MSE News: No water fountains in more than HALF of UK airports

zagfles

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

It must be a paste (possibly a very thick paste) otherwise why would the instructions state this:

If it was 100% rock, it wouldn't need any drying tme.

Because you have to wet it to use it.

"Simply apply to wet skin or dampen the crystal first using moistened fingers. Please do not wet directly under tap. Keeping the crystal dry between uses will enhance product life."

ETA: there apparently is a spray version that is liquid, but my wife had the solid crystal version.

Fitzmichael

BodMor wrote: »

Signposted free cold water facilities in the main retail area and near each group of gates should be a mandatory licensing condition for all UK airport operators.
Regulate them now.

I can't understand why MSE is not demanding that the CAA do this. Does the CAA have the power? I expected regulators and ombudsmen to have powers to compel businesses to behave humanely/considerately towards customers but I've just learned from the Financial Ombudsman that they cannot compel insurers to do what they think is right, so what's the point of wading thro their procedures? They said the FCA has powers of compulsion, but when you go to their site with a complaint, you are pointed to the Ombudsman. These bodies are appointed by govt/MPs and once again it is reasonable to suspect that Ministers are in cahoots with business by not making regulators the champions of the weaker party, the customers.
As for 'bulky' empty bottles, why not the little expanding flat ones? Last month, after going through security at L'pool, I took mine out of my pocket and asked a staffer at the end of the conveyor if I could fill it and she asked a colleague standing by, who went through a door a few steps away and came back with it full. I would suppose that the cold taps in the loos give drinking water but MSE's demand for fountains makes me wonder. I normally drink cold-tap water and have supposed that in all European, as well as other developed countries, it is safe. I imagine MSE would have some expert willing to comment on that. It was certainly true 50 years ago when I lived in Zambia, then Saudi (tho American colleagues all drank imported bottled water). It wasn't always so. I first went abroad, to France, in 1954, and we were told not to drink tap-water except from (usually a third) tap marked 'potable'. I was 13 and knew how our purified water arrived from miles away in a pipe, which divided into a supply to the kitchen cold-tap and the rest into a tank which then supplied our bathroom directly with cold (no-one was scared of using it for teeth-cleaning) and hot via another tank. I still have no idea of where the 2 different supplies came from in France or why that was the case there - and maybe elsewhere in Europe. Even at 13, it didn't seem to 'make sense'. How should I now phrase my question to all-knowing Google?

Pollycat

Fitzmichael wrote: »

I can't understand why MSE is not demanding that the CAA do this. Does the CAA have the power? I expected regulators and ombudsmen to have powers to compel businesses to behave humanely/considerately towards customers but I've just learned from the Financial Ombudsman that they cannot compel insurers to do what they think is right, so what's the point of wading thro their procedures? They said the FCA has powers of compulsion, but when you go to their site with a complaint, you are pointed to the Ombudsman. These bodies are appointed by govt/MPs and once again it is reasonable to suspect that Ministers are in cahoots with business by not making regulators the champions of the weaker party, the customers.
As for 'bulky' empty bottles, why not the little expanding flat ones? Last month, after going through security at L'pool, I took mine out of my pocket and asked a staffer at the end of the conveyor if I could fill it and she asked a colleague standing by, who went through a door a few steps away and came back with it full. I would suppose that the cold taps in the loos give drinking water but MSE's demand for fountains makes me wonder. I normally drink cold-tap water and have supposed that in all European, as well as other developed countries, it is safe. I imagine MSE would have some expert willing to comment on that. It was certainly true 50 years ago when I lived in Zambia, then Saudi (tho American colleagues all drank imported bottled water). It wasn't always so. I first went abroad, to France, in 1954, and we were told not to drink tap-water except from (usually a third) tap marked 'potable'. I was 13 and knew how our purified water arrived from miles away in a pipe, which divided into a supply to the kitchen cold-tap and the rest into a tank which then supplied our bathroom directly with cold (no-one was scared of using it for teeth-cleaning) and hot via another tank. I still have no idea of where the 2 different supplies came from in France or why that was the case there - and maybe elsewhere in Europe. Even at 13, it didn't seem to 'make sense'. How should I now phrase my question to all-knowing Google?

