Airport trauma, I may never fly again.

I’m sorry it sounds a horrendous experience you had Sago. We used Stansted two weeks ago having not flown from there for many years and I must say we prefer Luton airport they offer a much more efficient experience. However Stansted is our closest airport. Hope you can enjoy your holiday now and return trip is uneventful

That sounds horrible Sago. I flew from Stansted years ago, really poor customer service. Won’t fly from Manchester again either, just a money-grabbing cattle market with shops. I was pretty impressed though with information and staffing levels at Luton airport recently. The worst was Nice, every passenger including families with little children - felt so sorry for them - going through one 2 hours-long queue for customs. Couldn’t leave for any basic needs without going to the back again and staff were surly and uncommunicative. Complaining is perhaps the only way to go.

We all know that problems do happen at busy airports but the frustration experienced by passengers can be alleviated so much if only staff on duty explain what’s happening.
Sago found staff were very thin on the ground which is not acceptable.
Obviously safety is of paramount importance which everyone understands but proper communication is essential.

Another relative, very recently, had their plane camcelled until the next evening.
She went towards a desk to ask a question.
She is pregnant but doesnt look it yet.
She got shoved by a big crowd[some of them very annoyed], behind her.

Allira

nanna8

I hate airports,too but the ones here are not as you describe. I can’t stand Manchester and Heathrow is not much better. I will never, ever go to either of them again. I believe Glasgow is better ? Not risking it,though. Most people here are pretty well mannered thank goodness. The worst I have come across in Australia is Darwin, mainly because the staff are aloof and curt,though, not because of the passengers.

I always get pulled to one side in Australian airports and searched.
I must look suspicious 😀

I got put inot a room once. With people with guns[Country a long way away].
I had answered a question on their computer monitor about where I had visited. Which the authorities were alarmed by.

I have not flown for about 8 years and never intend to do so again. I hate the entire airport experience. Followed up by having to sit too close to random people I do not know or wish to know. My travelling days are over.

Please do not let one horrid experience stop you from flying/travelling.

I have to encounter the dreaded M25 or A12 to get to most places, awful roads, traffic jams and appalling drivers, just have to crack on.

How awful for you, Sago. I can imagine what it was like. Last time we flew from Stansted we arrived about the same time as you and the crowds were horrendous then and I vowed to never fly from there again. It would have been horrendous in that sort of situation.

I used to enjoy flying. Now, the experience of actually getting through check in and customs is such an unpleasant experience, along with needing to be there hours before takeoff, that it has convinced me that I will never fly again unless I desperately have to. The whole procedure has become nightmarish.

What a truly horrendous experience for you Sago. I agree that flying can be an absolute nightmare. I do hope you have a good journey to your destination and are able to relax and enjoy the wedding. 💐

nanna8

I hate airports,too but the ones here are not as you describe. I can’t stand Manchester and Heathrow is not much better. I will never, ever go to either of them again. I believe Glasgow is better ? Not risking it,though. Most people here are pretty well mannered thank goodness. The worst I have come across in Australia is Darwin, mainly because the staff are aloof and curt,though, not because of the passengers.

I always get pulled to one side in Australian airports and searched.
I must look suspicious 😀

That sounds dreadful, Sago
Stansted needs to learn some lessons from this and Ryanair needs to smarten up its procedures too.

I've only encountered Stansted Airport once, years ago, and that was not a pleasant experience.

GrannyGravy13

Ryanair’s statement was that anyone who missed their flight would be put on the next available flight ^free of charge^

The next available flight was Sunday, we are guests at a wedding on Saturday.
Flights to Bezieres were booked solid.

How dreadful and frightening sago. I hate airports. We had an awful experience a few years ago at Birmingham airport. I was travelling with my two sisters and my brother to our uncle's funeral in Ireland.

A tannoy announcement came over for my sister to take a phone call. Her husband was at home with their two little boys. We stopped the nearest airport worker and asked where we should take the call. He said 'I don't know'. Meanwhile my sister's name was being repeatedly called. We went to the nearest desk. Same answer. It must have been 20 minutes before we got help. You can imagine the state my sister was in. It turned out that her mother-in-law had died suddenly.

I wrote to the airport and they replied with 'No one has any recollection of this '

I hate airports,too but the ones here are not as you describe. I can’t stand Manchester and Heathrow is not much better. I will never, ever go to either of them again. I believe Glasgow is better ? Not risking it,though. Most people here are pretty well mannered thank goodness. The worst I have come across in Australia is Darwin, mainly because the staff are aloof and curt,though, not because of the passengers.

Luckygirl3

I never fly. I hate every single thing about it, including the airport experience.

And as long as we all assume we can fly where we want when we want the planet will go down the pan. No amount of recycling, electric cars, ground source heat pumps can offset the carnage caused by flying.

Agree. I think prices should be much higher with fewer planes and more attention to safety.

Luckygirl3 those of us who family members and close friends in far flung corners of the globe have little choice, fly or not feel their hugs and touches ever again …

I avoid Stansted like the plague. I flew from there three times and each one was traumatic.

This is the price you may though, for flying Ryan air and cheap flights. No customer service.

This year I went to Europe by train- much more civilised and much less stressful- also much more expensive but it was worth every penny.

I did fly back though- with Lufthansa from Munich to Brimingham.

I was ill at the airport and it took ages for the person who met me to get out of the carpark.

On balance if possible in future I will always go for the rail option.

I never fly. I hate every single thing about it, including the airport experience.

And as long as we all assume we can fly where we want when we want the planet will go down the pan. No amount of recycling, electric cars, ground source heat pumps can offset the carnage caused by flying.

Ryanair’s statement was that anyone who missed their flight would be put on the next available flight free of charge

Sago I use Stansted airport a couple of times every year, I know it like the back off my hand.

I also know several people who work there.

There main priority is safety, sorry you had a horrid time.

Have you used Southend Airport, it is really easy to navigate and never busy.

GrannyGravy13

The airport had an emergency evacuation, unfortunately these things happen.

There was a build up of passengers in a small area (the departure/arrivals hall is smaller than Gatwick or Heathrow)

I am sorry you had a bad experience Sago I think the moral of your story is more don’t fly with Ryanair as opposed to not flying again.

I don’t think you realise the gravity of the situation.
It was so dangerous to funnel everyone in at once.
No procedures were put in place.
The situation was handled badly and no doubt illegally.

The airport had an emergency evacuation, unfortunately these things happen.

There was a build up of passengers in a small area (the departure/arrivals hall is smaller than Gatwick or Heathrow)

I am sorry you had a bad experience Sago I think the moral of your story is more don’t fly with Ryanair as opposed to not flying again.

A relative once helped out at her local airport in a fire drill.
She played an airoplane passenger.

I asked her afterwards how it all went,

She said "good luck".

Commiserations sounds awful, we've always been fairly lucky with our flights, I still hate the whole airport rigmarole. I agree, an experience like yours, I could also see myself knocking it all on the head