Chaos at Dublin Airport

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119133394#Comment_119133394

I take it you don't live anywhere near an airport or a flight path.

Take offs and landings are a wee bit noisy.

fryup

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119133306#Comment_119133306

i think a few hours drive is a lot less stressful than being stuck in the same spot for hours unend - at least you're going somewhere you have the sense of progression so to speak

bladespin

Just because it also happened somewhere else doesn't excuse the scenes from yesterday, crazy stuff altogether, if they don't have the capacity then they have to cancel services instead of forcing people to queue like cattle, no excuses for this, everyone knew this was coming and nothing seems to have been done in preparation.

brokenangel

Is it bad in both terminals or just terminal 1?

whisky_galore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119132396#Comment_119132396

omg whatever will the neighbours think?

brokenangel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119133394#Comment_119133394

Might have a problem at the other end when the airport can't accept you

Flight plans are made months in advance and can't just be changed at the drop of a hat. Plus landing etc.

Even if Ireland decided to do it you would need all the arrival airports to agree and they wont

Stone Deaf 4evr

I dont hear anyone mention the option to check in the night before - is this even any use? I'd consider it myself if I thought it'd make a difference.

brokenangel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119134349#Comment_119134349

The airport shuts at night, can't see you been allowed to stay in it

Stone Deaf 4evr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119134362#Comment_119134362

Lol,

i haven't a notion of staying overnight, have a mate living 15 mins from the airport, so my plan would be to check in the bags etc, go to mates house till 3 hours before flight time. But its all a moot point I suppose if you cant get in the door of the airport?

bladespin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119134379#Comment_119134379

The issue is at security, once you pass through you can't leave.

Stone Deaf 4evr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119134386#Comment_119134386

I think you're picking me up wrong, you can check in for your flight at the desk, the evening before, then go through security the following day.

it should in theory eliminate a trip to the check in counter as you'll have received your boarding passes. - see below.

bladespin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119134397#Comment_119134397

No, I know, the issue isn't check in though, it's to get to the gates - security, you can check in for most flights from home.

brokenangel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119134379#Comment_119134379

If you leave the airport then you have wasted the initial trip because you are back to the start again.

StrawbsM

Would they not employ the services of whoever does security for large festivals like oxegen? They closed the drop off road so wouldn’t it be an idea to have rows of barriers and passengers go into the “flights that leave by 7am” row, “flights by 8am” etc?

At least those with the earliest flights would be going through security first and they’d have some idea of what flights might need holding back. It’s not solving the problem with lack of staff but it would be somewhat more organised than yesterday’s lottery.

TheValeyard

Fairly embarrassing an shambolic. The CEO is out to door the another group so he does not give a f*ck. Heard that interview with the media representative, absolute shambles. Pay your workers a decent wage and proper contracts and would not happen.

POBox19

From the daa website, the number of 'exciting opportunities' is only 40. How many is that per shift? Not enough. No mention of how you're supposed to get there for a 4 am start or where can you park that won't drain away your hard earned €14.14 minus USC and taxes. The job ad was posted 7 months ago.

"A number of exciting opportunities are now available for Airport Search Unit Officers at Dublin Airport.

The Airport Search Unit (ASU) Officer is part of the security team at Dublin Airport. The primary responsibility of an ASU Officer is to ensure the secure, and efficient movement of passengers through the security process at Dublin Airport in accordance with statutory and regulatory requirements and in a manner that enhances the customers experience. This is a 24/7 shift based roster, primarily based indoors in the airport but some opportunities may become available over time, to work outdoors at the vehicle checkpoints.

Contract on offer is a flexible contract of 30-40 hours (you are guaranteed 30 hours but must be available to work up to 40)

The rate of pay for these roles is €14.14 per hour (this is fully inclusive of any shift pay)

The selection process for these roles will include online assessments, interviews, five year background check, garda vetting and medical. If successful you also will be required to successfully complete a 4 week training programme (35 hours per week), followed by an IAA certification exam."

