Heathrow Is So Special … And Not In A Good Way. john.philpin.com
@JohnPhilpin I have been thinking about how a “send to address” for non allowed/above quota items would have been nice, I don’t think they have that here, but else the experience sounds pretty bad.
@odd If oyu could send 'everything' - would be great - but what they send has to fit into a 'security supplied' plastic bag.
2/5 Dear Heathrow, What Happened To Consistency?
It appears that leather shoes are a major threat to civilization, they need to be removed … canvas and rubber boots … no problem … leave them on.
3/5 Is It Just Heathrow T5 Passengers That Have to Play By The Rules?
We all have to pull our computers and devices out of the bags. I was well ahead of the curve … or so I thought.
Take them out of their cases sir.
Compliance is my middle name … done.
No attention paid … ‘security woman’ simply covers computers and devices with said covers.
4/5 So Who Is Responsible?
Is it over regulated Govt? A govt that wants to ‘do it better’ than ‘RoW’?
Or Heathrow… ?
Or BA who are the sole T5 operator?
Or over zealous staff at the security desk?
All of the above … and at each level it just gets worse and worse?
5/5 How Do You Stand Up And Be Counted?
And regardless of who is responsible … how do you make them listen?
The part not recounted here is the build up of passengers behind us who had also had their bags pulled… some were clearly going to miss their flights. (We had a significant buffer, for no particular reason, but at least that bit worked out.
Any and all of us had significant reason for complaint .. but we don’t .. you know … because … we all had places to go.
But after all is said and done, who do you complain to? Who needs to be told that the system is broken, not standard, not working … who even cares?
Kafka rules.
So now we move to phase 2.
Getting the stuff back. At the time - they have a scheme where 'some' - some that is - not all of the stuff - could be returned. It all had to fit into yet another plastic bag - anything else was thrown out. We were given a slip - where we could log on - after 48 hours and start the process. So we had to wait a week - and get back from Poland.
We filled in the form - gave an address - and off we went to the races .... ignoring the 50 quid that I was charged for all kinds of things. Next thing I knew it had been delivered - but not left - because someone needs to be at home. Why didn’t they tell ujs that?
So it is in a storage locker near that address and I can visit and pick it up in the next 7 days - or it will be 'retuned to sender' ....
First problem - we are no longer near that address.
Solution 1 - traipse back out OR
Solution 2 - redirect to here.
Solution 2 requires a phone call - done - it's not a normal call - one that costs me 7 pence per minute. Not a lot in the big scheme of things but seriously. Really?
Everything was hunky dory until they asked if they could speak to Jax - it is all in her name.
Umm no - she's out.
She needs to call us and say you are authorized.
So - wait mode.