Ruppert: 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...
Ruppert: Then you end up cancelling 34 flights
Ruppert: People had to wait for 3 hours for luggageRuppert: correction 4 hours lol - nice
Ruppert: Staff didn't know how to work the machinery
Hama3000: look it was a massive project that had a few teething problems
Ruppert: They were understaffed
Ruppert: People couldn't check inRuppert: 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/monthsRuppert: obviously not enough practice
Hama3000: 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 glitchesRuppert: they didn't have enough baggage handlerS! I mean - come on.....
stupidstupidstupid: it was doomed from the start
Hama3000: why is it that we always talk britain down....so it was not the greatest start but its a fantastic buildingRuppert: Its a square box. A big square box, granted, but still a big square box.
Ruppert: Not exactly genius architecture there is it?Hama3000: 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 someRuppert: greek olympics?
stupidstupidstupid: come on, you dont come to the uk to look at an airport
stupidstupidstupid: generally you try and leave them asap
Ruppert: 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
Hama3000: 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!
Ruppert: It has just been a massive PR disaster for BA
Ruppert: I mean, which imbecile is in charge of this company?
stupidstupidstupid: a short sighted imbecile
Ruppert: 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 hallRuppert: 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
Hama3000: BAA are the pride of britain. they are moving more people through heathrow then any other airport in the worldRuppert: Well, except they aren't actually MOVING them through as such
Ruppert: 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 achievementRuppert: 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
Ruppert: Yep, it either works or it doesn't. This clearly doesn't
Hama3000: by next week T5 will be running smoother than a babys bottom....stupidstupidstupid: grosss
Ruppert: 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 lovelyRuppert: ahh - you're sweet :D
Hama3000: Rawks box now theres a thoughtRuppert: easy tiger
stupidstupidstupid: lol
Ruppert: I don't think they'll find it easy to recover from this one.
Ruppert: 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
Ruppert: yeah - and it can't be tricky really can it? plane lands. Get bags out, stick on correct conveyor belt. Done.
stupidstupidstupid: peice of
Hama3000: 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
Ruppert: 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*
Ruppert: 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
Ruppert: 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
Ruppert: Well, they're probably being kind!
Ruppert: 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
Hama3000: red ken would like that one.. a congestion charge for non brits
stupidstupidstupid: i think ill be holidaying in blackpool this year
Ruppert: hehe - it'll be safer that way!
Hama3000: just your bags will be nicked from the B&B
stupidstupidstupid: lol
Ruppert: 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
Ruppert: yeah - they may as well, its about as busy as they can cope with
stupidstupidstupid: yay the countdown!