Nightmares at LHR

[offshore171]

JB Hifi had Tile tags on sale (for those who dont know Tile is the original GPS tracker, Apple copied the concept for air tags, but Tile works on Android and iPhone and has more users globally); as some extra insurance to understand where my checked bags are.

Just to manage expectations regarding the Tile tracker.

The "community tracking" feature on this product is much more limited

Community Tracking refers to locating the tile based on proximity to random users' devices anywhere in the world. This is the feature that is useful in the travel luggage context.

A Tile can only ping its location when another device is nearby that has the Tile app installed and running.

The Airtag will ping off every iPhone in the world.

So for example, if it's in a baggage handling location, or a store room, with say 10 people in range, it's likely 3-4 of them will have an iPhone on their person. It's likely that 0 of them will have a phone with the Tile app running.

The result is that an AirTag will nearly always update its position within minutes. A tile can take days in worst cases.

 

[RooFlyer]

Just to manage expectations regarding the Tile tracker.

The "community tracking" feature on this product is much more limited

Community Tracking refers to locating the tile based on proximity to random users' devices anywhere in the world. This is the feature that is useful in the travel luggage context.

A Tile can only ping its location when another device is nearby that has the Tile app installed and running.

The Airtag will ping off every iPhone in the world.

So for example, if it's in a baggage handling location, or a store room, with say 10 people in range, it's likely 3-4 of them will have an iPhone on their person. It's likely that 0 of them will have a phone with the Tile app running.

The result is that an AirTag will nearly always update its position within minutes. A tile can take days in worst cases.

I was once a Tile user but when I read about the air tags on this thread, and read up about them, I jumped on them. The ‘phantom’, that is, background tracking is phenomenal.

 

[Lynda2475]

No air tag benefit will imo ever be worth the sheer pain of having to use an iphone - I find them utterly unusable ymmv of course but id rather not have a phone or tablet than have a apple device.

With a discount via my employer the the 2 tiles cost $20 in total, a lot less than air tag . Not a huge outlay if it doesnt pay off.

The Tile should allow me to tell if the bags made the flight or not - even on a A380 a bag in the hold will be within range of my own phone.

I've been doing some hotel research this arvo, my airbnb is fully refundable, thinking of cancelling for a hotel (although in a less prime location) a 24hour reception can sign for any luggage delivery whereas my airbnb is unmanned so cannot. Main cost will be need to take a taxi from a station with a lift (or without stairs) to the hotel as only a few weeks out the prices for hotels near stations on piccadily line without stairs are astronomical.

 

[clifford]

I've been doing some hotel research this arvo, my airbnb is fully refundable, thinking of cancelling for a hotel (although in a less prime location) a 24hour reception can sign for any luggage delivery whereas my airbnb is unmanned so cannot. Main cost will be need to take a taxi from a station with a lift (or without stairs) to the hotel as only a few weeks out the prices for hotels near stations on piccadily line without stairs are astronomical.

You could perhaps have a look at the Ramada Hounslow for just over $100 a night in August/September (booking.com) and take the tube from LHR to Hounslow East (Lift to street level) and then a cab/uber to the hotel. The hotel is close to Hounslow Central, but this station does not have step-free access to ground level as I recall.

 

[Lynda2475]

Thanks @clifford Im wanting to stay at either an IHG or Accor property to take advanatage of status benefits (preferably minimum of 4 stars, absolutey must have air conditioning and a walk in shower no shubs).

Looking at properties near Earls Court (no stairs) or Southwark/Blackfriars where i would get the tube to Green Park (has lifts) and then a short taxi to the hotel. I will have 3 suitcases (2 medium, 1 carry on) hence need to avoid lots of stairs. One of the larger cases is for later shopping in the USA on way home (but will likley split my clothes between the two checked cases, so that if one bag makes it and one doesnt, I have some items.

