Holidays and Airport 'Chaos' since COVID

[AIRwin]

QF staff told them that due to “staff shortages” some baggage this weekend may not reach its destination.

Thread title may need to be updated to "Long Weekend Airport Chaos"

 

[Lynda2475]

Im at SYD now in the Qantas pub, radio this morning said to arrive 2 hours early, i got here about 2.5 hours out.

Terminal 2 looked hectic with line out onto the foot path, no such overflow at Terminal 3 which is looking different than it did in January. The new self serve check in machines are all installed and the security screening as been pulled forward, with 2 in centre and 2 to the left of the assisted check in, seems to be some construction going on.

I checked in online last night and am travelling HLO given how many didnt get their luggage over easter as I couldnt handle not having warm clothes over the weekend away. So wont get to try bag tags from the new machines until later this year. Priority queue was being policed and it took about 7 mins to clear security.

Airport is busiest ive seen since 2019, Qpub is chockers took me a while to find a seat, but have a nice view of the planes ahead of sunset. I did notice they have relocated a few of the older style self check in machines that still print boarding passes outside the QPub entrance.

Quite windy so heres hoping for a smooth take off later.

** Edited to add because i was early of course flight is now delayed and will now commence boarding 5 mins after it was meant to leave. Weirdly no flights on the board in the Qpub have gate numbers even those already boarding.

 

[jrfsp]

MEL not much better - long weekend - only half the security lanes open- took over 30 mins to get through - that’s the normal line - priority was moving even slower
J Lounge was packed

 

[Catweazle]

Not just an Australian problem: landed at 2115 at LHR last week and the queues to get to the border were over an hour long. Even with an AUS passport…

Ah good old LHR – I miss those queues!

Flying MEL – ADL next week, Friday evening. First day of the school holidays. Hopefully a 3pm flight won't be quite so packed as the 6pm-ers but I dare say we'll all feel like sardines in a can. Damn.

 

[muppet]

<snip>

Weirdly no flights on the board in the Qpub have gate numbers even those already boarding.

Oh that's not Qantas, you're just not "match-fit"

 

[Catweazle]

Hard to believe this is happening again....these sorts of headlines should be a massive concern for governments at all levels who are trying to get the tourism industry moving again....

I get that Covid-19, the affectionately termed 'Flurona', influenza and cases of the general cold or flu or sending staff back into isolation, not to mention making them all feel pretty crook and knocked around. As a school teacher, I've been experiencing first hand the lack of staffing available. Somehow we've made it through, but it has proven difficult for some classes.

However, you'd think they would have preplanned the known holiday dates like our recent long weekend in Oz and the upcoming school holidays. Roster more staff on duty than normal, right? That way, if some call in sick, there should still be enough to cover the place? I wonder how many they have in reserve, or on-call.

That said, there are probably other issues to boot, that I haven't yet figured.

 

[Brissy1]

This has created another 1st world fear of not flying phobia, the......."but dad I've got to get to the airport really early and then what if I get through security quickly and then I have to sit around for hours with no lounge access so I have to fly business (dads points) ok?
Good point.

 

[SCM]

The situation in Europe is unlike anything I've seen. Going through security at Schiphol airport today took about 3 hours (just the security, not everything pre-flight). The line first spun around a wing of the airport public area, then outside for a good 800 metres or so both ways, then back inside and the entire top level of the public departures area.

Hundreds of people are missing their flight every hour, so the lineup at the service desks is also very long - but moves much more slowly, so you would need to spend another 3 hours waiting in this one, hoping by the time you reach the staff, there is still a flight with a spare seat to take you to your destination before the day ends.

The flights that are leaving are about 30-60 minutes delayed. Airlines have to carefully balance airport slots with the count of passengers missing flights, probably ensuring they can ideally rebook them on a later flight.

It's not just in Amsterdam, the same problem has spread to all major EU airports. So be very careful, if you can take even an all-day train instead, believe me it would be worth it. At least you can sit down comfortably, drink cheep beer and use the toilet instead of lining up all day. If train is not an option (ie. leaving EU) - then be as early as you possibly can and/or are allowed to (in my case, Schiphol security doesn't let anyone in unless their flight is in the next 4 hours).

Security queue, about 40% of the way through the entire thing (but midway point of the outdoor section). That tent itself is many hundreds of metres long. I'll never complain about aussie airports again!



Flying KLM - to their credit, when I was able to talk to the ground service desk staff they were very helpful and efficient in sorting everyone out.

 

[HeavyElectricity]

The situation in Europe is unlike anything I've seen. Going through security at Schiphol airport today took about 3 hours (just the security, not everything pre-flight). The line first spun around a wing of the airport public area, then outside for a good 800 metres or so both ways, then back inside and the entire top level of the public departures area.

Hundreds of people are missing their flight every hour, so the lineup at the service desks is also very long - but moves much more slowly, so you would need to spend another 3 hours waiting in this one, hoping by the time you reach the staff, there is still a flight with a spare seat to take you to your destination before the day ends.

The flights that are leaving are about 30-60 minutes delayed. Airlines have to carefully balance airport slots with the count of passengers missing flights, probably ensuring they can ideally rebook them on a later flight.

It's not just in Amsterdam, the same problem has spread to all major EU airports. So be very careful, if you can take even an all-day train instead, believe me it would be worth it. At least you can sit down comfortably, drink cheep beer and use the toilet instead of lining up all day. If train is not an option (ie. leaving EU) - then be as early as you possibly can and/or are allowed to (in my case, Schiphol security doesn't let anyone in unless their flight is in the next 4 hours).

