Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What happens to these people in airports?

296 replies

Helpmethinkofasolution · 21/08/2022 11:39

Nearly every time I fly I hear a call out for people who have seemingly checked in, checked in their bags but then are late (really late) for boarding. I'm pretty scatty but I've never had so much fun at the airport that I've forgotten to check that my flight is boarding! Do they just get distracted?
Not judging just wondering how common it is for people to be 'un-boarded' and what happens?

OP posts:
Stravaig · 21/08/2022 14:55

Doesn't this happen on connected flights, where you're checked in all the way through? I once sprinted the length of Schipol (not a small airport) with our names being blared from the tannoy all the way. Aberdeen hop very late in, and when we scrambled aboard the main Mexico flight, red-faced and panting, the entire flight was neatly stowed and buckled and waiting for us 😳

Smellywellyhoo · 21/08/2022 14:55

Drunk?

BritWifeInUSA · 21/08/2022 15:02

It’s happened to me twice that my name was called. The first time I had fallen asleep because I’d been traveling for so long (I was waiting to board my third flight) and had a terrible cold and I just could not stay awake. I woke up when they called my name and I got to the gate as fast as I could and I was able to board.

The second time was when my now-husband and I were in a long-distance relationship. I lived in the UK and he was here in the US. I was flying here to see him and had to change planes in Atlanta. I was in CBP for so long that when I came out I started running for the next gate and could hear my name being called. I got to the gate and was told that my seat was in the process of being given to a standby. I burst into tears and said “but I haven’t seen my fiancé (as he was then) in over 3 months and I’ve been here all along but stuck in CBP”. The man who was getting my seat agreed that I could have the seat back and he’d take a later flight. I got on the plane and got the dirty looks from people as I made my way to my seat.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 21/08/2022 15:03

I would think it’s easy enough to do - eg


  • you fall into that deep, deep jet lagged sleep and miss the flight

  • your watch isn’t in the right time zone (you change it by one hour etc but in the wrong direction)

  • over tight transfer times when connecting flights etc are delayed

  • underestimating the time taken to get to a gate

  • getting distracted (though I applaud the poster’s friend who managed to get distracted in the desert of City Airport


I wonder how much of it is due to high stress drama - eg you check in hold luggage with your partner etc. But then, before Security, have a blazing row and one storms off out of the airport, disregarding checked in luggage etc

Manekinek0 · 21/08/2022 15:03

We once chose not to get a connecting flight. We would have had to pay significantly more to fly to this city but found a flight where there was a connection. I did try to explain to the staff once we arrived but I wasn't fluent and they didn't understand me. So we would have been called but not showed up.

Like others we have also nearly missed connecting flights. I am quite highly strung so I am on awe of those who are able to be relaxed enough to miss a flight. I have to check I have my passport every 10 minutes and we are hours early to the airport.

Did anyone ever watch airport? There were always passengers on that programme who missed flights, forgot passports and were a general disorganised nuisance. Most seemed to blame the staff.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 21/08/2022 15:04

Do they only do announcements for people with checked in luggage for the hold?

VickyEadieofThigh · 21/08/2022 15:17

anon2022anon · 21/08/2022 11:53

We've been called once.
Checked in with a toddler. Security queue was massive. I got stopped and checked. Trunki got checked. Took DD to change her bum, as not enough room to do a toddler in a plane toilet. Realised our buggy hadn't come through security, ran back. Neededto grab a sandwich and water for the plane, as no food served during flight, can't take drinks through and had queued for 2 hours to check in. By the time we reached the shop, they were calling for everyone to board, and calling our names by the time wed made the seven thousand mile trip to the gate. No shopping, no beer, just 3 staff working to check in several tui flights at the same time after covid leaving not enough time to get to get through.

It doesn't help, does it, when UK airports refuse to tell passengers which gate they'll be departing from. Many foreign airports print or write it on your boarding pass but in the UK - nah, keep 'em guessing, so that hordes of people stand anxiously peering at the TV monitors and then all set off racing to the gate at once.

notimagain · 21/08/2022 15:17

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 21/08/2022 15:04

Do they only do announcements for people with checked in luggage for the hold?

No, (well not where I worked).

MarkHemmings · 21/08/2022 15:19

Airports are some of the worst places on earth. I've resolved to never go near one again.

Capri3 · 21/08/2022 15:19

alanabennett · 21/08/2022 14:03

How do people "suddenly realize" that they are miles from their gate? Surely the first thing you do when you get through security and/or passport control, is to check the gate and start moving in that direction?

Depends on the airline/airport. We flew short haul from Heathrow T5 a week ago. Got through security etc and the board said that the gate number would come up at 7:10 (7:55 departure). Gate came up at 7:15 and was a B number, so we had to catch the monorail. By the time we walked to the monorail, waited, caught the monorail, walked several minutes to the gate, and queued, I think we boarded around 7:45. We’re all used to walking so anyone with small kids or elderly would have needed several more minutes.

We have flown with other airlines/airports in the past 18 months, and that was definitely the most ridiculous. I could definitely understand anyone arriving late for that.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 21/08/2022 15:21

notimagain · 21/08/2022 15:17

No, (well not where I worked).

Show quote history

Thanks - that’s interesting! I travel only with hand luggage so was mildly curious about that. Though with online check in now being the norm, there must be quite a few no shows by virtue of having booked and checked in (online) for an u,tra low cost flight and then deciding not to go

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 21/08/2022 15:22

Capri3 · 21/08/2022 15:19

Depends on the airline/airport. We flew short haul from Heathrow T5 a week ago. Got through security etc and the board said that the gate number would come up at 7:10 (7:55 departure). Gate came up at 7:15 and was a B number, so we had to catch the monorail. By the time we walked to the monorail, waited, caught the monorail, walked several minutes to the gate, and queued, I think we boarded around 7:45. We’re all used to walking so anyone with small kids or elderly would have needed several more minutes.

