Security, Immigration & Border Control

[Nibbles]

I don't think it's fair to call the passengers numptys, no-one wants to lose their annual family holiday. 2 hours is an unacceptably long time to wait in the security queue, as is 1 hour really, 15 minutes is ideal and should be the target, even more so at peak times. I imagine most tourists would prefer a later flight, avoiding the queues, if that was possible.

They are definitely numptys if they don't follow actually very basic instructions on what is permissible. They're are hundreds of signs, people telling you what to do, and info galore on the bhx website (and many other places!), there really is no excuse. I never cease to understand how people get so worked up at airports. I had someone behind me in the queue today tutting at having to wait 2 minutes because of someone slow through the body scanner. She was in fastpass line. I had to bite my tongue not too have a rant at her.

But to be fair most people are quite sensible and capable of reading those basic instructions!
But, to be fair, numptys

 

[Jon Dempsey]

We're off next Wednesday, 3:30 arrival @ BHX for a 6:25 departure. Hopefully have time to get a breakfast.

 

[KARFA]

They are definitely numptys if they don't follow actually very basic instructions on what is permissible. They're are hundreds of signs, people telling you what to do, and info galore on the bhx website (and many other places!), there really is no excuse. I never cease to understand how people get so worked up at airports. I had someone behind me in the queue today tutting at having to wait 2 minutes because of someone slow through the body scanner. She was in fastpass line. I had to bite my tongue not too have a rant at her.

But to be fair most people are quite sensible and capable of reading those basic instructions!
But, to be fair, numptys

except this is a BHX problem, and BHX is getting a very high secondary rate for liquids. that high secondary rate is then tying up an agent for 5-10 minutes per secondary to check the liquids - which causes a serious slow down in throughput. none of the other airports which have partly or wholly transited to new generation scanners (either the analogic or smiths machines) is having this problem.

so either BHX has a particularly bad numpties compared to everywhere else in the UK, or perhaps this isn't actually the fault of the passengers

 

[Aviador]

except this is a BHX problem, and BHX is getting a very high secondary rate for liquids. that high secondary rate is then tying up an agent for 5-10 minutes per secondary to check the liquids - which causes a serious slow down in throughput. none of the other airports which have partly or wholly transited to new generation scanners (either the analogic or smiths machines) is having this problem.

so either BHX has a particularly bad numpties compared to everywhere else in the UK, or perhaps this isn't actually the fault of the passengers

As I mentioned elsewhere, the secondary screening will be mandated by the DFT. The rules should be the same at whichever airport you fly from in the UK subject to the equipment being the same. It is possible although unlikely, that BHX has additional local restrictions set by the airport.

Can somebody confirm how many scanners BHX is using? Did I read correctly that only 4 scanners were working a day or two back? If correct, that does seem on the low side (very low) for an airport handing over 40 flights in the morning rush.

 

[KARFA]

It’s not what the secondary process is per se, albeit the process for secondary liquid checks for new scanners is quite long. The issue is the number of bags being sent to secondary for liquid checks at BHX to start with. BHX has been having a very high amount compared to anywhere else, which then results in the much lower throughput than everywhere else.

To try and blame the passengers is to misunderstand the problem BHX is specifically having compared to all other airports which have transitioned.

 

[MB1]

The first media reports of issues with BHX security and queues were the start of April. Over 2 months the silence from BHX was deafening, they said very little to the press and barely acknowledged the issue on their social media streams.

The DfT changed their stance on the 2L rule on Friday 7th July (a rule that BHX hadn't yet implemented). Since the Nick Barton has almost been falling over himself to be in the media.

Can almost see when the light bulb moment happened. "we've got someone to blame now"

 

[KARFA]

BHX had been using the new machines before 7 June though and the high secondaries are due to how they are using them and pulling a high level of bags due to liquids. The relaxation to 2l is a red herring.

Sure there are other factors in terms of their new security hall. But a significant factor is the high number of secondaries at BHX with the new machines. This isn’t passengers just being silly as some are trying to suggest. Other airports which had already transitioned were not getting the same very high levels of secondaries due to liquids.

Had it not been for BHX’s botched role out there would have been no reversal to old liquid rules.

 

[TM3]

I read an article in the Times today that named Manchester as the worst airport in the word.

Whilst I take that with a pinch of salt a quick search on "the worst airport in the world" saw Manchester listed many times,

I don't happen to agree with that sentiment but if you pursue the numbers above all else you are going to generate a significant number of detractors who are actively critical (this is true of an airport and any other business).

