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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

British Airways today, airlines in general and heathrow

16 replies

Travellingwillow · 28/03/2023 10:56

Just jetted through a number of airports and using different airlines covering half the circumference of the world over the last month or so. I have arrived back to Heathrow and to say I'm disappointed is an understatement. I have 5 hours to burn in Heathrow terminal 5 ..advised by BA staff as I'm not 1st or business class I can't bag drop until 2 hours before my flight. This limits my access to the shops through security. The area I'm in has a coffee shop and a newsagents....and that's it. My bag is very heavy and after transatlantic flights and travelling for 3 -4 days, I'm exhausted but stunned that this is actually a thing. With every step there seems to be more and more efforts to treat 'the little people' like the below decks commuters of the Titanic . The long haul economy seats are tiny. I watched a safety video on one of the flights (not BA but an affiliate) that said to lean forward in the event of an emergency. I laughed as my 'leaning forward' was to sit up straight in my seat and little else. I know I'm not size 6 but for a 14 hour journey the seat sizes are absurd, especially if the seat in front reclines. To make matters worse the earphone jack was on the inside of the seat and stuck into the side of my leg when I moved.

For those wondering...My final flight is within the UK and due to various reasons I couldn't tag it on as a continuous part of the journey , hence having to pick it up post long haul flights. .

As a relatively modern airport, comparing Heathrow to many other airports worldwide, its efforts to make the travel experience a good one is limited unless you're prepared to cough up alot of money on top of the already exorbitant cost of flights...especially at the minute. I went to Terminal 3 on my initial deaprture and ate in one of the eateries there, the food was the worst I've eaten in a long time...and I'm no food connoisseur....tasteless, tepid, dry, ...disgusting. ...and it wasn't cheap.

I bought a lounge ticket and won't even get the use of that either.

AIBU ??

OP posts:
ItsOnlyWordsInnit · 28/03/2023 11:01

Does Heathrow not have a baggage deposit service for a few hours? It would be easy enough to security screen the bags that get checked in. I know other airports do it.

ItsOnlyWordsInnit · 28/03/2023 11:04

But I generally agree with you about the tawdry and uncomfortable public spaces, with overpriced cardboard food.
why can’t you use the lounge ticket - will they not accept people with luggage?

KnickerlessParsons · 28/03/2023 11:15

IF you have 5 hours, could you put your bag into the luggage store thingy (can't remember what it's called) and get the bus/tube into a nearby town for a meal? You don't have to stay in the airport.

FinallyHere · 28/03/2023 11:28

advised by BA staff as I'm not 1st or business class

This really is an argument in favour of flying club/business class

Economy is fine if you are just on holiday. If the travel is more for work, and especially when there is a lot of, then all the privileges like checking in early and being wafted to a lovely lounge really come into their own.

A bit of pampering is what is needed when you are travelling for work rather than fun. Then, of course, once used to it for work, it becomes an essential luxury for leisure travel too

its efforts to make the travel experience a good one is limited unless you're prepared to cough up alot of money on top of the already exorbitant cost of flights

Think of it as money who chose not to spend in order to make your experience that much more pleasant.

I remember the days before Freddy Laker opened up the Skys with cheap flights. Now we have the choice, between travel with or without pampering.

Are you really advocating going back to the days before cheep flights , removing the choice for millions?

Travellingwillow · 28/03/2023 12:34

The travel over the last month was not one I would have chosen at this time but for personal reasons.

Of course I could do all the things suggested, but I just don't get holding off on a bag drop ???? Really ???

If I invited someone into my house and told them to sit in the confines endured by economy travellers and for 14 hours, I would have no visitors. I'm mid 50s with the usual aches and pains. I was unusually very lucky and had an empty seat on both long haul legs of my journey and I found it so uncomfortable.

For the same journey 2019 I paid 800 this time 1.5 k ...surely you should at least have a comfortable seat for this kind if money! We all know the airlines have made the seats smaller and with less leg room, of course its a business but for those of us who just get by, the luxuries often aren't an option, but to me a decent seat shouldn't be seen as a luxury.

OP posts:
Travellingwillow · 28/03/2023 12:35

Ps there is a queue outside the lounge to get in. The lounge in terminal 3 on my outbound journey wasn't worth the money either.

OP posts:
gogohmm · 28/03/2023 12:51

It's because it's a domestic flight, there's a different process than international obviously. 2 hours for a domestic flight is a long time ahead. It's the same at all airports by the way - it was 3 hours at jfk for international (we were dropped there hours before by the cruise company) worst experience was Orlando as we were dropped 9 hours before our flight and couldn't check in luggage and no baggage service due to 9/11 (was a while ago)

LeakyWaterMain · 28/03/2023 12:52

It isnt BA- it is due to the security staff strike
Usually not a problem at all to bag drop earlier
BA warned about it earlier this week.

LlynTegid · 28/03/2023 13:00

I avoid BA, as they have cheapened their service over the years. YANBU to not be happy with what is on offer in my opinion.

BeyondMyWits · 28/08/2023 15:06

Guessing you've got a lot longer to wait now with the air traffic control issues? Did they let you check your case in?

nothingcomestonothing · 28/08/2023 15:13

BeyondMyWits · 28/08/2023 15:06

Guessing you've got a lot longer to wait now with the air traffic control issues? Did they let you check your case in?

This thread is from February so I really hope OP isn't still in the airport!!!

BeyondMyWits · 28/08/2023 15:17

nothingcomestonothing · 28/08/2023 15:13

This thread is from February so I really hope OP isn't still in the airport!!!

😆 😂 thank you!

Mercurial123 · 28/08/2023 15:18

Weird, why would anyone respond 5 months after the fact?

BeyondMyWits · 28/08/2023 16:11

Mercurial123 · 28/08/2023 15:18

Weird, why would anyone respond 5 months after the fact?

Came up in the "similar threads" list underneath a thread I was reading and I didn't bother to look at the date as I thought it was to do with the current issue rather than an old one. My error. Happens...

enchantedsquirrelwood · 28/08/2023 16:20

The lounges are after security I think and are really busy these days - I think people get access via bank accounts etc, not just by booking Business or First.

Heathrow T5 is just a high end shopping centre with an airport attached and doesn't have nearly enough seats - it is a very long time since I flew out of a different terminal there so I don't know about the others.

FasciaDreams · 28/08/2023 16:26

ZOMBIE ALERT

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