Argument at T5 South Security over secondary BP (Marketing/Statistics) scanner
Mar 7, 2018, 5:13 am
#151
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: Virtuoso, FSPP, Hyatt Prive, Hilton Impressario, Marriott Stars/Luminous, Roswood Elite, MO Fan Club
Posts: 557
A few weeks ago I politely declined to scan my boarding pass a second time on the grounds that there were still 8 people in front of me, trays waiting to be scanned were piling up and it would not be a fair record of how long I had spent waiting at security. The operative (whose sole job was to make sure that passengers scanned their BPs) told me that if I did not do so she would make sure that my bag was sent down the secondary screening lane and that I would be kept waiting for "at least" half an hour. I didn't back down, and had no problems getting through.
Is the other way round true too...so if you had scanned you wouldn't get secondary screening...even if the x ray showed that you needed one? jeeezzzzzzz
If this happened to me..I wouldn't be happy at all.
Mar 7, 2018, 5:14 am
#152
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: Virtuoso, FSPP, Hyatt Prive, Hilton Impressario, Marriott Stars/Luminous, Roswood Elite, MO Fan Club
Posts: 557
I went through on Friday night to connect on a nearly on time NCL service via North (should have gone through First Lounge instead, but at that hour North is usually quick). This was in the aftermath of the #Beast and HAL had just 3 lines for connecting passengers. All 3 scanners I could see were out of service: "I think it's broken sir". By Monday they were all fixed. A wee note has been sent to the CAA.
I will scan my boarding pass every single time that I have been held up in a queue!!
Mar 7, 2018, 5:32 am
#153
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,204
I wonder why he wasn't using the first wing? I can't believe he's the type of boss who wants to try out the experience ordinary passengers go through.
No secondary scanners in the first wing, wonder if it's because they don't think it's a good idea to ask to scan your boarding pass a third time in close succession, the figures from the first wing would really help bring down their average wait times though.
Before the first wing my policy was to scan the boarding pass if I thought security was genuinely being efficient at the time, if they tried to get me to scan it when I was stuck in a long queue I'd just scan an out of date boarding pass on my phone, if it was covered over I'd try and scan it if I was waiting.
No secondary scanners in the first wing, wonder if it's because they don't think it's a good idea to ask to scan your boarding pass a third time in close succession, the figures from the first wing would really help bring down their average wait times though.
Before the first wing my policy was to scan the boarding pass if I thought security was genuinely being efficient at the time, if they tried to get me to scan it when I was stuck in a long queue I'd just scan an out of date boarding pass on my phone, if it was covered over I'd try and scan it if I was waiting.
Mar 7, 2018, 5:40 am
#155
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,989
It's likely that bags can be sent down the secondary screening line on a whim, but unthinkable that they would knowingly allow a suspicious bag to go through unsearched.
Mar 7, 2018, 5:44 am
#156
Community Director
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, BD Gold (in memoriam), IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 8,474
A few weeks ago I politely declined to scan my boarding pass a second time on the grounds that there were still 8 people in front of me, trays waiting to be scanned were piling up and it would not be a fair record of how long I had spent waiting at security. The operative (whose sole job was to make sure that passengers scanned their BPs) told me that if I did not do so she would make sure that my bag was sent down the secondary screening lane and that I would be kept waiting for "at least" half an hour. I didn't back down, and had no problems getting through.
In spite of having some pretty shoddy experiences at T5 security in the past, that remains the one and only occasion I have felt the need to ask for a supervisor and make a complaint. When I pointed our the woman responsible the expression on the supervisor's face and tone of his voice suggested that perhaps this was a regular occurrence.
I hope you also complain, even if it's after the fact. Heathrow needs to put a stop to these bully boy tactics, and fast.
Mar 7, 2018, 5:52 am
#157
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,204
There's lots of things in my Apple Wallet I could try. HEX e-tickets? I'm happy to help in stats collecting when they're being honest, but this isn't the case here. I'm not disabling bluetooth (are they still tracking that) as that should be a fairer measure of how long I've actually spent in security.
Mar 7, 2018, 6:07 am
#158
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold; LH FTL; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold; ALL Gold
Posts: 1,758
Mar 7, 2018, 6:18 am
#159
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,204
TfL did a similar trial with WiFi (which is why I'm wondering whether it was a trial at LHR) - the TfL trial was useful in determining the different routes people took between two points.
Mar 7, 2018, 6:20 am
#160
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rhineland-Palatinate
Programs: *A Gold (A3), HHonor Gold
Posts: 5,684
I had a very similar experience before the First Wing opened, on one of the last occasions I used North Fast Track. The female employee was exceptionally rude and aggressive bordering on threatening when I declined to scan my boarding pass.
In spite of having some pretty shoddy experiences at T5 security in the past, that remains the one and only occasion I have felt the need to ask for a supervisor and make a complaint. When I pointed our the woman responsible the expression on the supervisor's face and tone of his voice suggested that perhaps this was a regular occurrence.
I hope you also complain, even if it's after the fact. Heathrow needs to put a stop to these bully boy tactics, and fast.
In spite of having some pretty shoddy experiences at T5 security in the past, that remains the one and only occasion I have felt the need to ask for a supervisor and make a complaint. When I pointed our the woman responsible the expression on the supervisor's face and tone of his voice suggested that perhaps this was a regular occurrence.
I hope you also complain, even if it's after the fact. Heathrow needs to put a stop to these bully boy tactics, and fast.
Mar 8, 2018, 3:54 am
#161
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold; LH FTL; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold; ALL Gold
Posts: 1,758
He added that “I wouldn’t believe anything that’s written in the FT.”
Edit: I'm sure I posted this in response to another post quoting Alex Cruz! That seems to have now disappeared...
Mar 8, 2018, 4:13 am
#162
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,404
There's lots of things in my Apple Wallet I could try. HEX e-tickets? I'm happy to help in stats collecting when they're being honest, but this isn't the case here. I'm not disabling bluetooth (are they still tracking that) as that should be a fairer measure of how long I've actually spent in security.
Mar 8, 2018, 4:43 am
#163
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SIN 5 days out of 7
Programs: BD*G, A3*G, BA-S, Accor Gold, IHG Amb
Posts: 5,505
Not sure you are allowed that in carry-on luggage though...
Last edited by jbfield; Mar 8, 2018 at 4:50 am
Mar 8, 2018, 4:52 am
#164
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: BAEC Gold, HHonors Gold, ALL Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 212