Check-in queues cause more problems for air travellers than security or immigration checks, evidence from Travel Counsellors’ customers suggests.
Travel Counsellors set up ukairportdelays.co.uk last month for clients to log their experience of check-in, security and immigration at UK airports.
The initial results suggest travellers can wait five times as long at check-in at Gatwick as they do at security, and twice as long at Heathrow.
Evidence on the site also suggests security queues at Manchester – frequently touted as a model airport because of its low charges to airlines – could be the longest at any major airport.
In addition it suggests passengers at regional airports such as Southampton, East Midlands, Liverpool and Newcastle experience some of the worst delays at check-in or security.
Travel Counsellors chairman David Speakman expressed surprise at the extent of the delays in the early findings. “This highlights the chaos and shows airlines are to blame, too,” he said.
“Check-in is causing delays and airlines should address that. The whole airport experience is bad.”