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Old Mar 27, 08, 8:42 am   #91
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SchmeckFlyer View Post
I personally think teething problems is a perfectly valid excuse.
I accept that some teething problems are to be expected and excused. I wouldn't go nuts over the fact that the Champagne in the Concorde Room wasn't on ice.

But these problems are clearly on such a scale as to make the terminal almost unusable, hence the vast number of cancelled flights. I'm afraid that is not acceptable.

Quote:
Every major airport opening that I know of has had major problems. What did people honestly expect??????? I'm shocked people are shocked.
Terminal 3 opened at Changi in January of this year, to pick the most recent opening that I happen to know about myself. I don't recall any problems on this scale, but I admit I may well simply not know. Can you direct me to some news articles or evidence of major difficulties?
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Old Mar 27, 08, 8:43 am   #92
 
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Just received Eddie Mair's PM Newsletter in my inbox. Made me laugh:

Quote:
Originally Posted by PM
Hello.

I think the words to this old Monty Python song sum things up today:

"I'm so worried about what's hapenin' today, in the middle east, you know
And I'm worried about the baggage retrieval system they've got at Heathrow
I'm so worried about the fashions today, I don't think they're good for your feet
And I'm so worried about the shows on TV that sometimes they want to repeat

I'm so worried about what's happenin' today, you know
And I'm worried about the baggage retrieval system they've got at Heathrow
I'm so worried about my hair falling out and the state of the world today
And I'm so worried about bein' so full of doubt about everything, anyway

I'm so worried about modern technology
I'm so worried about all the things that they dump in the sea
I'm so worried about it, worried about it, worried, worried, worried

I'm so worried about everything that can go wrong
I'm so worried about whether people like this song
I'm so worried about this very next verse, it isn't the best that I've got
And I'm so worried about whether I should go on, or whether I should just stop

I'm worried about whether I ought to have stopped
And I'm worried about, it's the sort of thing I ought to know
And I'm worried about the baggage retrieval system they've got at Heathrow

I'm so worried about whether I should have stopped then
I'm so worried that I'm driving everyone 'round the bend
I'm worried about the baggage retrieval system they've got at Heathrow"

See you on the ice at 5.

Eric Idle
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Old Mar 27, 08, 8:43 am   #93
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jhm View Post
Here are my photos from this morning:

http://www.sqtalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3917
Good job, John - gives a good idea of it!
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Old Mar 27, 08, 8:44 am   #94
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Teece View Post
Given that the baggage system has been running under a heavy load for several months, I think you'd be hard-pushed to say they hadn't taken reasonalbe measures to ensure that it would be working. Not that I'm defending what has happened, of course!
I agree, though I think the bags they'd been using to test it were empty (I could be wrong though) so perhaps once weight has been added this caused the problem. I don't know as I'm not there but just throwing a suggestion in.

Sad there are these hiccups but let's hope they get them sorted out quickly. I'm sure those in charge are doing all they can to do this.
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Old Mar 27, 08, 8:45 am   #95
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Singapore_Air View Post
BBC reports it was the inaugural BA302?
That's wrong then. I was on the inaugural BA302 6:20. I don't know about luggage but we pushed back at 6:25 and took off shortly afterwards.
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Old Mar 27, 08, 8:45 am   #96
 
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Seems they spent too much time and money getting the lounges top notch instead of concentrating on the important things which matter most for the majority of passengers.

I would rather sit in a crap lounge if I knew my flight was on time and that my baggage would be delivered pronto at the other end.
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Old Mar 27, 08, 8:45 am   #97
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrRealHighlander View Post
So much for the wonderful backup luggage system!

I agree though, they should not have built it up to be so perfect.

Remember Scotty on Star Trek, when he was asked by Kirk how long something would take to fix he'd say double the time so that when he fixed it quicker it made him look better!
Sorry but standard project management practice.

It takes two days to install the software? Tell 'em it'll take five days
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Old Mar 27, 08, 8:48 am   #98
 
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Own goal.

For sure there will be problems with a such a major project. But not having a contingency plan is plain incompetence.

According to the Guardian BAA are blaming BA for the baggage disaster. BAA run the machinery and belts, however a "BA" computer controls the system.

Heads should roll in public.
I'm currently implementing a system for one of the Major US broadcasters. If we launch and go off-air on day 1 due to tech and not airing shows and commercials (just like cancelling a flight) as a result, we would get more or less executed and pay heavy fines. Failure is not an option.
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Last edited by Petrus; Mar 27, 08 at 8:55 am.
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Old Mar 27, 08, 8:53 am   #99
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sunrisegirl View Post
I agree, though I think the bags they'd been using to test it were empty (I could be wrong though) so perhaps once weight has been added this caused the problem. I don't know as I'm not there but just throwing a suggestion in.

Sad there are these hiccups but let's hope they get them sorted out quickly. I'm sure those in charge are doing all they can to do this.
The trial bags weren't empty, but from what I could make out (on the trials), they appeared to me to be on the light side of average.

I did read somewhere a few weeks ago that they did have problems during testing when they fully loaded the system, but I can't remember where I read it now
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Old Mar 27, 08, 9:05 am   #100
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LeisureFirst View Post
Terminal 3 opened at Changi in January of this year, to pick the most recent opening that I happen to know about myself. I don't recall any problems on this scale, but I admit I may well simply not know. Can you direct me to some news articles or evidence of major difficulties?
I passed through on the first day (and have the hat to show for it!). In fact I have receipt number 0000001 from the Ritazza coffee shop in departures. There was no fuss, no breakdowns and no failures as far as I could see. To be fair though the number of flights was not terribly high in comparison with T5.

This is surely another nail in the coffin of the BAA monopoly?
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Old Mar 27, 08, 9:06 am   #101
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LeisureFirst View Post
Terminal 3 opened at Changi in January of this year, to pick the most recent opening that I happen to know about myself. I don't recall any problems on this scale, but I admit I may well simply not know. Can you direct me to some news articles or evidence of major difficulties?
I know nothing about Singapore, but about the following I know there were (major) problems:

HKG - Cargo facility completed failed upon opening, among other major problems
MUC - Original terminal had teething and repair problems until 6 months after opening
DEN - Similar story about hyped baggage handling system causing chaos
BKK - There have been calls to reopen Don Mueang to allow major repairs at new facility
ICN - Similarly major problems with baggage system lasting a month after opening
KUL - Yet another example of baggage systems breaking down upon opening, as well as major problems with gate systems

That's all I can think of off the top of my head...
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Old Mar 27, 08, 9:08 am   #102
 
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Survanabhumi BKK airport had huge luggage problems when they opened the new airport too ... everyone just blamed it on "This is Thailand" ...
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Old Mar 27, 08, 9:11 am   #103
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Dave View Post
To be fair though the number of flights was not terribly high in comparison with T5.
With hindsight, how silly was the idea of a big bang opening with moving so mnay short hauls in one go? I wonder if a slightly more gradual approach might have been better.

I'm saying this fully aware of the fact that we're only a few hours into the opening - maybe things will be ok by tomorrow. I hope.
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Old Mar 27, 08, 9:11 am   #104
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jhm View Post
Here are my photos from this morning:

http://www.sqtalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3917
Thanks for the many photos.......I am sure photos from T5 now would look a LOT different...... i.e. much chaos - definately not like the tranquil photos from this morning!
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Old Mar 27, 08, 9:11 am   #105
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rambuster View Post
Survanabhumi BKK airport had huge luggage problems when they opened the new airport too ... everyone just blamed it on "This is Thailand" ...
Ahh. Well that suggests an obvious explanation in this case too.
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