Novotel Blackfriars or Holiday Inn Express Southwark or Ibis London Blackfriars (although only 3 stars, has wooden floors not icky carpet which is nice) will all cost less than the Airbnb refund (as I initially booked for 4 nights but then due to flight change to a super early departure needed to book sofitel at Heathrow for last night so not to miss flight, as tube doesnt run early enough).

 

[StevoQFtraveller]

Well, my BA flight from T3 yesterday looked as though it was going to leave on time. Then the captain realised that on the flight in tge 320 had received bird damage ( poor bird, but probably quick death). So we waited to get the green light from airbus as to whether to take off. A mere 2 hours delay. Captain was veru upbeat which made the sit on the runway tolerable

 

[leadman]

T5 9/7/22 for the 7:15am flight to Milan. Crowds were incredible as the baggage conveyor was down. Got down to First check-in, and they were spilling out of the door. After a few minutes a staff member came up and told us they had opened up a desk in business, so just go over and check in there. Two of us went straight across and were processed in 5 minutes and we went back to First area access to security. Nobody else in that line wanted to move from the first line to the business line. All-in-all, ten minutes from check-in to lounge. The couple in front of me in the original line finally made it 45 minutes later!

 

[Stealthflyer]

Thanks @clifford Im wanting to stay at either an IHG or Accor property to take advanatage of status benefits (preferably minimum of 4 stars, absolutey must have air conditioning and a walk in shower no shubs).

Looking at properties near Earls Court (no stairs) or Southwark/Blackfriars where i would get the tube to Green Park (has lifts) and then a short taxi to the hotel. I will have 3 suitcases (2 medium, 1 carry on) hence need to avoid lots of stairs. One of the larger cases is for later shopping in the USA on way home (but will likley split my clothes between the two checked cases, so that if one bag makes it and one doesnt, I have some items.

Novotel Blackfriars or Holiday Inn Express Southwark or Ibis London Blackfriars (although only 3 stars, has wooden floors not icky carpet which is nice) will all cost less than the Airbnb refund (as I initially booked for 4 nights but then due to flight change to a super early departure needed to book sofitel at Heathrow for last night so not to miss flight, as tube doesnt run early enough).

Definitely air conditioning. This Tasmanian is not coping with the heat in London at the moment. It’s forecast for 40 the next few days.

 

[mbell1510]

Interesting approach by Qantas to get around the Heathrow caps. The Australian is reporting the airline is rescheduling QF2 from tomorrow to have an 11-hour layover in Singapore to avoid having to cancel flights and flights will depart from LHR at noon.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/bu...e/news-story/affd8ef44e0537249998f8e360a814ac

As a result, Tuesday’s QF2 service to Sydney would depart 9-hours earlier than scheduled, taking off at midday from terminal 4, instead of terminal 3.

The earlier departure time meant an 11-hour stopover in Singapore, during which time customers would be provided with accommodation.

 

[SYD]

Interesting approach by Qantas to get around the Heathrow caps. The Australian is reporting the airline is rescheduling QF2 from tomorrow to have an 11-hour layover in Singapore to avoid having to cancel flights and flights will depart from LHR at noon.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/bu...e/news-story/affd8ef44e0537249998f8e360a814ac

A bit of a dick around but better than outright cancelled flight. Although I imagine there’ll be a lot of PAX booked on inbound LHR connections to QF2 who won’t make it…

 

[justinbrett]

Interesting approach by Qantas to get around the Heathrow caps. The Australian is reporting the airline is rescheduling QF2 from tomorrow to have an 11-hour layover in Singapore to avoid having to cancel flights and flights will depart from LHR at noon.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/bu...e/news-story/affd8ef44e0537249998f8e360a814ac

It looks like they would still have had time to get into SYD before curfew (landing about 8pm after a 2 hour stop in SIN). I wonder why they didn't do that? I'm guessing crewing at SIN?

 

[Melburnian1]

You could perhaps have a look at the Ramada Hounslow for just over $100 a night in August/September (booking.com) and take the tube from LHR to Hounslow East (Lift to street level) and then a cab/uber to the hotel. The hotel is close to Hounslow Central, but this station does not have step-free access to ground level as I recall.

