Long queues at T5 border control
Apr 24, 2012, 5:24 am
#167
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[PEDANT WARNING]
No one in the United Kingdom has paid into a "Road Fund" since 1936.
What UK vehicle drivers/owners pay, on an annual basis, for each vehicle is "Vehicle Excise Duty".
Just read the wording on the disc!
[/PEDANT WARNING]
Apr 24, 2012, 11:56 am
#168
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Apr 24, 2012, 1:20 pm
#169
Join Date: May 2007
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That would be at the end of November? When I went to check in online for a flight arriving back that day, ba.com was advising against travel even going so far as to offer refunds, which I took to be a sign that things would be really bad. I delayed my return for two days, and took the opportunity to spend an extra two days in Miami Beach, but it cost a fair bit - the hotels were almost full with the start of Art Basel.
Apr 24, 2012, 6:37 pm
#170
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That makes two and one half hours flying time, which rather negates your assertion quoted above.
***
Ah! Now you have an inkling of what life is like for foreigners trying to get through United States immigration queues.
But - unlike the rude and crass US immigration clerks - you, at least, got an apology from their British counterparts.
As for USA I share your critique but there are at least 2 dozen international airports and some (MIA & IAD) are far worse than others (HOU & PHX). There are FTers who avoid transiting US due to this issue and I don't blame them. Similarly I will avoid BA at LHR.
If not fixed before Olympics I think the media reports will not be too good - journos have to wait as well.
Apr 26, 2012, 4:03 am
#171
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More reporting of T5 border delays..
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/t...s-7670113.html
"passengers from outside Europe were facing daily hold-ups of “four to five” hours because of a shortage of staff." GASP!
Blimey charlie... the current situation is enough to make me avoid T5 for my next trip. I'm astonished that there isn't some transparency and responsibility for this.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/t...s-7670113.html
"passengers from outside Europe were facing daily hold-ups of “four to five” hours because of a shortage of staff." GASP!
Blimey charlie... the current situation is enough to make me avoid T5 for my next trip. I'm astonished that there isn't some transparency and responsibility for this.
Apr 26, 2012, 5:20 am
#172
Join Date: Apr 2007
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I have written to the Exec Club (GGL) about this as they need to be aware that their premium passengers are having their journeys ruined in some cases by the horrendous queues at T5 at some times of the day. I feel that they should be pushing BAA hard for improvements to the immigration hall and a fast track for premium EU passengers. To date I have not yet had a response as I suspect that this may have gone in the "too hard to answer" box but I will push for a response.
Apr 26, 2012, 5:38 am
#173
Join Date: Apr 2009
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I think BA may be painfully aware of the implications of the chaos on their business- Willie Walsh complaining bitterly about it in today's Evening Standard...
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/t...m-7681626.html
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/t...m-7681626.html
Apr 26, 2012, 5:47 am
#175
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I think BA may be painfully aware of the implications of the chaos on their business- Willie Walsh complaining bitterly about it in today's Evening Standard...
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/t...m-7681626.html
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/t...m-7681626.html
The situation has been dire in recent months and for those of us who travel every week and who try to plan when we will be available for business or personal appointments in the UK, it's been nigh on impossible to do so without adding a 2 hour window. Today is a perfect example - I am having to take a flight more than 2 hours earlier than I would normally do in order to ensure I will be home on time for Mrs TT1F to do what she has to do this evening. Normally this wouldn't even figure in my thoughts. Result - I bill 2 hours less to my client, meaning my company loses money.
If there is a problem with the BA service, there are at least people at T5 to talk to. If there's a problem with BAA, again, there are people to talk to. With the UKBA or Border Force or whichever is their current name, it's easy to feel you don't have a voice or a channel of complaint. Maybe WW could be our knight in shining armour...
Last edited by ThatT1Feeling; Apr 26, 2012 at 5:56 am
Apr 26, 2012, 6:55 am
#176
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Apr 26, 2012, 6:56 am
#177
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Big implications for those who would do such a thing. Or is there?
Apr 26, 2012, 8:16 am
#178
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There are probably laws about walking straight through immigration without proper clearance regardless if youre a UK citizen.
Apr 26, 2012, 8:33 am
#180
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Yes, it could be done. But the PR implications of such a thing occurring would be massive.