BIrmingham airport delays question

Hoenir

Pollycat said:

Hoenir said:

Pollycat said:

bagand96 said:

elsien said:

Update as of today. Got to airport 8.25 for a 12.20 flight. No queues anyway. In the departure lounge by 8.50. Despite an email last night extending the gate opening times to 31/2 hours beforehand due to issues. 

Not entirely convinced by the body scammer but leaving liquids in Hand luggage was certainly a lot easier.

It seems that the problems are worst at peak times, especially the morning peak where the first wave of departures all depart between 0600 and 0800, that's when the airport can't cope.  Later in the day flights are more spread as is the wave of pax.  0825 is probably a good time to be getting there as the early flights are all gone.  

Frustrating for people as it's quite unpredictable so the only thing to do really is to turn up extra early.  You've had a fair bit of time to kill in the departure lounge!

Went though BHX last week for an early flight (06:45).
We got to the airport at 02:40 with no bags to check in. 
No queues for the lifts but a massive queue for security. 
Why was there a massive queue? 
Because no one was manning the scanners so the queue just got bigger and bigger. 
Just before 03:00 they opened 2 scanners, then a short while later opened another 2.
By the time we went through, not all scanners were in operation. 
BHX management are definitely part to blame for the early morning queues, even if it's because their staff refuse to start work earlier than 03:00.

Staff cost money.  Sounds as if people getting there earlier and earlier before their flight is now making a problem that didn't exist previously. 

It wouldn't have taken a giant brain to realise that continuing to open Border Control at 03:00 would result in massive queues.

You contributed to the queue by arrving earlier than neccessary though. Border control will plan their staffing on flight departure times not on passenger arrival times. At times there'll be queues. That's unavoidable. 

Pollycat

Hoenir said:

Pollycat said:

Hoenir said:

Pollycat said:

bagand96 said:

elsien said:

Update as of today. Got to airport 8.25 for a 12.20 flight. No queues anyway. In the departure lounge by 8.50. Despite an email last night extending the gate opening times to 31/2 hours beforehand due to issues. 

Not entirely convinced by the body scammer but leaving liquids in Hand luggage was certainly a lot easier.

It seems that the problems are worst at peak times, especially the morning peak where the first wave of departures all depart between 0600 and 0800, that's when the airport can't cope.  Later in the day flights are more spread as is the wave of pax.  0825 is probably a good time to be getting there as the early flights are all gone.  

Frustrating for people as it's quite unpredictable so the only thing to do really is to turn up extra early.  You've had a fair bit of time to kill in the departure lounge!

Went though BHX last week for an early flight (06:45).
We got to the airport at 02:40 with no bags to check in. 
No queues for the lifts but a massive queue for security. 
Why was there a massive queue? 
Because no one was manning the scanners so the queue just got bigger and bigger. 
Just before 03:00 they opened 2 scanners, then a short while later opened another 2.
By the time we went through, not all scanners were in operation. 
BHX management are definitely part to blame for the early morning queues, even if it's because their staff refuse to start work earlier than 03:00.

Staff cost money.  Sounds as if people getting there earlier and earlier before their flight is now making a problem that didn't exist previously. 

It wouldn't have taken a giant brain to realise that continuing to open Border Control at 03:00 would result in massive queues.

You contributed to the queue by arrving earlier than neccessary though. Border control will plan their staffing on flight departure times not on passenger arrival times. At times there'll be queues. That's unavoidable. 

You really don't seem to understand what the problem is.
The problem is the ongoing improvements.
We arrived earlier than 'necessary' because we didn't want to risk missing our flight.
As did lots of other people.

Border Control should recognise the impact that ongoing improvements are having on travellers.

Hoenir

Pollycat said:

Hoenir said:

Pollycat said:

Hoenir said:

Pollycat said:

bagand96 said:

elsien said:

Update as of today. Got to airport 8.25 for a 12.20 flight. No queues anyway. In the departure lounge by 8.50. Despite an email last night extending the gate opening times to 31/2 hours beforehand due to issues. 

Not entirely convinced by the body scammer but leaving liquids in Hand luggage was certainly a lot easier.

It seems that the problems are worst at peak times, especially the morning peak where the first wave of departures all depart between 0600 and 0800, that's when the airport can't cope.  Later in the day flights are more spread as is the wave of pax.  0825 is probably a good time to be getting there as the early flights are all gone.  

