'Heathrow voted least favourite airport'.
Join Date: Mar 2006
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The only thing I really dislike about Heathrow is the average thirty mins to get through the "others" queue at immigration. That and the fact that despite a "good morning" and a smile (big effort after SYD-SIN-LHR in economy) all I get is a stony faced "What is your reason for visiting the UK?" By the time I clear immigration, though, bags are usually on the carousel and I'm at my hotel about forty mins later.
Boston takes the (dubious) prize for me. Up to ninety minutes on arrival to clear immigration and shambolic departures with aggressive staff herding people around. Plus it seems that the only working cash machine is at the other end of arrivals from the taxi rank. JFK and LAX would get dishonorable mentions.
Maybe it's just the disconnect with expectations and experience. Chaos and delays in Sao Paulo, Lima, etc don't bother me...
Boston takes the (dubious) prize for me. Up to ninety minutes on arrival to clear immigration and shambolic departures with aggressive staff herding people around. Plus it seems that the only working cash machine is at the other end of arrivals from the taxi rank. JFK and LAX would get dishonorable mentions.
Maybe it's just the disconnect with expectations and experience. Chaos and delays in Sao Paulo, Lima, etc don't bother me...
Join Date: Sep 2007
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Heathrow is lame
As a regular flyer, esp via Changi and Dubai, Heathrow is obviously a pit. But unfortunately, the reason Heathrow has been so bad is becasue luxuries like restaurants etc just were not th ought of when they were built.
Take T4 for example. You have just 2 places to choose to eat before you go into immigration - that pub and the expensive cafe place right next to the arcades! How utterly disgraceful and sh!te is that? And this is the newest terminal (before T5 of course).
As for Terminal 3, yeah, its better. You have a wider choice for restaurants before you go through to immigration but it is still terrible. And don't get me started on the toilets- absolutely disgusting.
Worst experience was coming into heathrow from LAX on Virgin - so furthest point to walk from the plane to the terminal. None of the mechanical walkways (whatever you call them) were working. So I had to walk the whole distance from the plane to the terminal, then stood for over 30 minutes at immigration-with a british Passport! - Oh- and I failed to mention that I was wearing heels and they sure werent low ones! not by a long shot. NOw obviously my choice of footwear is my problem, but to have ALL of the walkways not working was a disgrace in my opinion.
What about those with kids? Old people. This would never happen in Changi or Dubai. But I am hopeful about T5. there will be a massive shopping resort, Ramsey is opening up a restaurant etc so at least we will have one terminal to be proud of!
Worst airport? I'd say its the worst Major International Airport. Some people envy me for having a job where i travel around the world (im not a pilot nor a FA). But I spend as much time in airports as I do in the air. And it really isn't nice.
Blog over!
Lucy
x
Take T4 for example. You have just 2 places to choose to eat before you go into immigration - that pub and the expensive cafe place right next to the arcades! How utterly disgraceful and sh!te is that? And this is the newest terminal (before T5 of course).
As for Terminal 3, yeah, its better. You have a wider choice for restaurants before you go through to immigration but it is still terrible. And don't get me started on the toilets- absolutely disgusting.
Worst experience was coming into heathrow from LAX on Virgin - so furthest point to walk from the plane to the terminal. None of the mechanical walkways (whatever you call them) were working. So I had to walk the whole distance from the plane to the terminal, then stood for over 30 minutes at immigration-with a british Passport! - Oh- and I failed to mention that I was wearing heels and they sure werent low ones! not by a long shot. NOw obviously my choice of footwear is my problem, but to have ALL of the walkways not working was a disgrace in my opinion.
What about those with kids? Old people. This would never happen in Changi or Dubai. But I am hopeful about T5. there will be a massive shopping resort, Ramsey is opening up a restaurant etc so at least we will have one terminal to be proud of!
Worst airport? I'd say its the worst Major International Airport. Some people envy me for having a job where i travel around the world (im not a pilot nor a FA). But I spend as much time in airports as I do in the air. And it really isn't nice.
Blog over!
Lucy
x
Join Date: Jan 2005
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I live in Cairo: typically it takes less than ten minutes to get from my car to the lounge and less than twenty minutes (with hold luggage) to get from the plane to my car. And the toilets are cleaner than Heathrow..... So which is the third world?
Join Date: May 2002
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I live in Cairo: typically it takes less than ten minutes to get from my car to the lounge and less than twenty minutes (with hold luggage) to get from the plane to my car. And the toilets are cleaner than Heathrow..... So which is the third world?
Living in this overcrowded, overtaxed and dirty filthy place that used to be Great Britain, one does sometimes wonder what the great attraction is that brings people here!
Last edited by bealine; 14th Jan 2008 at 07:31.
I still say let BA take over the running of Heathrow!!
Yes, BA management are cr*p. But they MUST be better than Bl***y Awful Airports management.
And there are still a surprising ( bearing in mind the way BA management have cr******d on them) number of BA 'sharp end' staff who still have an attitude of 'serving the customer'...........
Yes, BA management are cr*p. But they MUST be better than Bl***y Awful Airports management.
And there are still a surprising ( bearing in mind the way BA management have cr******d on them) number of BA 'sharp end' staff who still have an attitude of 'serving the customer'...........
Join Date: May 2002
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bealine - let's make the Donkey Ad a one-off please, then honour is satisfied all round.
I still say let BA take over the running of Heathrow!
However, the DFT probably wouldn't be too happy to have the airline looking after its own security arrangements - conflict of interests and all that sort of thing. Of course if we did take over security, the TSA in the United States would probably have a fit of apoplexy and refuse to let us fly in or our of America ever again! (That's the reason most US flights have to have an independent security company carrying out checks at the gate!)
Join Date: Nov 2002
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I still say let BA take over the running of Heathrow!!
I would agree with you as we always manage difficult situations
Wonder why BA management didn't bid for it when the Spanish bought it ?
