Econ

To be honest that is my thinking on a lot of things we are made to do now

Considering every time a journalist tests these security systems and others at airports they find they are easy to get through, no security check on who they are when applying for a job, with guns etc. through xray machines... while the poor passengers with a bottle of water have them removed.

Lorna at Vicenza

I've only ever had a minor problem with Easy Jet just once on a return flight to Italy.

We were told at check-in that one of our cases was too heavy - and I have to say they were all packed to the limits with Christmas stuff, kids presents etc.

My OH quickly put his hand inside one of the cases, pulled out something that he thought was heavy enough to bring the weight down and shoved it into his hand luggage.

When we went through the checks to the departure lounge I discovered that the item OH had pulled out without thinking was only my huge 50% free bottle of Heinz salad cream. The official apologised as he threw it into a bin and I didn't know whether to almost cry or thump my man.

emsirrah

Last time I came through Malaga I had an empty water bottle in my hand luggage which nobody bothered about. When I got through customs I went to the water fountain and filled it. Saved me a couple of quid on EasyJet along with the smoked salmon and avocado sandwiches and chocolate brownies I took with me.
The people next to me spend about six pounds on a Jack Daniels and Coke along with a packet of biscuits then watched me eat my meal.

SaratonyT

We always fly with Easyjet, with the children we always take our own food on the flights otherwise it would cost a small fortune.

The only problem we have had with Easyjet is the boarding process, even with Easyjet Plus cards we still find boarding stressful because everyone pushes forward. Our 4 year old was knocked off her feet by adults elbowing their way through to get on the plane first! Noone stopped and apologised. Last time me we flew we had to help a man on crutches who was also getting pushed out of the way - it always seems so mad because there are always enough seats on the plane! Just an example about how selfish some people can be. (Have to say this only happens FROM Bristol - the staff in Spain are always much better at boarding the flights and there is only a bit of shoving trying to get to the boarding gate).

pete_l

I've found that the problem isn't the number of seats (though there's often a scrum for people who want to sit together), but the amount of overhead stowage. The first people on manage to fill it all with their oversized wheelie cases and the people who get on last either have to squash their bags into any remaining space, or put it under the seat.

Econ

Treating humans like cattle! The problem is many people have no manners, no matter how many times they fly and know the process they all charge to get to the front as their animal instincts appear. I think it shouldn't be allowed to not have a boarding pass and be allocated a seat, it doesn't make any real difference with time as the rush into the plane and to seats causes chaos which could be avoided. In flights of late I have used Aer Lingus who issue a boarding pass, it is all civilised boarding and takes no longer if not less time. It is a shame that health and safety create silly rules and yet somewhere it is needed like this to protect kids and the elderly it doesn't seem to come into play.

jdr

You should have the first boarding letter (A) on the boarding pass if you are with children, tell the check in person.

noelrosie

Or have it removed and put in the hold at the last minute if they haven't managed to board in time to fit their case into the overhead lockers ... in practice, it seems to me, most people's handluggage is now too large to fit under the seat.
This is a direct result of airlines charging extra to check in a hold bag ... gone are the days of people boarding the plane with just a coat and a handbag/briefcase/small changing bag for baby!

SaratonyT

Thanks JDR, but we do have speedyboarding, even with that it is stressful, you firstly have to get to the front of the baying mob to pass through the gate avoiding the evil looks and then whenthey check everyone else in, people then surge forward and you really have to stand your ground, it is like a military excercise keeping hold of the childrens and keeping together.

I agree with the bag issue, our last flight in January ran out of space and the cabin crew were finding it hard to stow all of the bags, we saw some people with 2 bags and others with cases which were far too large - it is the fault of the check in staff for not sticking to the guidelines. You regularly see people unable to put their bags in the overhead lockers because they are too big and heavy.

Anyway, that's enough moaning for now!!!!

susique

See Ryanair's new scheme - check their website under 'news'... that should sort out the selfish so and so's that take more than one bag or much bigger than stipulated.

I don't know how they have got away with it for so long, take off is often delayed while the cabin crew desperately try and find space for all the extra bags that people bring on. Certainly on Ryanair flights....

Hondon Voyager

Tell me an airline who flies to Alicante from the UK (in my case the London Region) who offer the frills if you wanted them and can get you there in approx 2.5 hours, Monarch are probably the closest if you have a gold card so it is a waste of time moaning.I have flown just about all of them ,Iberia is very good but takes about a day to get there .You just have to treat it as a long bus ride and forget Customer service and go with whoever is cheapest and quickest on the day .Easyjet I think are about the cheapest inflight service (let me know if you know different) Ryanair are the most expensive but no-one can compete with their fares ,they also have a wider choice of flight times .I personally have had a whinge about them all but I have had a lot of good experiences with them all as well . I wish BMI would fly from Heathrow again (miles superior to the rest )

Hondon Voyager

Can anyone one (airport security staff included ) tell me how liquids in hand luggage are detected ?I flew to Alicante at xmas and had a new razor (unopened ,an xmas present ) in my hand luggage ,when I opened it there was a cleaning soloution for razor (200ml highly flammable )which I honestly did not know was there (I fly about every other weekend so I know not to take certain items or I end up with grief )My work colleague this week was running late for a flight and did not have time to check in her hand luggage (she had hairspray ,shampoo ,moisturisers etc ) but was able to board her flite with all of it(London Heathrow)I have also travelled with a dangerous object in my hand luggage (a fork??? ) which was not detected on my outbound flght(luton) but got the third degree when going back at Alicante (incidentally I had forgotten it was there )yet I have had tube of toothpate taken off me at Luton If I were a terrorist (carrying explosive etc)I think I would be quite confident about getting through security undetected yet we waste hours queing up for security checks etc and they still dont seem to be able to tell what we are carrying ,a bit concerning dont you think ???

Tr1boy

Probably figured the majority of passengers were Aussies and applied accordingly.

fionamw

But at Bristol they almost always bus you, & there's a queue (I use the term loosely) between the departure lounge & the gates which stretches across the general walking zone.... I think you must have struck very unlucky, I've never once had a problem there. With queuing, that is. Once had a jobsworth security bloke give me the third degree showing off to a newby he was training... I'd taken a sewing machine as hand luggage cos I didn't want to risk it in the hold, obviously took out any needles, sharp bits, etc. & did I get hassle - eventually let me through so late it was a run!!!

Helpful-Bob

I hope Ryanair uphold it as I often see people with more than one piece of hand luggage filling up the overhead lockers and then compliant people have no where to put their luggage