There are one or two Premier Inns in that area as well. Can be cheap.

 

[Melburnian1]

Interesting approach by Qantas to get around the Heathrow caps. The Australian is reporting the airline is rescheduling QF2 from tomorrow to have an 11-hour layover in Singapore to avoid having to cancel flights and flights will depart from LHR at noon.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/bu...e/news-story/affd8ef44e0537249998f8e360a814ac

As I stated in the Qantas cancellations/delays thread, the report is confusing, as Qantas' flight status shows the Wednesday ex LHR QF2 still as a 2105 hours departure:

Qantas Delays/Cancellations

Is this an actual flight with pax? Or just an aircraft repositioning? Agreed it's unusual, but it's displaying on QFd's 'flight status' so it may be a passenger flight. It's a 1400 hours running 135 minutes late with expected ADL departure at 1615. QF2195 operates three or four days a week...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Is this Tuesday 'bringing forward' by nine hours and five minutes to '1200 high noon' only a one-off?

 

[OATEK]

As I stated in the Qantas cancellations/delays thread, the report is confusing, as Qantas' flight status shows the Wednesday ex LHR QF2 still as a 2105 hours departure:

Qantas Delays/Cancellations

Is this an actual flight with pax? Or just an aircraft repositioning? Agreed it's unusual, but it's displaying on QFd's 'flight status' so it may be a passenger flight. It's a 1400 hours running 135 minutes late with expected ADL departure at 1615. QF2195 operates three or four days a week...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Is this Tuesday 'bringing forward' by nine hours and five minutes to '1200 high noon' only a one-off?

As I read the article it stated that that there were ongoing talks about the flights beyond Tuesday, so too early to say?

 

[SYD]

If it’s any consolation, BA staff are due for a summer strike about now so that might help ease congestion…

Looks like the refuelers blinked first.…

Heathrow Refueling Strike Begins On Thursday

More chaos waiting for passengers at London’s Heathrow if a strike at the refueling operator begins on Thursday.

loyaltylobby.com

Could affect long haul flights Thu thru Sunday….

 

[docjames]

Just a datapoint that FRA last weekend was ok arriving long haul Int (EK) and our priority bags came quickly. A moderate number of bags sitting waiting collection (presumably not going to happen as pax will have left) and pax waiting bags to come from other flights. US carriers appeared to be the worst affected of the longer haul int arrivals.

Domestic and Euro Lufthansa apparently (per Germans telling me….) significantly affected and running a cancellation rate up to the mid double digits…..

More updates:

Checkin at FRA - huge line, everyone there well over three hours early for EK and also BA. Priority queue for the win - very short wait. Still looked to be a number of LH flights cancelled / delayed significantly. T2 car rental return closed so had to go to T1 and take transfer bus - annoying but manageable - although probably added time overall. Immigration relatively short. Security immediately before boarding minor queue but a lot of bags getting secondary checks. Still not bad.

MEL - "worst airport for international arrivals in the world" status retained. Arrived at gate but 25min delay to deplane - putting us behind two other international arrivals. Which meant long queue for immigration (and really really disengaged border force agent - probably sick of it). ePassport counters 10 deep to access and a number malfunctioning. So "normal operations" then. Bags came quickly (thanks EK / priority tags / dnata). And then the queue to clear customs was insane - to start with the whole area is poorly designed for flow of pax, then two queues formed snaking their way around all the obstacles and making it almost impossible to get past anyone, then they decided to open the queuing area properly which helped a bit, then everyone started trying to cut in line. Took about 90-100 mins from runway to car - about 3x what it took in FRA in either inbound or outbound.

DXB almost as busy as usual but still with some stores closed. F Lounge still good.

40 degree temperature change from Europe has been unpleasant - usually its the other way around.......

Given the amount of coughing on the flight home (100% full), it'll take a miracle for us to not catch a respiratory virus of some sort.....

