Locked gates on arrival at LHR
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at 10:08 by Age_of_Reason.
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DavidGordon10ParticipantWhen SK 1517 arrived from CPH on 25 April, passengers were stuck on the ramp for some minutes until a door leading to arrivals was unlocked.
This is at least the third time this has happened to me, with different airlines each time. It is infrequent, but it should never happen. It is grossly inefficient and confirms the view many of us have of LHR, as an unpleasant experience.
What must overseas visitors think of us?
26 Apr 2013
at 19:41
FormerlyDoSParticipantI agree with Binman, even more so if is a gate where you are on the apron and exposed to jet blast and other hazards.
26 Apr 2013
at 22:34
ImissConcordeParticipant@formerlyDoS I think it highly unlikely that passengers would be on the tarmac area unescorted.
26 Apr 2013
at 22:52
capetonianmParticipantMaybe a coincidence, but in all the fltying I’ve done over the years, this has only ever happened to me twice. Both times it was on SK flights, so I do wonder if this is carrier specific.
27 Apr 2013
at 07:28
FormerlyDoSParticipantit’s happened to me a few times, at a few airports, on a range of carriers.
27 Apr 2013
at 08:06
DavidGordon10ParticipantThe other occasions where I can remember the airline, one was BMI and the other CSA – so not SK-specific, but the later histories of BMI and CSA at LHR may be instructive.
I note Binman’s proposal at 21.28 to use the emergency exit button, but I would be cautious: I was once threatened with the police for just banging on the door to attract attention.
27 Apr 2013
at 09:11
Binman62ParticipantDavidGordon10…..No need to be cautious if you are in genuine fear for your safety of that of others you have every right (indeed I would argue a duty) to make use of the emergency release buttons.
Whilst many police are excellent protectors of the public there are just too many “plod” who have let the power go to their heads and have little common sense. This is particularly true at airports where the public do seem to have allowed common sense, courtesy and their civil liberties to be lost in the so called name of compliance and control.
27 Apr 2013
at 12:46
ZKSmithParticipantAt a lot of airports, including EDI, the reason for locked doors is other passengers at neighbouring gates boarding.
Using EDI as an example, arriving international passengers walk along a corridor next to the departures area, before reaching immigration and baggage reclaim. Departing passengers must cross this corridor to reach the air-bridges.
Your flight arrives slightly early, or boarding is slightly delayed at a near-by gate, and you’re stuck waiting behind locked doors until boarding of the other aircraft is complete.27 Apr 2013
at 12:52
goalie11ParticipantThat’s only part of the problem at EDI, the bmi example was restricted to their gates, which did not impact on the international side. As Binman said earlier it is down to the airline staff to make sure the doors are open and most of the time it was due to forgetfulness on their part, witnessed by their reaction when they had to run up the bridge to sort it out or, having knocked or kicked at the door, other staff came from the other side to get it opened.
27 Apr 2013
at 13:57
LeTigreParticipantI’ve noticed that most of the time it is Heathrow Airport staff rather than grounds handlers that open the doors. They appear to be the most at blame. On occasion, I have been waiting with several hundred pax, and from the top of the jetty watching the staff playing on their phones, until they notice us and rush to the door. Diligence indeed!
However, this situation will substantially improve with the opening of T2, which means that 3/4 terminals will have split floor departures and arrivals. (T2, T4, T5 and a significant part of T3. It can only get better!
27 Apr 2013
at 15:23
Age_of_ReasonParticipantNot just the gates at LHR…. I’ve been on early arriving BA flights into T5 which were received fine around 05.00 but he rail shuttle and inter-terminal transfers were not functioning. We couldn’t even get to immigration to take advantage of the early touchdown. Airport staff need to remember that their customers are delivered fatigued, jetlagged and generally miserable, keen to get that last hurdle behind them.
But tempers fray very quickly, so staff must remember who are the customers, and who has the duty of care.
2 May 2013
at 10:08 -
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