Leeds Bradford: Airport Security, Immigration & Border Control

[White Heather]

But we come back to public perception, irrespective of any justifications we (who know) accept its that that is important and that which has to be countered.

It has been. It's been explained repeatedly on the news regarding the situation at many airports, but the moaners just dismiss it. They don't want to hear it. They claim it's just excuses. LBA have also explained the reasons and what they are doing about it. They are still recruiting. They have said that now, there is more interest. It's easy to see why people were reluctant initially - a high risk of Covid infection, shift work requiring early hours starts and finishes, the need to train and pass exams, not to mention the stress levels the job brings. Staff are only allowed to work for limited periods before taking a break, so it's not just a question of one person per security lane. They need several.

 

[CM.]

I dont think anyone can claim to not know about staffing issues at airports, but that doesn't stop them complaining.
There's no excuse however for not keeping those waiting informed. I remember when I used to get the final flight of the day back from LHR each Friday the frustration of having to wait 30 minutes to get bags, business travellers just don't expect/tolerate it. I also think the publics expectations of smaller airport, with less flights is higher.

Well as I know the front of house staff should be communicating that to the customers. It’s not the responsibility of people who work at back of house so I don’t feel like we should get the stick for that. And whilst LBA is considered a small airport it does get busy at times and can cause some delays in getting the bags to passengers. They will just have to wait and be patient.

 

[gcoabc1]

I totally get it. What I don't get is the desire to blame people because of the current situation. There is a culture of blame. Blame the airport management. Blame the airline. Nobody seems to understand that the Industry generally has emerged from being almost redundant, having been forced to offload staff to survive due to the lack of Government help, and now, with very short notice, having to recruit and train large numbers of staff. And in the case of airport staff, meet new and upgraded rules about who can do the security jobs. These have lengthened the recruitment process by a minimum 2 weeks. It's not the airports fault if people won't apply for the jobs. Nor the airlines. Nor the Handling Agents.

Ultimately, the options were to delay the availability of flights and holidays until airports, airlines and agents were fully staffed (could be a long wait bearing in mind the absence rate due to Covid), or make them available and expect the current problems. Personally, if I wanted a holiday abroad, in these circumstances, I would be happy to queue and happy to wait for my bags.

Frankly, I get sick of hearing people whinging without any real interest or understanding about the challenges that airports and airlines, AND ground handling agents face. The staff work hard, do their best, and all they get is people moaning about them on TV and radio. The press and media actively encourage them to do so. It's a sad reflection of the times we live in.

Well put WH.
Things are quite rightly tighter than when I joined Security at LBA back in 2002, for 8 months, following 9/11 and just after Security switched from Council to private contractors. Then it was training off site with on duty supervision - straight in at the deep end and awful hours. Stress levels were high then particularly for the 0300 starts.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Well as I know the front of house staff should be communicating that to the customers. It’s not the responsibility of people who work at back of house so I don’t feel like we should get the stick for that. And whilst LBA is considered a small airport it does get busy at times and can cause some delays in getting the bags to passengers. They will just have to wait and be patient.

You have to see it from the 'customers' perspective, irrespective of how unreasonable we think they are (Covid considerations or not). Ultimately the reputation of the airport depends on how efficiently all the associated service companies work and so its in the airports best interests to ensure everything works smoothly. The MD at Manchester knows (knew) that.

 

[Len Fish]

And of course the great British tabloid press do everything they can to stir up a s*** storm with their sensationalist headlines.

 

[The Pole]

Anyone know what security is like at LBA currently? Flying out to Belfast (Emerald) about 5pm Wednesday, we have a young child and dont really want to spend 3 hours in the airport he'll go nuts! I guess everyone will be opting to pay for fast track so this will defeat the object? On the other hand cant afford to miss the flight
Thanks in advance

Thanks for all info
2:15 straight through security no queue

 

[Aviador]

And of course the great British tabloid press do everything they can to stir up a s*** storm with their sensationalist headlines.

Yes absolutely and let's not forget, a new terminal with a high sealing would have been significantly more comfortable for passengers even in this unfortunate staffing situation. This bunch of idiots did all they could to make flying as miserable as possible from LBA. Its the jernalists own making.

 

[White Heather]

Good to tell today is the airports busiest day yet, as despite the ongoing recruitment, there are suggestions on line from witnesses of chaos in the security queues this morning when we had around 10 departures before 0700. Except we didn't, as everything is departing between 45 minutes and 90 minutes late. Now at 0825, most flights due out around 0700 are at the 'Gate Closed - Boarding' stage.