Frustrating for people as it's quite unpredictable so the only thing to do really is to turn up extra early.  You've had a fair bit of time to kill in the departure lounge!

Went though BHX last week for an early flight (06:45).
We got to the airport at 02:40 with no bags to check in. 
No queues for the lifts but a massive queue for security. 
Why was there a massive queue? 
Because no one was manning the scanners so the queue just got bigger and bigger. 
Just before 03:00 they opened 2 scanners, then a short while later opened another 2.
By the time we went through, not all scanners were in operation. 
BHX management are definitely part to blame for the early morning queues, even if it's because their staff refuse to start work earlier than 03:00.

Staff cost money.  Sounds as if people getting there earlier and earlier before their flight is now making a problem that didn't exist previously. 

It wouldn't have taken a giant brain to realise that continuing to open Border Control at 03:00 would result in massive queues.

You contributed to the queue by arrving earlier than neccessary though. Border control will plan their staffing on flight departure times not on passenger arrival times. At times there'll be queues. That's unavoidable. 

You really don't seem to understand what the problem is.
The problem is the ongoing improvements.
We arrived earlier than 'necessary' because we didn't want to risk missing our flight.
As did lots of other people.

Border Control should recognise the impact that ongoing improvements are having on travellers.

I understand the frustration with queueing from a personal perspective. Doesn't change the business case though. 

Pollycat

Hoenir said:

Pollycat said:

Hoenir said:

Pollycat said:

Hoenir said:

Pollycat said:

bagand96 said:

elsien said:

Update as of today. Got to airport 8.25 for a 12.20 flight. No queues anyway. In the departure lounge by 8.50. Despite an email last night extending the gate opening times to 31/2 hours beforehand due to issues. 

Not entirely convinced by the body scammer but leaving liquids in Hand luggage was certainly a lot easier.

It seems that the problems are worst at peak times, especially the morning peak where the first wave of departures all depart between 0600 and 0800, that's when the airport can't cope.  Later in the day flights are more spread as is the wave of pax.  0825 is probably a good time to be getting there as the early flights are all gone.  

Frustrating for people as it's quite unpredictable so the only thing to do really is to turn up extra early.  You've had a fair bit of time to kill in the departure lounge!

Went though BHX last week for an early flight (06:45).
We got to the airport at 02:40 with no bags to check in. 
No queues for the lifts but a massive queue for security. 
Why was there a massive queue? 
Because no one was manning the scanners so the queue just got bigger and bigger. 
Just before 03:00 they opened 2 scanners, then a short while later opened another 2.
By the time we went through, not all scanners were in operation. 
BHX management are definitely part to blame for the early morning queues, even if it's because their staff refuse to start work earlier than 03:00.

Staff cost money.  Sounds as if people getting there earlier and earlier before their flight is now making a problem that didn't exist previously. 

It wouldn't have taken a giant brain to realise that continuing to open Border Control at 03:00 would result in massive queues.

You contributed to the queue by arrving earlier than neccessary though. Border control will plan their staffing on flight departure times not on passenger arrival times. At times there'll be queues. That's unavoidable. 

You really don't seem to understand what the problem is.
The problem is the ongoing improvements.
We arrived earlier than 'necessary' because we didn't want to risk missing our flight.
As did lots of other people.

Border Control should recognise the impact that ongoing improvements are having on travellers.

I understand the frustration with queueing from a personal perspective. Doesn't change the business case though. 

The 'business case' is flawed during the improvements.
Passengers have not been given sufficient consideration.
Missing your flight because 2 organisations can't provide a reasonable service is unacceptable.
BHX will lose custom.
They have lost ours.
We have 3 nearer airports but prefer the route to BHX and the early morning flights.
It's not worth the stress.
Lots of other people feel the same way.

bagand96

Pollycat said:

See my post re Border Control.

I too had an excellent experience the last time I arrived at BHX That was September 2023.
I can't say the same for July 2024.
When was your last experience at BHX?
We had an appalling experience both outbound and inbound.
We were towards the back of the queue from our flight and by the time we got through passport control, all bags had been loaded on to the conveyer belts.
That's how long it took passport control to deal with a 737.

My last experience was a few weeks ago.  Outbound was the expected shambles.  Inbound however was a decent experience that I can't fault. Walked straight up to the e-Gates, quick toilet after that and the bags were on the belt under 5 mins later. I was as surprised as anyone, and it was a busy time of day!