Security queue, about 40% of the way through the entire thing (but midway point of the outdoor section). That tent itself is many hundreds of metres long. I'll never complain about aussie airports again!

View attachment 280921

Flying KLM - to their credit, when I was able to talk to the ground service desk staff they were very helpful and efficient in sorting everyone out.

That looks awful! I don't suppose you know if there are priority security queues for status/business class passengers? I'm guessing not!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Airline pilot helps baggage crew load-up plane amid UK airport chaos

Video shows the conscientious captain down on the tarmac helping ground crew to load up to the cargo hold ahead of an Edelweiss flight from Edinburgh airport.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[SCM]

That looks awful! I don't suppose you know if there are priority security queues for status/business class passengers? I'm guessing not!

I was wondering the same, but I didn't see anything like this. I looked into that article of "how I avoided 6 hour queues" but the only priority thing I saw for Schiphol was some kind of a membership, and they were not taking new members.

 

[SCM]

Just a bit of an update, flew out of Munich today to Singapore, I have to say the security took all of 3 minutes (middle of the day on Monday, exactly same situation as Schiphol last week) - so a very different experience. This was the business security line though, but I saw the economy was next to it, I think a very similar situation - maybe a 10 minute wait, just a fairly small queue.

Munich was very recently rated one of the top 10 airports in the world, not sure how relevant the current situation is to that, but I suppose one could suggest, if you are travelling to/from Europe - avoid those major airports which are having problems (Schiphol, Heathrow, Dublin and I think some others).

I know both Schiphol and Heathrow are mandating a certain % of flight cancellations on airlines as well all through summer, and it's unclear if airlines will cancel flights or just not fill them up (you would guess the former would be more profitable).

 

[Mattg]

Just a bit of an update, flew out of Munich today to Singapore, I have to say the security took all of 3 minutes (middle of the day on Monday, exactly same situation as Schiphol last week) - so a very different experience. This was the business security line though, but I saw the economy was next to it, I think a very similar situation - maybe a 10 minute wait, just a fairly small queue.

Munich was very recently rated one of the top 10 airports in the world, not sure how relevant the current situation is to that, but I suppose one could suggest, if you are travelling to/from Europe - avoid those major airports which are having problems (Schiphol, Heathrow, Dublin and I think some others).

I know both Schiphol and Heathrow are mandating a certain % of flight cancellations on airlines as well all through summer, and it's unclear if airlines will cancel flights or just not fill them up (you would guess the former would be more profitable).

Absolutely - there are problems at many major airports at the moment, but Schiphol is an outlier in this regard. It's particularly bad there because most of the underpaid security screening staff quit during covid.

 

[jase05]

ADL was a rabble yesterday morning. Took me near on 40 minutes to get through security at 0430.The lineups were back outside the doors. Hadn’t seen it that bad for some time

 

[SYD]

SYD T1 still struggling with school hols just around the corner. My partner flying out today on QF (QF WP travelling in whY). 2hrs 20mins from me dropping off at curb and entering QF 1st Lounge…

No 1st class check-in. So 45 min queue at J checkin (presumable along with all F/J, CL, WP1/WP, SG, PS/QC and OW equivalents!).

So much for the fanfare with return of A380 First class service?

As reported, only F/J BP holders allowed into “express” lane for immigration / security lane. Person there checking and redirecting the DYKWIAs.

Even with e-Gates operating, processing apparently was slow.

As previously reported, security checks still a bin fight. Late comers being bought toward but just delays everyone else into becoming more late comers…

SYD airport did a big recruitment drive last week but I’d expect to see $2 iceberg lettuce on Coles shelves before there’s any tangle improvements at the airport.

I’m passing through (same flight) in late July (after school hols).

Oh, and todays flight went from mildly full when checkin opened to departing completely full in whY (and J). Apparently PAX still buying tickets this morning!

 

[Catweazle]

ADL was a rabble yesterday morning. Took me near on 40 minutes to get through security at 0430.The lineups were back outside the doors. Hadn’t seen it that bad for some time

Wow - so not used to ADL being overly busy. Even in peak periods prior, it's always been a comparative breeze to glide through!

 

[jakeseven7]

ADL was a rabble yesterday morning. Took me near on 40 minutes to get through security at 0430.The lineups were back outside the doors. Hadn’t seen it that bad for some time

Maybe they fired some of ADL's highly questionable security guards

 

[Ade]

“staff shortages”

<rant>

Yet, QF (or their industry partners) won't hire casual staff, who are very happy to work in aviation. They always need part/full time staff. I understand that it is due to the trainings, ASIC investments etc.. But I'm not able to see/understand why the nature of employment would matter. As long as I show up to the shift and do a bang-up job, it should be fine.

Ranting as someone who cleared all their interview, assessment processes only to be said that they hire part/full time staff only. No exceptions or accommodations to consider casual staff, who would love to work for an airline.

</rant>

 

[jase05]

Wow - so not used to ADL being overly busy. Even in peak periods prior, it's always been a comparative breeze to glide through!

Security shortages

 

[Cossie]

Hmmm, making me nervous, I have a flight out of Canberra on Sunday the 3rd, it’s the first flight of the morning connecting to QF23 and on to Bangkok.
I have an hour and twenty minutes to transfer, if the airside transfer bus isn’t running and I have to go through international security after the external bus trip, I doubt very much I will make it.
I need to be in Bangkok to pick up a connection early next day, sigh.