Arrival experience at tourist airports 2022
Paxing All Over The World
Probably 99% of companies in the UK had no experience of what a pandemic can do. There was a fairly consistent view that it would soon be over. Having read something of previous pandemics, I am not surprised it is still a problem.
However, there was no intimation that so many people would want to change job and/or lifestyle, if an opportunity presented itself.
Coupled with Brexit, it made a terrible combination.
However, there was no intimation that so many people would want to change job and/or lifestyle, if an opportunity presented itself.
Coupled with Brexit, it made a terrible combination.
Paxing All Over The World
This also references LH out of FRA.
LHR caps departing passenger numbers
LHR caps departing passenger numbers
Heathrow Airport announced it has introduced a cap of 100,000 daily departing passengers until 11 September as Britain's aviation industry struggles to cope with the post-pandemic demand for travel.
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Probably 99% of companies in the UK had no experience of what a pandemic can do. There was a fairly consistent view that it would soon be over. Having read something of previous pandemics, I am not surprised it is still a problem.
However, there was no intimation that so many people would want to change job and/or lifestyle, if an opportunity presented itself.
Coupled with Brexit, it made a terrible combination.
However, there was no intimation that so many people would want to change job and/or lifestyle, if an opportunity presented itself.
Coupled with Brexit, it made a terrible combination.
I did SARS in Hong Kong and as soon as this kicked off I worked on an 18 month minimum time scale for us personally and indeed my company. 18 month proved to slightly shorter than reality, but a very good basis and we and company got ahead of the game. Interestingly when I mentioned this experience to my local Tory MP I was given short shrift 2.5 years ago.
Cheers
Mr Mac
Great news piece from the Mail, headlined by a photo over a month old.
Panorama last night was no more informative, mostly being shot at LCY where I doubt there is a holiday flight to be had.
Nothing new said other than the comment that in the recent very widely publicised series of late cancellations, 97% of flights got away against a normal good day pre pandemic when 1-2% cancellations could be expected.
Yes some very sad stories indeed but something bad is always going to happen when the numbers of annual travellers probably amounts to double the number of the population in any year. No media ever thrived on good news.
Panorama last night was no more informative, mostly being shot at LCY where I doubt there is a holiday flight to be had.
Nothing new said other than the comment that in the recent very widely publicised series of late cancellations, 97% of flights got away against a normal good day pre pandemic when 1-2% cancellations could be expected.
Yes some very sad stories indeed but something bad is always going to happen when the numbers of annual travellers probably amounts to double the number of the population in any year. No media ever thrived on good news.
Last edited by Dave Gittins; 26th Jul 2022 at 11:57.
Paxing All Over The World
Mr Mac. Agreed. My work these days is alongside the funeral trade. When SARS/MERS arrived 2002/03, there was lot of information in the trade as to what would happen if it took off in the UK. By the time Covid arrived? All that information was lost. As far as I could see, the people in charge of the trade organisations and in the large UK funeral companies - had all moved on, mostly through retirement. The new folks in charge did not seem to have that information. I remembered it ...
Thus both the funeral trade and the crematoria and cemeteries, had to learn from scratch. But history always repeats itself and the warnings were plain to see. The big change here was that the jet engine spread the virus a lot faster than most people could imagine. When it was brewing in Jan/Feb 2020, I was of the view that this could be 'the big one' and said so. But I am not in a position to influence the trade.
The only surprise for me was just how many people would ignore rules and vaccination - and still do. The subsequent high death toll is far beyond what I had guessed at when lock down started. I have some serious horror stories from beareaved families and my colleagues in those trades.
Thus both the funeral trade and the crematoria and cemeteries, had to learn from scratch. But history always repeats itself and the warnings were plain to see. The big change here was that the jet engine spread the virus a lot faster than most people could imagine. When it was brewing in Jan/Feb 2020, I was of the view that this could be 'the big one' and said so. But I am not in a position to influence the trade.
The only surprise for me was just how many people would ignore rules and vaccination - and still do. The subsequent high death toll is far beyond what I had guessed at when lock down started. I have some serious horror stories from beareaved families and my colleagues in those trades.
Paxing All Over The World
I don't know that this tells us anything we did not already know with all saying they are doing their best and others must shoulder blame too... However, at the end of the article one pilot who is taking a break says what we all know here in PPRuNe and have done for decades:
BBC Airport Workers on the staffing problem
... his biggest criticism lies with the drive for low prices and big profits where "everything gets cut to the bone and during unusual times it will mean system breakdown".
everyone knows this and everyone still looks for the lowest possible airfare and complains bitterly (on here as well) about high costs
JNB - LHR 6 June T3. First of the long hauls to arrive. Needless to say, through passport control in a few minutes, and bags ready in about 10 minutes. That said, my LUX-LHR BA flight for 30 Aug has been canx. Decided not to even attempt any short haul flights until later in the year.
