Heathrow T5 Chaos

[Paul2412]

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7317352.stm

 

Why is it that we can never build anything remotely large and it be a success? China and other supposedly 3rd world countries can build entire airports on schedule and on budget, there is also very few problems.

 

Why can England never build anything right? Its a joke!

[Ginner]

I'm not sure other countries don't suffer similar problems. I think you'd be unlikely to hear if China's new airport terminal had suffered a baggage breakdown on day one, and even if the story made it to our news would you care/remember it?

 

However, not withstanding what other countries achieve/don't achieve, this is a massive embarrassment to BAA & BA. It appears from the reports on Sky that one of the worst aspects of it has been the people management once the problems bagan. Technical problems on day one you could almost foresee, but to have the usual disregard for customer service that you see at every other UK airport when the crap hits the fan is unforgiveable.

 

I remember seeing a BAA spokesman on Sky a few months back waxing lyrical about T5 when they went through a dry run with a few thousands pretend passengers. I'm sure we'll see him again in the next few days blaming the leaves or the snow, or a sun spot for todays calamity.

[Paul2412]

The comment about very few problems abroad came from personal experience. I landed in Hong Kong the day the brand new airport opened and except for the huge banner i'd have thought they'd been operating for years!

 

I think your right about the customer service. A few teething problems so rather than put it right they cancel flights. What must visitors to our country be thinking?

[Grissom]

There was an earlier story on BBC site that said the following

 

Aviation analyst Jamie Bowden told the BBC teething problems were to be expected on the opening of a terminal, with new airports in Japan and Hong Kong also suffering difficulties in their first days.

 

So its not just us

 

Bit sad that the security cleared staff didnt turn up on time and they werent familiar with new procedures etc though

[not wanted]

Looks pretty, nothing works. Pretty much sums up this country.

[splodgeyAl]

it would be difficult for security staff to be up to date with procedures at t5, tho. up until yesterday, they were going to (illegally, as it turns out) take fingerprints from everyone using t5.

 

with that level of management incompetence it'd be difficult to see how the staff could get much right

[Paul2412]

Apparently flights are now going out tonight with hand baggage only.... That must be a great help! Everytime I go long haul I always go from a local airport to amsterdam or frankfurt. Things just seem to work there!

[happyhippy]

 

"I'm so worried about the baggage retrieval system they've got at Heathrow."

[splodgeyAl]

 

"I'm so worried about the baggage retrieval system they've got at Heathrow."

 

fantastic, absolutely spot on!

[dvp82]

Apparently flights are now going out tonight with hand baggage only.... That must be a great help! Everytime I go long haul I always go from a local airport to amsterdam or frankfurt. Things just seem to work there!

 

So lets say you have just spend 2 weeks in the UK on holiday and your return flight home is with BA. What do BA expect you to do with your luggage that you arrived with ?

 

I was thinking of heading off to California for a spot on mountain biking later this year. Manchester - Frankfurt - LA with Lufthansa could be the more sensible option.