Stupid things people do at the airport

"Yes, and you forgot to mention the cattle-market grids that you have to zig-zag interminally up and down until you can show off your passport photo. A simple duck & dive would do the trick near the end of the rows - but there may be a punitive fine for displaying common sense."

Yes, I find the snaking walk a real insult and the duck and dive is hardly dignified either. Still the chaos without those queue paths would be way more stressful.

I encountered a polish woman about 5ft 1 that looked at me and said "next" for going through the metal detector. She was part of security. As I stepped through, she jumped into me while trying in vain to push me back through the detector and told me she didn't say for me to go through, even though she looked and nodded when saying "Next".

I told her to be more precise and clear of her instructions next time. She yelled at me telling me that I needed to pay attention next time.

By this time I have my Partner hanging off my arm telling me to let her have her little moment of power. The polish security lady with no grasp of the English language now has 3 big burley men behind her edging toward me telling me to calm down or they will remove me from the airport...

I told them that it was her lack of clear communication in the first place and assulting me in the first place that was the problem. Obviously, they ignored me and sad I pushed her.

Told them to hire someone that understood english and didn't have the "im a short woman with power over tall men" ego.


Anyway, I walked through again to the woman looking at me. Put on my trainers and had her again, state that "I needed to listen next time". To which a narrowminded me, said "learn English and learn how to do your job". Walked off with a smug look on my face and a furious girlfriend yelling in my ear.

Bliss lol.

Ahhhh. That's now off my chest.

Then there's all the signs which ask you to take your passport out of any fancy leather case you keep it in. Loads of people manage to ignore these signs until they get to the desk & hold everyone else up a bit more!

Yes, and you forgot to mention the cattle-market grids that you have to zig-zag interminally up and down until you can show off your passport photo. A simple duck & dive would do the trick near the end of the rows - but there may be a punitive fine for displaying common sense.

Totally Agree! It really annoys me at customs on return and everyone waits in the queue to have the passports checked, and there's always the person at the front who can't find their passport...

Hell yeah! What I think is it is, is that they think Oh if we get our stuff first..... We'll have a longer holiday........ Errr yeah...you wish.

I have left 3 pieces of bangles (special luck) in the basket at the scan desk. Can I please declare these when Ireturn on 4 april 2009.

Why is it that as the majority of people going through airports (esp. now with budget travel) are economy passengers they are bombarded with the most expensive shopping imaginable. These so-called designer shops hardly have anybody in them because of their prices. Surely it's basic economics to have more affordable high-street retailers in these places?

I am over 60. I will no longer stand for poor services and bad value for money. I have had enough. I used to forgive, no longer. The country has gone to the dogs as far I am concerned. I have just flown back from Europe using British Airways. Never again. Together with the British Airport Authority they have jointly conspired to make my journey a misery. From long queues at Heathrow terminal 4, from monopolies and over priced duty-free shops all owned by BAA. From lack of a decent wholsome meal on the plane. From general lack of care and couldn't give a damn attitude. It's not my problem they always say. My custom will disappear I say. I just warn the young people today: if they let the world take advantage of them, they will be taken advantage of.

Unbelievable. The stupidest things that are done at airports are by those who run them. Today I had to pick someone up at Heathrow Terminal 4. Never again. Terminal 4 simply has not got the capacity to handle the traffic put through it.

I learned a lot.

a) All the Duty Free stores in BAA Airports are owned by BAA. They have a complete monopoly. This is sick. This is the government giving away nice little earners. Don't shop there. It's stupid

b) The term Duty Free is meaningless. You must be stupid to be taken in by this still.

c) Why does it cost £5-10p an hour to park your car at Heathrow Terminal 4? Don't bring your car to the airport. It's stupid.

d) Don't change you money at the airport into or from Euros. You ,must be stupid if you do.

Please, would those fools whom cause lengthy queues at airports, kindly whilst waiting in line do the following: remove your belt, shoes, coins, phones, and all metal and electronic objects prior to the line of the X Ray machine! or at least be prepared. I have counted numerous times, passengers waiting til the last minute and holding up the line, and they always tend to be the ones with a smile on thier face. Also I suggest airlines limit the size of carry on items to fit a third of a size of the overhead bin. The aircraft should also have slots/individual compartments allocated within the overhead bin for each passenger by thier seat number. This will ensure that sefish travellers do not take up all the the space and speed up the X-Ray areas.

Oh good perfect... This stinks I have recently just purchased a new VAIO Laptop ($2100) and now at the terminal security port/airport security port area they are trying to help the flow of travelers by going at their best speed for checking... However I'm just scared that in their haste they may damage my laptop (dropping it or throwing it...) or other electronic device I pocess (iPod, cell phone, pda) grr... I'm not sure I want to bring my laptop anymore in fear that it may get damaged. Don't forget these lines though, "Sir please remove your shoes and place all personal items in the basket and your bag on the x-ray belt and then walk through the scanner...."