What a mess: Flight cancellations and baggage problems at Heathrow’s new terminal
By SwizStick • Mar 27th, 2008 • Category: AirlinesIt seems like any new airport or terminal these days can’t seem to get started without a mess of problems. Heathrow’s newest Terminal 5 is no exception:
After a good start to the day, with the first flight arriving eight minutes early and no luggage delays, problems accumulated.
First, staff had problems with the car park, then a computer problem led to some departing flights having to leave with no luggage aboard.
Downstairs in the giant building, passengers off the first Hong Kong flight all got their bags in quick time.
But soon it was clear there were major problems with baggage reclaim, with some passengers having to wait as long as two-and-a-half hours to collect their cases.
By lunch time the knock-on affect of all the problems led BA to cancel 20 flights – a figure which later increased to 34.
In early afternoon, a huge queue of more than 100 people wound back from the cancellation flights desk as people lined up to try to get away on other flights or get refunds.
To add to the difficulties the luggage belt in one part of the departure lounge failed and passengers were moved further down to a workable area.
Then at around 5pm, BA decided to suspend the checking in of all luggage going into the hold.
This left passengers already at the airport with the choice of either flying with just hand luggage, getting an alternative flight or getting their money back.
All I can say is “ouch!”
Stumble it!
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Classic Heathrow disaster! You’re better off using airlines that don’t fly out of there like Eos from Stansted and Silverjet from Luton. Makes a huge difference.