Bag drop dragon at GVA
#16
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 151
As I’ve observed before, the priority pass lounge at Geneva (at the opposite end to BA, not the one nearby) is really quite nice and a vast improvement on BA. I’m in a strange minority with a certain affection for the airport. Priority security is always quick (and I travel at super-peak times) and, given the peak to trough variance in throughput I think the airport does well. Unfortunately I agree that the BA staff aren’t universally great, tho have improved in the past two years.
I think the checkin dragon has to put up with a lot, I’ve seen a constant stream of self entitled people (not a dig at the OP here, this is typically when it’s very busy) try to push in and get past her (or him, it varies) and they police the queue pretty well.
I think the checkin dragon has to put up with a lot, I’ve seen a constant stream of self entitled people (not a dig at the OP here, this is typically when it’s very busy) try to push in and get past her (or him, it varies) and they police the queue pretty well.
#17
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, Radisson VIP
Posts: 6,529
GVA had one redeeming feature which were the annoucements preceded by Patti Page’s ‘how much is that doggie in the window’ jingle. Sadly that went a couple of years ago, after 35 years of service...
And come think of it, in all its awfulness it does relatively OK given the town only has 195,000 inhabitants.
And come think of it, in all its awfulness it does relatively OK given the town only has 195,000 inhabitants.
I believe they are in the process to build a longhaul/intercontinental pier which should open in the coming years.
As always in Switzerland, planning, approving and building things is terribly slow.
The Dock A in ZRH will be overhauled soon and it will take 10 years.
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: British Airways Executive Club, Virgin Flying Club
Posts: 154
Had I turned up four hours ahead, I'd have had no issue with her telling me to turn back, but I was there within two hours, perfectly allowable.
I'm sure bag drop staff do put up with a lot and the vast majority do a great job, but this lady deserves no praise.
Last edited by jdsworld; Mar 19, 2019 at 4:58 am
#19
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold / OW Emerald
Posts: 753
Geneva is quickly becoming one of my least favourite airports. Last time there I couldn't get into the BA lounge as it was full and nor could I get a seat/food anywhere else as everything was full. The only positive comment I have is that security was quick. It's very un-Swiss to have an airport that cramped and shabby.
More seriously, it's not a great airport. Should be said that check-in is T-3h, and I'd have insisted to get my bags checked.
#21
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA GGLfL
Posts: 1,342
I was there last night, checked in at Club counters at around 7pm. Only two of the five Club counters were manned and the queue to check in was long. Didn't seem like the situation was being well managed by Dnata. Having said this, the crowds at security, in the Lounge and at passport control were not bad at all.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,619
I suppose you're right, when I think about it and look at it objectively. But my feeling for the place is coloured by the fact that I have made a lot of ground breaking trips through it when I was younger, so it carries a certain baggage of memories for me. The few times I flew BA, the whole experience was fine. But come to think of it, I did encounter on a couple of widely separated occasions snotty check in staff when flying SWISS. Including a naughty schoolboy lecture for standing in the Business class check in as a FTL on Lufthansa. I took the line from the operetta Ciboulette by Reynaldo Hahn, which goes moi, j'm'en fou - moi, j'm'en fou...
#23
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 50
I suppose you're right, when I think about it and look at it objectively. But my feeling for the place is coloured by the fact that I have made a lot of ground breaking trips through it when I was younger, so it carries a certain baggage of memories for me. The few times I flew BA, the whole experience was fine. But come to think of it, I did encounter on a couple of widely separated occasions snotty check in staff when flying SWISS. Including a naughty schoolboy lecture for standing in the Business class check in as a FTL on Lufthansa. I took the line from the operetta Ciboulette by Reynaldo Hahn, which goes moi, j'm'en fou - moi, j'm'en fou...
#24
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GVA
Programs: BA Gold, LH FTL, KL/AF Ivory
Posts: 1,878
GVA is my home base, so I end up going there frequently. Avoid the airport on Saturdays during the ski season, until just after Easter. On a typical Saturday the airport will be handling up to 10 times more passengers than on a normal day and the infrastructure has difficulty coping.
The two new scanning machines in security are a major improvement, they're 3D scanners and there's no need to remove anything from bags, just empty pockets. The human scanning machines are the same as everywhere. However the throughput in the new machines is significantly faster because there's no faffing around with emptying liquids and laptops and far fewer trays are needed. The machines are currently being evaluated.
There's a new long-haul wing being built with the result that currently all long-haul flights are bussed. Things are complicated in GVA because there are effectively 3 sectors in the airport, Schengen, French domestic and non-Schengen and depending on where your plane is parked, you may need bussing to or from the flight. This doesn't affect the BA flights which are always in the non-Schengen zone of the airport though the LCY flights seem to get apron positions for some reason.
My 2 cents, it's not a thrilling airport, but is functional. Avoid on Saturdays in winter.
The two new scanning machines in security are a major improvement, they're 3D scanners and there's no need to remove anything from bags, just empty pockets. The human scanning machines are the same as everywhere. However the throughput in the new machines is significantly faster because there's no faffing around with emptying liquids and laptops and far fewer trays are needed. The machines are currently being evaluated.
There's a new long-haul wing being built with the result that currently all long-haul flights are bussed. Things are complicated in GVA because there are effectively 3 sectors in the airport, Schengen, French domestic and non-Schengen and depending on where your plane is parked, you may need bussing to or from the flight. This doesn't affect the BA flights which are always in the non-Schengen zone of the airport though the LCY flights seem to get apron positions for some reason.
My 2 cents, it's not a thrilling airport, but is functional. Avoid on Saturdays in winter.
#25
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 557
I think the benefit of GVA is its proximity to the city center. It compares well hotel to airport much better than many other European cities - and if you hop on the train it's something like seven minutes. Also, you get off the train and your are up an escalator and in the terminal.
The terminal is old and sometimes overcrowded. There can be long lines for immigration (non-EU) particularly if you come in behind a flight from the Middle East. Lounges are so-so IMO. The BA lounge is average, but then again, the LX F lounge is nothing special. However, even going out to the remote gates is not that long a walk.
But for convenience, I am trying to think of another European city where the airport is as convenient - certainly not LHR, LGW, MAD, CDG, ORY, FRA, MUC, VIE, FCO - maybe LIN - but no train that I'm aware of and virtually all bus gates.
The terminal is old and sometimes overcrowded. There can be long lines for immigration (non-EU) particularly if you come in behind a flight from the Middle East. Lounges are so-so IMO. The BA lounge is average, but then again, the LX F lounge is nothing special. However, even going out to the remote gates is not that long a walk.
But for convenience, I am trying to think of another European city where the airport is as convenient - certainly not LHR, LGW, MAD, CDG, ORY, FRA, MUC, VIE, FCO - maybe LIN - but no train that I'm aware of and virtually all bus gates.
#27
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: OSL
Programs: BA Gold | SK Gold | A3 Gold
Posts: 4,553
GVA is not pretty, but its efficient. Getting to the airport from anywhere in Switzerland by train, and it is one of the few airports I have been where they increase the number of priority security lanes when the line gets long.
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,436
#29
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,893
You can insist all you want at GVA. Club / GGL etc makes no difference. They can't store the bags in peak season and you won't be able to check in your bags (or even maybe go through security) until they say so - not when you say so. I have tried the insisting route - even had the GGL line call them - and no way. And my French is pretty good - so even that didn't help!
#30
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Platinum Elite, Avis Presidents Club, , Enterprise Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 183