FARO AIRPORT CLOSED

[James Faro]

It has annoyed me when i read or hear complaints about the organisation at Faro, many have forgotten the shutdown at heathrow last winter or the fiasco at T5

That is true but all the major airports that were affected by the snow, were heavily condemned and they were stung into action. Bizarrely enough, in the middle of this year's hot blistering burning summer, Heathrow Airport proudy showed off its new huge snow tractors! That was funny in July ,but it will be very much appreciated and less of a joke if snow does arrive this winter.

I suppose not all buildings can be hurricane-proof which explains why a section of Faro airport's roof was torn apart.

[shanagarry]

While there may have been slight delays - the Monarch 12.20 - ZB215 flight to Gatwick on Monday due to arrive there at 15.05 eventually arrived at 1.30am on Tuesday.

Our daughter in law was on it and commented on the excellent and courteous attention from the local staff in taking them to lunch - nevertheless it was a long day

[joeysoap]

On the first day it happened, there was a massive queue of people not going anywhere to the left of security- the airport staff kept telling people over and over again that it was not a queue, but people would not believe them - so just stood there, stationary, for two hours or more.

When a flight was due, the staff walked down shouting and holding placards to ensure that everyone was aware it was their turn to come through and you walked down the side of the queue and through security. But people, even though they were watching this with their own eyes, STILL remaind in a queue that didn't go anywhere!!!

I assume in the end that the staff gave up telling people not to start the queue and let them get on with it!!!

It amused me to see an earlier poster recommending people go and stand in this queue - therefore making the problem worse than it was before!

I fully agree with you on this, this exactly describes the situation on Tuesday, long queue going nowhere and check in staff (certainly ryanair's) informing passengers to join the queue and wait to be called.We saw nobody walking the line on Tuesday and felt guilty leaving the queue and going to the 'real queue' which was much shorter and was actually moving, but when we got through security and up to our gate most of the passengers were already there ( Ryanair - another long queue ).

Perhaps someone did actually walk the line before our arrival at the airport and that would explain how so many knew to go through, but the check in desk were certainly unaware ot this. I would blame not them for this either as each airline has obviously reduced check in desks to operate out of and they were going flat out when I was there, so they would not necessarily know what was happening on the floor.

your comment about not starting a queue is very apt, clearly passengers who were not being allowed to proceed to security were forming the bulk of this queue, but on the other hand there wasn't much place else for them to go.

[md 600 driver]

our experiences

we arrived at the airport for a 1320 departure to leeds at 12 am we were told to leave the airport and go to the other end of the carpark

we waited there 2 hours seeing lots of buses go for flights that leave after ours and then a a ryanair flight leaving at 10 past 2 i managed to speak to a airport person who confirmed yes that was my flight and it had gone as most of the passengers were on it from before the airport closed ,as they dont have a ryanair representitve at the airport just agents who didnt know what to do all they could say was call ryanair
i called ryanair on the phone they said they didnt know what was happening at faro but to call back in 1 hour
called back one hour later they said they had no flights untill friday but they would book me onto that flight at no extra costs to me [the flights for friday were 5 times the cost i paid as i orinially wanted to come back friday anyway but took the cheaper weds flights as i am a tight yorkshireman

just reprinted my tickets and confirmed on line every thing now looks ok

i do have to say ryanair have [as usual] behaved like stars and i complement them for their promt service
hopefully flights will be ok friday will let you know then

[fmm]

That's unfortunate - did you not check in and put your bags on the plane? Or were you hand luggage only so they did not know you were at the airport?

[md 600 driver]

we had not yet gone through to the secure side if we had done we would have been alowwed on the plane

anyone know whats happening today as its blowing a gale here already
steve

[fmm]

we had not yet gone through to the secure side if we had done we would have been alowwed on the plane

anyone know whats happening today as its blowing a gale here already
steve

Sorry, what I meant was if you had checked in bags, then they would have made an effort to find you. However, if you had checked in on line, then they would have had no idea you were actually at the airport and therefore would not have tried so hard!

[logicbob]

We left for Luton today on Easyjet 45 minuets late and that was because the plane was late coming in. All in all not a bad experience. The terminal looks a mess though.

[md 600 driver]

Left today on time on a full plane airport looks a mess at both ends
Steve

[shanagarry]

Is the check-in process (with bags) still being done at desks 1-26?

Is the boarding process as before - through the usual security and to passports and to the gates?

In short - is it necessary to allow extra time - if so how long?

[HampshireRich]

Jeez all - there's been a natural disaster at Faro - go there, realise there may be problems and get on with life!!!! - they are doing their best!

[logicbob]

Is the check-in process (with bags) still being done at desks 1-26?

Is the boarding process as before - through the usual security and to passports and to the gates?

In short - is it necessary to allow extra time - if so how long?

Check was still through 1-26 on Thursday, boarding as before, I used normal timing on Thursday no problem at all.

Good Luck.

[laserblazer]

How easy is it to walk from P4 to the terminal? We got a lift round when we came out but it looked like the Somme, what with the damage and building work.

[logicbob]

How easy is it to walk from P4 to the terminal? We got a lift round when we came out but it looked like the Somme, what with the damage and building work.

It was not to bad once we found out how, as usual no directions just figure it out for your self. Unfortunately I think it is an ever changing beast.

[fmm]

Last week, walk out of P4 an hang a right across the car park and you come in at the right hand side of the terminal. Although that may well have change by now. Nothing at all to do with the terminal collapse - all to do with the building works.

And HR - I KEEP saying that there is nothing terrible happening at the airport - we were there on the day and the airport was moving along quite nicely. I've seen it worse end of August when ENgland is returning to the UK after their summer holidays!