on!
I ask becasue I've got a flight on the 27th at 1745 from T4: I'm currently aiming to get there by 1315 in the hope this will be long enough......
Bludger extraordinaire
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: London/Frankfurt
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Doesn't sound like much fun, Radeng.
I went through T1 last week - expecting the worst, I arrived with three hours' leeway, took the humble Biz Class check-in
but inadvertently went through the green line for security. It took fifteen minutes. Must've been my lucky day. Still fifteen minutes wasted, though.
Better luck this time!
BOFH
I went through T1 last week - expecting the worst, I arrived with three hours' leeway, took the humble Biz Class check-in
but inadvertently went through the green line for security. It took fifteen minutes. Must've been my lucky day. Still fifteen minutes wasted, though.Better luck this time!
BOFH
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Posts: 644
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The BAA recently introduced the need for laptops to be removed from bags prior to security. Very much a la TSA. Lots of people are still getting to grips with this new requirement and yes, queues are much longer as a result. At Terminal 1 recently, I've noticed all of the machines open and operating with lots of staff on hand but people are showing up at the machines without laptops at the ready.
If each person take a minute to remove their laptop, stow it in a tray and then replace the bag on the belt, that's a lot of extra time being taken.
I think things will ease off again when people realise this is a requirement and are prepared in advance.
If each person take a minute to remove their laptop, stow it in a tray and then replace the bag on the belt, that's a lot of extra time being taken.
I think things will ease off again when people realise this is a requirement and are prepared in advance.
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 512
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
T4 still bad 10 days ago, dunno after that.
But my two pennies worth
a) I was nice and early, watching a steady stream of passengers being jumped in front of us by the queue combers because they were late, eventually resulting in myself having to be queue jumped an hour later. Total and utter farce.....
b) Why doesnt one person go up the queues and TELL people to get ready
c) even if (b) were to occur there aint enought security points for the number of pax at T4.
But my two pennies worth
a) I was nice and early, watching a steady stream of passengers being jumped in front of us by the queue combers because they were late, eventually resulting in myself having to be queue jumped an hour later. Total and utter farce.....
b) Why doesnt one person go up the queues and TELL people to get ready
c) even if (b) were to occur there aint enought security points for the number of pax at T4.
Thread Starter
At T4, the queue combers were in the marquee, not when you got inside. Which was where they were needed........
BAA must stand for 'B******r All Aviators!' (or would be aviators)
Still, once they recognise that the shops aren't doing very well and the shops pull out, doubtless they'll bitch at DfT. DfT must stand for something like 'Department for Totalitarianism'.
It's enough to make you go by Eurostar.or is that what they are intending?
BAA must stand for 'B******r All Aviators!' (or would be aviators)
Still, once they recognise that the shops aren't doing very well and the shops pull out, doubtless they'll bitch at DfT. DfT must stand for something like 'Department for Totalitarianism'.
It's enough to make you go by Eurostar.or is that what they are intending?
Thread Starter
I forgot to mention.........
Take your lap top out of your bag before you get to security. So how many hands do people have? When I take the computer with me (which I hate doing but often have to), I then have to carry a computer, the carry bag, my walking stick, take my overcoat and jacket off and carry them.......... Is there a table available (as they do in the US) so you can start getting all your stuff into the plastic trays when you're about 5 people from the machine? Of course not!
Because BAA and Dft are a load of useless idiots! And they have no way of detecting items such as ceramic knives anyway. Regardless of political correctness, they need to start using profiling.
BTW, what's the situation for the Scotsman forced to undo his belt, have his kilt fall to the ground and be stood there, indecently (depending upon one's point of view and the Scot in question) exposing himself?
Take your lap top out of your bag before you get to security. So how many hands do people have? When I take the computer with me (which I hate doing but often have to), I then have to carry a computer, the carry bag, my walking stick, take my overcoat and jacket off and carry them.......... Is there a table available (as they do in the US) so you can start getting all your stuff into the plastic trays when you're about 5 people from the machine? Of course not!
Because BAA and Dft are a load of useless idiots! And they have no way of detecting items such as ceramic knives anyway. Regardless of political correctness, they need to start using profiling.
BTW, what's the situation for the Scotsman forced to undo his belt, have his kilt fall to the ground and be stood there, indecently (depending upon one's point of view and the Scot in question) exposing himself?
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: London
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They want the bare laptop to go through the scanner? Hopefully there is a tray on offer to protect the laptop?