ArthurDayne

Does anyone know if Terminal 2 has been as bad? Heading to an important family event in the States in a couple of weeks and a missed flight for that would be disastrous really. The problem is that I understand part of the problem is people are arriving insanely early for flights, but what can you do? It’s all well and good trying to be a voice of reason and not arrive until exactly when DAA are advising, but then unless you can rely on absolutely everyone else taking the same view you could end up screwed.

What is particularly galling about this issue is that DAA is a semi-State company, which means they have an investor with vast resources. It should have been plain to see that there would be an inflexion point in the pandemic period where demand for travel would skyrocket back and staff would be needed quickly. They should have been able to tap into the resources to allow them to keep staff on the roster — instead they took the route of laying them off and then somehow thinking that labour would just flood back to a combination of low-paying work and an employer that had demonstrated how poor the job security is.

Hurrache

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119134495#Comment_119134495

Ha, not one of those goons and thugs would get past the first stage of garda vetting.

sydthebeat

hearing now theres an issue with luggage belts broken down, meaning travellers cant check in bags

jmayo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119130301#Comment_119130301

Ah don't worry he is off to Greencore.

I wonder did he get a golden parachute like from his last job, the one he was fired from.

I always think it is not a good sign if someone is jumping companies so often, usually points to someone being found out.

I would put a bet on Greencore's share price falling because everywhere this guy goes he leaves a mess behind.

Maybe if they didn't try and shaft the workers they wouldn't be having half the problems they are having at the moment.

Rumour I heard is that a lot of workers happen to be getting sick a lot these days.

HeidiHeidi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119134737#Comment_119134737

It would be hard to advise what to do tomorrow, never mind in two weeks' time.

topofthewind

I was in Lidl today.

There was one till open and a queue started to form. The man on the till alerted the other staff by pressing a button that made a chime noise. A second till was open and staffed within a minute.

The queue immediately halved. Both queues moved swiftly and the second till was able to close again as I was heading out the door.

There were 3 other tills available to open had the need arisen.

Its a very basic management strategy and works every time the queue starts to build in that shop.

Can the DAA really be that incompetent that they can’t solve such a simple problem?

Mike3549

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119134397#Comment_119134397

My friends did this Saturday evening for their Sunday flight to usa. But the system was down, couldn't check in the bags, had to q on sunday. Didnt make it. AL wanted 800 extra for rescheduled flight. Did it for free in the end when pinpointed their faulty system.

StrawbsM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119134678#Comment_119134678

I don’t mean for inside the terminal I mean for the outside queue. Dunno why there would be a need for Garda vetting for that?

Looking at the images from yesterday - the first 50 in the outside queue could be for a flight leaving at 10, the next 25 could be for a 9am flight and the next 50 behind those might be earlier than all those in front.

Have the outside set up into lanes. Festival experienced staff check ticket and direct them into their correct time slot lane. The ones with the earliest flight are getting into the terminal first. CCTV would then show how many are queuing for later flights and they could gauge whether it is necessary to alert the airlines of approx delay times.

It’s not the solution but if outside were managed better rather than a free for all, less people may have missed their planes.

StrawbsM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119134866#Comment_119134866

i think I read in the travel forum that the fast track area was open for everyone to use. Plus, you’ve gotta join the outside queue before you ever get near fast track 😂

Complete shambles

bladespin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119135237#Comment_119135237

Honestly, that suggestion isn't without merit, they're blaming people arriving too early for flights, that would definitely be one way to cure that.

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119135259#Comment_119135259

No the suggestion is simple, cost effective and logical.

Absolutely no way it could be implemented as a solution.

bladespin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119135297#Comment_119135297

Sadly I forgot it's Ireland.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119134649#Comment_119134649

The problem is that I understand part of the problem is people are arriving insanely early for flights, but what can you do?

If too many arriving early is a problem, streaming the queues is a solution.

Q1 - < 2 hours to flight

Q2 - 2-3 hours till flight

Q3 - 3-4hours until flight

Q4 -.> 4 hours until flight

Therefore if you arrive 4 hours before a flight, those who arrive after you, but still within the required time don't get stuck behind the early birds.

