Airport trauma, I may never fly again.

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.

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.

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.

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 .

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?

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’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.

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.

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!

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

I think motorway driving is quite fraught these days and I avoid motorways if possible.

The route finder on my phone's maps app is permanently set to "avoid motorways" 😁

GrannyGravy13

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

yay, big of them...

Grandmabatty

That sounds like an absolute nightmare. Sago. I might just have gone home!

Air travel is now a torture. We avoid it as much as possible. Maybe people should vote with their feet?

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.

I really like the sound of Singapore as a country.
They seem to have a very well ordered set up along with a zero tolerance of crime.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could say the same thing here?

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.

I couldn’t agree more. I was about to post something like this when I read your post. I have done a lot of flying in my life but stopped years ago. Anyone who cares about their grandchildren should do the same.

My FIL designed Terminal 1 of Singapore airport. We are very proud of him.

Singapore really is an airport like no other.

It makes you think that travelling is pleasurable. Sadly, it's the only one I can think of.

PamelaJ1

Allira agree about Singapore.
I’ve never had a experience like Sago, it sounds awful
Travel used to be fairly pleasant, these days it’s an ordeal to get over with as painlessly as possible.

It is. We love it. It made the contrast with Stansted even more glaring.

We were on a flight from Cyprus years ago - they must have over-booked because there was standing room only! They asked if anyone would like to get off the plane (before it took off, of course 😁) so that everyone could have a seat.

Obviously some people volunteered, but one man was so anxious he wouldn't sit down during take-off and paced around all the time. Quite unnerving.

We had an awful experience at Standstead too, when they cancelled the flight 30 minutes before take off due to the fog.No one can help the fog of course. But the queues were endless and they just kept telling people to go home and come back the next day, we had a 4 1/2 our drive either way, but decided to go home and try a couple of days later, when we eventually managed to get a flight. No-one to speak to, with just he endless announcement telling everyone to go home as no flights would be leaving Standstead that day. No help with booking flights for the next day at all, No food no hotel accommodation like you get with some airlines not a thing. My mother was with us and was 89 at the time, she was of course totally shattered. Thankfully both my husband and I drove so could take turns to drive back.

I have in the past had some horrendous flights including one once when I was going to Ireland to weekend babysit while the parents had a break I was leaving teatime We sat on the plane for an hour then we were all herded off we were told to line up at the desk which everyone did we stood in the queue like true Brits until the lights went out for the night everyone sat down still in the queue then coats over them bags under their heads to try and get some sleep the lights went up early morning and everyone stood up with joy only to find they could only take the first three in the queue the rest had to try and find another flight I had to cancel the babysitting duties and catch the train home I was shaking with cold and tiredness
and cried from sheer frustration

Absolutely loath Stansted, but unfortunately it is our nearest airport. When it was first built it was beautiful, but now the whole place is so crammed with shops you frequently cant find anywhere to sit and wait. Last time we flew in June the shuttle was on the blink and we waited 35 minutes, nearly missing our flight. Inbound all the alarms went off as we were within sight of the arrivals lounge with our booked taxi waiting out front. Giant doors slammed shut and we were trapped for 45 minutes with no information. In the end we found out that a passenger had turned back after going through the 'nothing to declare' gateway which apparently is a security threat. She was throwing up in the loo and no one could be released until she was found and searched. And dont get me started on the charges for drop off and pick up.

Sounds awful Sago I hate all the stress associated with airports etc. My husband loves being in the airport, watching the planes etc. Even worse now we have to have digital boarding passes, in my experience the queues are usually held up by people trying to access their documents on their phones. The people with paperwork have it at the ready.

did they not learn from the crush at Hillsborough? in that situation people panic and sense goes out the window. They should not be allowed back without staff supervision