Grrrr... Grim Grenoble GNB
Feb 28, 2015, 1:20 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2003
Location: London
Posts: 1,666
Grrrr... Grim Grenoble GNB
Just returned from GNB, and it was one of the poorer airport experiences I remember:
- No OLCI;
- Packed to the rafters, as if evacuating a disaster;
- BA Club queue unregulated, just one of three desks being mobbed by maybe 100 jostling to check-in;
- Club check-in agent (more to follow) when asked if all these pax are for Club, shrugged his shoulders and said "I hope so";
- Same, contract agent, when we do get to the desk, is confused as to which rows are J, which Y;
- Didn't priority tag bags, said it makes no difference anyway - which most of us know, but surprising to hear from staff - and then went on to say, "because this [GNB] is a small airport"!
- Advised removing FFP tags from our checked luggage to prevent their being stolen;
- No lounge, no refreshment vouchers. When asked about vouchers, check-in agent suggested we try asking at the airport info desk!
- Sat down and ordered refreshments at quite nice airport bar, only to have to gulp them down when flight was called 20 minutes early;
- On the plus side, brisk, very enjoyable flight to LGW, with a lovely, proactive crew;
- Of two checked bags, one on the belt first, the other last...
So, if traversing GNB, my advice is to keep both time and expectations at the airport to the bare minimum.
- No OLCI;
- Packed to the rafters, as if evacuating a disaster;
- BA Club queue unregulated, just one of three desks being mobbed by maybe 100 jostling to check-in;
- Club check-in agent (more to follow) when asked if all these pax are for Club, shrugged his shoulders and said "I hope so";
- Same, contract agent, when we do get to the desk, is confused as to which rows are J, which Y;
- Didn't priority tag bags, said it makes no difference anyway - which most of us know, but surprising to hear from staff - and then went on to say, "because this [GNB] is a small airport"!
- Advised removing FFP tags from our checked luggage to prevent their being stolen;
- No lounge, no refreshment vouchers. When asked about vouchers, check-in agent suggested we try asking at the airport info desk!
- Sat down and ordered refreshments at quite nice airport bar, only to have to gulp them down when flight was called 20 minutes early;
- On the plus side, brisk, very enjoyable flight to LGW, with a lovely, proactive crew;
- Of two checked bags, one on the belt first, the other last...
So, if traversing GNB, my advice is to keep both time and expectations at the airport to the bare minimum.
Feb 28, 2015, 10:03 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4,609
I've always done flight to Lyon and the bus to Grenoble. Lyon isn't exactly a large place, but it sounds a bit more organized than that!!
Feb 28, 2015, 11:50 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 847
Not to make any excuses for the ground agent, but whether it's Thomson, Monarch or BA, it will make no difference to him, he is doing them all in the same day, maybe even within the hour.
Relax, it's your holiday
Mar 1, 2015, 2:45 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2003
Location: London
Posts: 1,666
I've used hundreds of smaller airports but GNB was among the worse experiences. I was not flying Monarch, Ryanair, Thomson or EasyJet, but BA, and, unfortunately, on this route it offers little advantage.
Of course it's busy during ski season, but utterly predictable. It also makes expedited check-in facilities all the more valuable. If BA offers dedicated Club check-in, it should be just that, and properly staffed.
I searched and found very little reference to GNB here, so I thought it was worth advising that BA provides few if any of the stated benefits of either J or FF status from this station. Lounge or vouchers would be nice, but at least the bar and restaurant are pleasant, and security and passport control efficient.
Of course it's busy during ski season, but utterly predictable. It also makes expedited check-in facilities all the more valuable. If BA offers dedicated Club check-in, it should be just that, and properly staffed.
I searched and found very little reference to GNB here, so I thought it was worth advising that BA provides few if any of the stated benefits of either J or FF status from this station. Lounge or vouchers would be nice, but at least the bar and restaurant are pleasant, and security and passport control efficient.
Mar 1, 2015, 3:19 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Glasgow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Sixt Platinum, HHons Diamond
Posts: 927
I like the really small French regional airports such as BZR which is close to my second home and only has a couple of flights a day so is always hassle free even if it does lack facilities.
Mar 1, 2015, 3:49 am
#9
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: BA Blue, EI Silver, Honours Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,209
Sometimes small is beautiful, we're travelling through La-Lida next week (on Thomas Cook) I think the airport only has three check-in desks! An advantage of these ski flights is that the majority don't tend to bring their entire weekly possessions into the cabin. I usually travel HBO, but my rule is one bag, so it'll just be my Ski Jacket and my iPad then!
