Whats the story with city of derry airport immigration control?

justaquestion

Hi there,

I came through city of Derry airport yesterday (back from Salou)


There was only one lady in immigration control to deal with a whole plane load of passengers and the way of doing so is a lot differently from what I have experienced in the past going through lots of other airports but this is my first time through Derry.

1 there is a sign saying don’t come forward to desk until you are called.

2 your passport had to be removed from its holder (if you had one) and then was either checked or scanned on what seemed like a laptop in front of her.

3 it took approx 10-15 seconds to deal with each passenger and so you can imagine how long it took for one person to deal with a whole plane load of people.

4 it must have been very obvious to the person in immigration that it was simply a plane load of natives returning from their holidays so why the very stringent and strange procedure in place?

5 if passport was scanned is it a legal thing to do under the data protection act?

Just very very curious

Justin

sunshine

justaquestion wrote: »

Hi there,

I came through city of Derry airport yesterday (back from Salou)


There was only one lady in immigration control to deal with a whole plane load of passengers and the way of doing so is a lot differently from what I have experienced in the past going through lots of other airports but this is my first time through Derry.

1 there is a sign saying don’t come forward to desk until you are called.

2 your passport had to be removed from its holder (if you had one) and then was either checked or scanned on what seemed like a laptop in front of her.

3 it took approx 10-15 seconds to deal with each passenger and so you can imagine how long it took for one person to deal with a whole plane load of people.

4 it must have been very obvious to the person in immigration that it was simply a plane load of natives returning from their holidays so why the very stringent and strange procedure in place?

5 if passport was scanned is a legal thing to do under the data protection act?

Just very very curious

Justin

We came back through Belfast International two weeks ago from Palma, Majorca and had to go through the same procedure - although there were 2 desks manned. Must be the practice now.

Pretani

LOL Lisa. Oh, the picture you've painted in my head Lisa. :rotfl: Wonder has she different badges and hats for the different jobs?

seatzie

or you could go through Heathrow on an internal uk flight, get your picture taken, your passport checked, then on your way to the gate go through security again, get your passport scanned, bring up your photo and have them then check that you are the same person whose photo was taken half an hour ago at the first security bit

Wookey

Be thankful you didn't land at Ballykelly

justaquestion

On a more serious note the little u shaped baggage reclaim goes like the clappers, with a whole plane full of passengers gathered around it including children, I think its only a matter of time before someone gets injuried.

On the plus side its great to be able to land at a airport so close to home was actually proud to do so, only the above little problems I think need to be sorted.

Justin

x12yhp

If you want bad NI airport stories, try this one on for size...

Belfast City on monday morning. I am wandering up to the business lounge (i.e. in the security checked area), get to the top of the stairs to see a wide open eating area that I did not recognise. Wandered through, had a look about before realising this was in fact the public eating area, upstairs, OUTSIDE of security! A big set of wide open double doors through which anyone could have walked - not a security person in sight. So before you fly at belfast city, just keep in mind that security is nothing more than a front - you really have no way of knowing whether the guy sitting next to you has had his baggage checked or not.

warmhands.coldheart

x12yhp wrote: »

So before you fly at belfast city, just keep in mind that security is nothing more than a front - you really have no way of knowing whether the guy sitting next to you has had his baggage checked or not.

OK.... but come on.. Belfast isn't exactly a stronghold for the Taliban!!

steveymp

justaquestion wrote: »

On the plus side its great to be able to land at a airport so close to home was actually proud to do so, only the above little problems I think need to be sorted.

Justin

mmmmmm I take it your rates pay for this toytown excuse for an airport then too ???

Mine do:mad: even thou I don't want it:mad: I seem to have no say in the matter, the sooner Ryanair pull the plug on their flights from here the better, it will instantly close this white elephant;)

Why we need a 3rd airport in a country the size of Northern Ireland is beyond me especially one owned by the mickey mouse city council:mad:

Ask the 16 families that have been forcefully evicted from their homes because the flying gypsies wanted the runway extended, if they love the local airport too

Yes I have used the airport myself, found it small and uncomfortable and really not worth my extra rates:rolleyes: Ryanair have since withdrawn the only flight I used the airport for:mad: which is typical.

The airport should be given to the private sector to see if it can sink or swim in the real world;)

seatzie

x12yhp wrote: »

If you want bad NI airport stories, try this one on for size...

Belfast City on monday morning. I am wandering up to the business lounge (i.e. in the security checked area), get to the top of the stairs to see a wide open eating area that I did not recognise. Wandered through, had a look about before realising this was in fact the public eating area, upstairs, OUTSIDE of security! A big set of wide open double doors through which anyone could have walked - not a security person in sight. So before you fly at belfast city, just keep in mind that security is nothing more than a front - you really have no way of knowing whether the guy sitting next to you has had his baggage checked or not.

happens everywhere, a year after 9/11 I was flying from Atlanta to NYC and they managed to let a guy on who hadn't paid for his ticket, had faked his boarding pass and only for the fact that the guy who had paid to sit in the seat in front of us turned up, they'd never have caught on.........scarey bikkies!

tightasaduck's

x12yhp wrote: »

If you want bad NI airport stories, try this one on for size...

Belfast City on monday morning. I am wandering up to the business lounge (i.e. in the security checked area), get to the top of the stairs to see a wide open eating area that I did not recognise. Wandered through, had a look about before realising this was in fact the public eating area, upstairs, OUTSIDE of security! A big set of wide open double doors through which anyone could have walked - not a security person in sight. So before you fly at belfast city, just keep in mind that security is nothing more than a front - you really have no way of knowing whether the guy sitting next to you has had his baggage checked or not.

Are you sure? I flew out of Belfast City recently and, as far as I could see, the area you mention could only be accessed by those who had already gone through security.