After many years of long haul travel I can’t bare airports or flying, I have now taken to cruising, no delays no problems, just walk straight on and your on holiday
Anyone else being bitten overnight?
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Airport trauma, I may never fly again.
(86 Posts)Yesterday we left home at 3.00am to catch a plane from Stansted.
We arrived at 5.30am for the 8.05 flight.
On arrival we say the airport had been evacuated, the reason was a coffee machine was smoking and set of alarms, the smoke was dealt with by 3.50 am.
We waited outside in the cold until after 6.00 am, no announcements.
Everyone was allowed back in at once, we read later it was approximately 10,000 people.
The danger was so high due to the crowds, no staff, no announcements, check in desks empty, queues for self check in and security staff running at 50%.
One African lady sat on the floor in the middle of all of this with her child, I suggested gently she and her child may get trampled, she just shrugged her shoulders, people pushed, shoved and elbowed, one lady with a baby in a pushchair and a case was separated from her children, my husband and myself were the only ones to try and help her.
We battled our way through security and self check in this took 90 minutes plus with fast track.
In the airport young people were laid across up to five seats to sleep, their bags also taking up seats whilst the elderly stood.
Still no staff to manage the carnage and no announcements.
We got to our gate to find the plane had left on time apparently there were 3 passengers on board.
Now to reclaim our bags……we found someone, a miracle indeed and went to the conveyer.
Just as expected no bags, after 40 minutes my husband wandered off and found our bags unattended in a pile.
One poor guy was screaming that someone had taken his bag.
Off now to Ryan Air customer services, yes you’ve guessed empty!
We left the airport and set off for Le Shuttle, we are now in the Pas de Calais and after a good sleep about to start the very long drive to Nimes.
I don’t think I could ever fly again, we saw the worst of humanity and I am now so terrified of an airport terrorist attack as I realise these places are so badly managed, no systems are in place and staff just hide.
Rant over, just praying for a safe journey south.
GrannyGravy13
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 …
Get them to fly to you… I do. I can’t/ won’t fly any more at 80 next year and with health issues.
I do understand how expensive it is though - £7,000 for a family of 4 return from Japan… and that’s pre car hire, etc!
My DB and 5 of his family have just arrived from Copenhagen to stay with me.
Apart from a delay because their Ryanair flight had been late arriving from Pisa, they were all impressed with the journey. The DC had not been on a plane before and were thrilled.
Ryanair staff were good. Infact it was a pleasant surprise. The only complaint was the queue for passport checks at Edinburgh and the miles of walking. Literally they clocked up 7km.
I am sorry some of you have had such bad experiences.
I’m incensed with Stansted Airport and it’s terrible management after suffering the same in May this year, being stuck in the terminal for 12 hours, me asking someone to implement a disaster plan, and eventually completely missing our holiday.
The Airport management and executive deserve to be publicly shamed and need to held accountable. (Manchester Airport Group)
People were collapsing around me, I’m surprised no one died in the chaos. I feel franklynunsafe in the airport there.
www.mumsnet.com/talk/holidays/5349805-stansted-airport-chaos-on-11-may-was-anyone-else-affected
Sadly we were refused boarding at the gate after queuing from 3 a.m. for 6 hours, even more sadly my companion will now probably never even be able to make the journey in future.
The mismanagement at Stansted airport in crisis situations is appalling. There is simply no plan and no organisation.
Dublin was the same the other day with an evacuation, add to that a cyber attack on the check in systems and it was carnage. Relieved I wasn’t flying I can tell you, those poor people stuck in that mess
I am flying to Stansted tomorrow and back again on Wednesday; a trip I have frequently done for the last 20 years or so. Always with Ryanair. Never had any issues.
I can't understand why people are blaming a fire alarm in the airport building on the airline?
Sago I am sorry this happened to you. When my husband was alive we took the ferry untill the tunnel was built as he always wanted to drive his own car when we went to France and Ireland .
When we went to Switzerland we flew with British airways this was in 2000..
And hired at car for 10 days . Unfortunately my husband died in 2004.
So glad I am not able to fly . I always use trains in this country.
But a friend who is frightened to fly they have gone to Italy via train stopping a various places along the way . They come back near the end of next week after nearly 3 weeks can't wait to her about her adventures.
Perhaps that is the best way for you to go abroad in future . Either take the ferry or tunnel or go by train .
Our plan was always to go on the Orient express to Vienna . Don't even know if it still runs .
I have friends who have gone from Liverpool on Fred Olsen cruises and the other small company can't remember the name but starts with A. They only take about 1,300 passengers and suitable for able bodied and disabled passengers. Plus plenty to do and see . And excellent cabins ,food ,service and entertainment.
Just a few ideas .
JackyB
I am flying to Stansted tomorrow and back again on Wednesday; a trip I have frequently done for the last 20 years or so. Always with Ryanair. Never had any issues.
I can't understand why people are blaming a fire alarm in the airport building on the airline?
We are not blaming the fire alarm on the airline. We are complaining about the lack of support from the airline and the airport when things go wrong. They know that a fire alarm can happen and should have plans in place to help the passengers who they know will be confused and not know what to do.
Allira
FriedGreenTomatoes2
Allira
I hate motorways but we have to go on motorways to get to an airport!
Agree Allira same from here but only 15 minutes as the airport is only 10 miles away. I’m looking out now across to the Pennines and can see a plane coming in to land. Luckily we don’t live under any flight paths. I’m sorry for Knutsford!
I’d rather go on holiday by plane than by car to say Devon. I’m such a nervous passenger. I sit in the back …. 😂 and close my eyes occasionally or look left out of the window!
Give me a flight any day.I think motorway driving is quite fraught these days and I avoid motorways if possible.
Nice if you can! But visiting daughters only 60 miles away means using the M3, the M25, and the M40. Though to be fair, it’s usually only the M25 that can be a PITA.
The main reason I traded in my admittedly ancient Ford Focus a few years ago, was because although I was fine with it locally, I had a horror of it dying on me, on that invariably very busy 6 lane stretch of the M25.
Witzend
Allira
FriedGreenTomatoes2
Allira
I hate motorways but we have to go on motorways to get to an airport!
Agree Allira same from here but only 15 minutes as the airport is only 10 miles away. I’m looking out now across to the Pennines and can see a plane coming in to land. Luckily we don’t live under any flight paths. I’m sorry for Knutsford!
I’d rather go on holiday by plane than by car to say Devon. I’m such a nervous passenger. I sit in the back …. 😂 and close my eyes occasionally or look left out of the window!
Give me a flight any day.I think motorway driving is quite fraught these days and I avoid motorways if possible.
Nice if you can! But visiting daughters only 60 miles away means using the M3, the M25, and the M40. Though to be fair, it’s usually only the M25 that can be a PITA.
The main reason I traded in my admittedly ancient Ford Focus a few years ago, was because although I was fine with it locally, I had a horror of it dying on me, on that invariably very busy 6 lane stretch of the M25.
I used to have to negotiate some of those roads when visiting my parents, and the M6 too, often with a toddler strapped in her car seat!
If visiting ours, it's motorway, then Heathrow, then two flights etc etc.
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