Checking the BAA website they say "screened seperately". Hopefully this does not involve plunging a bare £1500 laptop into thier scanner.
Checking the BAA website they say "screened seperately". Hopefully this does not involve plunging a bare £1500 laptop into thier scanner.
Last edited by katana.flyer; 7th Mar 2006 at 08:27.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South England
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
^ I don't think the whole tkaing your laptop out the bag is the REAL reason - apparently BAA were/are on a go-slow due to the job losses coming soon and the possible take over. I've not seen the huge queues for a few days now - i think the whole thing has blown over.
The queues were at thier worst just when it was announce about the job losses in Skyport....a member of BAA actually told me they were on a go slow!
The queues were at thier worst just when it was announce about the job losses in Skyport....a member of BAA actually told me they were on a go slow!
in which LHR T3 and 4 Feature frequently. I'll report how it goes.
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: uk
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Can anyone explain why we need to remove our laptops from bags and have them scanned seperately? This has been normal procedure in German airports for as long as I've been flying through those airports, but I've never understood it there either!
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Posts: 644
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by striparella
apparently BAA were/are on a go-slow due to the job losses coming soon
Each time I report for duty and go on the bus to the aircraft side, I always find myself and the crew sitting for close to 15-20 minutes waiting to get through the checkpoint - something that used to take no longer than 5 minutes.
Good thinking!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: He's on the limb to nowhere
Posts: 1,981
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't see them working any slower. The problem, just from watching the mess, is people now have to unload their laptop and put it in a separate tray. This slows things down for several reasons
1) There is nowhere to easily unload your laptop. People are doing it shuffling along, or just do it right in front of the x-ray machine and that takes time and holds up the traffic flow.
2) They now have another item of luggage to put through the x-ray machine and look at, and then pack at the other end. An empty bag and a laptop obviously take longer to put through than a single bag containing a laptop. There is nowhere to put your luggage back in one piece (a shop is in the way), so you do it on the security thing at the end of the xray machine and that holds things up.
Somebody needs to go to America and see how to do it properly. There are clearly insufficient security resources and space allocated to security at LHR to do the job efficiently. Somebody should tell BAA that if we are queuing up for security clearance it means we cannot shop, maybe that would get somebody to do something.
What happens when a rule comes in that we have to take our shoes off? The place is going to come to a halt, they just don't seem to think about things proactively.
1) There is nowhere to easily unload your laptop. People are doing it shuffling along, or just do it right in front of the x-ray machine and that takes time and holds up the traffic flow.
2) They now have another item of luggage to put through the x-ray machine and look at, and then pack at the other end. An empty bag and a laptop obviously take longer to put through than a single bag containing a laptop. There is nowhere to put your luggage back in one piece (a shop is in the way), so you do it on the security thing at the end of the xray machine and that holds things up.
Somebody needs to go to America and see how to do it properly. There are clearly insufficient security resources and space allocated to security at LHR to do the job efficiently. Somebody should tell BAA that if we are queuing up for security clearance it means we cannot shop, maybe that would get somebody to do something.
What happens when a rule comes in that we have to take our shoes off? The place is going to come to a halt, they just don't seem to think about things proactively.
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: France, why do you think I have this ouuuutrageous accent?
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is it better at other UK airports? I only ever see LHR, but I could use Manchester if it was less hassle.
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Zürich, Switzerland
Age: 64
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by ptr120
Can anyone explain why we need to remove our laptops from bags and have them scanned seperately? This has been normal procedure in German airports for as long as I've been flying through those airports, but I've never understood it there either!
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: uk
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
After a recent arrival at Terminal 3 passport control with the European channel being miles long, I asked an Immigration Officer why they no longer waved Brits through.
Security is not the only area to increasily test your patience as the Home Office has informed its Immigration officers to swipe all European passports because of increased Europe wide security, people trafficking etc, with phase two seeing CCTV imaging as passengers disembark from aircraft and phase three involving European nationals being fingerprinted and photographed in Immigration halls. Me thinks we are now the US!
1984(Big brother) is a reality!
Security is not the only area to increasily test your patience as the Home Office has informed its Immigration officers to swipe all European passports because of increased Europe wide security, people trafficking etc, with phase two seeing CCTV imaging as passengers disembark from aircraft and phase three involving European nationals being fingerprinted and photographed in Immigration halls. Me thinks we are now the US!
1984(Big brother) is a reality!
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Age: 64
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Aaaaarggh!! Wretched LHR again.
