To ask if airports are bad everywhere?

[Beetl3]

Travelling from Stansted on Friday… it will be a later flight in the day. I hear all the bad stuff about airports and travel at the moment and was wondering if anyone has any experience at Stansted?

Not me, but some of my colleagues flew from Stansted and it wasn't too bad. I had a similarly good experience at Luton. Quickly through security on the way out, 20 minute queue for passports in the way back. I flew Easyjet and had delays both ways, but those going with Ryanair were OK.

It might depend on the day time and I didn't check in any luggage.

Remember the media doesn’t write about all the hundreds of flights every day where things run smoothly.

I few out. I'm f Gatwick on Saturday morning, with easyJet, it was perfect.

Straight through, boarded, not a hold up around.

I asked similar on Monday about Gatwick as my DM was flying out to Greece. The queues were heavier than usual but she was surprised how quickly she got through and was very bored waiting the other side as she left extra time.

If you go on twitter (you don't need an account) and search Stansted queues and sort by latest you can usually get a feel for what's going on.

Exactly this!

This ^

For completeness: ATM there seems to be a potential for delays at times at pretty much any airport (and that includes Stansted) but the majority of the time at the majority of airports things appear to be running OK.

Stansted has been fine for me…

Just done Bristol twice in last 6 weeks, despite the media stories it was a breeze both holidays. Timing appears to be key, if you're in the 5-8 departure slots then I think you're more likely to suffer bad queues than at other times of the day.

Came back from Lisbon Terminal 2 last night, that was pretty grim.

I had a ten hour delay with Rynair from Standsted on Sunday! Had an email advising to get to the airport 3 hours early but breezed through security and lugge drop in 20 mins. So was sat around for 13 hours just waiting. It's really hot and busy at the moment and when we got to the other side our taxi driver said this was happening all the time with delayed flights or missing luggage atm.

@Madcatgal21

Interesting to read that, I think I saw one or two tweets about what went on at the weekend but not much elsewhere.

IMHO certain airports have been getting a slightly easy ride in the MSM over this, and for some reason a certain airline CEO has been very keen to emphasise that most of the problems are at Heathrow (which in reality generally hasn't been that bad) and Gatwick (which we know has featured widely in reports).

I think from what I've heard generally ATM unfortunately you can get delayed anywhere (UK and elsewhere, including the States) so be prepared, but it's not a 24/7 total nightmare everywhere...

I think it depends entirely on the time of day. I've flown both into and out of Gatwick (North and South terminals) in the last 3 weeks and breezed through everything.

The only thing that was backed up was getting our bags back after security because so many were being pulled for extra search they were blocking the ones that weren't. It seems people have forgotten security rules over the pandemic.

For those you have that back into the uk recently are things as bad in airports abroad or is it just us in this situation?

Our local regional airport in France (mix of internal, cross Europe and Long Haul traffic has been OK), further north Paris Roissy hit by some strikes,

Elsewhere as seen by the MSM..

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-23/air-france-klm-boss-warns-travelers-go-to-the-airport-early

www.rfi.fr/en/business-and-tech/20220620-strike-forces-cancellation-of-all-brussels-flights

bsfqh.com/summer-of-travel-chaos-as-americans-return-to-vacations-amid-staff-shortages-and-inflation/

Basically industry struggling to re-build.

Download the flight tracker app and have a look to see how many flights from there are on time/late/cancelled.

dh flew from stansted recently and had a 30min delay at the other city but no issues Uk side. We fly from bham a lot and haven’t had an issue since 2019

Couple of weeks ago experience of Gatwick and Stansted - no problems at Gatwick absolutely plain sailing, Stansted was a nightmare.

Manchester was fine last week, very short queue at security, but our flight was still delayed due to lack of cabin crew (easyjet) they told us crew had come in on their day off so the flight could go.

Our flight home (European airport + airline) was delayed, lack of air control staff apparently, sat on the tarmac for nearly 3 hours. Nearly every flight that day was 2hr+ delayed.

The airport itself was fine both times but lack of staff was the issue for the flights getting off the ground.

No issue with our bags thankfully.

I've flew quite a few times (6) in the last few months, mainly Heathrow, but also Bristol, and over last half term & easter. News reported huge queues etc each time, but never seen any at all, not once in the UK, only time I've seen it busy was memorial day in JFK.
Pis of AA check in at LHR on Easter weekend... security was just as quiet

Currently in Majorca - Palma airport a breeze.

flew from Luton, it was ok but baggage checks were a fucking nightmare. Lots of queues and not enough staff

Not sure how your experience of flying on a different day from a different airport at a different time of day is of any help 😂

But it does show how pointless this question is, I know two people who went from the same airport on different days and had totally different experiences, you one can possibly tell you OP, literally all you can do is hope for the best

But it does show how pointless this question is, I know two people who went from the same airport on different days and had totally different experiences, you one can possibly tell you OP, literally all you can do is hope for the best

Agree, I think it is pot luck.