My Impressions of T5 security - it may just be me!
Dec 17, 2017, 9:20 am
#16
Moderator: Hyatt Gold Passport & Star Alliance
Join Date: May 1998
Location: London, UK
Programs: UA-1K 3MM/HY- LT Globalist/BA-GGL/GfL
Posts: 12,077
Honestly I think pretty much all of the UK airport security staff I encounter are grumpy to rude, on the Strop Index.
Usually Gold Wing works fine for me - the connections security at T5 is the team that I totally avoid now.
Usually Gold Wing works fine for me - the connections security at T5 is the team that I totally avoid now.
Dec 17, 2017, 9:30 am
#17
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
Really? T5 staff are grumpy, but the T3 connections experience is poor (especially for fast-track passengers) and the staff are nearly as grumpy as their T5 colleagues. That being said, I cannot remember the last time i used the 'normal' T3 security - I'm normally on a transfer from a flight or a bus into T3.
This. MAN T3 is the worst, with MAN T1 not far behind (at least I get the 'benefit' of fast-track going through there! The poor folks in the regular line get a raw deal.
This. MAN T3 is the worst, with MAN T1 not far behind (at least I get the 'benefit' of fast-track going through there! The poor folks in the regular line get a raw deal.
Dec 17, 2017, 10:07 am
#19
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,105
My infrequent experiences of Manchester security supports the idea that they are the most obnoxious, hostile, yet inefficient bunch of sour sods that ever staffed a security checkpoint.
Dec 17, 2017, 10:13 am
#20
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: BAEC GGL/CR; Hilton Diamond; Mucci des Puccis
Posts: 5,576
Dec 17, 2017, 10:19 am
#21
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: BA GGL, LH FTL
Posts: 3,577
My dearest Pucci, if you struggle with first wing security at T5 it may be time to take that stern look off your face and stop threatening staff with your hairbrush. As far as faults go, many things can be said about Heathrow, but First Wing security isn‘t one of them. One would think that having moved past 25 you‘d mellow down a little...
Dec 17, 2017, 10:54 am
#22
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,343
I've had good and bad experiences at both Heathrow (all terminals) and Gatwick, in both fast track and slow track, and neither stands out as being particularly better or worse than the other.
The F wing has been good, sometimes they look a bit bored but as long as they let me get through quickly I won't complain.
LCY security people are consistently rude to me, perhaps it's because so many people are wearing business attire when they go through and I am always dressed casually.
The F wing has been good, sometimes they look a bit bored but as long as they let me get through quickly I won't complain.
LCY security people are consistently rude to me, perhaps it's because so many people are wearing business attire when they go through and I am always dressed casually.
Dec 17, 2017, 11:50 am
#23
Moderator, Emirates
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Where My Heart Is
Programs: BAEC Silver, FB Platinum, KQ Asante Gold, Shebamiles Blue, Emirates Blue
Posts: 3,385
Must say, on all my security clearances at T5 this year, I have always used North Fast Track and was actually wondering if they had all gone to Charm School since my last two visits in 2016. Not saying they were going around spreading the love but I personally detected an attitude readjustment.
However, in my personal view, they will never beat security at GLA. Always has service with a smile there.
S
However, in my personal view, they will never beat security at GLA. Always has service with a smile there.
S
Dec 17, 2017, 11:59 am
#25
Moderator, Emirates
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Where My Heart Is
Programs: BAEC Silver, FB Platinum, KQ Asante Gold, Shebamiles Blue, Emirates Blue
Posts: 3,385
I can't say I've found T5 security staff to be actively egregious.
However, I have a big pet peeve about the boarding pass scanner before each x-ray.
One of their KPIs is queue time. It's measured as the time between boarding pass scan at the entry to security and boarding pass scan at the scanner by the x-ray.
If queues are short, staff insist you scan your BP again by the x-ray. If the queue are long, they don't. It's a really annoying way to skew their KPI performance - net result is I end up making sure I always scan my BP if the queues are long.
However, I have a big pet peeve about the boarding pass scanner before each x-ray.
One of their KPIs is queue time. It's measured as the time between boarding pass scan at the entry to security and boarding pass scan at the scanner by the x-ray.
