Given the recent reports, I'm getting worried about a trip back to UK twixt Chrimbo and NY

I have read that these 5 hour waits are more a worry because of the loss of American Tourists (who seem to be very lucrative at the moment), but am not sure if this means that Trans Atlantic and Long haul flights are more heavily affected or that they are just particularly worried about this Cash Cow

Has anyone been to UK (espec Stansted) very recently? How was it?

I went Early - Mid Nov and had no queues - but am worried its a complete disaster now

I went back weekend before last Lisbon to Gatwick.. No queues anywhere. Point to note you are no longer restricted to 100ml of fluids in hand luggage (IIRC its now 2 litres) at Gatwick but you are at Lisbon.

Thanks! Looks promising

2 litres this way! That's handy for wine, you can bring undrinkable coals to Newcastle

But not in Gatwick AFAIAA, and
ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal S.A., as a 100% monopoly, has no incentive to invest money in new screening equipment so that it can loose €€€€€ from people forced to buy hugely overpriced drinks in their airports, so it will never happen here (you dont have to take out laptops tho and do in Stansted))
List of ANA Airports:
Aeroporto de Lisboa
Aeroporto do Porto
Aeroporto de Faro
Aeroporto da Madeira
Aeroporto do Porto Santo
Aeroporto de Ponta Delgada
Aeroporto da Horta
Aeroporto de Santa Maria
Aeroporto das Flores
Aeroporto de Beja

It's pretty pointless trying to estimate how long these things take ,I travelled through Lisbon to Bristol yesterday ,all as smooth as smooth could be with no delay, doesn't mean to say the same thing may happen next time.Expect the unexpected and you can't go wrong

I beg to disagree

Expect the unexpected and you wont be surprised when it goes wrong

You would disagree ,you're on a mission lately 🤣🤣