I pass through LHR on average twice a year on home leaves and business trips and can concur that things are getting worse (from an already low base). I think this is just another example of where the management of LHR is woefully lacking in its provision of resources for the traffic it handles.
In this case, there are three points to consider:
1) There are simply not enough scanning teams/scanners.
In most Asian airports, there is normally about one team/scanner for every 4 gates, which means it is unusual for more than one planeload of SLF to be put through one scanner and security team at a time. In Singapore, KL and Jakarta, there is one scanner per gate and the teams are put there when there is a departure from that gate, with the same net effect as above. How many gates are served by each team/scanner in LHR???
2) In LHR, the whole departure lounge is a “sterile” area, which I believe is the same as the USA. In Asia (except Hong Kong and Japan), it is usually only the gate holding area that is “sterile”. Personally, I don’t agree with this “whole departure lounge” sterile approach. For one thing, it leads to people having to eat their lunches with bendy plastic knives and forks. For another, I can’t believe that a containment area that big can be sealed effectively enough. And of course, you inevitably have to pass through a bottle neck to get to the departure area (my apologies if I have missed a past pprune thread about this?)
3) It has been compulsory to remove laptops from bags in Australia and New Zealand for at least two years. In those locations, the system works extremely well. I have passed through security in Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in the last year and have not been delayed by more than a couple of minutes at security. It has been professional, thorough, polite and above all, QUICK. LHR need look no further than down under for an example of how to do this.
As for LHR in general, I can only do what I did in January, as I crawled in my car for an hour in a queue to get though one of those stupid road tunnels - shout at the top of my lungs in frustration “GET YOUR &*%$# ACT TOGETHER!”
I pass through LHR on average twice a year on home leaves and business trips and can concur that things are getting worse (from an already low base). I think this is just another example of where the management of LHR is woefully lacking in its provision of resources for the traffic it handles.
In this case, there are three points to consider:
1) There are simply not enough scanning teams/scanners.
In most Asian airports, there is normally about one team/scanner for every 4 gates, which means it is unusual for more than one planeload of SLF to be put through one scanner and security team at a time. In Singapore, KL and Jakarta, there is one scanner per gate and the teams are put there when there is a departure from that gate, with the same net effect as above. How many gates are served by each team/scanner in LHR???
2) In LHR, the whole departure lounge is a “sterile” area, which I believe is the same as the USA. In Asia (except Hong Kong and Japan), it is usually only the gate holding area that is “sterile”. Personally, I don’t agree with this “whole departure lounge” sterile approach. For one thing, it leads to people having to eat their lunches with bendy plastic knives and forks. For another, I can’t believe that a containment area that big can be sealed effectively enough. And of course, you inevitably have to pass through a bottle neck to get to the departure area (my apologies if I have missed a past pprune thread about this?)
3) It has been compulsory to remove laptops from bags in Australia and New Zealand for at least two years. In those locations, the system works extremely well. I have passed through security in Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in the last year and have not been delayed by more than a couple of minutes at security. It has been professional, thorough, polite and above all, QUICK. LHR need look no further than down under for an example of how to do this.
As for LHR in general, I can only do what I did in January, as I crawled in my car for an hour in a queue to get though one of those stupid road tunnels - shout at the top of my lungs in frustration “GET YOUR &*%$# ACT TOGETHER!”
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South England
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
^ Sounds like you've not been to LHR for a while!
I was eating airside yesterday with my metal cutlery. It's been that way for ages!
I think having airside areas is better than just having the gates "sterile" as you call them.
It's hard enough getting people to go through departures as it as with all the 50 family and friends they bring along. Imagine that at a gate when you're trying to board? Ridiculous.
As much as i joke about the BAA, i find their security very effective to the point where they are sometimes a bit anal - but it makes me feel safer!
I was eating airside yesterday with my metal cutlery. It's been that way for ages!
I think having airside areas is better than just having the gates "sterile" as you call them.
It's hard enough getting people to go through departures as it as with all the 50 family and friends they bring along. Imagine that at a gate when you're trying to board? Ridiculous.
As much as i joke about the BAA, i find their security very effective to the point where they are sometimes a bit anal - but it makes me feel safer!
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: London
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think the gate method wins. All the most efficient airports I can think of all use scanners at the gate. No non passengers can get though immigration / departure control so you don't get friends and family milling around. Personally if I'm going to be held up be security I'd prefer it to be in sight of the gate - the flight is unlikely to bugger off without you if you are standing in a line with all the other passengers... Much more controlled and civilised.