Gatwick/Virgin nightmare yesterday

[Kristina]

We arrived home yesterday after a nightmare at Gatwick. We flew with Virgin home from MCO at 6:05pm and the flight was on time and all went well . Trouble is I had booked us cheap flights from Gatwick to Kastrup/Copenhagen international and we only had about 2 hours to transfer our luggage and board the plane. Actually less because Sterling Air should have closed there check in 40 minutes prior to boarding, but it was that flight or the next one in 6 hours time so I hoped for the best ! Well, when our Virgin flight came in we rushed through security, got our bags finally then over to the Sterling Check in, only to see what looked like thousands of people in all sorts of lines stretching out into the area before that check in where the Christmas tree stands. We actually could not see the Sterling check in desk, and asked which airline everyone was queuing for? When a woman said Virgin I was re leaved but I couldn't help but think of all the Diser's who were probably in that nightmare of a line!

When we checked in we went to security which was a mess as well with a huge long and winding queue and to our surprise only ONE X-RAY MACHINE OPEN! What a joke! Many people were angry and although we wanted to push through and ask if we could go ahead we didn't because I thought well, they have our bags and we have checked in and since it wasn't our fault surely we would be okay. But once through security we saw on the monitor that our flight was closing! We ran for it, I fell and banged up my knee with the passports and cosmetics in the little bags flying everywhere . Got up, continued to limp along quickly now then all of a sudden we were through a door and out on the tarmac. With several planes to chose from we found our own right in front of us and up the stairs in the rain we finally made it. Pity that one person was surely stuck because they did end up pulling someones bags off the plane who never showed up. I wonder who that was and where in the awful miss managed airport that Gatwick is they were, poor thing.

 

[UKDEB]

It was exactly the same when we checked in for our flight in October. The entire hall was filled with people queuing for the Virgin desks. We'd checked in online, but even that queue was horrendous. Luckily, we were flying PE (so at least one of the perks paid off that trip!). I did feel sorry for those in line, but my overwhelming emotion was one of relief.

Pleased to hear you made your fight. How's the knee?

 

[JohnnySharp2]

That's crazy Kristina - trust you are now ok? especially as you are a Liverpool supporter

 

[Kristina]

Thanks, yes now my knee is fine thankfully. At the time though I thought surely I was going to have some pain or swelling today as I felt it move a bit to the right ! Wow Deb you say it was the same in October? I know next time we go we are planning on staying overnight at one of the hotels near the airport..if indeed we fly out of Gatwick. I had only 45 min. of sleep before we left home this time at 2:30 am and my DBF Kevin decided to just stay awake, so we both felt a bit sickly when we arrived at our beloved Pop Century.

Yep Johnny I am a Liverpool supporter now thanks to Kev, he gave me Liverpool and I gave him Disney you could say . The most exciting night was the Champions League final...Kevin had to go outside at the end of it he was so nervous haha!

 

[Grumpy John]

Glad everything worked out OK - eventually.

The passport control/screening at Gatwick especially the South Terminal is chronic.

We cannot basically organise a good drink in a brewery.

The staff are rude, and I do object to being called MATE!! and my better half DEAR!!

Orlando and even Sanford are totally different. Very professional and very very polite.

Come on BAA get your act together after all you make enough money!