Early arrivers are only a problem because the system is broken though

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119134758#Comment_119134758

There was 50k passengers yesterday. In 2019 the daily average was 90k

Snickers Man

I don't know what all the fuss is about. Went to London Thursday before last. Got to airport 2 hours before flight. Breezed through security in about 30 minutes. Had a coffee.

But that's just me me me me me.

Would streaming really work though? They'd still be admitting Q4 people at the same rate as Q1 people. But better than nothing, I suppose.

StrawbsM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119135418#Comment_119135418

Q4 people would be waiting outside till the other queues are gone. In my head once Q1 has emptied it opens up again as Q5.

Say you’re the first in Q4 and nobody has moved from Q2, you (and the DAA staff) can see how much time it took that 20 metre line to get into the terminal. Granted you won’t know what happens inside the terminal but you will know when your time comes that it’s only flights in your time slot needing attention and holding flights, etc can be managed accordingly.

Im off now to update my CV and apply for CEO’s job 😂

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119135418#Comment_119135418

Well no, q1 people would be getting priority followed by q2. Q4 would be at a standstill until 1,2and 3 were fully cleared.

Thereby people wouldn't intentionally be arriving ridiculously early to stand in a non moving Q.

My understanding is alot of problems were caused by people whose flights were a few hours away ahead in the queue of people whose flights were an hour or two away.

That and not enough staff to process everyone.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119135418#Comment_119135418

The way I see it some of the issues are due to people for the 9am flights arriving at the same time as those on 8am flights for example. Twice the number of people to go through the same restricted resource resulting in some of those on the earlier flights not getting through in time. If those on the 9am cannot join the final queue until 7am, those who arrived on time for the earlier flights are not being blocked by passengers with a less pressing need. One of two things results - a more even distribution of people through the queues with less people missing their flights as throughput is more predictable, or a more even distribution of people through the queues with more people missing their flights as capacity is still too limited. Either way its a win win, more people get through on time, or the airport grinds to a halt - if a far higher number of passengers were getting through too late security would have to stop letting people through as half empty planes would not be emptying the terminal. Then finally something might be done about it. At the moment the same flights are getting out so fees are getting paid. If revenue is threatened, you will be surprised at how quick as solution can be found.

Peter Flynt

It's closer-to-Boston-than-Berlin Ireland.

14.14 an hour for security is €424.20 for a 30 hour week (which is all the DAA are guaranteeing).

This is just €4.20 greater than a 40 hour minimum wage job (€10.50 x 40).

Initially also the DAA were only guaranteeing a 20 hour week or €282.80 per week (or approx €14,700 per year).

That's how seriously the DAA take your security.

And the Q4 people who've been standing about for 2 hours will be demanding to move to the top of the Q2 line, or any other line that's "open". It's a neat idea, but I don't think it would work in practice. Or at least, not without very heated tempers. I've a flight in a few months, hopefully someone figures something out, other than the current situation.

Edit - just read Raind's post after I posted this. Makes sense.

rogber

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119135481#Comment_119135481

I was in the airport last Friday, also through security in 30 minutes, it was fine. Seems just the odd day there's total chaos and as always that gets all the attention.

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119135562#Comment_119135562

No it would need to be done by time.

Q1 8 o clock flights

Q2 9 o clock flights

Q3 10 o clock flights

Q4 11 o clock flights

Q1 12 o clock flights etc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119135548#Comment_119135548

It is a fair comparison given footprint is the same and proves conclusively how much DAA f*cked it up. Imagine a group in charge of a major international airport not being able to predict that the end of the pandemic would result in a resurgence in demand, therefore, you know, it might be helpful to hang on to a few staff. On top of that, they have been helped by a slow return of demand.

I honestly thing they dont really care about a few people missing their flights though. The flights are still leaving so the fees are still coming.

Padre_Pio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119135552#Comment_119135552

One thing to consider is that it takes ages to get to work.

