Delays at UK airports ...
#31
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#33
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#34
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
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Posts: 9,236
I thought the British way was to not complain at all, and when asked say "Oh no, there's nothing wrong here!" but then moan about it for the next fifty years and continually repeat what you almost said.
#35
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Union warns border agency cuts make lengthy queues at airports more likely
theguardian: Union warns border agency cuts make lengthy queues at airports more likely
I am not certain this surprises any of us...
APD and UKBA passport control can make coming into LON airports a real deterrent!
I am not certain this surprises any of us...
APD and UKBA passport control can make coming into LON airports a real deterrent!
Passengers flying into Heathrow on Saturday reported having to wait for up to three hours before clearing passport control. The issue has become a major government concern in the runup to the Olympics, with immigration minister Damian Green being summoned before the home affairs select committee about the problem.
But the Public and Commercial Services union has warned staff cuts at the Border Agency will make tackling the queues difficult, with 1,500 staff going by 2014. The union's general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "We've warned time and time again that, as elsewhere in the public sector, cutting jobs in UKBA is not only unnecessary, it's hugely damaging. Quite clearly, there are not enough staff."
But the Public and Commercial Services union has warned staff cuts at the Border Agency will make tackling the queues difficult, with 1,500 staff going by 2014. The union's general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "We've warned time and time again that, as elsewhere in the public sector, cutting jobs in UKBA is not only unnecessary, it's hugely damaging. Quite clearly, there are not enough staff."
#36
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
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They could get some of that staff back by transferring the customs agents scrutinizing Eurostar passengers at St Pancras supposedly entering from a common market country. Suppose they would require years of cross-training first, alas.
#37
Ambassador: LATAM
Join Date: Aug 2010
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It does create an awful impression when they have these little signs up saying "Due to increased security measures it may take longer to process your entry"
Then you get to the desks and half of them are empty. It is pretty clear that the delay is not increased security but woeful staffing.
Never had a problem at LHR but arriving at LTN* at 23.00 and the queue almost runs up to the plane's doors, then when you finally get to the desks, there is one little old lady running it, it's past her bedtime, she hasn't got her teeth in and she has already had her cocoa.
If I weren't British I would be wondering where the devil I had landed
* I appreciate discerning FTers do NOT "arrive at LTN" but needs must sometimes.
It's not a uniquely British problem, arrive at LIM and you will see that not only are just half the desks manned but only half of them have computers and chairs too.
Then you get to the desks and half of them are empty. It is pretty clear that the delay is not increased security but woeful staffing.
Never had a problem at LHR but arriving at LTN* at 23.00 and the queue almost runs up to the plane's doors, then when you finally get to the desks, there is one little old lady running it, it's past her bedtime, she hasn't got her teeth in and she has already had her cocoa.
If I weren't British I would be wondering where the devil I had landed
* I appreciate discerning FTers do NOT "arrive at LTN" but needs must sometimes.
It's not a uniquely British problem, arrive at LIM and you will see that not only are just half the desks manned but only half of them have computers and chairs too.
#38
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
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It does create an awful impression when they have these little signs up saying "Due to increased security measures it may take longer to process your entry"
Then you get to the desks and half of them are empty. It is pretty clear that the delay is not increased security but woeful staffing.
Never had a problem at LHR but arriving at LTN* at 23.00 and the queue almost runs up to the plane's doors, then when you finally get to the desks, there is one little old lady running it, it's past her bedtime, she hasn't got her teeth in and she has already had her cocoa.
If I weren't British I would be wondering where the devil I had landed
* I appreciate discerning FTers do NOT "arrive at LTN" but needs must sometimes.
It's not a uniquely British problem, arrive at LIM and you will see that not only are just half the desks manned but only half of them have computers and chairs too.
Then you get to the desks and half of them are empty. It is pretty clear that the delay is not increased security but woeful staffing.
Never had a problem at LHR but arriving at LTN* at 23.00 and the queue almost runs up to the plane's doors, then when you finally get to the desks, there is one little old lady running it, it's past her bedtime, she hasn't got her teeth in and she has already had her cocoa.
If I weren't British I would be wondering where the devil I had landed
* I appreciate discerning FTers do NOT "arrive at LTN" but needs must sometimes.
It's not a uniquely British problem, arrive at LIM and you will see that not only are just half the desks manned but only half of them have computers and chairs too.
#39
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
Programs: BA EC Gold
Posts: 9,236
The non-EEA lane at LCY is actually a relatively new phenomenon. They only added it in about 2008/2009 IIRC. They used to not even bother separating passengers.
#40
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,443
Hmm... there ought to be no difference in the "scrutiny" given to people entering from an EU country compared with those entering from any other part of the world, since the UK is not in the Schengen area and all passengers arriving from outside the Common Travel Area (i.e. the UK, the crown dependencies of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, and the Republic of Ireland) are subject to passport control... Another example of things not working quite as they ought to be, perhaps?
#41
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
Programs: BA EC Gold
Posts: 9,236
Hmm... there ought to be no difference in the "scrutiny" given to people entering from an EU country compared with those entering from any other part of the world, since the UK is not in the Schengen area and all passengers arriving from outside the Common Travel Area (i.e. the UK, the crown dependencies of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, and the Republic of Ireland) are subject to passport control... Another example of things not working quite as they ought to be, perhaps?
#42
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 7,560
Hmm... there ought to be no difference in the "scrutiny" given to people entering from an EU country compared with those entering from any other part of the world, since the UK is not in the Schengen area and all passengers arriving from outside the Common Travel Area (i.e. the UK, the crown dependencies of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, and the Republic of Ireland) are subject to passport control... Another example of things not working quite as they ought to be, perhaps?
EU citizens have a right of entry under EU Free Movement provisions, subject only to an identity check. Non-EU citizens require entry clearance from UKBA.
#43
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 615
All Eurostar passengers entering the UK clear UK immigration checks at the station from which they depart (e.g., Gare du Nord or Brussels Midi). There are no immigration checks at St Pancras. There might be customs checks (although I personally have never seen any) but I believe there shouldn't be as all passengers are entering from another EU country and thus, technically, a common customs zone.
#44
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,836
Hmm... there ought to be no difference in the "scrutiny" given to people entering from an EU country compared with those entering from any other part of the world, since the UK is not in the Schengen area and all passengers arriving from outside the Common Travel Area (i.e. the UK, the crown dependencies of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, and the Republic of Ireland) are subject to passport control... Another example of things not working quite as they ought to be, perhaps?
Or are those folks really loitering immigration agents who pull people out at random? If so, that seems even sillier than checking at that one location.
#45
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UKBA accused of covering up airport delays
Ah, more on the craziness of UKBA at LHR... Shouldn't the government be aware of what people are going through to enter the UK???
theguardian: UKBA accused of covering up airport delays
theguardian: UKBA accused of covering up airport delays
Passengers flying into the airport at the weekend reported having to wait for up to three hours before clearing passport control. But after leaflets apologising for the problem were handed out by BAA, which owns Heathrow, the UKBA warned that they were "inappropriate" and that ministers would take "a very dim view".
The airport operator was also told to prevent passengers taking pictures in the arrivals hall, according to the Daily Telegraph, which obtained correspondence from Marc Owen, director of UKBA operations at Heathrow. Pictures of lengthy queues have been posted on Twitter by frustrated travellers.
The airport operator was also told to prevent passengers taking pictures in the arrivals hall, according to the Daily Telegraph, which obtained correspondence from Marc Owen, director of UKBA operations at Heathrow. Pictures of lengthy queues have been posted on Twitter by frustrated travellers.