To think airports are so stressful lately?

I have barious medical conditions, and my last flight has made me realise that I never want to fly again.
Normally I've everything planned with military precision, as I have a colostomy plus a pacemaker like device which means that I have to be patted down.
However, on the way from a package holiday, there were about 6 flights taking off at the same time by Thomas Cook so there was an ungodly queue at security. Before anyone comes at me, I realise that what I did was stupid -I wore a maxi dress with no bra. As I got through the endless queue, by bag was getting fuller, and because O was flustered, I put the paperwork justifying my stoma through the x ray machine.
As I was patted down, the security guard could feel my filling pouch. Inbthe back of my mind, I knew I could be asked to be examined in private, but I could hear other the people in the queue discussing if I was a terrorist, so I felt like I had to clear my good name. I calculated that lifting my skirt would be more discreet than pulling my top down, and the Spanish security guards were satisfied. However, their flamboyant, over the top apologies were almost as embarrassing as the suspicion, and the disgusted comments from my fellow travellers, who were also angry at me for holding up the queue have put me off flying again.

Easyjet always seems to line everyone up well before the plane is ready so I always make sure I am last to join the queue. Also as the planes fly to several places a day, the later in the day you fly the more likely your plane will have been held up elsewhere and end up delayed. I've been patted down lots of times but never felt like I was groped thankfully.

Dh is a pilot. For various reasons he's been having a lot flights which don't return to his home base so he has to stay over and then fly back as a regular passenger which means he can't go through staff security for his return flight.

He's missed about 4 flights in recent times due just due to overall busyness and staff that frankly don't give a damn.

It's highly variable. Frankfurt security are very miserable and the "pat down" I had there did make me raise an eyebrow.

When I leave Saudi I just have a wand waved at me. London is usually the body scanner. It's highly variable.

Queues also vary hugely. Last time I landed at Heathrow I didn't have to queue at all and was waiting for my bag within 10 minutes of getting off the plane. Other times I've queued half an hour for the eGate.

Customer service in Spain is horrendous, in general. Usually you can use an eGate with an EU passport. Queued for ages with British one.

I’ve recently flown twice, from Gatwick and Heathrow, no long queues and no issues .
Flying back into the UK there were long queues, as we can no longer use the EU passport gates 🥺

It’s not all bad. Last few weeks I’ve been through 6 airports, including Central America and flew out of Manchester. No issues, no major queues and even in the states where I had a connecting flight it wasn’t too bad (I had to clear security again) I agree that it’s not right having your breasts examined like that!! I wouldn’t have been happy and I’m
sorry to hear it happened to you.

I travel and get searched a lot, and I must say I was once searched by a female security officer abroad who I felt was deriving far too much job satisfaction from her task. It's only happened once, but yes, it happens.

Let us hope that the new security systems being rolled out in British airports this summer go at least some way to reducing the stress.

I travel relatively often and yes airports are the opposite of a good time, really.
I am old enough to remember the times when flying was exciting and glamorous and customers were fussed over. Now it's an endless hassle, quality-wise it's a race to the bottom. And yes not everyone is physically able to stand in crowded queues in unventilated rooms for ages.

I agree with the poster above - avoid Manchester Airport at all costs. It's not only shabby and poorly managed, but also overcrowded to the point of unsafety.

Pay for fast track and lounges whenever possible. It makes a huge difference.

Victim blaming - awa bile yer heid min.

I completely agree with this, I avoid Manchester whenever possible.

Yeah, you do feel a bit like cattle with the queues.

I feel exactly the same op. I adore travelling, investigating, booking flights, being in the airport, the whole lot.

I've had very similar experiences to you, on all of my flights for the last few years. Such a shame, ruins it a bit.

I was once ‘patted down’ by a female security officer and it was tantamount to being molested. She felt under my bra, through my clothes and put her hand down the back of my trousers. I told her to stop. Her manager was called and I was offered another check by someone else. I put in a complaint by email but got nowhere. I have never experienced anything like it before or since. I was with my 3 kids and they were watching this, I totally understand your experience OP.

They’re not victim blaming - you’re just being massively dramatic if you genuinely think that’s what they’re doing.

This is why we go by Eurostar or ferry. I don’t mind planes but absolutely hate airports. Luton was the worst. The queue for passport control was an absolute joke. Luckily a member of staff saw my elderly mother was about to keel over so we got fast tracked through a avoiding hours of queuing.