Rawk: So, lets get this straight, you spend 20 years.... £4.3bn. Put in the most outrageously expensive and automatid baggage handling system, blather on about how amazing it's going to be...
Rawk: Then you end up cancelling 34 flights
Rawk: People had to wait for 3 hours for luggageRawk: correction 4 hours lol - nice
Rawk: Staff didn't know how to work the machinery
jk: look it was a massive project that had a few teething problems
Rawk: They were understaffed
Rawk: People couldn't check inRawk: and... to top it off they put in a really expensive fingerprinting system. and then they can't use it because it may be illegal.... I mean........... DOH!
Ironside: nope they had been practicing the proceedures for weeks/monthsRawk: obviously not enough practice
jk: look when they opened a big airport in china that had problems to
Ironside: loads of space
stupidstupidstupid: monumental ***** up
Ironside: just the techology had a few glitchesRawk: they didn't have enough baggage handlerS! I mean - come on.....
stupidstupidstupid: it was doomed from the start
jk: why is it that we always talk britain down....so it was not the greatest start but its a fantastic buildingRawk: Its a square box. A big square box, granted, but still a big square box.
Rawk: Not exactly genius architecture there is it?jk: not true its got the biggest roof on a building in britain....try british design ....think Mr Bruenel
Ironside: agreed we should be pround of having a fab building that will WOW visitors to this great country for years
stupidstupidstupid: any examples of big projects on this scale that went swimmingly from the get go? there must be someRawk: greek olympics?
stupidstupidstupid: come on, you dont come to the uk to look at an airport
stupidstupidstupid: generally you try and leave them asap
Rawk: When we arrived last year at heathrow T3 we waited for 3 hours. There was nothing to do. No food. No drink. I suppose there were toilets, so that was a plusIronside: ok Termimal 3 is an abortion........thats what T5 is doing. taking the pressure off the other terminals
jk: first thing you look at when you land!
stupidstupidstupid: first thing I look at when I land is the inside of my eyelids cos they're generally shut tight!
Rawk: It has just been a massive PR disaster for BA
Rawk: I mean, which imbecile is in charge of this company?
stupidstupidstupid: a short sighted imbecile
Rawk: You make a big fuss over something on TV and get the Queen to open it - have extra staff on on the first day ffs!
stupidstupidstupid: no offence to people that wear glasses
Ironside: what impression of UK would you have if you landed in an airport with a shabby hut for an arrival hallRawk: probably a fine one if it didn't involve waiting for 4 hours for my luggage!
stupidstupidstupid: airports aren't attractions!
stupidstupidstupid: its a case of style over substance
jk: BAA are the pride of britain. they are moving more people through heathrow then any other airport in the worldRawk: Well, except they aren't actually MOVING them through as such
Rawk: more sort of queing them up a bit
stupidstupidstupid: you sound like a press release... ;-)
Ironside: why cannot you all be more proud of an engineering achievementRawk: I made a big box once. Didn't get any awards for it
stupidstupidstupid: there are engineering acheivements to be proud of I agree, just not this one
Rawk: Yep, it either works or it doesn't. This clearly doesn't
jk: by next week T5 will be running smoother than a babys bottom....stupidstupidstupid: grosss
Rawk: too late - blown it. Double the staff would've sorted it with little extra costs, now they look like muppets
stupidstupidstupid: lol
stupidstupidstupid: rawk im sure yoour box was lovelyRawk: ahh - you're sweet :D
jk: Rawks box now theres a thoughtRawk: easy tiger
stupidstupidstupid: lol
Rawk: I don't think they'll find it easy to recover from this one.
Rawk: It'll take a good few months again.
Ironside: mind you its nice to see a french woman getting really hacked off when her flight was cancelled in T5 so i suppose there is an upside
stupidstupidstupid: airports are meant to be functional and very little else, if they dont work they are purposeless
stupidstupidstupid: unless you enjoy being searched
Rawk: yeah - and it can't be tricky really can it? plane lands. Get bags out, stick on correct conveyor belt. Done.
stupidstupidstupid: peice of
jk: i bet when they get the baggage problems solved T5 will be the toast of airport all over the world
stupidstupidstupid: whereas now it is the muffin
Rawk: lol - Well they could have save £4.3bn and just sorted the baggage problem out at T3/2 & 1
stupidstupidstupid: or plowed the money into sustainable development *ducks*
Rawk: If you check out the world news it's full of great quotes
Ironside: it looks like a fab airport....loads of space and shops..it brings the travel experience up to a new level
Rawk: Forbes.com - The opening day of business at London Heathrow Airport's new 4.3 bln stg Terminal 5 (T5) descended into chaos after all luggage check in was suspended
Ironside: who beleives Frobes.com....arent they owned by the French
Rawk: Well, they're probably being kind!
Rawk: I didn't get those problems in CDG
Ironside: i vote for two sections in T5. one for the brits where the bags arrive on time.....and one eh guess the rest
jk: red ken would like that one.. a congestion charge for non brits
stupidstupidstupid: i think ill be holidaying in blackpool this year
Rawk: hehe - it'll be safer that way!
jk: just your bags will be nicked from the B&B
stupidstupidstupid: lol
Rawk: The first plane landed on time at least. maybe they should just have one flight per day?
stupidstupidstupid: and each bag lovinly carried by hand
Rawk: yeah - they may as well, its about as busy as they can cope with
stupidstupidstupid: yay the countdown!