BA fastrack at Twickenham
 

One for the rugby fans I’m afraid. I hadn’t actually realised that BA have clearly signed quite a big deal with Twickenham/England Rugby until I was at the match yesterday. BA branding everywhere, which all looked pretty smart and goes well with the red rose branding of England Rugby etc.

The security/entry has changed since last year to electric turnstyles with full pat down searches for all, the queues were quite bad, but there is now an executive club line, which I presume had the same rules as check in. I didn’t go for it, but it seemed people were using it and getting priority so worth taking your card with you. I presume, there may be other perks for BAEC members around the fan zone and stadium that I didn’t notice, as stocking up on Guiness was at the top of the group’s priority list by this point.

Starting with the current October issue, Touchline, the RFU newspaper for those inside the game, has become more BA branded than High Life magazine. Yesterday's game had Quilter as the match sponsor, but the upper East Stand hospitality bar has now become the British Airways Rose Garden.

I thought fast track lanes would only be for the hospitality packages. Are you saying it can be used for general entrance?

When I first noted this thread title, my initial reaction was that the plan to enlarge Heathrow had gotten off to a rather quicker start than most of us had imagined! And with a rather longer runway option..... :p

Regards

PR

Come on this is professional rugby, not love island.

Unfortunately, that's the way it is at big sporting events these days. The queues to get into Old Trafford last week were horrendous. I arrived at 14:55 for a 15:00 KO and the queues were right around the car park for some gates. I bet some people didn't make it in before half time.

No bags other than small ladies (or gents) handbags allowed, and they've introduced a £5 per item charge to check your baggage (it was free until last year).

From what I saw (were in the lane next to it) the top of the queue was being (poorly) managed by one bloke. There was some confusion as to who was allowed in the executive club lane, as there wasn't the standard Bronze, Silver and Gold signage etc..I think there were certainly people in the queue who didn't have status. However, just as we got to the front, the man escorted some people to the front (one of whom was clutching his silver card) and they got patted down and let in straight away. It's all a bit DYKWHIA, but from what I saw, it seemed if you showed your card to the queue monitor you got fast track. Maybe they will have it better organised in time for the NZ game.

Also at Twickenham yesterday. The queues seemed to be at Gates A and B where people head from the train station to enter close by the West Stand Village (where the food outlets are, Guinnes bars, etc). You could enter via any gate not just the ones shown on your match ticket and there were no queues at all at Gates E and F behind the East Stand. Once in just wander around the back of the North Stand to reach the West Stand Village.

Thanks for that, useful to know for Saturday's game.