Heathrow is appalling: Qantas chairman

[littl_flier]

Incoming Qantas chairman Leigh Clifford took a parting shot at London's Heathrow airport as he prepared to leave the city he has called home for the best part of a decade and return to Australia.

Reflecting on his time in London at an Australian Business lunch, Mr Clifford added his voice to heavy criticism levelled at Heathrow, one of the world's busiest airports, which is beset by delays and congestion.

"I have to say, I think Heathrow is appalling," Mr Clifford said.

Heathrow is appalling: Qantas chairman - Breaking News - Business - Breaking News

At least QF are admitting what all the FFers already knew.

 

[simongr]

I am so glad that QF are appointing a Chairman with such keen insight into the challenges facing his customers... What next a CEO announcing that "sometimes flights are delayed"...

 

[spiggy_topes]

Has he gone through Gatwick recently? Makes Heathrow's faults pale into insignificance...

 

[straitman]

Has he gone through Gatwick recently? Makes Heathrow's faults pale into insignificance...

You can't expect it all at once.

 

[simongr]

Perhaps that will be in the strategic 5 year plan...

 

[Andyc]

While I'd choose Gatwick over Heathrow any day... London City is by far the best.

 

[NM]

While I'd choose Gatwick over Heathrow any day... London City is by far the best.

Just a little difficult to find a long-haul flight to or from LCY :evil: For me, nearly every visit to a UK airport involved an arrival or departure from/to another continent, so my ability to use LCY is very limited .

 

[Dave Noble]

Just a little difficult to find a ling-haul flight to or from LCY :evil: For me, nearly every visit to a UK airport involved an arrival or departure from/to another continent, so my ability to use LCY is very limited .

If travelling J or Y using QF for the longhaul, I would take LCY-FRA (BA) to connect to QF6 FRA-SYD via SIN over the LHR-SYD evening services
For a daytime departure LCY-FRA on BA to connect to the CX service onwards to HKG and then to Oz is a nice option which again avoids LHR

LCY is nice n easy to get through plus a nice easy connect at FRA

Dave

 

[NM]

If travelling J or Y using QF for the longhaul, I would take LCY-FRA (BA) to connect to QF6 FRA-SYD via SIN over the LHR-SYD evening services
For a daytime departure LCY-FRA on BA to connect to the CX service onwards to HKG and then to Oz is a nice option which again avoids LHR

LCY is nice n easy to get through plus a nice easy connect at FRA

Dave

But I try to avoid travelling long-haul QF out of London, because that would imply travelling eastbound which now means an overnight flight with QF. So I tend to do my ATWs westbound so I am heading to USA from Europe.

So I am often connecting form an inbound flight to somewhere like FRA, such as last time through I arrived on QF29 (upgraded to F from MEL, so better than taking a HGK-FRA (overnight with CX) or SIN-FRA (overnight with QF). As bad as LHR is, its not worth transferring from an LHR arrival to a LCY departure.

And when I do stop overnight or longer in London, I am actually not in London but closer to Farnborough, so I would have to drive past LHR to get to LCY, so again I don't find LHR T1 R Zone and FLounge to be a problem. I have never had more than a few mins for check-in or security clearence and then get to enjoy the FLounge before my FRA flight.

It would be a different story if staying in London itself, but I rarely do that.

 

[spiggy_topes]

Just a little difficult to find a long-haul flight to or from LCY :evil: For me, nearly every visit to a UK airport involved an arrival or departure from/to another continent, so my ability to use LCY is very limited .

My first port of call is usually Scotland, so the direct flights on Emirates from Dubai to Glasgow and Edinburgh are very handy - and they bypass LHR and LGW entirely. Saves a fair bit in airport taxes too, according to my travel agent.