CIO has avoided UK due security processes...
CH3CH2OH
Thread Starter
CIO has avoided UK due security processes...
The CIO of the group I work for (22,000 plus, HQ in Europe) has deliberately avoided the UK since last year due to the restrictions on hand baggage.
As a full time 'C' passenger who travels worldwide a lot he can traverse most of the planet without having to hold check any items, good old fortress UK, furthering the needs of British business.
As a full time 'C' passenger who travels worldwide a lot he can traverse most of the planet without having to hold check any items, good old fortress UK, furthering the needs of British business.
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Makes you wonder what he wants to carry then...if you've got nothing to hide, why are the current security checks a problem? Its the same across most of the globe currently anyway, certainly Europe at least...
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Makes you wonder what he wants to carry then...if you've got nothing to hide, why are the current security checks a problem? Its the same across most of the globe currently anyway, certainly Europe at least.
Actually its not the same in the UK as the rest of Europe, especially for C class.
The airlines allow the convenience of an extra carry on (or 2!) throughout the world, but, you are restricted to 1 item of carry on only in the UK by security there which includes a ladies handbag or laptop as 1 item
.....Plus, you can generally connect in Europe (I have) with another airports bought duty free, but you cant do this in the UK either.
As I have said before, Im not a major CEO, but I too try to avoid connecting through the UK whenever possible now.
Regards, SD..
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Perkin
Why should international travellers put up with the extra restrictions of a country that thinks it knows best, when the rest of Europe sees it differently?
Skydriller calls it as it is.
No sane business or first class traveller would subject themselves to this degree of inconvenience when there are several alternatives.
Premium class travel is about convenience for the traveller, not the security people - time for BAA to match Fraport and others who offer a better service.
5711
I agree with your sentiments about fortress UK - I am just in the process of divesting myself of all UK assets - I see a horrible surprise around the corner.
Why should international travellers put up with the extra restrictions of a country that thinks it knows best, when the rest of Europe sees it differently?
Skydriller calls it as it is.
No sane business or first class traveller would subject themselves to this degree of inconvenience when there are several alternatives.
Premium class travel is about convenience for the traveller, not the security people - time for BAA to match Fraport and others who offer a better service.
5711
I agree with your sentiments about fortress UK - I am just in the process of divesting myself of all UK assets - I see a horrible surprise around the corner.
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If you wanted to give the World an enema you would probably find UK the best place to put the pipe! Where in UK? Anywhere in UK!! A 
hole run by a bunch of self-serving, ignorant, incompetent wits
hole run by a bunch of self-serving, ignorant, incompetent wits
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Ohh why worry about such little things They can always double the fuel taxes and the VAT. Kinda like British Rail in the good old days. Better off selling a one hundred quid ticket to 2 peeps than having 1000 buy a 2 quid one
CH3CH2OH
Thread Starter
Excellent post GoldenTicket, really adds something of value to the discussion.
Skydriller has it spot on as an analysis of the reasons for avoiding the UK for a 'Business' passenger, it has absolutely nothing to do with a desire to circumvent sensible security precautions.
Personally I travel on average once a month, alas not often in 'C' and I now make strenuous efforts to avoid transiting a UK or US airport if the route options allow.
Skydriller has it spot on as an analysis of the reasons for avoiding the UK for a 'Business' passenger, it has absolutely nothing to do with a desire to circumvent sensible security precautions.
Personally I travel on average once a month, alas not often in 'C' and I now make strenuous efforts to avoid transiting a UK or US airport if the route options allow.
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My comment didn't really add any less to the thread than the suggestion that the UK would be a suitable place for a world enema. However, I would assume that the CIO of your company would now expect anybody doing business with his company in Europe from the UK to either use the phone or get off their own backside and go visit him. If he can avoid the UK then he's not doing much important business here is he.
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Golden Ticket
You seem blissfully unaware that there are many longhaul travellers who need to connect on their journeys.
The UK has always been an important connection point, but these days the security impositions (more severe than the rest of Europe) are changing the way people think.
Once they have learned to go via FRA, AMS, CDG or wherever, they will tend to continue to do so.
Your view seems to be typically UK centric.
I used to live in the UK, but no longer do and I fear for it's future - it takes a relatively long time for the wheels to come off and an even longer time for them to go back on again.
You seem blissfully unaware that there are many longhaul travellers who need to connect on their journeys.
The UK has always been an important connection point, but these days the security impositions (more severe than the rest of Europe) are changing the way people think.
Once they have learned to go via FRA, AMS, CDG or wherever, they will tend to continue to do so.
Your view seems to be typically UK centric.
I used to live in the UK, but no longer do and I fear for it's future - it takes a relatively long time for the wheels to come off and an even longer time for them to go back on again.
CH3CH2OH
Thread Starter
If he can avoid the UK then he's not doing much important business here is he.
