Why is it only at UK & Irish airports that do not show the gate in advance for any flight?
I was at T5 today and wanted to ask a BA agent walking by what the difference was between South and North lounges. She said that , oh, well, go to the one nearest your gate. That got me thinking, yeah, that would be nice IF I knew where the gate is going to be in the first place..
Then I realise that the rest of the world including European airports where airlines list their gates in advance. Why not UK/Irish airports?
Its not about the 'security' issues again is it.. like why there are no rubbish bins at Underground stations ?
====
In the end, I went to the South Lounge and my boarding gate turned out to be A11.
It is because they change so often and people don't check and would end up waiting at the wrong gate. With airlines such as Cathay, and EK that are predominantly LH only, aircraft changes only occur infrequently by comparison. Older fleets go tech more often and delays at busy hubs lead to almost constant juggling of aircraft to minimise delay minutes.
I suspect it is two fold. Firstly, it means they can change the gate plan at any time without having people at the wrong gates (They don't display the gate on the screen until the aircraft has arrived on the stand, so it won't change). Secondly, it keeps people in the shopping mall for as long as possible!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Guy Betsy
====
In the end, I went to the South Lounge and my boarding gate turned out to be A11.
You made the correct choice, as that is where GF is located. The north lounge is a GC only.
Can't speak for BA, but for my airline, we control when the gate details are released and put up on the screens. Tonight, for example, i will probably find out the gate number at around 1800 as the inbound aircraft is due around 1830. But with a departure time of 2120 we will probably not put the gate number on screens until around 2020. Not sure if there is some rule governing this. I know that here in T3 we would have problems with crowds gathering outside gate lounges before opening time and blocking the way for other passengers.
__________________
My comments almost certainly don't represent those of my employer!
Programs: MUCCI x 3, BA Silver + Accor, Amex, Waitrose & Harris Teeter.
Posts: 14,396
In a perfect World [hahaha] everything would be pre-ordained.
However, aircraft go u/s and so do boarding ramps. Aircraft arrive late or early - some get diverted for whatever reason.
I always expect BA216 to LHR to be at Gate B-42 at IAD, because that's how it is: it's the BA Gate, basically. OTOH, I have no idea where BA217 to IAD will leave LHR T5 until they have decided (a) it's there, (b) serviceable and (c) ready to go. I've had the 217 from a remote stand via Gate A-10 by bus, and from B and C Gates.
Flexibility is the name of the game, especially at crowded/busy airports.
__________________
I just fly for leisure, UuA, manage Bears and ...publish their TRs
In a perfect World [hahaha] everything would be pre-ordained.
However, aircraft go u/s and so do boarding ramps. Aircraft arrive late or early - some get diverted for whatever reason.
But that is true of all airports, not just UK and Irish ones. This would equally be true for, say, AMS or FRA. Yet they are able to display gates much earlier than at LHR.
LHR gate are dynamic, if the aircraft on the gate is delayed, the inbound can be allocated another gate to allow arriving passengers off with the mininum of delay. However if the outbound pax are already at the original gate and it's T5C with tha aircraft now at T5A it's an issue. So they hold you in the lounge where you are encouraged to spend, spend, spend!
But there is a reason. Btw whisper it but bins on the tube are reappearing so long as they have see through bags. This makes me happier than it ought to!
Programs: MUCCI x 3, BA Silver + Accor, Amex, Waitrose & Harris Teeter.
Posts: 14,396
Quote:
Originally Posted by NickB
But that is true of all airports, not just UK and Irish ones. This would equally be true for, say, AMS or FRA. Yet they are able to display gates much earlier than at LHR.
Are those airports running at 99% capacity, or whatever the current LHR figure is?
Anyway, its not something that moves me deeply. A serviceable aircraft with a competent crew is all I ask. Despite my age, I still seem to be able to find where I'm supposed to be going.
Quote:
Originally Posted by skipness1E
So they hold you in the lounge where you are encouraged to spend, spend, spend!
Wibble? Does one spend in the Lounge[s]?
__________________
I just fly for leisure, UuA, manage Bears and ...publish their TRs
But that is true of all airports, not just UK and Irish ones. This would equally be true for, say, AMS or FRA. Yet they are able to display gates much earlier than at LHR.
Not sure this is about "ability" but more about "choice".
The airport operator/airlines choose not to display this info very far in advance and the pax, as with so many other things, just have to put up with it.
Let's face it, if an extraterrestrial being landed at LHR tonight and decreed that from tomorrow all gate info had to be available six hours in advance (or he'd start blasting aircraft with his lasers), then those in charge would simply start doing it. It might cause a fair bit more work, and I'm sure there would be more late gate changes, but I doubt the world would stop turning... and for the majority of pax it would probably be an improvement.
Programs: BAEC Silver, EI GC Club, AAdvantage, VS Red, FPC Premier
Posts: 496
Quote:
Originally Posted by T8191
Apologies ... I had forgotten the other places where people lurk. Not that I have ever used them. A chit? How terribly tacky. Awful.
I know, but sometimes one has to put up with these tacky things (and no access to CCR in F, and the Flagship lounge is a frightfully overlit version of GF )
