[IanFromHKG]

Well, I followed up on VK’s post to see what performance standards I might find. Tellingly, the first performance figure they give is… cost.
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/our-performance/

Then they get on to their target for clearing passengers: “The service standards are to clear 95 per cent of European Economic Area (EEA) passengers within 25 minutes and 95 per cent of non-EEA passengers within 45 minutes.” Compare and contrast with Hong Kong – 98% of residents within 15 minutes, and 95% of visitors within 15 minutes.

Then they give their success rates against those standards: “In 2010-11, 98 per cent of passengers sampled were cleared within service standards. In the first three quarters of 2011-12, over 95 per cent of those sampled were cleared within the service standards.” Again, compare and contrast with Hong Kong, with a 100% success rate against target.

wanula72, I hope you are reading this…

[RichHI1]

My experiences at HKG have always been courteous and expeditious. Comparing border services at HKG with LHR is a sterile excercise. As posted, HKG is targetted by service,LHR by cheapness.

[Age_of_Reason]

Following an experimental usage of LHR T5 arrival and domestic transit on 14th March, which was not a positive experience, reading all this on the day that I learn that TK is starting IST-EDI in July this year leads to one resolution. Miles and Smiles 🙂

Looking forward to EDI being ex-BAA

[RichHI1]

And if the vote goes towards independence you could have the SBA “haste ye back” instead of UKBA and Ms “protect my career above all else” May. Some people have all the luck…

[Age_of_Reason]

The more you practice and the harder you work, the luckier you get.

In time market forces will drive up a centrally-situated, rapid-transit-connected international airport hub with a catchment of >4m customers. Invest now.

[Binman62]

IST EDI…interesting…Is TK as good in J as some reports have stated….

To avoid drift is EDI immigration ever busy?

[placeinthecountry]

Have some of you forgotten what it’s like going in to the US? After all the job of the UKBA is to protect us all from those who should not be here. The Americans are right on this but we certainly show better manners.

And leave Mrs May alone let her her sort out the undesirables first.

[RichHI1]

“better manners”? How long is it since you last went to the US. CBP is now infinitely more courteous than UKBA or UKBF or whatever.

Ms May is a separate point and I am afraid that her presence however well intentioned is not assisting reform (either in Immigration or in deporting undesirables).

[excessbaggage]

Maybe this is the answer!

http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai/life/garuda-indonesia-extends-in-flight-immigration-service-china-599864

[Age_of_Reason]

Well Binman – increasing demand from LHR-avoiders enjoying the convenience of choosing between AMS, CDG, FRA can coincide with a Ryan-rush/crush. And BAA has bequeathed a shed to the future operator, so tyhigs can only improve.

But that’s nothing to what’s coming when we hire some LHR-Security-weedouts to man the future anglo-alien-undesirables queue

[judynagy]

I’ve been arriving, departing and connecting at LHR for years. It’s a mess that will be highlighted with great glee by the media during the Olympics no doubt.

But the stories above make me cringe, and pray that I never am so unlucky as to get caught in such chaos.

[MartynSinclair]

5th September 2012

Maybe not complete chaos, but certainly not smooth.

Inbound from Miami and no stand available so needed to be bused in – ok, these things happen.

However, just 1 set of steps to unload a 747, meant my connection to Milan was going to be tight. Had boarding pass.

Met at the door of T5 by a purple escort who tried to fast track me through the system, but I was not allowed into T5 because the Milan flight needed a bus and I was late.

Great result as my non changeable ex Europe ticket was then changed foc to later in the month and will now be used as the first sector for my next ex Europe ticket. Great result, will be home 4 hours earlier than planned.

Clearing immigration – IRIS was not working. A T5 rep confirmed IRIS was in working order but as UKBA had no spare person to man the machine, it had been switched off.

Used the new E Gate for the first time. A bit fiddly but at least it worked. Pity the process couldnt be speeded up.

As an arrival process, I think T5 would be quite unique if it would offer IRIS – E Gates & manned desks. All options.

I would be interested to hear whether there is any truth in IRIS being switched off due to lack of a UKBA staff member or whether the machine was bust!

Now in the arrival lounge having a fresh, lo cal and very reasonably priced breakfast!

[BigDog.]

… and now the proverbial is not hitting the fan but passenger luggage…

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2198525/Heathrow-airport-Burst-pipe-Terminal-5-covers-100-bags-raw-sewage.html

A BA spokesman … ‘We appreciate this will be upsetting for passengers. The bags have now been cleaned and are being reunited with their owners.’ ( I’d be demanding a replacement.)

… then the usual BA stock statement

British Airways also apologised to its passengers for the incident and any inconvenience caused.

[Binman62]

This was a daily mail article. I suspect a mountain is being made from a mole hill but interesting that once again, the shopkeepers who are actually responsible for the building dodge any public responsibility nor appear to have had to make a public apology.

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