To wonder how this happens so often

[Fluffyears]

Inspired by the allocated seat thread, my DP and I fly at least once a year to foreign climes. On every occasion we have heard a final call for passengers then a warning that luggage will be offloaded. Every time we have been in airport (so far not our flights) this happens. I'm one of those first at gate folks desperate to get on plane and get myself settled (have issues with them locking us in so need to relax properly).How do these people not realise 'oh it's close to take off time maybe we should try to find our gate' they must hear the announcements where they are called by name too.

Anyone ever been one of these people, how did it happen did you regularly check to see when gate was displayed?

[Talismania]

I think it is usually people whose luggage was checked through connecting flights and they've missed the connection because of getting caught up changing terminals.

[FastWindow]

I once badly misjudged how long I had get to the gate. It was horrible. I think these habitual latecomers are just arrogant arses who subscribe to 'they can't leave without me'
Yes they can and yes they will. But not until you've delayed the flight by a possibly expensive five to ten minutes, and pissed off 250 other people who can tell the time.

Re the locking in: I would far rather they did than not! Think of it not as locking but safeguarding :)

[Fluffyears]

I have claustrophobia and once tried to bolt from my seat as they started to close door because I felt I was getting sealed in. Traumatic experience when I was young and locked myself into an outside bunker means I hate being shut in unless I'm in control.

Some of the flights are Glasgow-Tenerife so big likely to be connecting flights.

[Fluffyears]

Glasgow only has one terminal as well. Imagine being in airport all checked in but missing flight that would be heartbreaking.

[bridgetsmummy]

I used to work at LHR for an airline that handled a few different airlines.
One of my favourite memories is when a station manager for on

[FastWindow]

Well, you just get the next one. Possibly at a premium.

Sorry to hear about the claustrophobia. Would it help to think about the vast area of sky you are actually in when youre up at 33 000 feet?

[bridgetsmummy]

Oops,
A station manager made some first class passengers who had been too slow coming down from the lounge watch their bags being offloaded and telling them that this was not a taxi service that would wait for them. Still makes me chuckle

[Azquilith]

I sat outside the wrong gate once, two London flights at the same time. always board last cos I see no need to rush. That was a bit embarrassing.

[ImSoCoolNow]

I used to think the same thing and be really irritated, until I was that person...

Glasgow airport..

OH and I on first holiday without kids so booked into the all inclusive lounge beforehand and got slightly tipsy. Also took up time stuffing biscuits, crisps and cheese into my, already overfilled, handbag.

Sorry

[Fluffyears]

Fast, it's more the being shut in up in the sky. If I am in control I'm fine (when I locked myself in the dark at 4 years old I had no control of the situation) but if but I get really anxious, have no idea what I was thinking when I decided I had to get off the plane but it was like a primal instinct that I couldn't be sealed in. My friend had to physically hold me in my seat it was awful. Heart rate trebles when they start shutting door.

[FastWindow]

Az - been there. :(

Urban myth about a 'famous' (or so he must have thought) passenger at jfk : turned down for boarding first class because the gate had closed, shouts 'don't you know who I am?' apparently gate clerk grabs the tannoy and announces'can anyone help the passenger at gate X who has forgotten who he is? '

Unlikely to be true but funny.

[FastWindow]

Fluffy, you might consider mild sedation if possible. My DSis had ridiculously painful IBS everytime she flew: knockout drops worked pre-dc.

[Fluffyears]

Ha ha I'msocool, they should factor snack appropriation time into the flight slots. Azquillith, my workmate did that at London airport, the flight had been a particular gate/terminal for 12 weeks and they changed it, she had to use the little train thing to get to right place with 15 minutes to go.

[Fluffyears]

Fastwindow I use beta blockers from GP to help and j do feel better. Oh that story reminds me of one my dad told when him and a workmate were asked 'don't you know who I am?' the workmate said 'hey fluffysdad, this guy doesn't know who he is!'so could be true.

[FastWindow]

I bloody hate flying cheap airlines at big airports. The gate is always in Kent. You walk like a power Walker and get there all puffed and stressed. Raaggh. Factor in the young dc and you're clawing the flight crew for a gin before they've even taken off

[DialsMavis]

We were nearly those people when our train was delayed and then I directed us to the wrong sodding terminal at Gatwick.

[ImSoCoolNow]

The shame of the death stares we received as we located our seats was alleviated by the fact that we got a lovely intoxicated nap, despite the noise, and then woke up to free snacks and drinks courtesy of the sky lounge. Was so worth it

[Fluffyears]

hanha gin should be provided free to all parents with young children travelling. It seems a massive effort getting a small child onto a plane getting buggy sorted etc. aesthetic make you walk bloody miles then you get in plane and it taxis to furthest runway (think you drive halfway to destination) for about 10 minutes before it's able to take off. I take it these distances keep prices down.

[Fluffyears]

I used skylounge in January it was brilliant, lovethe sign saying not to take stuff away. Erm 8 hours flight, I'm taking as many of these muffins and crisps as I can fit on my personage, thank you very much.

[Fluffyears]

Dials, these seem to be people actually checked in as luggage is boarded and they are being called by name. I'm such a nervous person I need to travel to airport super early.

[Fluffyears]

Sinister bunny, that is cool but when it's a shirt Tenerife/Minorca from Glasgow flight it seems unlikely. More like they are in a bar not paying attention.

[FastWindow]

I assume so fluffy. The choice gates are for the fee paying customers. Even flying from Luton which I have done lots over the last 5 years it's a massive hike to the gate. Added to that, they take forever at check in (bag drop is a fantasy thing there) so you have to scurry. My lowest point was pushing a buggy with my 6mo dd in, a wheelie suitcase hanging off one handle, me toting a rucksack that chose that moment to divorce itself from one step, and desperately yelling at my poor 3yo ds (pulling his own little Toy Story trolleybag) to keep up :( :(

[FastWindow]

*strap, even. Full rucksack too. Neck pain ensued.

[ImSoCoolNow]

Signs? What signs? haha