Heathrow Experienced

Our Heathrow experience cannot be described using polite language. Our flight to Calgary and then to London went off without any hitches, giving us a false sense of comfort. We landed at Heathrow keen to make a connection which would take us to Edinburgh by mid-day, thinking what a great way to not be going back to school. The elation ended there as we encountered a huge, chaotic, mess of an airport and the inefficiency of British Airways.

I allow some leeway for the airport as it is under construction. After walking long distances, riding a bus for 25 minutes through a construction zone and walking more long distances, including stairs we finally traverse from international to domestics. That is fine as we are fit enough to handle it, but what of people with disabilities? More walking, including stairs, very little in the way of assistance and a bizarre border crossing system, all of which makes me wonder how the world was welcomed at this airport just a month ago.

British Airways, however, based on our experience, needs a crash course in customer service, an efficiency expert and more staff. We encountered many difficulties which resulted in long line- ups, a missed flight, 6 hours added to our travel time and one missing bag (fortunately not the golf bag). At no time in dealing with this airline we were treated as valued customers. I could rant for pages but that would serve little purpose.

I certainly expected more from one of the world's busiest airports but we arrived safely, eventually, in Edinburgh and the missing bag appeared 24 hours later.

We look forward to 4 days in this beautiful city.





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:London