Our Facebook forums have been a constant stream of stressed-out members in a panic about traveling. It started with the reports of ‘Baggage Mountain’ at Heathrow Airport back in June and since got progressively worse.
Just this past week members are reporting that they’ve had to wait over four hours for their suitcases to show up on the carousel at baggage claim. There are staff shortages across the world but it sounds like Heathrow Airport has been hit the hardest.
So much so that a cap has now been placed on how many passengers can travel through the airport. It was announced earlier this week that Heatherow will only allow 100,000 travelers a day and this won’t be lifted until September 11th. In ‘normal times’ Heathrow can handle over 200,000 passengers a day.
Several Brits in LA members who had already booked to travel this summer have received emails from airlines encouraging them to rethink their plans and consider delaying their trips until later in the year. I suspect this is a veiled threat of sorts – i.e. “if some of you don’t cancel we will be canceling your ticket.” Many of you have suggested that the way around this is to travel with hand luggage only – which isn’t a bad idea – or if you really can’t travel light it might be worth checking out companies like Send My Bag – they collect your luggage from your starting point and deliver it to your destination. Loads of you have recommended it to us in the past and it also gets fantastic reviews on TrustPilot. Craig and I are traveling to the UK later in the year and I am considering trying it out myself, so will report back and let you know if it really does what it says on the tin. My only apprehension would be is what happened if your flight gets cancelled but your luggage is already on its way? I’m sure there must be procedures put in place for this but is definitely something I need to investigate.
Quite a few of you who have traveled recently have also contradicted all of the negative reports and said that the airports ( including LHR) have been a breeze – short lines at passport control and bags in hand in under 30 minutes. So perhaps you will be one of the lucky ones too. Although I tend to agree with the airlines’ advice of delaying travel if it’s not really necessary – as why burden them anymore when it already sounds like they are close to breaking point.
I still lament the loss of Air New Zealand flying this busy route and United still haven’t reinstated their LAX to LHR flight, so the last thing we need is British Airways and Virgin shutting up shop as then tickets will be even more expensive than they are now.
It all seems so ridiculous, but is obviously a domino effect caused by Brexit and then the pandemic. This could have possibly been avoided by better planning. Although, I do think a small percentage of people have changed their outlook on life and decided life really is too short and low-paid back-breaking jobs are just not worth it. Perhaps once the invisible workers who make all the things we take for granted are paid a decent wage we can actually go back to the normal lives we all crave. It’s only fair right?
If you have any questions or comments you can get in touch with us by emailing britsinla@gmail.com
Cheers!
Eileen