The airport are saying that they are releasing more trained staff on to the job and are confident things will improve, but it seems that there's a long way to go yet. It only takes one or two staff to go sick and carnage ensues in that first couple of hours.

This isn't a criticism of the airport - they have been recruiting now for many weeks, but the fact they are still advertising shows the problems they are having in recruiting and training.

 

[SNOWMAN]

they may have to do what the haulers have done,pay a better wage.

 

[Aviador]

Part of the problem is the fact that most positions will be seasonal. Not ideal for most people looking for employment.

 

[White Heather]

Part of the problem is the fact that most positions will be seasonal. Not ideal for most people looking for employment.

Not to mention the dodgy working hours and stress levels.
I know some won't agree but there's been several articles in the aviation publications and some papers stating that whilst Covid caused the loss of the staff, it is Brexit that has denied the industry access to a key workforce. One which all airports relied on to a significant degree.

 

[airforced]

Not to mention the dodgy working hours and stress levels.
I know some won't agree but there's been several articles in the aviation publications and some papers stating that whilst Covid caused the loss of the staff, it is Brexit that has denied the industry access to a key workforce. One which all airports relied on to a significant degree.

I would tend to agree that Brexit not Covid is the main reason the shortage of staff but would ask, seriously, if the real problem, which was mentioned in an earlier post, was the reliance on the cheaper labour the EU brought us. If so the answer has already been spoken of and that is our employers are going to have to realise they are now living in a different world where paying bargain basement rates, for not very attractive jobs, isn't going to work as it used to.

 

[KARFA]

Indeed, if it is easy access to cheap labour from the EU then that put's to bed that argument that people coming from the EU were not reducing wages for low skilled workers. They aren't available and magically wages need to go up to attract people.

If the argument is a lot of these people being employed are local (which I think some people have suggested), then I can't see brexit is in any way relevant.

 

[ls27]

Many years ago I thought that I would like a change of job - glad I didn't. The handling company I spoke to gave me the job spec.and the conditions. The pay was very poor and part of the contract was that if an aircraft was delayed I would be expected to stay until it arrived at no pay for the extra time.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Brexit isn't that relevant but more Covid as I discussed over in the TUi thread.

What also is a big issue is the change of rules brought about by the Home Office/DFT (because you'd think Priti had bigger fish to fry trying to protect our borders). They've changed the rules making it harder to get an airside pass, which in some way is good, but bad. The times to get them are taking substantially longer. Hence why we are probably seeing a shortage of staff as they have not got the airside pass. This probably will be fed back into the recruitment teams next year that it takes longer to get one and there are more checks and therefore recruitment should start earlier.

As you would expect DFT/Grant has said he would make it easier to relieve the pressure on airports and airlines. Sadly Grant also said he would make the traffic light system easier to understand, then introduced a Greeny Amber, A Ambery Red, and a defo Amber but could be light green, which definitely created even more confusion. Everything that man touches turns to sh*t.

 

[The Pole]

I was there at 12 today for Belfast flight. Only 2 lanes open in security. Took hour and half
I know people have mentioned short staff but why don't management role their sleeves up and get stuck in

 

[Aviador]

I was there at 12 today for Belfast flight. Only 2 lanes open in security. Took hour and half
I know people have mentioned short staff but why don't management role their sleeves up and get stuck in

If management don't have the DFT/CAA Level 1 security training then they're legally not allowed to do it.

Of course Brexit has impacted the industry. The majority if not all of the Aviation Security Officers are indeed British but other rolls usually filled by EU workers are now being filled by those British worker who would otherwise be targeted by the airport for the this roll.

Let's face it, which would you prefer to do, near minimum wage, 12 hour shifts getting up at 3am or strawberry picking working 9 while 5.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Saw this on social media. Seems they are bringing in staff from other areas where they can.

Went in the Easter holidays and flew midweek, If you are with jet2 and get the option of bag drop night before I would take advantage of that. We arrived 3 hours before our flight and it was a long queue that took about and hour to get through, they don’t have the staff to have all the security lines open, they are obviously getting staff from other departments to fill in, one of the staff there told us he was from IT. They’re doing the best they can when short staffed.

 

[Aviador]

Someone from IT will be able to do limited work such as bag loading. Its not just the training required it is also the relevant clearance. An Aviation Security Officer undergoes Counter Terrorism Clearance, (CTC) not just Disclosure Scotland which is required for other airport rolls.

 

[The Pole]

Family that arrived from Edinburgh advise their airport has a fast track for families which is free.
Anyone tried holding a toddler who is tired for ages in a queue