If queues are short, staff insist you scan your BP again by the x-ray. If the queue are long, they don't. It's a really annoying way to skew their KPI performance - net result is I end up making sure I always scan my BP if the queues are long.
S
Dec 17, 2017, 12:02 pm
#26
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
I make the point of scanning it when the queue is long too, and I also make the point of pressing the
button on the feedback machine when the queue is long, or the staff are horrid to people (some are horrid to frail old people being slow - it makes my blood boil).
Dec 17, 2017, 12:05 pm
#27
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rhineland-Palatinate
Programs: *A Gold (A3), HHonor Gold
Posts: 5,684
fRA is my home airport and I considered their security staff rude, impolite and in the whole inefficient. Nevertheless I prefer them to LHR T5. One of my reason for avoiding using LHR as a connection point is due to the security checkpoint and the attitude of the staff.
Dec 17, 2017, 12:08 pm
#28
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London Stratford, E7
Programs: BAEC Gold! Thanks to FT
Posts: 3,369
Really? T5 staff are grumpy, but the T3 connections experience is poor (especially for fast-track passengers) and the staff are nearly as grumpy as their T5 colleagues. That being said, I cannot remember the last time i used the 'normal' T3 security - I'm normally on a transfer from a flight or a bus into T3.
This. MAN T3 is the worst, with MAN T1 not far behind (at least I get the 'benefit' of fast-track going through there! The poor folks in the regular line get a raw deal.
This. MAN T3 is the worst, with MAN T1 not far behind (at least I get the 'benefit' of fast-track going through there! The poor folks in the regular line get a raw deal.
i had had an interesting experience e at MAN T3. I rarely fly on business within the uk but on this occasion I was returning to. London from MAN. I had my usual work bag which inadvertently contained an aerosol larger than 100ml. The bag got identified for secondary screening and initially trays were taking the bags in order from the scanner runners, then this got backed up so my bag which was next in line to be scanned then got put to the back of 12 bags in the middle. They did prioritise understandably those with immediate departures but I was waiting 30 minutes. Then that set of bags were put to the back of another queue. I asked to speak to someone in charge and was passed from pillar to post and spoken to very rudely by a person who said it was my fault for leaving the item in a bag so they wouldn’t log a complaint or feedback from me,
i was was really annoyed so tweeted to this effect from the lounge. To the credit of MAnchester airport they responded immediately, knowing that airports have duty managers so asked if there was anybody that I could speak to. They said they would send someone to the lounge and it happened to be one of the guys that had palmed me off to mr.horrible. After an awkward greeting we had a frank and honest conversation and he apologised for the situation. To his further credit he went away and reviewed CCTV and confirmed that SOP had not been followed with a higher than usual number of items to be secondary screened and a rotation of duties making things worse.He did say it was a busy Friday evening and to be fair it was that but I said to him that I had seen other airports busier that coped better. My next experience of MAN T3 was better but still the worst. Glad my experiences are not unique.
Dec 17, 2017, 12:11 pm
#29
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: NE England
Programs: BAEC Gold; Priority Club Gold
Posts: 448
Manchester T3 is by far the worst in the UK now. I agree T1 is not far behind. T2 can be OK, but can also be rubbish. Manchester has all the ingredients for a miserable experience - terrible space, surly staff who work at a snail's pace, stupidly designed machines, and ridiculous over-sensitivity such that vast numbers of bags need secondary screening.
It has taken over from where T5 used to be. Only certain German and US airports come close to the MAN experience these days.
It has taken over from where T5 used to be. Only certain German and US airports come close to the MAN experience these days.
Dec 17, 2017, 12:12 pm
#30
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: VS Flying Club (Gold), BA Exec Club (Silver), Hilton Honors (Diamond)
Posts: 59
I have to echo the thoughts about Gatwick, always had a pleasant security experience there in the North terminal, South was a bit iffy when I flew out of there in July though.
T3 at Heathrow has always been great for me, but then I do only ever go through the Upper Class Wing!
T3 at Heathrow has always been great for me, but then I do only ever go through the Upper Class Wing!