We have flown with other airlines/airports in the past 18 months, and that was definitely the most ridiculous. I could definitely understand anyone arriving late for that.

Show quote history

Ha - was that British Airways by any chance?!

Crabbyboot · 21/08/2022 15:24

I've been in the situation several times where we went straight through to the gate and still nearly missed our flight, I think it can depend on the security queues and whether or not you get stopped. And when you have a toddler it takes more time.

I've also been in the situation where our taxi broke down and narrowly missed the flight with our one year old daughter (at the time) had lots of judgemental looks as we boarded the plane. Didn't even have time to change her nappy poor thing.

So don't judge until you know the situation.

Treabrea · 21/08/2022 15:24

I've been called twice - once because we got distracted by the bar on our way to Dublin for a hen do, and once because our flight was delayed and we had 45 minutes to make a connection across Schiphol. Some how both of us and our bags made it.

I can never make out the announcement until it's my name and then it's as clear as day.

theDudesmummy · 21/08/2022 15:26

@Madcatgirl after the event I realised (on researching) there are in fact quite a few places where you have to get a visa (and pay obviously) just to walk across an airport. I just didn't know it then! And just hadn't thought to research it. Getting off one BA flight to get on another BA flight parked right next to it (when all had been booked together under one reference number, directly with BA) didn't seem a complicated thing requiring research! My luggage was moved from one plane to the other without problems, it was just me that wasn't!

Regarding what you do, I am very much the sort who would usually "stand my ground", refuse to move, demand a supervisor etc etc, but none of that really works when you are surrounded by several armed men who know they completely have the upper hand and have the power to make you miss your flight, presumably detain you etc etc. I was really out of options as I had no cash on me and they were demanding cash only. Thank goodness for the kind lady who lent me the money! I have no idea what would have happened otherwise.

notimagain · 21/08/2022 15:30

@MyrtlethePurpleTurtle

We flew short haul from Heathrow T5 a week ago. Got through security etc and the board said that the gate number would come up at 7:10 (7:55 departure). Gate came up at 7:15 and was a B number, so we had to catch the monorail. By the time we walked to the monorail, waited, caught the monorail, walked several minutes to the gate, and queued, I think we boarded around 7:45

TBH I wouldn't have expected to board much earlier than that for a short haul flight out of T5 at that time of day but yes, that complex means it can be a trek.

MattDillonsEyebrows · 21/08/2022 15:32

The reason it happens is because airport have their own special timezone.

You feel like you've always been there and only just got there all in the same emotion/feeling, likewise the time might be dragging, but then you blink and you've been there 3 hours

It's very odd!!

See also - hospitals.

Frazzled2207 · 21/08/2022 15:35

I got my own personal message once “will miss frazzled travelling on flight xyz please proceed immediately to gate 24 where your flight is departing immediately”.

I was late checking in, probably just outside the deadline 45 minute deadline, then after security needed the loo. It was generally ok to cut it fine back then though! These days, no chance.

Capri3 · 21/08/2022 15:36

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 21/08/2022 15:22

Ha - was that British Airways by any chance?!

Show quote history

Yes. ☹️

We were also told that we were too early for the bag drop, even though we were the recommended 2 hours before. Begrudgingly let through when there were plenty of completely empty bag drops stations.

For anyone who hasn’t flown from there recently, it appears to be only self service bag drops. Brilliant in theory, but a complete pita as it tries to cancel what you’re doing whilst you’re struggling with the sticky baggage tags. 😫

MattDillonsEyebrows · 21/08/2022 15:36

Sorry, just realised the dreadful grammar on my post.😳

QOD · 21/08/2022 15:37

Once I stopped for a coffee and chat with a friend who lived near Gatwick before I went thru but after checking in. When I went thru I acted as though I still had my 3 hrs of faffing time and got called whilst in a toy shop. American air staff were very very angry 😬

once a friend and I paid to use lounge. Much much much wine later we had to run to the gate. Last on board and pissed as farts. The guy in our aisle seat thought we were hilarious tho and insisted on us hopping in his cab to the city so we’d just pay from his hotel to ours. We laughed and laughed the entire flight and taxi ride 😁

a friend of mine was in the bar. She and her friends finished their bottle of fizz and sauntered to their gate and the plane has gone 🤣. They’d been called and everything

Stravaig · 21/08/2022 15:38

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 21/08/2022 15:04

Do they only do announcements for people with checked in luggage for the hold?

No - for my Schipol sprint I'd packed for a month in hand luggage only. Which didn't help my speed or dishevellment, but at least my rucsac made it onboard with me!

Frazzled2207 · 21/08/2022 15:38

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 21/08/2022 15:04

Do they only do announcements for people with checked in luggage for the hold?

I would think so because if they don’t turn up at the gate they need to find and offload the bags, almost certainly delaying the flight

if no Baggage it’s no big deal and with most people checking in online, there are probably a few noshows on every flight

Frazzled2207 · 21/08/2022 15:39

@Stravaig
i stand corrected!

balalake · 21/08/2022 15:39

Interesting accounts. The point about telling you your gate when checking in seems a sensible one. A simple thing that could be introduced at all UK airports.

However given that the Borders Agency cannot plan adequate staffing for holiday periods (and never could even pre-pandemic) despite holidays being more or less the same time for 50 years and the date of Easter for each year decided upon in 1752, I'm not hopeful.