BAA queues to continue - but its being resolved
Join Date: Feb 2006
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As a slight aside, but on the same subject, last time I came into BHX, about 3/4 weeks ago, I noticed one of the immigration lanes had some sort of retinal scan unit installed. It was not operational so we had to queue to be checked by a real person - not too bad on this occasion, maybe 15 mins.
Anybody know what this retinal scan gismo is? Would it reduce immigration times? Does it work?
Anybody know what this retinal scan gismo is? Would it reduce immigration times? Does it work?
BAA should have a look at T4 MAD to redesign the whole screening areas. Not once have i queued more than 10 mins during peak pax flows! A great credit to AENA's management. Time to think outside the box BAA!
Paxing All Over The World
howflytrg
Actually - it is too late for that!! Since T5 is already nearly complete and they are showing it off to the press, any 'thinking' that they did would have had to be done about four years ago. I dare say that they researched it very widely around the globe but what there thinking was ... we shall soon find out. BUT it is too late now!
Time to think outside the box BAA!
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The retinal scan program several posters have queried is known as IRIS. You may register for it regardless of passport- if non EU passport holder you must have passport stamps proving you have entered the UK several times in the past 2 years . There are IRIS offices in all LHR and LGW terminals airside (past security)- the registration takes about 5 minutes and you may use it within 3-4 days. No need to fill out landing cards or any other documentation. It is worth its weight in gold.
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LGW North Terminal on Saturday 31st march was a nightmare. The queue for security wound around the check in desks and out of the doors! Rumours suggested the wait would be over an hour, and my flight left in 40 minutes! Quodos therefore to the queue scanners who pulled people out and directed us to a special lane where security was completed in about 10 minutes. BAA appeared to have every X ray machine operating but it was still unable to cope. Ironically as you get into the departure lounge, hostesses, presumably employed by BAA themselves and with sashes pronouncing 'Enjoy your time at Gatwick', seemed completely oblviious to the chaos only a few feet away from them
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Ironically as you get into the departure lounge, hostesses, presumably employed by BAA themselves and with sashes pronouncing 'Enjoy your time at Gatwick', seemed completely oblviious to the chaos only a few feet away from them
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BAA queues to continue - but its being resolved NO IT IS NOT!
Was at LHR T1 yesterday and noticed that there are now 2 scanners guarding the entry to the Gate 25+ area! However, the queues for the supposedly "random check" were as long as usual. Indeed, a very harresed BMI ground staff person came to the area calling forward passengers for a flight about to depart!
At the main security area only 2 gates were in operation with the queue stretching back to the entrance, although in fairness as the staf'f/priority area was not always being used passengers were called forward in small batches to this area.
Mind you part of the delay can be attributed to SLF not being prepared, in spite of notices, and waiting until the last moment to empty pockets of change, being asked to take off jackets etc.
Was at LHR T1 yesterday and noticed that there are now 2 scanners guarding the entry to the Gate 25+ area! However, the queues for the supposedly "random check" were as long as usual. Indeed, a very harresed BMI ground staff person came to the area calling forward passengers for a flight about to depart!
At the main security area only 2 gates were in operation with the queue stretching back to the entrance, although in fairness as the staf'f/priority area was not always being used passengers were called forward in small batches to this area.
Mind you part of the delay can be attributed to SLF not being prepared, in spite of notices, and waiting until the last moment to empty pockets of change, being asked to take off jackets etc.
Paxing All Over The World
ShamRoc
BAA did not say that they would fix it by now. From the BBC report quoted at the top of this thread:
BAA queues to continue - but its being resolved NO IT IS NOT!
BAA wants to cut queue waiting to five minutes, 95% of the time.
But it said that the target could not be guaranteed by Easter or summer and did not rule out using marquees for waiting passengers outside terminals.
But it said that the target could not be guaranteed by Easter or summer and did not rule out using marquees for waiting passengers outside terminals.
Join Date: Jun 2003
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Anybody caught up in the security queues at LHR T1 lat Thursday (5 April)?
I have never before seen such a long queue at the second security point guarding Gates 25+ at T1 International. Announcements were being made that "The Captain has agreed to delay the flight until all passengers have passed through security (or words to that effect)". I think it was a BA flight. I thought this was a "random security screening" point. The installation of a second scanner does seem to have done little to ease the congestion.
I understand the reason behind this security checkpoint is that up to then inbound and outbound passengers can "mingle and meet" and the check is that no forbidden goods are exchanged. Surely the inbound SLF have already been security checked from their departure airport? Does this make the passing of dangerous objects possible/probable?
