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Last week there were c. 2 hour queues to get through passport control, the entire arrivals hall was filled with a tensa-barried queue snaking back and forth, wall to wall, all the way up the ramp and then into the corridor connecting the gates
– e-gates are adults only, families with kids need manual processing
– Successive UK flights arriving, with lots of families
– Not many desks to process people manually
– Poor queue management – they need an adults-only line direct to the e-gatesAfter 45 minutes, not even halfway, I was ‘rescued’ and joined a train of people without children being be led through the waiting hordes to use the e-gates, after which there’s a quick passport stamping.
So if you hit the queue and have no kids, try to attract the attention of an attendants and see if they’ll get you to the e-gates.
Last time I went (about 18 months ago) there was no passport control and everyone just walked down to the carousels, picked up their bags and left without any checks at all!
Last time I went (about 18 months ago) there was no passport control and everyone just walked down to the carousels, picked up their bags and left without any checks at all!
Yes, I have fond memories of that too!
Now I believe the authorities ordered enforcement of non-EU passport stamping. At busy times I’d guess queues are inevitable unless/until they add extra capacity.
Last time I went (about 18 months ago) there was no passport control and everyone just walked down to the carousels, picked up their bags and left without any checks at all!
That’s a pretty crazy breach of the external Schengen border if you came from the UK, as assume you were treated as a Schengen arrival. When this has happened in the US (international not pre-cleared flight being routed to domestic arrivals) they recalled everyone to the airport and if you didn’t show up you became a wanted person…
About 8 years ago we flew to Lanzarote but were diverted to FUE due to high winds. We were put on a coach, then a ferry, then another coach to ACE, at no point were any passports checked!
Last time I went (about 18 months ago) there was no passport control and everyone just walked down to the carousels, picked up their bags and left without any checks at all!
That’s a pretty crazy breach of the external Schengen border if you came from the UK, as assume you were treated as a Schengen arrival. When this has happened in the US (international not pre-cleared flight being routed to domestic arrivals) they recalled everyone to the airport and if you didn’t show up you became a wanted person…
I agree. I commented on it when I left for the UK from ACE about 18 months ago where there was no obvious check for departing passengers for the UK and wondering how it would affect my 90 day limits status. (I’d flown MAN-BCN, BCN-ACE, ACE-MAN over a period of a week). Thankfully nothing was said when I next arrived in the EU 4 months later.
That BCN-ACE was my go-around experience too. Diverted to LPA due to lack of fuel after the first pass, sitting on the apron for 3 hours and eventually landing back at ACE. To their credit Ryanair paid the full compensation for delay with no fuss.
Did you get compo for the running out of fuel? Presumably high winds wouldn’t count, we didn’t claim anything, although Ryanair behaved pretty woefully – we were left on the plane in searing temperatures for 2 hours after landing at FUE and the crew refused to give anyone food or water unless they paid for it. Fortunately, we had plenty of snacks and drinks with us as I’m quite good at emergency planning!
It was an adventure, though, and I would do the ferry trip again!
Yes, that was reason the captain gave for the divert after pulling out at around 500 ft. Not enough to risk a second pass. Every other flight around that time landed successfully. So I thought I’d chance it and put a claim in. Always wondered how many other people did from that flight.
Same with the crew, nothing said or done proactively, just sat there until the fuel was put in and we had clearance to take off. Almost zero information forthcoming for the whole period.
Ferry between Fuerte and Lanz is cool, I did it as a foot passenger years ago and did a bus tour around the island.
@davefl That’s such a missed customer service opportunity. If I know I’m going to be sat for a while I get everything done that I can, then I allow flight deck visits from kids only at first while I wander down the cabin and speak to people. You have to manage things carefully because we can get the nod to go at almost no notice but as long as the aisles aren’t clogged it’s rarely a problem.
Thursday and Sunday’s are the busy days for ACE where most the UK flights come in. That said earlier this month on a Sunday we were first off the plane and straight through immigration, the people behind us were stuck with a Gatwick flight and took a lot longer to come through. The hall where the E gates are is just too small to cope with the amount of people, but I don’t see how they can change it.
@Strickers that may have been going on but honestly I was 2nd row from back and being kicked and abused from behind for the entire flight by 2 infants who spent the whole time bouncing on the tray tables, even during take off anf landing. Mother was ignoring them completly, crew were useless. Was 6 hours of hell. I fully deserved my compo.
As to going at a moments notice that did happen now I try and remember. At one point the pilot said it would be maybe 1-2 hours before we could get a slot and then within 30 mins we were back in the air after a hurried “seats for takeoff” message
Earlier in the year queue was about 40 mins. I think you had to be 18 to use the e-gates, and even then you have to push your way through the queue shouting “e-gate”. The e-gates were completely empty, but the queue is almost at the front by the time you can peel off from the mail queue to use them.
Having been in and out a few times without getting stamped or even my passport checked once wondered when they’d finally close that loophole! I do wonder how airports like this are going to cope with the biometric systems when they come online later this year
@davefl That’s such a missed customer service opportunity. If I know I’m going to be sat for a while I get everything done that I can, then I allow flight deck visits from kids only at first while I wander down the cabin and speak to people. You have to manage things carefully because we can get the nod to go at almost no notice but as long as the aisles aren’t clogged it’s rarely a problem.
That’s fine Strickers until some idiots start chest poking and getting aggressve. Not a good way to manage blood pressure before having to launch off again.
@webloid I’ve never had a problem in those situations, they’d be off the aircraft quicker than they could count to 5 if they did.
@Strickers Have experienced quite a few BA pilots offering flight deck visits for kids when delays are expected. Probably the bit of the holiday the kids will remember the most 😲 Recently the offer was rescinded as soon as the kids started forming a queue as ATC clearance was given. Cabin crew kindly (and quietly) informed parents they could visit on landing if they wanted to wait.
Back to ACE, I’d check how many flights are due to land around the same time from non-Schengen.
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