Son of Slot
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Well said Asturias56 I have noticed in many areas the pricing model of a well known LCC, pricing low to catch the 'eyeball' and then adding everything afterwards. This is now so well established over the last 30 years that generations are growing up understanding it.. I find myself moving swiftly to 'grumpy old man', but Mrs S.o.S. says that happened a long time ago ...
Regretfully it has become a standard model in all corners of the business and official world - along with just-in-time.
Anyone who asks about backup, redundancy, and risk is shown the door very quickly these days
Anyone who asks about backup, redundancy, and risk is shown the door very quickly these days
Paxing All Over The World
I was in telecommunications for 27 years and I saw this trend start in about 1989, as I was working for an American merchant bank. Following the recession of 90/91, then throughout the 90s, there was a steady cut back of investment, with an increase in outsourcing. Equipment had become so reliable and easier to use that it was taken for granted.
You still get folks saying, "My laptop/mobile died/was stolen and I've lost all my work"
You still get folks saying, "My laptop/mobile died/was stolen and I've lost all my work"
"You still get folks saying, "My laptop/mobile died/was stolen and I've lost all my work""
I think I can count on teh fingers of one hand the number of people I know who back up their laptops at all
I think I can count on teh fingers of one hand the number of people I know who back up their laptops at all
Just done Gatwick to Paphos with EasyJet. Check-in was a bit busy, but the queues were well organised and we soon got through. Paphos was a breeze.
Coming back, no issues at both ends. I've had longer delays pre-Covid.
Both journeys were delayed departing due to ATC flow restrictions over Europe, but not something to get too upset about.
As an aside, at Gatwick, we moved off the gate and then parked up for an hour. The captain welcomed any kids to visit the flight deck whilst we waited. The cabin crew let one of them announce over the PA, that we were ready to go and to return to our seats. Nice touches.
Coming back, no issues at both ends. I've had longer delays pre-Covid.
Both journeys were delayed departing due to ATC flow restrictions over Europe, but not something to get too upset about.
As an aside, at Gatwick, we moved off the gate and then parked up for an hour. The captain welcomed any kids to visit the flight deck whilst we waited. The cabin crew let one of them announce over the PA, that we were ready to go and to return to our seats. Nice touches.
Flew into ... Jersey. Absolutely straightforward. Staff said the issues were all at the origin airports, not with them, so problematic when inbound carriers arrive hours late - the day starts off ok, but by the second and third rotation carriers are becoming significantly late. Certainly on returning, checking in an hour before departure there were three BA staff on the desks, and just us on the other side. I suggested there were openings for them at Heathrow, which was, of course, treated with feigned horror 
Elsewhere on the island it was apparent that shortage of staff was a key issue, places on short hours, long waits, (very) inexperienced staff, etc. And a bit of a "couldn't care less" attitude creeping in among those there, probably from a combination of circumstances.
Elsewhere on the island it was apparent that shortage of staff was a key issue, places on short hours, long waits, (very) inexperienced staff, etc. And a bit of a "couldn't care less" attitude creeping in among those there, probably from a combination of circumstances.
Everywhere I've been worldwide for the last 8 months everyone in the "service industries" is screaming for staff. Years of bad treatment, lousy conditions , poor pay coming home to roost I'm pleased to say
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Back to Palma for a wedding with Jet 2 from Leeds. Leeds Bradford needs a new terminal, very hot and crowded yesterday afternoon. We used Runway lounge which was ok to get away from crowds,but not a very good lounge with little ice or fruit and good not great. But flight fine with slight diversion near Perpignan due to Storms. Got through Palma in 40 min but took same time to get rental car as Gold Car very very busy with each rep doing around 30 - 40 cars per day normal is 10-20. Very warm down here in comparison to the wet and muggy northern UK.
Thankfully it is European ( my PA and her partner)wedding, so no morning suits !! Her parents have a house here and this is where she wanted to get married rather than Bavaria.
Cheers
Mr Mac
Thankfully it is European ( my PA and her partner)wedding, so no morning suits !! Her parents have a house here and this is where she wanted to get married rather than Bavaria.
Cheers
Mr Mac
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Back in Palma, and did car drop to clear security and into lounge in 30min. Inbound was 20min though car pickup took 39 min as very busy. I think the flight issues being reported do seem to be Man and LHR based.
Cheers
Mr Mac
Cheers
Mr Mac
Departed from T3 at LHR 17 july, allowed plenty of time and was through airside in 15 mins. Plane then went tech so 5 hour delay and missed connection in the usa. Returned to Lhr 2 Aug and no problems. Was 45 mins from landing to being at the central bus station.
CDG Tuesday Long haul Business 45 minutes from taxi to airside with priority throughout. Very busy but moving steadily. Biggest problem at Security where sensors seemed to be picking up EVERYTHING - guy ahead of me had belt, shoes, pen, wallet (??) watch - and it was still going off after a pat down search, a going over with a wand and the swab test - plus the usual idiots who had packed a whole cosmetic collection deep in their hand luggage