Park in the airport (if you're lucky you're actually on-site) walk to terminal building, go through security, walk to where you work. It easily adds 30 mins to your commute each way. I worked in Pier D, adding another 10 mins walk down to the Ryanair gates.

Ficheall

What are the Arrivals queues like?

MacDanger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119135552#Comment_119135552

That 14.14/h is inclusive of shift allowance so the base rate is 10.60 + 33.3% (standard shift allowance for 24/7 in manufacturing companies, not sure about service companies) = 14.13. So they're basically paying minimum wage

DoctorEdgeWild

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119135602#Comment_119135602

Arrived into DUB twice last week, Friday night - less than 10 minutes to get through passport, Saturday night - less than 5 minutes to get through passport. Note: Automatic gates were closed on the Saturday night but available on the Friday, don't know why. Was out of the airport very quickly with no problems, both were late night flights though if that helps?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119135574#Comment_119135574

But hang on, then you're holding queues as they fill up and - potentially - having several hundred people lined up outside needing to be processed all in an hour time-slot? And some flights may not leave on the hour, to add to the confusion. I go back to saying it won't work and I'll leave it there:-)

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119135639#Comment_119135639

Well no.

The 8 o clock flights get processed first, if that q clears you move onto the 9 o clock q.

However any people arriving for 8 o clock flight get priority.

They move through security onto their plane and take off.

The 8 o clock q will probably close at 7 anyway at which point the 10 o clock q will start being processed.

It doesn't make sense to process someone whose flight is at 11 before someone whose flight is at 9 which is what was happening.

No point in having people hanging around departures lounge with no plane to bring them anywhere while people whose plane is loading are still trying to get through security.

Crowd management n all that.

Responder XY

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119135639#Comment_119135639

Would have thought a stacking system makes a lot of sense when under this much pressure. I think in reality people would know there's a stacking system and not turn up until their timeslot - avoiding the problem of lots of people getting in the door exactly on the hour.

Thankfully wasn't anywhere near the chaos yesterday, but was there a while back when there were long queues in March. At that time, I noticed that the security staff were operating very slowly. They were also diverting at least 60% of the bags for additional swaps/checks - that never happened before (maybe was 1 in 4 or 1 in 5 type ratios). Mine got diverted because I'd left headphones in them (apparently they must come out alongside your laptop) and had to be scanned again - again over 100s of flights in many different airports I never saw or heard this before. I wasn't the only one and saw someone else being made wait whilst their bag was rescanned for a kindle!

So obviously there should be more staff on hand to get people through - having have the security counters closed is unacceptable with the volumes they are having, but there must be some issue with new staff not knowing what to do/working very slowly. I was almost thinking there was some type of industrial action/go slow in place because I'd never seen such a lethargic looking bunch given the amount of people waiting to get through.

ArmaniJeanss

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119135574#Comment_119135574

But your flaw is that you may have everyone in the correct queue at 5:59 but it is completely wrong at 6:01. All the Q2 people are now entitled/should be in Q1 etc. And your block system as outlined has a major issue as you appear to be treating the 09:05 to Paris the same as the 9:55 to Brussels.

The original 'how long left until your flight' method makes more sense, but again it is flawed as a model in that now some peoples correct Q changes as each minute passes.

They aren't terrible ideas though, they are clearly much better than a free-for-all.

asdfg87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119130301#Comment_119130301

Management clearly needs to be privatized as they havn't a clue. i noticed the problem almost a year ago and said here and was slagged off by quite a few here.

These people seem to have disappeared in recent days. We also had the boxing event which appeared to be planned.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119133394#Comment_119133394

you can’t just decide that you want your airline to fly from DUB to X destination…at whatever time suits you.

would there be parking at the destination airport ? Ground handling agent ? Baggage ?

what do the crew do ? Overnight ? That means you are at the loss of an aircraft in Dublin for the following mornings and most of the afternoon busy departures… crew that flew the aircraft in have a legal minimum rest period.. that I believe starts when they arrive at the hotel, not when they park the aircraft.. also if the crew would be legal regarding hours not too many holiday makers will be all that enamoured getting out of bed at 3am to come back.