Cancelling holiday... Due to current airport situation

[Flidina]

Watching the news this morning and the current situation with the holiday companies cancelling flights, has left me pondering whether to actually cancel our long awaited holiday this year,we fly at the beginning of July, the payment balance is due in 2 weeks, and we would lose the deposit, a few hundred, it looks like things will not be improving anytime soon, in fact could get worse. Is anyone considering cancelling?

Independent schools will be on holiday (well some/most at least)

@Flidina

Who are you flying with?

I wouldn't, but I'd make sure my insurance was as good as it could be, to cover any delays/hotels etc.

Thanks everyone for your replies,really helped to put different perspectives on it, just to add we would be flying from our small local airport in UK, so hoping that might make a difference, so I've decided we will go ahead with it, as we are all really looking forward to it.

I wouldn't travel anywhere at the moment with this level of chaos.

It's only a matter of time before there's a security lapse. Or god forbid something happens to a plane that hasn't been maintained properly.

If they're that short staffed in the public zones, what the hell is going on behind closed doors? They're not going to tell the media that they're short staffed of aircraft mechanics are they............

We have flown these holidays with easy jet and haven't had any major problems (flight delayed but that was it)

We flew on Sunday from Manchester, 6am flight. We were there by 3, yes it was busy, heaving in fact, but we made it through. Although I failed to get to the end of the Costa queue. T3. So do allow time, you will need it.

Don’t check luggage as that is where a lot of the hold up seems to be. If there’s an option to pay for premium security then do it (Gatwick’s is only £5 pp). Get there really early, have really low expectations and it’ll hopefully be better than expected and if it is then you can use the extra time to have a leisurely meal at the airport. I wouldn’t be cancelling the holiday that’s for sure!

My parents were booked on a TUI holoday from Manchester on 22nd June and found out last night TUI have cancelled it.

Which is awful, but at least they're giving a bit of notice?

That is a serious level of paranoia there.

I have a family member who is an aircraft engineer and I can assure you he is not willing to get himself prosecuted by sending a dodgy aircraft into the air. If something happens to a plan the engineer that signs it off can get prosecuted

We flew to Majorca last Saturday from
Manchester with Ryan Air. No problems whatsoever. We arrived so early (8.15am for a 12.55 flight) we couldn't check in for 90 mins anyway. 25 minutes total to go through the self check in and bag drop AND clear fast track security. We bought fast track but actually both queues were the same speed and length. Airport staff were all over directing people to keep things moving quickly. And this was during half term. The only delay was a 50 minute wait once we had boarded, something to do with the pilot waiting for someone to bring him something he has to sign before take off (or something like that). So in my opinion you would be crazy to cancel.

Don’t cancel. As a PP said, it’s just a half term bottleneck. We flew from Heathrow at Easter, busy but no problems. Two days later all of the airports were having huge problems with people queuing for hours which was still happening when we flew back. Dreaded getting back to Heathrow, but an hour after landing we were stood outside with our luggage. We’ve never been through passport control and baggage claim so quickly.

Booking fast track security may be worth doing if you’re particularly worried?

I can understand why you feel that way - I am going away with my mum for a few days tomorrow and am quite worried. But outside school holidays should be much easier, assuming you are not in Scotland.

I booked this trip in February and didn't think it through very well. Admittedly I didn't know there was likely to be all this chaos but booking the bank holiday weekend wasn't my most sensible move...

Really depends where you are travelling from and what time of day. I flew from Heathrow 2 weeks ago out of T2 at 6.30pm it was really quiet straight through security with minor hold up due to lady in front me in the queue not being organised about her boots, jacket, mobile phone, lap top and cosmetics!

The problems facing our airline industry are not going to go away for years so if you really want to go abroad then you have to take the gamble, do your best to anticipate when will be quieter and hope for a smooth journey.

I am currently stuck at Doncaster airport having been meant to fly at 6.15am only for it to be delayed until after 7 tonight. We are being placed in a hotel for a few hours but we won’t cancel as I would rather them do it so I get my money back. I just feel bad for my son and all those with young children.

I wouldn’t, because you risk losing money, I would go ahead but with the mental preparedness that something could go amiss last minute, but if it does you’ll get to rearrange/vouchers etc

My son has already had his flight from Gatwick to south France cancelled for beginning of July. I am flying on 20 th June to Majorca only for a few nights…to chill and recharge batteries…am now thinking my much deserved break since 2018 will not happen!!

I wouldn’t. Like others have said it is during term time so likely to have calmed down a bit.

i have just got back, traveller through Manchester and was no busier than usual times. I think it just depends as friend travelled this week and had a nightmare

Scottish schools break up this year on 23rd June. N Irish schools also break up early.

So by "school holidays" you mean English/Welsh school holidays.

Anyway OP, you'd be nuts to cancel a holiday based on what might or might not be happening in airports in 4 weeks time.

This is just scaremongering. The civil aviation sector is held to exceptionally high standards. The reasons there are queues at security are because there are fewer people doing the job. If they were slacking off, there would be no queues.

But as per on an AIBU thread, you have people piling on to say they wouldn't be doing something that they had no intention/plans to do in the first place. Bit like me saying how ridiculously irresponsible it would be to go bungee jumping as i'd heard all the staff are 17 year old trainees who might be slacking off checking the ropes.

Make sure you're adequately covered with insurance and you'll be fine. A lot can happen between now and your departure date. The airports have to get their acts together by then otherwise the airlines will be refusing to pay landing and passenger fees.
It's not good for the economy and tourism either so the government will have to implement a solution.

It is summer for Scottish schools then they stop in June.

We have just returned from Palma. I would arrive early as security at Stansted took ages. You now need to put your hair drier/ hair straightener outside the suitcase when you send it through the scanner. A lot of people didn’t and that seemed to cause some of the issues I think. Passport queues in Spain was long if you had a British passport. I have an EU passport so much shorter queue. Suppose that’s Brexit.

A lot of passengers are not adhering to basic security rules that is slowing down the baggage scan process on my last transit through the airports.
Proper segregation of liquids (or better still put them in check in luggage)
Removal of electrical items.
Removing watches, belts etc.
All are sign posted prior to security but some passengers seem oblivious to the requirements.
Over 30% of bags were getting rejected and requiring manual inspection which just exacerbated the process.
It's bloody frustrating when those wanting to queue jump then don't follow the packing packing rules to expedite the process!

I wouldn't cancel. Just make sure you give yourself enough time to get through security. We flew out of Manchester on Monday with easyJet and it took us 45 mins to get through security at 4am for our flight at 7.