On another related point, readers of IT Week (an IT trade paper) may have noticed today that respected columnist and commentator Guy Kewney related the story of a launch event in Florida by Orange of some product or service that fell slightly flat due to many people not being prepared to undergo the current rigours of US immigration.
As a contrast, last week in Abu Dhabi it was pleasant and refreshing to meet the friendly but thorough immigration and airport security personnel.
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Having travelled extensivaly the last few years, I would say the worst place to visit is the USA. Long lines and the little Hitlers when you get to the desk.....most unpleasnt staff I have encountered. Now when you travel throught SE Asia it is totaly the opposite. I fully except the security hassles, ad there is often going to be some queus, but it is the way the authorities habndle the number of passengers that makes a difference. The UK airport especially LHR are a joke, never unough lanes and staff for the numbers of pax. It is about time they stppoed any furhter expansion of the airport untill they have in place the faculities to handle the current numbers properly.
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I've probably flown in and out of the USA about 6 times in the last 6 months, and to be honest the queues for immigration were not that bad.
However, the same cannot be said for T4 immigration. Most recently, the queues last saturday morning were horrendous and even then I had to wait for my luggage the other side - "delays due to operational reasons". I think it took an hour and forty five minutes from wheels down to customs lane.
The security queues on departure are significantly better in the US as well - certainly if you have a premium ticket, anyway. The same cannot be said for fast track in either T3 or T4 at Heathrow. Never less than 10 minutes, and commonly more.
I think its fair to say that Heathrow is one of the most unpleasant airports to travel from or to. So, I certainly don't blame anyone that chooses to transit around it.
However, the same cannot be said for T4 immigration. Most recently, the queues last saturday morning were horrendous and even then I had to wait for my luggage the other side - "delays due to operational reasons". I think it took an hour and forty five minutes from wheels down to customs lane.
The security queues on departure are significantly better in the US as well - certainly if you have a premium ticket, anyway. The same cannot be said for fast track in either T3 or T4 at Heathrow. Never less than 10 minutes, and commonly more.
I think its fair to say that Heathrow is one of the most unpleasant airports to travel from or to. So, I certainly don't blame anyone that chooses to transit around it.
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As a frequent traveller who is often away for just one night or so I usually take just a small bag with me so I don't have to wait to collect hold baggage at my destination. The stupid and illogical liquids rule ensures the airside shops make a killing every time from me and others who get their shower gel etc. confiscated.
Typically my half empty deodorant spray, shaving gel and shower gel get confiscated so I have to buy new from the airside shops and then these get taken from me again on the return journey!
Typically my half empty deodorant spray, shaving gel and shower gel get confiscated so I have to buy new from the airside shops and then these get taken from me again on the return journey!
Paxing All Over The World
mt1832
I now travel with solid stick deodorant and solid stick shaving cream and a solid stick shower gel called 'soap'!! 
Typically my half empty deodorant spray, shaving gel and shower gel get confiscated so I have to buy new from the airside shops and then these get taken from me again on the return journey!
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The LHR (and other BAA airports rule) of one bag only per pax, was applied to cut down processing time through security, so my wifes handbag and vanity bag count as two bags, for example, and are "no-go", however if one bag can fit inside the other, then thats ok. I sometimes do this with laptop bag inside carry on bag.
Firstly this is obviously related to BAA saving money, less bags, shorter lines = no requirement to increase number of screeners and machines in view of the new threat (liquids - also nonsense but thats another discussion).
Of course by the time you strip down to your underwear and remove belts, watches, coats, pullovers etc etc, the existence of a second bag in the processing is almost totally irrelevant.
Once again the tail wags the dog. Complete and total anti-customer nonsense. I dont understand why BA and other airlines put up with it, they must be losing business, and paying a heavy fee to BAA, and what is happening with all the extra security surcharges if the airport authority is reducing convenience to us in order to save money.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh
Firstly this is obviously related to BAA saving money, less bags, shorter lines = no requirement to increase number of screeners and machines in view of the new threat (liquids - also nonsense but thats another discussion).
Of course by the time you strip down to your underwear and remove belts, watches, coats, pullovers etc etc, the existence of a second bag in the processing is almost totally irrelevant.
Once again the tail wags the dog. Complete and total anti-customer nonsense. I dont understand why BA and other airlines put up with it, they must be losing business, and paying a heavy fee to BAA, and what is happening with all the extra security surcharges if the airport authority is reducing convenience to us in order to save money.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh
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I dont understand why BA and other airlines put up with it, they must be losing business, and paying a heavy fee to BAA
Regards, SD..
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PAXboy
Don't you get those free in your hotel, armpit rot can be alleviated by the onboard wet wipes, or just carry some wet wipes. They've always worked for me over the last 30 years.