People who miss their flights.

[Spud1]

Is it just me, or is everyone else bemused as to why people go on and on and on at checkin/airline staff when they miss their flights?

Its something I see time and time again at the airport IRL, and to even greater extremes on shows like airline/airport. Person turns up X many mins late for checkin, person is told no its too late, person explodes at the checkin staff or goes into hysterics, and eventually goes away or gets escorted away.

Do these people not understand that there is a cutoff point for a reason? That it takes time to put bags on/off, to do the required security checks, to board passengers, to sort our the documentation etc etc etc..and that there is a damn good reason why they open the checkin desks TWO HOURS before the flight, and close it 30mins before.

*shakes head* I just don't get why they complain so much. They bought a ticket which clearly states what time checkin closes, and then they miss it and think they have some automatic right to be on the flight..when they have broken the terms of the ticket and effectivly voided it.

Things are slightly different in certain circumstances (such as if there are lots of major accidents on all access roads to the airport) but in 99% of the time its the passengers fault, and I have no sympathy for them..and damn right they shouldn't be allowed on.

Still at least these people give the rest of us something to watch while we're waiting to checkin on time =)

[99Flake]

Couldn't agree more. Problem is I think that the people who do that also have the mentality of "Why should I have to hang around for so long in an airport, I will just turn up later". Therefore putting themselves in said situation.

Basically they are idiots who don't think the rules apply to them.

[Kezzer]

I fly a hell of a lot, and I also see this happen quite often. I've almost missed a flight before, I'm not sure how I managed it but I just couldn't have been watching the time. If I had missed it, then that's my own fault so I can't get mad at anyone else bar myself.

[MadduckUK]

it scares the hell out o the thought of missing a flight, so i usually arrive TOO early and mill around for ages

[moogle]

Originally Posted by MadduckUK

it scares the hell out o the thought of missing a flight, so i usually arrive TOO early and mill around for ages

same, but i like watching the planes and seeing around while im there. one time almost missed the plane. had to get on that cart and it moved so fast! one of my trainers were on the verge of falling off ( loose ones ) and i was on the back. i doubt they would wait a bit longer if it had fallen off so i could go get it

[Brucelles]

I fly a lot too, and I actually missed a flight once. It was from Heathrow and the bloody tubes were awful. I took 2:30 to get from Victoria to Heathrow. I couldn't even get off and take a taxi as we were in a tunnel for about 45 mins.

Wasn't the airline's fault though, and even if it had been it's really unlikely that it was the nice lass at check-in who caused it.

[wombar]

Yup, if I'm flying I aim to get there at least 30 mins before check in. That way, if there's an accident or I break down, I've still got a decent chance of getting there.

It's pretty boring milling around in an air port, but better that than missing the flight.

[Dareos]

on a flight back from Houston i changed at Gatwick, landed at 6:30 am, flight back up north was 9:30 pm, 13 fecking hours in an airport after a 10 hour flight and i was up 5 hours before that.

saved me a hundred quid though

[kalniel]

It sucks missing a flight even when you turn up 2.5hrs before check in, just due to large check-in queues/inefficient staff. That's when people tend to complain because they've followed all the instructions and done everything asked of them, and they still miss the plane.

[moogle]

Originally Posted by wombar

Yup, if I'm flying I aim to get there at least 30 mins before check in. That way, if there's an accident or I break down, I've still got a decent chance of getting there.

It's pretty boring milling around in an air port, but better that than missing the flight.

thats why god made gameboys/nintendo ds's and psp's

i still havent finished my zelda game
only a few more flights to usa and back and ill be done.

[Funkstar]

I thought i was going to miss my flight back up from Luton on Monday morning. Arrived about 30min before checkin closed and there were literally hundredas of poeple in the heckin hall. EasyJet have started checking poeple in at every desk for any flight. But it just wasn't working.

They were opening up certain desks for specific flight because if they didn't then planes would have been leaving virtually empty.

Checkin for the Aberdeen flight was supposed to close at 06:20, i got checked in at 06:40, through security and departures, didn't stop walking and made the flight at 07:00. The flight was only 3 minutes late in leaving despite about 20 people missing the specified check in time.

It's amazing what they can do when they need to

[ACiD303]

I've missed a flight before....by a really significant margin - although I kinda knew it would happen as I was being a cheapskate and my departure airport was about 4 borderchecks away from my last stop - I was relying heavily on a ship, train and coaches being where they would be when they said they would!


As for people complaining, I'm not bothered by it, I actually find it quite funny....I mean, in those situations, what can you really do? Fair enough, unless it's a situation where it's not just you (but your family etc. as well), getting fired, or missing out on a big event, but roll with the punches....

I do love airports myself, I used to have a lot of changing and waiting flights between here and HK, so I guess I'm used to it - you sometimes meet the most fascinating people (or complete freaks). Plus International eyecandy is always good

[TheAnimus]

when traveling on work, from city airport (ldn) I turn up at the most 45 min before the flight (after checking in the day before). With only carry on, why on earth should i turn up sooner, the gate won't open till 15min before departure.

Problem is you have too acknowledge this is a risk, and the flight wont wait.

[IBM]

Originally Posted by ACiD303

Plus International eyecandy is always good

How I love International Eye Candy (Oh yes, capitalised).

Can we have an International Eye Candy Day? That would just be great.

Favourite for me, the Singapore Air theme tune (which I got stuck listening to for hours after they lost my return flight booking recently) which goes 'Singapore Girl, you're a great way to fly'.

Didn't someone explain innuendo to them?

I always turn up early to the airports, I get access to the First Class lounge 'cause of my air miles. Just sit, relax, eat the nice food, and get waited on. Can't wait to try Upper Class with Vigin and go to the Club House....they've got a spa don't you know?

[Shorty]

There are cases however where turning up late is because of problems with the initial flight.

I flew back recently from Austin, Texas. Plane landed in newark nearly 4 hours after it was supposed to because of high winds. Even sprinting to the gate for my flight to Manchester, I didn't make it. Took another flight 5 hours later. It's really annoying when you are on a time clock!

[MD]

I've missed one, meant our trip to Germany resulted in us being there 2 hrs before having to get back on the plane and come back lol

I nearly missed another, if it wasn't for the team HEXUS charm with the check in staff we were all gonna miss it