Security Etc for LGW today

Now sitting in LGW CH, but the trip here was a little 'busy'.

Online check-in didn't work for me (again) so had to check in manually. I was singled out for exhaustive passport checks and the accepted.

I new my case was heavy as I weighed it before leaving - 70lbs exactly. By the time I checked in it has gone up 2 lbs and the check in staff insisted I take something out! Unbelievable especially flying UC and with the handluggage restrictions in place.

Security Lines are LONG and winding! There are plenty of BAA staff about but there are no tensabarriers up so it is difficult to see where the line starts. The staff moved us to a shorter line at one point. All in all about 45mins to get through security which could be worse (but it could be better).

Also, no Fasttrack for UC PAX. The queue is open but it is just a normal security lane not a fast track.

Laptop out, shoes off, belt off, pat down and collect my stuff. Watched a youth tie a ball in a carrier bag to the back of his trousers, but security spotted it as (as if they didn't I was going to have a word) and he was told to remove and have it x rayed.

Anyway, flight delayed by an hour so at least it give me a little time to relax in the CH and there is a female american here who is very familiar, I am sure I should know her name. I think she is an actress. I will see if it comes to me.

Paul

I new my case was heavy as I weighed it before leaving - 70lbs exactly. By the time I checked in it has gone up 2 lbs and the check in staff insisted I take something out! Unbelievable especially flying UC and with the handluggage restrictions in place.

In which case your bag would have been just over 32Kg and therefore over the maximum weight baggage handlers are allowed to lift by Health & Safety law. BAA are gradually programming all baggage belts to physically not move if the item placed on there is over the limit.

Flew out of LGW on the same day, and was told by the check-in guy that if we ventured upstairs, there was a shorter queue for another security area. We duly went up one floor and lo and behold, there was a queue that was at least half the length of the downstairs queue!

Don't queue downstairs without checking the upstairs queue first. It's almost always shorter by a long way apparently.

Also delayed departing to MCO on the early flight by an hour, but what the hell, upstairs in a very peaceful PE seat - not bad at ll. UCS on the way home...

Flew from LGW North Terminal yesterday, normal check in was very slow but we used the self service and bag drop was reasonably quick. Security was a breeze with no real queues. Overall not a bad experience. Cabin luggage rules were being srtictly enforced though.

Iain