Departures for 11/08/06

Just spoke to VS control as I am opertating a flight today.
However they can give me no indication as to my departure time.

So if they do not know what time the crew have to report,I would suggest if you are travelling today as a passenger call VS B4 u leave the house!!

Will keep you updated!

I guess a lot of aircraft won't be back at their scheduled time today which will have abig knock on effect.

[Decker]

Do crew rest breaks/working times just get ignored under these circumstances?

No they do not.

They are a legal requirement.

Looking at the T3 arrivals board this morning - There are some very big delays and a number of a/c where they shouldn't be.

It's going to be a tough weekend for crew and passengers - Keep us posted with how the weekend works out for you vscss if possible - It will be interesting to understand how yesterdays events are affecting staff as well as passengers.

Do crew rest breaks/working times just get ignored under these circumstances?

No we are still legally restricted to set hours by the CAA.
Once we have reported at the airport for a flight our duty time starts. So if you are delayed this can eat into your hours.
If you are stood down B4 u leave home and told to report at a later time, then your duty time will begin at that new time.

You can generally do 17 hours non stop depending on time of day B4 u require crew rest. Then u can do an additional 1.5hrs max if u recieve 3 hours crew rest.

Current advice to passengers travelling today is that we plan to operate our normal schedule, but that there will inevitably be delays.

We suggest arriving for check-in as early as possible.

To be honnest calling probably isn't going to help, its unlikely people in the contact centre will have firm plans for individual flights, or certainly any more than is on VA.com today.

Most flights are posting a delay, but check-in is closing on time, as the delay is for the secutiry clearance, so if you plan to turn up later due to a possible delay you may simply not get checked in... so my personal advice if you really must fly today is turn up early and be prepared for the wait.

Some Flights are being loaded with extra refreshments as some are being delayed on the ground while TSA Secutrity clearance is gained.

Volunteer Office staff will be helping out their Aiport colleagues at both airports for the next three days... if you're travelling out of LHR tomorrow afternoon you may meet me!

[Nottingham Nick]

Thanks for the updates. [y][y]

Just out of interest, you say extra refreshments are being loaded... what about security screened reading material?

Given the ban on newspapers, books etc. it would be a very welcome sight to have a selection of newspapers and magazines available for all pax once they are on board.

Nick

I think you are now able to buy a book or a magazine airside to take on all flights, incl US. Worth checking before parting with your loot as I am not directly involved obviously. But not a too bad solution.

[HighFlyer]

I'm hoping they will soon allow you to buy water airside too. I'm in the 'three liters a day' camp, and i don't really want to be requesting thirty thimbles of water when i get onboard

Thanks,
Sarah

Originally posted by HighFlyer
I'm in the 'three liters a day' camp,

I know what you mean. When you drink that amount a day, you really do need to rehydrate yourself with a bit of water, or Mr Hangover is just round the corner.

Originally posted by sailor99
I think you are now able to buy a book or a magazine airside to take on all flights, incl US. Worth checking before parting with your loot as I am not directly involved obviously. But not a too bad solution.

What if the mag comes with a free sample of Head and Shoulders?

Wash you hair before boarding......

Originally posted by sailor99
Wash you hair before boarding......

I do anyway. Cos I'm worth it. [8D]

[Decker]

The implication of the official statement is that you can buy what you want at Airport Shops after security but that you'll have to leave liquids behind.

"In addition to the above, all passengers boarding flights to the USA and all the items they are carrying, including those acquired after the central screening point, must be subjected to secondary search at the boarding gate.

Extra time

Any liquids discovered must be removed from the passenger. "

Italics mine.

Yep Decker, my take on it too. I did hear yesterday that foods were being stopped in addition to liquids, but I understand that has now stopped. Just to emphasise, this is all 4th hand information so don't rely on it.

Has anyone who actually flew yesterday posted?

I am flying on Tuesday and am clearly watching the evolving rules with interest.

My family flew out of gatwick this morning to st lucia. I have to dsay it was all very well controlled queue not to long for check in or security and most peaple seemed to have come prepared with their own plastic bags. They were making you take your tickets out of any envelopes however
Flight was only 50 minutes leaving

anne-marie