Is it even CAA's area of responsibility?

System

My friend had her own empty sports bottle confiscated at security. That's put me off taking mine through security.

I hardly buy bottled water. So buying it at the airports and on holiday is no big deal. I try to buy the 1.5-2 litre bottles from small supermarkets. I remember one shop in Rhodes, these were cheaper than the 500-700ml bottles as most holidaymakers grab the smaller ones and these shops seem ways to profiteering.

bigadaj

ScarletMarble wrote: »

My friend had her own empty sports bottle confiscated at security. That's put me off taking mine through security.

I hardly buy bottled water. So buying it at the airports and on holiday is no big deal. I try to buy the 1.5-2 litre bottles from small supermarkets. I remember one shop in Rhodes, these were cheaper than the 500-700ml bottles as most holidaymakers grab the smaller ones and these shops seem ways to profiteering.

You'll presumably be opening one or more small shops in Rhodes on the basis of the profiteering one assumes?

Pollycat

ScarletMarble wrote: »

My friend had her own empty sports bottle confiscated at security. That's put me off taking mine through security.

I hardly buy bottled water. So buying it at the airports and on holiday is no big deal. I try to buy the 1.5-2 litre bottles from small supermarkets. I remember one shop in Rhodes, these were cheaper than the 500-700ml bottles as most holidaymakers grab the smaller ones and these shops seem ways to profiteering.

I know this is off-topic but we buy the 2 litres six pack of water, usually costing less than 3 euros.
Get through about 6 x 6 pack in a 2 week holiday.

Which airport was it that confiscated your friend's bottle and was that recently?

Seems odd that MSE are encouraging people to take empty bottles through if it's policy in some airports to confiscate them.

GOV.UK is very clear that it's liquids that are subject to rules, not empty containers that have previously contained liquid or may be used for liquids.

There are restrictions on the amount of liquids you can take in your hand luggage. If possible, pack liquids in your hold baggage (luggage that you check in).

Was your friend given a reason?

zagfles

Fitzmichael wrote: »

I can't understand why MSE is not demanding that the CAA do this. Does the CAA have the power? I expected regulators and ombudsmen to have powers to compel businesses to behave humanely/considerately towards customers but I've just learned from the Financial Ombudsman that they cannot compel insurers to do what they think is right, so what's the point of wading thro their procedures? They said the FCA has powers of compulsion, but when you go to their site with a complaint, you are pointed to the Ombudsman. These bodies are appointed by govt/MPs and once again it is reasonable to suspect that Ministers are in cahoots with business by not making regulators the champions of the weaker party, the customers.

Pubs and restaurants that serve alcohol already have to give free tap water, you'll find plenty of them at any airport. So what's the big deal? If there's no fountains, ask at a bar. I've done it loads of times. Never been refused.

Fitzmichael

zagfles wrote: »

Pubs and restaurants that serve alcohol already have to give free tap water, .

They have to give it to customers, not someone who just walks in and asks for free.

zagfles

Fitzmichael wrote: »

They have to give it to customers, not someone who just walks in and asks for free.

Yeah, that's the theory, but in practice do you really expect bar staff in a busy airport pub to remember who previously bought drinks? Especially if several staff are on?

The reality is if you ask for water from any airport bar or restaurant you'll get it. As virtually every "fountainless" airport stated in the MSE article. And I've found to be true in practice every single time I've asked.

System

Pollycat wrote: »

I know this is off-topic but we buy the 2 litres six pack of water, usually costing less than 3 euros.
Get through about 6 x 6 pack in a 2 week holiday.

Which airport was it that confiscated your friend's bottle and was that recently?

Seems odd that MSE are encouraging people to take empty bottles through if it's policy in some airports to confiscate them.

GOV.UK is very clear that it's liquids that are subject to rules, not empty containers that have previously contained liquid or may be used for liquids.

I travel alone so buy two large bottles at a time, one if it's the day before I fly back.

The airport where my friend had her empty sports bottle confiscated was either East Mids, Brum, Luton or Stansted as she only flies from them. Must been 3-5 years ago.

Fortunately, my friend's hotel was around the corner from a Euro shop - everything one Euro and was able to buy a bottle from there.