Manchester are doing just fine pursuing the numbers but being a "me too" business or city doesn't always work.

We can offer tours to London to see Houses of Parliament, Buck House, etc but we also have interest in stuff like Peaky Blinders, plus Shakespeare, theme parks, AOANBs, history.

I would rather see BHX / West Mids marketed as a "hidden gem" with easy access to London than package holiday central for holidays to Majorca and Tenerife.

100% in agreement that BHX needs to exceed Manchester on terms of experience to be taken seriously.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1801452207738376552

 

[Aviador]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1801452207738376552

When was this, this morning?

 

[Jon Dempsey]

When was this, this morning?

The tweet is timed & dated @ 4:10 this morning. Must be the build up of all of the "go lefts" from beforehand!

 

[GliderPilot]

I think I'd probably get banned on F4A if I gave my expletive-laden opinion/rant on that video above and how the airport has handled both it and the PR that goes with it. I'll refrain as I quite like it here and wouldn't want to jeopardise my years of membership

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

wonder if mr screen and mr Barton ever read this forum?

 

[smithy108]

The tweet is timed & dated @ 4:10 this morning. Must be the build up of all of the "go lefts" from beforehand!

My wife went through BHX yesterday travelling on EasyJet to Milan - same experience at 1230 lunchtime. Took her 2.75 hours to get through, horrendous experience

 

[Jon Dempsey]

I think I'd probably get banned on F4A if I gave my expletive-laden opinion/rant on that video above and how the airport has handled both it and the PR that goes with it. I'll refrain as I quite like it here and wouldn't want to jeopardise my years of membership

Me too!

I flew to AMS on a Sunday afternoon (albeit departing at a similar time to Saudia, Qatar? and Emirates) earlier this year and was amazed at the queues then - this was in the old security zone. The promise all over the walls was that "We are rebuilding for the future" - basically, please bear with us.

Well, passengers have beared with the airport and it's got far worse. I think it's about time the airport issued a statement of apology together with an action plan (rather than pointing the finger of blame @ passengers, the government, uncle Tom Cobley and all).

We have a flight booked to AMS in August, but bar that, I am seriously looking at travelling from other departure points in the future.

wonder if mr screen and mr Barton ever read this forum?

I think they are well aware of the situation and of people's anger.
The airport management currently looks like a rabbit caught in the headlights. - some management!

 

[TM3]

Interesting artilcle in the Telegraph that brings a bit more factual foundation to the scanner issue.

Row breaks out over 100ml U-turn as passengers told to arrive an hour early for flights

Airport Operators’ Association hits out at the Government saying change had been made with ‘very little notice’ ahead of busy period

www.telegraph.co.uk

It appears a number of companies make these scanners.

BHX is using Smiths Detection scanners, which are already working fine at Amsterdam Schiphol, obvioulsy they are used to dealing with more passengers than BHX, but in my experience a lot of the scanning there is done just before boarding at the gate.

Leeds and London City, which were dealining with 100ml+ liquids are using scanners made by Leidos.

The other 3 airports and the scanners they are using are not named. Any ideas?

Also any idea if the new hall gives a net increase in the total number of scanners over the old one as this isn't clear?

 

[KARFA]

LHR uses Smiths, as does NCL. It is not the scanner which is the problem - Smiths scanners are in use in the UK already in busier airports and the same problems have not been experienced there. Neither is the problem BHX passengers - unless you believe BHX passengers are uniquely highly liable to ignore the rules compared to everywhere else in the UK.

 

[MB1]

These scenes at BHX will be repeated over and over between now and the end of summer. They won't be able to do anything radical in the terminal to solve the problem during the travel peak.

Hopefully BHX are planning changes over the winter period to rectify the terminal problems for next year.

 

[route66]

LHR uses Smiths, as does NCL. It is not the scanner which is the problem - Smiths scanners are in use in the UK already in busier airports and the same problems have not been experienced there. Neither is the problem BHX passengers - unless you believe BHX passengers are uniquely highly liable to ignore the rules compared to everywhere else in the UK.

So is it construction that is the problem or the use of lifts? Are people coming to the airport too early and not allowed to check-in, making the situation worse?

 

[richard winterbourn]

There is a real dilemma here with ALL passengers getting to the airport early - and with some, possibly getting to the airport too early.

Would it help if there were two distinct queues, firstly for those passengers with flights before 0630, and another queue for those with flights post 0630.

It is a suggestion....