Airport Security, Immigration & Border Control

[Aviador]

Lots of difficulties at the moment with very long queues at times ie the first wave...LBA now advising to arrive 3 hours before your flight but not more than that....you can imagine the social media response

Does anybody know why that is if the installation is complete?

 

[B737]

The installation is not complete, the image is a CGI render. The first load of equipment has only just been delivered today. It will be finished in February. Currently half of the security area has been closed off hence the problems with the queues.

 

[White Heather]

Does anybody know why that is if the installation is complete?

It isn't complete? Is it? It's not due to be completed until February.

A significant improvement on what was there previously. Does anybody know how many channels are planned in the new security area when its moved? @White Heather ?

Once relocated there will be 6 lanes, each 30m long. Currently there are 4 lanes, each 12m long.

 

[paully]

We're flying out early January so I've taken the precaution of booking fast track although we go on a lunchtime departure.... we'll go in sufficient time to eat in The Cabin before the flight...Shame was hoping it would all be operational before then but you never know

 

[White Heather]

We're flying out early January so I've taken the precaution of booking fast track although we go on a lunchtime departure.... we'll go in sufficient time to eat in The Cabin before the flight...Shame was hoping it would all be operational before then but you never know

Not all, but a couple of lanes might be completed. I imagine they'll probably have one or two out if action whilst the others are upgraded, then the new ones come into use while the remaining lanes are done..

 

[Alex-1]

Firstly a belated Happy New Year to all our readers, having been delayed and distracted by numerous events I shall not bore you with. On a better note we are off through LBA on Monday lunchtime, RYR, to seek solace from the the sun in Fuerteventura. Does any recent traveller know if the security is still the old system or has any part of the new system operational. I`m hoping for the best but not expecting it...thanks

expand...

Happy New Year to all... First post be gentle
We went through in November and very glad we had fast track as the queue time was about an hour. They were only using 2 lanes. I believe they have installed about half of the new equipment but there was an issue that required a software update. I'm sure I read I won't be totally finished until mid March. I would strongly advise you book fast track. We're flying again Monday and booked FT once again

 

[paully]

Happy New Year to all... First post be gentle
We went through in November and very glad we had fast track as the queue time was about an hour. They were only using 2 lanes. I believe they have installed about half of the new equipment but there was an issue that required a software update. I'm sure I read I won't be totally finished until mid March. I would strongly advise you book fast track. We're flying again Monday and booked FT once again

Happy New Year to all... First post be gentle
We went through in November and very glad we had fast track as the queue time was about an hour. They were only using 2 lanes. I believe they have installed about half of the new equipment but there was an issue that required a software update. I'm sure I read I won't be totally finished until mid March. I would strongly advise you book fast track. We're flying again Monday and booked FT once again

Firstly welcome to the forum and thank you for the update..We have booked fast track but are flying at 12.30 so missing the busy first wave...Have a good trip..

 

[Aviador]

You've been a member for the best part of a year so it seems somewhat odd to say welcome to Forums4airports so happy first post!

 

[The Pole]

Firstly a belated Happy New Year to all our readers, having been delayed and distracted by numerous events I shall not bore you with. On a better note we are off through LBA on Monday lunchtime, RYR, to seek solace from the the sun in Fuerteventura. Does any recent traveller know if the security is still the old system or has any part of the new system operational. I`m hoping for the best but not expecting it...thanks

We went through on 15/12 and didn't need fast track. Very little if any queue. That was 1530 on a Friday afternoon!

 

[White Heather]

I covered the situation at security in my recent pre Christmas Consultative Committee meeting update. There remains just two security lanes open whilst the airport waits for the supply of the new scanning equipment, delayed due to a late change to the software by the supplier, which now requires Government approval. Those two lanes should be operating by the end of the month, but then the other two need doing, so still two lanes until March.

 

[john@thornton]

I covered the situation at security in my recent pre Christmas Consultative Committee meeting update. There remains just two security lanes open whilst the airport waits for the supply of the new scanning equipment, delayed due to a late change to the software by the supplier, which now requires Government approval. Those two lanes should be operating by the end of the month, but then the other two need doing, so still two lanes until March.

Let's hope the software is not being supplied by Fujitsu and named Horizon!

 

[White Heather]

Let's hope the software is not being supplied by Fujitsu and named Horizon!

Indeed!. Just watching that now.

 

[Aviador]

@White Heather do you recall whether the airports new scanners are by Rapiscan or Smiths Detection? From a user perspective from behind the wheel, the Smith Detection scanners are significantly better.

 

[White Heather]

@White Heather do you recall whether the airports new scanners are by Rapiscan or Smiths Detection? From a user perspective from behind the wheel, the Smith Detection scanners are significantly better.

No, sorry. I'll check my notes but don't think I caught the name. Not a UK company though from memory. I also understood that LBA had no say in which supplier they worked with. There are several Government approved suppliers allocated to all UK airports .

Update: just checked and the supplier is Leidos. This is stated in the very first LBA publicity still visible in Facebook if you go back to last year.

 

[paully]

Arrived well early at security, no one about, just as well...Very pleasant and lovely staff...until one of our hand bags went through the scanner...The Op was clueless..most went through fine but one hand luggage was totally emptied out..half way through was asked what my rolled up belt was???eh didn't have one..
Supervisor shouts to operator "you sure you got the right bag"...by this time I was starting to enjoy this circus...They were all getting madder because they couldn't find anything wrong...The young lady involved was very lovely and mega embarrassed... eventually they gave up and asked me if they wanted me to re pack ..I didn't....
The supervisor muttered under his breath but no apology...He was an arse...
New system can't come soon enough

 

[tonysmith]

My turn tomorrow morning

 

[Aviador]

I have some sympathy with those involved for reasons I can't discuss. I would love to comment on this further having some insight, but it would be inappropriate for me to discuss it in an open public setting.

 

[LBA4EVER]

My turn tomorrow morning

And me on friday haha

 

[HX3]

I’m going through Saturday, they best not mutter under their breath at me, I’ll arrest them

 

[Aviador]

I’m going through Saturday, they best not mutter under their breath at me, I’ll arrest them

Crikey, isn't that the fourth one of the gang leaving LBA this week?