OK, I was tired and irritable after 12 hours in coach flying from California. However I really do think it is dreadful. The run down shabby appearance, the marathon walks, the poor facilities, etc.
I mention how we add insult to injury - the way they treat the Irish. We are herded into confined spaces and treated like second class citizens. On our flight today there were a number of very significant US business figures en route to RoI. Now BAA may not think it is their responsibility, but they certainly let the side down in the experience they subject the customer too.
I proffered to my neighbour, I used to use Heathrow most weeks in life, now I seek to avoid it at all costs.
Now today I flew into Dublin Airport that is fairly awful too...albeit improving rapidly. I know our good friend Michael O'Leary has his particular views on the new Terminal under construction, but I have to say it looks great so far and promises to be an appropriate high quality gateway for visitors.
I have to agree with you about both heathrow and Dublin airports.
ReplyDeleteHeathrow I avoid at all costs unless I have no option or the alternative is outrageous in connection time or prices. terminal 1 is the pits and to be avoided as much as possible and don't even think of travel with someone disabled or elderly to make a connection between Terminals.
Dublin is good for me from a connection perspective because I can get a direct flight from Boston on AerLingus but arriving first thing in the morning to pick up a car and walk what seems like 10mins in the cold, wind and rain to collect the car is horrible never mind trying to find somewhere to get a cup of coffee after the fight for the US.
Increasely I find that I'm using Schipol for my European connections as its a relatively civilised experience.