Ask your questions about airport facilities or security to Heathrow airport - £150 voucher to be won ANSWERS BACK

[JustineBMumsnet]

Answers are now back, you can find these here .

Being in an airport can be a challenging experience, especially if you’re with small children who just can’t wait to get to their destination. Ahead of the Easter break, when more families than ever are expected to fly abroad, Heathrow would like you to ask your most pressing questions for making a journey smoother for you and your family. Whether you have questions about airport facilities or activities, or you’d like to better understand security measures, Heathrow’s experts - Amanda and Nicola - would like to help answer your questions.

Here’s what Heathrow have to say: “We know travelling with children can come with its own challenges for busy parents, so we are dedicated to doing all we can to helping you plan and prepare for your journey. We have services like complimentary kids’ eat free meals and dedicated play areas to ensure both parents and children feel as excited as possible when they come through Heathrow.”

So, ask Amanda and Nicola your questions about airport facilities or security by posting them below by the 3rd April. We’ll then choose 20 questions for them to answer and post a link to their responses as soon as possible. All who post a question below will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £150 voucher (whether their question is chosen or not).

Here’s some more information on Amanda and Nicola:

Amanda West – Customer Operations Manager
“As part of her job , Amanda develops family-friendly services at Heathrow – including baby changing facilities, and dedicated play areas to keep your children busy ahead of boarding.”

Nicola Tibbles – Security Assurance Manager
“Nicola helps to manage the flow of passengers to ensure family journeys are as smooth as possible.”

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

When we are waiting to board at the terminal and sometimes our flights have been delayed or whatever other reason, we have to wait sitting at the terminal gate. The chairs are really uncomfortable. Especially when you have a tired child lying across you, or you have to breastfeed, or a toddler with you.
Long haul flights with children aren't the most comfortable, so it would be nice to have the terminal gate waiting area to be a little more comfortable for families and all passengers!

Can you email customers likely wait times based on their flight details so they know whether it's worth buying the security fast passes?

What assurances can you give that checked in car seats will be looked after by luggage handhandlers??!

Why do some airlines use the same desk for both bag drop and check-in? This severely reduces the advantage of online check-in if you then have to queue for an hour just to drop bags. (This was Aer Lingus in T2 at February half-term btw).

When the kids are expected to queue politely, rush through security and miss their long awaited meal before the flight it does not make for a relaxing start to the holiday.

echo several other posters here. Carousel's are very hard with young children? Never see staff in these areas who can/will help. Please can we have some?

Why are the passport control desks so high - it's scary for young children and difficult if in a wheelchair. Any chance of family friendly signage about scanning luggage or people?

I don't always want to pay for parking - is there any chance of reopening the quick pick up route for arrivals?

I've a question about mediation in hand luggage. I have a considerable amount of medication that I would need to take with me and it's literally life or death stuff so I wouldn't feel comfortable with it in the hold incase it went missing. Would I be able to have it with me, even though there are liquids?

I would HAVE to have one bottle of over 100mls, I have to carry that everywhere with me

We currently holiday in the UK because of this but would love to go abroad again

Are there any quiet areas at the airport where families can go for a little time out amidst the chaos?

My son has ASD and the challenge of the lights, noise and the throng of people makes his journey so stressful and takes a few days to prepare him for the experiences he sees. Is there a quiet area he can go to in the departure lounge where the external surroundings are not as intense ?

A creche is a great idea, as it is hard to keep children amused. A mini cinema or TV room would be better, especially If flights are significantly delayed

How does going through security work with children? And at what age/stage would children be treated in the same way as adults in terms of searches etc. I would hate the thought of my children being searched in a way they would find hard to understand as they would be frightened so what would I have to prepare them for?

Would love freebies like wi-fi and water dispensers at the airport... Also why don't airports provide play areas for young children?

Why are liquids above 100ml still banned from going through check in?? I can understand with weapons and stuff of course but I'm not going to do much damage with a 500ml bottle of irn bru :P

Are the security staff given specific training about performing security checks on children? This could be very scary for them and contradict things said by parents or teachers about other people touching them.

for children that haven't flown before is there anything that the airport do to put their minds at rest and keep them occupied?

I take a lot of regular medication which I need on flights. Is there any restriction to carrying such medication in hand luggage & do they allow people to take a small amount of water through so they can take the medication

I have a family member who has mental health problems they hated checking in and going through security as it was so busy/full and this makes them have issues panic attack,acting panicked wanting to run (making them look a bit dodgy at security), do you have something in place in for people with these cases?

They tend to get quite nervous before flying...is there any tip or services to help with that? I'm a nervous flyer myself so I often worry about how much I'm actually helping (even though I try and stay as calm as possible, I'm sure they still pick up on it). I'd would just be nice to make it a more relaxing experience for all of us.

Somebody earlier mentioned luggage trolleys that toddlers can sit in like at the supermarket - these would be great.
Have you considered a trial of using "take a ticket and wait until your number is called" at some queueing points. This could prevent having to stand in line for lengthy periods which is hard with youngsters and sometimes impossible for elderly. You could take a ticket and withdraw to a seating area until you are called forward.

It can be quite frightening for a child when going through security at the airport. What measures have you in place to make them feel at ease?

Having to take off his belt at Airport Security, my husband always has to hold onto his trousers to stop them plummeting earthwards. Wouldn't it be a lot easier and less humiliating to just ask men to take their trousers off with their belts?

If we see something suspicious where and who should we report it to?

Do you have any activity sheets eg. colouring, join the dot or a scavenger stle hunt of a list of items children and parents can hunt for and tick off to keep children occupied on what can be a very boring time for all

I have long fine hair which I pin up with a metal clasp. I really objected to being told to take that out when I bleeped going through security. I actually had to undo my hairstyle!

There must be another way to deal with this!

I would be very interested to know the safety of full body scanners. I always feel a bit nervous at the thought of a small child walking through one. Have they been absolutely proven to be safe?

Coming through any airport security/checkin , getting to gates etc with everyone together, fed, watered and with all items/toys/ bags etc. how can we make it all less stressful when queues are still too long and stressful?