beckiwoo

Just arrived back from Holiday in Turkey today and it was a nightmare getting through passport control at stansted airport: long lines, those biometric data machines that are supposed to take less time but they actually seem to take the same amount, no order with the lines (I think that is just stansted airport - the hellhole that it is!)

Why does it take so long to get back into ones own country - I've stood in lines in the USA for less time!

beckiwoo

Apologies this isn't related to Canada but I thought seeing as a lot of people have dual nationality and experiences with returning to UK and how it compares to other countries

Atlantic Xpat

Recently arriving back at Gatwick from Spain I skipped the long Eu nationals line and used my Canadian passport. Much to the confusion of the BSO who couldn't find an entry stamp for either UK or Spain in my passport. Still let me in though.☺

beckiwoo

My next goal in life is to get another passport/citizenship preferably a non-EU one

It's getting longer and worse to get back into UK - no wonder so many people want to leave!

Jingsamichty

I've never had any problems at Stansted Airport, apart from a wait for baggage reclaim. It's a fine, light, modern airport.

beckiwoo

They are doing a lot of work to it at the moment, it's a mess going through security and arriving in - overcrowded and can't cope. I've flown from gatwick, Heathrow, Birmingham, East Midlands and Luton and this was by far the worst experience

christmasoompa

If some people really want to leave the UK for that reason, then I think the UK is better off without them somehow!

It's never bothered me, even when travelling with a baby and a toddler after a long flight. Frankly I'd far rather have a long queue than have lax security that just wave everybody though.

bats

Did you need both hands to pick it up?

Jingsamichty

It's in Essex, all you need is a Bacardi Breezer and a bag of chips.

beckiwoo

...or they are better off without the UK

bats

Boom tish!

bats

I suppose it all depends on which flights arrive at the same time as yours. If there's a shed load of European flights then there might be a shed load of Europeans arriving. Just a thought.

BritInParis

You get what you pay for.

beckiwoo

Well I just wanted to share my experience. Maybe when they have finished off the airport (I don't even know what they are doing to it but it looks like it needs expanding) it maybe different and they will have some better systems in place.

beckiwoo

So about a couple of £billion then (cost of airport)...