 

[docjames]

Thanks @clifford Im wanting to stay at either an IHG or Accor property to take advanatage of status benefits (preferably minimum of 4 stars, absolutey must have air conditioning and a walk in shower no shubs).

Looking at properties near Earls Court (no stairs) or Southwark/Blackfriars where i would get the tube to Green Park (has lifts) and then a short taxi to the hotel. I will have 3 suitcases (2 medium, 1 carry on) hence need to avoid lots of stairs. One of the larger cases is for later shopping in the USA on way home (but will likley split my clothes between the two checked cases, so that if one bag makes it and one doesnt, I have some items.

Novotel Blackfriars or Holiday Inn Express Southwark or Ibis London Blackfriars (although only 3 stars, has wooden floors not icky carpet which is nice) will all cost less than the Airbnb refund (as I initially booked for 4 nights but then due to flight change to a super early departure needed to book sofitel at Heathrow for last night so not to miss flight, as tube doesnt run early enough).

HI London Oxford Circus was quite decent although dated.

HIX London Grenwich was good (but not the location you are looking for).

Would avoid HIX Victoria unless incredibly cheap and/or it's been renovated since I stayed there:

Holiday Inn Express Victoria (London)

So I was a bit nervous reading online reviews prior to my stay here, but it was a solid £50 cheaper per night than the alternative central London IHG options and included breakfast. The duty manager was pleased to see my IHG Amb plat card, but then was apologetic that the hotel "really needs...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

HI Aeriel was pretty good - noting if you're leaving T5 early i'd do the Sofitel (was good and convenient when I stayed there 2018 with late arrival from event in London and 7am departure from Heathrow).

 

[SYD]

HI London Oxford Circus was quite decent although dated.

HIX London Grenwich was good (but not the location you are looking for).

Would avoid HIX Victoria unless incredibly cheap and/or it's been renovated since I stayed there:

Holiday Inn Express Victoria (London)

So I was a bit nervous reading online reviews prior to my stay here, but it was a solid £50 cheaper per night than the alternative central London IHG options and included breakfast. The duty manager was pleased to see my IHG Amb plat card, but then was apologetic that the hotel "really needs...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

HI Aeriel was pretty good - noting if you're leaving T5 early i'd do the Sofitel (was good and convenient when I stayed there 2018 with late arrival from event in London and 7am departure from Heathrow).

I’ve stayed at the HIX Victoria (actually Pimlico). Whilst it’s actually a nice little area, it’s a bit of a schlepp from Pimlico tube (Victoria Line/not step free) if you have a lot of luggage and pretty pokey rooms. I was actually across the road in a *tiny* AirBnB looking over to it just a few weeks ago and it didn’t look like it’s been renovated.

It’s a pity the HI Mayfair closed. It was a short stagger to Green Park tube or easy walk to lots of things.

 

[levelnine]

MEL - "worst airport for international arrivals in the world" status retained. Arrived at gate but 25min delay to deplane - putting us behind two other international arrivals. Which meant long queue for immigration (and really really disengaged border force agent - probably sick of it). ePassport counters 10 deep to access and a number malfunctioning. So "normal operations" then. Bags came quickly (thanks EK / priority tags / dnata). And then the queue to clear customs was insane - to start with the whole area is poorly designed for flow of pax, then two queues formed snaking their way around all the obstacles and making it almost impossible to get past anyone, then they decided to open the queuing area properly which helped a bit, then everyone started trying to cut in line. Took about 90-100 mins from runway to car - about 3x what it took in FRA in either inbound or outbound.

Almost identical experience at the start of this week, except my luggage with First tags was among the last to come out.

Queue to get through customs was about 1km, snaking the entire boundary of the baggage collection hall.

Close to 3 hours from runway to car.

 

[jpp42]

What are they doing at MEL that requires such a long queue for customs? Recently at SYD the queues are no more than 5-10 minutes typically. It's supposed to be the same Border Force. (Passport control queues at Sydney are another story.)