Hoenir said:

Pollycat said:

It wouldn't have taken a giant brain to realise that continuing to open Border Control at 03:00 would result in massive queues.

You contributed to the queue by arrving earlier than neccessary though. Border control will plan their staffing on flight departure times not on passenger arrival times. At times there'll be queues. That's unavoidable

Pollycat said:

The 'business case' is flawed during the improvements.
Passengers have not been given sufficient consideration.
Missing your flight because 2 organisations can't provide a reasonable service is unacceptable.
BHX will lose custom.
They have lost ours.
We have 3 nearer airports but prefer the route to BHX and the early morning flights.
It's not worth the stress.
Lots of other people feel the same way.

There seems to be a little bit of crossover/confusion as to who does what at the airport:

Outbound passengers must clear Airport Security checks.  This is provided by the airport (either directly or contracted to a security company).  I think at BHX it's done directly by the airport.  The redevelopment of Airport Security at BHX, as well as associated terminal infrastructure changes are what's been causing the widely reported issues this year.

Inbound passengers must clear Immigration (a Government function provided by UK Border Force).  Staffing and/or availability of e-gates is controlled by UKBF and not the airport operators, although they will work closely to liaise pax flows and times.

As you say Summer 2024 will be one the operators of BHX will want to forget and hasn't done their reputation any good.  That said history generally teaches us the public have very short memories.

Pollycat

bagand96 said:

Pollycat said:

See my post re Border Control.

I too had an excellent experience the last time I arrived at BHX That was September 2023.
I can't say the same for July 2024.
When was your last experience at BHX?
We had an appalling experience both outbound and inbound.
We were towards the back of the queue from our flight and by the time we got through passport control, all bags had been loaded on to the conveyer belts.
That's how long it took passport control to deal with a 737.

My last experience was a few weeks ago.  Outbound was the expected shambles.  Inbound however was a decent experience that I can't fault. Walked straight up to the e-Gates, quick toilet after that and the bags were on the belt under 5 mins later. I was as surprised as anyone, and it was a busy time of day!

Hoenir said:

Pollycat said:

It wouldn't have taken a giant brain to realise that continuing to open Border Control at 03:00 would result in massive queues.

You contributed to the queue by arrving earlier than neccessary though. Border control will plan their staffing on flight departure times not on passenger arrival times. At times there'll be queues. That's unavoidable

Pollycat said:

The 'business case' is flawed during the improvements.
Passengers have not been given sufficient consideration.
Missing your flight because 2 organisations can't provide a reasonable service is unacceptable.
BHX will lose custom.
They have lost ours.
We have 3 nearer airports but prefer the route to BHX and the early morning flights.
It's not worth the stress.
Lots of other people feel the same way.

There seems to be a little bit of crossover/confusion as to who does what at the airport:

Outbound passengers must clear Airport Security checks.  This is provided by the airport (either directly or contracted to a security company).  I think at BHX it's done directly by the airport.  The redevelopment of Airport Security at BHX, as well as associated terminal infrastructure changes are what's been causing the widely reported issues this year.

Inbound passengers must clear Immigration (a Government function provided by UK Border Force).  Staffing and/or availability of e-gates is controlled by UKBF and not the airport operators, although they will work closely to liaise pax flows and times.

As you say Summer 2024 will be one the operators of BHX will want to forget and hasn't done their reputation any good.  That said history generally teaches us the public have very short memories.

Thanks for the clarification.

So instead of wasting money on 'temporary structures' and '100 temporary 3rd party 'liquid consultants', did BHX consider asking their staff on the hand luggage security scanners to start work at 02:00 instead of 03:00...
For the man in charge of BHX earning £700k pa, I wouldn't have though it beyond his capabilities...

I've been telling Hoenir what the issue is with BHX.
Thank you for confirming that.

elsien

Return home update. Landed probably about 7 pm because the flight was running late.

No queue for border control, and although the machines were rejecting a large number of passports including mine there were enough staff manning the manual booths that that didn’t matter. 
What is it with these systems that they pay a fortune for that then still don’t work?? 

la531983

Be user error in a lot of cases tbf.

Ganga

la531983 said:

Be user error in a lot of cases tbf.

Yes i have seen people putting their passports in the wrong way ,not taking off their glasses etc.

Pollycat

Ganga said:

la531983 said:

Be user error in a lot of cases tbf.

Yes i have seen people putting their passports in the wrong way ,not taking off their glasses etc.

I'm not sure the signage is that clear.