I have never before seen such a long queue at the second security point guarding Gates 25+ at T1 International. Announcements were being made that "The Captain has agreed to delay the flight until all passengers have passed through security (or words to that effect)". I think it was a BA flight. I thought this was a "random security screening" point. The installation of a second scanner does seem to have done little to ease the congestion.
I understand the reason behind this security checkpoint is that up to then inbound and outbound passengers can "mingle and meet" and the check is that no forbidden goods are exchanged. Surely the inbound SLF have already been security checked from their departure airport? Does this make the passing of dangerous objects possible/probable?
If BAA were serious, having admitted that the 'service' provided has been unacceptable, they'd fire the senior management responsible 'pour encourager les autres'. After all, they have had the capability of fixing things for months - they just don't want to pay what it takes to get the job done efficiently.
Preferably then shoot them, too.
Nice airport seem to keep opening gates until they have no more to open. Arlanda the same. My last two trips through Phoenix have been so fast that you couldn't put your bag down to get your passport and boarding card out before you were moving again.
Preferably then shoot them, too.
Nice airport seem to keep opening gates until they have no more to open. Arlanda the same. My last two trips through Phoenix have been so fast that you couldn't put your bag down to get your passport and boarding card out before you were moving again.
Paxing All Over The World
Going through LHR T3 on Wednesday 4th, I allowed the maximum amount of time and ... sailed through. The fast through time I can recall.
We go to the upper level around 16:30 and were though to shops in 10 mins flat, so something had obviously gone terribly wrong!
That is the problem - pot luck. You never know if it is going to be good or bad and it might be good, simply because you arrive at a natural low spot and if you arrived ten mins later it would be tea breaks and five coach loads at once.
We go to the upper level around 16:30 and were though to shops in 10 mins flat, so something had obviously gone terribly wrong!
That is the problem - pot luck. You never know if it is going to be good or bad and it might be good, simply because you arrive at a natural low spot and if you arrived ten mins later it would be tea breaks and five coach loads at once.
Join Date: Jul 2005
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A lot of the blame can also be put on the new security regulations that have been introduced over the last couple of years.
Given all the stuff we are not allowed to bring on to a plane now....and given that a lot of us forget and it ends up being confiscated....all this adds up in time as the security officer has to stop and search us...then add a couple of extra minutes as we argue with them.
Unless they get rid of the stupid baggage item shutdown...it dosen't matter how many stations or fancy new bits of equipment or staff they bring in. The queues will remain.
Given all the stuff we are not allowed to bring on to a plane now....and given that a lot of us forget and it ends up being confiscated....all this adds up in time as the security officer has to stop and search us...then add a couple of extra minutes as we argue with them.
Unless they get rid of the stupid baggage item shutdown...it dosen't matter how many stations or fancy new bits of equipment or staff they bring in. The queues will remain.
Paxing All Over The World
I thought that you would be interested to read this report from a man who is a deeply experienced and practical electronics engineer. I have met him and followed his writing for many years. Peter Cochrane really does know what he is talking about. He is a frequent traveller of high magnitude.
In this item he reports on why he has not joined the Iris Scanning option at some UK airports. Naturally, I am only pasting a small part of the item from Silicon.com
http://comment.silicon.com/petercochrane/
The traveller going through the iris scan enters the booth with full confidence. Then the 'dance of the immature technology' begins. Move closer, move to the left, stand further back, look up, look down and so on. The traveller is then asked to leave the booth, re-enter and start again. This dance is repeated until an attendant arrives to reboot the technology. By this time I'm at the front of the long line and on my way home.
Just what is going on here? More than 10 years ago I had this technology in my lab and it performed faultlessly. Integrated mechatronics would automatically scan your face, locate your eye, focus and take a picture. The electronic analysis was more or less instantaneous. So why all the fuss at Heathrow?
There is more before and after this extract and I think he is probably correct.
In this item he reports on why he has not joined the Iris Scanning option at some UK airports. Naturally, I am only pasting a small part of the item from Silicon.com
http://comment.silicon.com/petercochrane/
The traveller going through the iris scan enters the booth with full confidence. Then the 'dance of the immature technology' begins. Move closer, move to the left, stand further back, look up, look down and so on. The traveller is then asked to leave the booth, re-enter and start again. This dance is repeated until an attendant arrives to reboot the technology. By this time I'm at the front of the long line and on my way home.
Just what is going on here? More than 10 years ago I had this technology in my lab and it performed faultlessly. Integrated mechatronics would automatically scan your face, locate your eye, focus and take a picture. The electronic analysis was more or less instantaneous. So why all the fuss at Heathrow?
There is more before and after this extract and I think he is probably correct.
