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Gatwick Flight Tomorrow-what to do ?

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Old 10th Aug 2006, 11:56
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Gatwick Flight Tomorrow-what to do ?

Hi there

wife has a gatwick flight tomorrow with easyjet 17.40 to malaga

my question is (since i haven't a clue) what to do ? Hard for me to find out the details too as i am abroad

as i see it there are the following options

1) forget about the holiday and take the refund (this is the option i'd like to avoid)

2) leave things as they are and hope it'll all be ok, if a little late

3) book a single to malaga out of another airport eg Norwich, birmingham, southampton, in the hope that things might be ok


I am just posting this because i think some people on this site may have a clue what is really going on and some experience of how badly affected flights will be

thanks in advance for any comments
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Old 10th Aug 2006, 12:15
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Gatwick flights reported operating as near normal. So stuff everything in the hold luggage and get there with 3 hours to kill.
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Old 10th Aug 2006, 12:20
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ta

hard to find much out on the internet
somewhat unsurprisingly, the easyjet website is useless
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Old 10th Aug 2006, 12:29
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In such a situation it is almost impossible for airlines to keep up to speed with things thus we all need to be patient and understanding.

Best is to monitor the TV news and occasionally visit the EZY website to check for updates, also the BAA website.
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Old 10th Aug 2006, 12:37
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I agree with "in such a situation it is almost impossible for airlines to keep up to speed with things thus we all need to be patient and understanding".

however......

they COULD do better in providing info. this is the case now and is also the case in times of "normal operation".

easyjet is not the only culprit by any means.
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Old 10th Aug 2006, 12:42
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On easyJet's site.
To find it, go to the home page and then look down a bit and there's a link to the page I've highlighted. Took me a few seconds to find it.
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Old 10th Aug 2006, 13:00
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yes thanks

i found that too a few hrs ago
i find this internet malarkey pretty easy

that tells me which flights are cancelled today
however what i want is an indication of how long they expect disruption to continue
ie is there any point in turning up tomorrow
how long do they expect it to take for the backlog to be cleared
should one arrive at the airport 2hrs, 3hrs, 7hrs before one´s flight

i understand they cannot give exact answers but some general indications might be useful


also, and this applies to many airlines generally, i think it is unacceptable that it is often impossible to get through by phone to request info (reactionaries, please note i am not talking about overloaded phone systems due to this incident. I am talking about in the usual course of business).

Generally I find many uk and indeed european airlines shoddy to say the least

but then i have spent most of my life in Asia where one gets used to excellence and a service ethic which makes europe look third world

I am now diving for cover....
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Old 10th Aug 2006, 14:16
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Originally Posted by ManfredvonRichthofen
i understand they cannot give exact answers but some general indications might be useful
I believe that airlines might simply be unable to give general indications, since they lack all the necessary information, a difficulty currently shared by our government and security services.

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Old 10th Aug 2006, 14:47
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a somewhat overly dramatic post there Tight Slot

i should be able to find out whether they intend to attempt to clear the backlog tomorrow or whether they are cancelling all flights today full stop and INTENDING (note i am not using definitive language) to start tomorrow's schedule afresh (conditions permitting)

everyone accepts these are difficult and uncertain times
i do not expect much. The above is not much to expect really.

a note on the website or a call centre that contains more than 2 poor souls could provide me with some form of an answer, albeit perhaps not the answer i am looking for


the issue is not recent events
the issue is poor service

but like i say, i have been spoilt
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Old 10th Aug 2006, 14:48
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I've spent several hours today watching BBC World (maybe the least biased foreign news agency available to me here in Thailand).

It seems to me that the suddeness of the changes to security measures is what caused the disruption. People were already at the airports expecting to carry on hand luggage as usual. The problem for them must have been where to go and be able to repack their hold baggage in accordance with the new rules.

As for outbound Duty Free - so what? The airlines have been complaining about the potential danger of bringing heavy glass bottles of booze on board and then stuffing it in the overhead lockers for years. What is wrong with buying Duty Free on arrival at the destination? In any case, most foreign duty frees are a great deal less expensive that those in the UK.

Who really needs to take water/coffee/beer on board the aircraft when it is freely available once boarded?

From tomorrow onwards, if passengers have properly taken note of what is now required, there shouldn't be that amount of disruption other than whatever delays remain in getting today's passengers away and re-positioning aircraft and crews that had to delay their arrivals because of aircraft overcrowing at UK airports particularly Heathrow.

Passengers could also help the situation by arriving with the stuff they can take (if they must take it into the cabin) already clearly identifyable and in the requested, see-through plastic bags. We've had to put laptop computers and other electrical stuff into such bags when taking them through UK airports for months so whats new there?

Slightly tongue in cheek, one might also help to speed up the process by holding up ones trousers with string (or wear braces) and travel in flip flops rather than shoes

Not wishing to put valuables in the hold. Do you really have to take jewelry with you if you're going on holiday?

Businessmen. Is your journey really necessary in the first place? Could it not be handled by a video conference call with temporary contracts signed and faxed to be followed up with originals in the post. The banks have been accepting faxed signatures for years. So you miss a jolly or you have to leave that precious laptop behind. Hard luck!

There has been a great deal of wailing and gnashing of teeth. We should all be very grateful that the UK police were able to deal with this situation before it developed into something far worse.
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Old 10th Aug 2006, 14:51
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xeque

your post contains much sense

but have you not noticed that every time you travel people become morons
eg boarding/disembarking

massive disruption inevitable
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Old 10th Aug 2006, 14:57
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ManfredvonRichthofen

What you expect is impossible, without the aid of a crystal ball or clairvoyant pills.

Be patient like everyone else. The Airline would very much like give you the service you have paid for.

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Old 10th Aug 2006, 15:00
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TightSlot, mod you may be, but I think your post is out of line; MvR is making honest and genuine points and doesn't need your patronising and flippant response.

GDI

See Below
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Old 10th Aug 2006, 15:03
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Originally Posted by ManfredvonRichthofen
a somewhat overly dramatic post there Tight Slot
Sorry that you feel so - the situation is clearly both fluid and complex. Your post echoes the frustration that I'm sure is felt by many. A lot of people are working very hard to minimize the disruption that will be experienced. In such circumstances, it is inevitable that the information flow is either restricted or simply fails to trickle down fast enough to keep up with events.
i should be able to find out whether they intend to attempt to clear the backlog tomorrow or whether they are cancelling all flights today full stop and INTENDING (note i am not using definitive language) to start tomorrow's schedule afresh (conditions permitting)
I don't understand why you feel that at this particular point in time, you should be able to find this out, when it is clear that nobody knows the answer yet. When a suitable plan has been developed, you will be informed. You will then take whatever action you deem the most appropriate. Until then (and with respect) you are simply throwing your toys out of the cot IMHO

Just to underline, I'm not trying to pick a fight or take this too far off topic - In a world of perceptions, yours are as valid as mine!

Accordingly, I have edited my own post to remove a comment that was perceived to be patronising (it wasn't) and flippant (it was).
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Old 10th Aug 2006, 15:12
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i think you miss my point

read what i wrote again more carefully
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Old 10th Aug 2006, 15:26
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Does anyone know whether it will be possible to buy books/magazines after check-in and take them onbaord an aircraft to the US? The advice to passengers is a bit vague, as it says that items can be bought afterwards, but subject to search again at the gate, and liquids will be confiscated. I have no problem whatsoever with the increased security, but I cannot see that taking a book on board can be a risk, especially since it can be easily checked by a quick flick throught the pages.
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Old 10th Aug 2006, 15:26
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Manfred,
I have read your post and I also happen to have been on airline duty on 9/11 thus I understand what the airlines are going through.

We all like to think that we have an answer to every question, the airlines are alike, but they simply do not have the answers yet. No doubt they will be adhering to ever changing government security regulations, they can only operate if the airport in question permits them to do so etc. etc. etc.

Everyone needs to understand the seriousness and difficulties of such a situation and be PATIENT.
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Old 10th Aug 2006, 15:35
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Originally Posted by ManfredvonRichthofen
i think you miss my point
read what i wrote again more carefully
I dont think you comprehend the complexities of the situation.
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Old 10th Aug 2006, 15:56
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Thumbs down If you pay peanuts, you'll get Monkeys...

Originally Posted by ManfredvonRichthofen
Generally I find many uk and indeed european airlines shoddy to say the least

but then i have spent most of my life in Asia where one gets used to excellence and a service ethic which makes europe look third world
Well, what do you expect when you travel with a LCC like Easyjet? Their service is rubbish. If you want decent service, pay up to travel on a proper airline. Unfortunately (most of) Europe doesn't have an over-abundance of labour like in Asia nor a culture of subservient service. If you don't like it, one can always move back to Asia.
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Old 10th Aug 2006, 16:05
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In this instance, the legacy carriers are affected as much, and possibly more, than the LoCo's and therefore no benefit would accrue from travelling with a "proper" airline.

Robertkc - Please keep this thread on track and avoid posting aggressively: In doing so, you diminish your own position.
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