Taxi Driver Online

Presumably it's similar at all the airports just now, and there's been at least one very similar article in the past few weeks.

But this is why I generally avoid the airports at the best of times, never mind at the moment

Of course, the article includes the predictable comms-style response from EDI management, but this one is particularly abysmal, and you don't need to be as cynical as us to see through it


Taxi driver claims luggage delays and parking fees ‘destroying’ small transport businesses

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/ ... es-3779317

A taxi driver has claimed luggage delays and ‘astronomical’ parking charges at Edinburgh Airport is ‘destroying’ small transport businesses.

The driver, whose main customers are tour groups, said transport firms face a crippling ‘double whammy’ as they are forced to pay increased parking charges while waiting hours for airline passengers impacted by baggage return delays.

Private hire companies are regularly waiting more than two hours for passengers to get their luggage while forking out parking costs of £12 an hour.

But they are also missing out on booked hires due to the ongoing delays, leaving them out of pocket after more than half the fares from most jobs are paid out upfront on parking charges.

It comes after baggage handler Swissport confirmed they have now moved luggage from the airport terminal to the Royal Highland Centre after complaints from passengers. Some have reported delays of several weeks for their luggage to be returned amid backlogs. Lost luggage and the return of suitcases is the responsibility of the airlines, not the airport.

Edinburgh Airport warned passengers months ago to expect delays and disruption during the peak summer period, as it returned to full schedule for the first time in two years.

But the driver who set up his own business last year has accused airport bosses of ‘passing the buck’.

He said: “Edinburgh Airport's inability to do its job properly is destroying smaller transport businesses.

"For transport companies meeting guests at the airport and regularly waiting one or two hours £12 an hour can be as much as 40 per cent of their fare lost to the airport in parking charges.

“Then take off the fuel and then consider that the driver may have to lose his next job due to being stuck at the airport for more than 2 to 3 hours.

"While folk wait for baggage, drivers waiting to collect people outside have to wait much longer and pay much more for the pleasure. It's scary, we’re in the middle of peak season and it’s getting worse.”

He added that the issue was largely down to poor management during the summer months.

"The airport keeps passing the buck, solely blaming the baggage companies. But the biggest complaint people have is the sheer lack of airport staff presence during this chaos,” he said.

“The fact that we are now halfway through the summer and things are still getting worse is a testament to poor management from airport officials and the baggage companies.

"They have severely let down all users of Edinburgh Airport.”

An Edinburgh Airport spokesman said: "As these anonymous firms are yet to raise any issues directly with us we have been unaware of their concerns until now.

"What we gather from their comments is that they have a fundamental misunderstanding of the different partners involved and the separation of roles and responsibilities.

"We would invite them to engage with us directly, rather than through the media, so we can constructively discuss their concerns."

Ah, yes, deploy the anonymity card to deflect from the substance of the arguments. Of course, it's a bit like why many people won't go to councils with their licensing related concerns - they're worried about the possible backlash and being targetted


More deflection. Yes, I'm sure everyone who's not part of airport management doesn't fully understand "the different partners involved and the separation of roles and responsibilities", but that's nothing to do with the fact it's all a shambles, and management here just trying to deflect and confuse, and sounding pompous and patronising in the process


That's more like the touchy-feeling comms stuff and more about the 'optics' of how it will look to the public. Trouble with that sort of stuff, though, is that it's never clear whether or not they're being genuine.

And their earlier comments above suggest they're not acting in good faith here

And I'm surprised they didn't use the words 'reach out'

On a related theme, EDI is almost 50 miles from St Andrews, but it's effectively the local airport. So a mass exodus down there last week, but apparently lots of pro golfers have either lost their clubs in the luggage chaos, or the clubs are a week or two at least behind the golfers


BUNKERED Mountain of golf bags abandoned as Edinburgh airport fails to cope with sports fans heading home from The Open

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/s ... h-airport/


Image: Scottish Sun

THOUSANDS of golf bags lie abandoned as understaffed airports cannot cope with the amount of sport-mad US holidaymakers.

Workers were yesterday sent to Scotland from across the UK to process the luggage, piled floor-to-ceiling in warehouses and chock-a-block terminals.

Snaps sent to The Scottish Sun showed the jaw-dropping amount of golf bags left behind at Edinburgh airport.

Vast storerooms at the airport have been left filled with the sports equipment.

US-based holidaymakers - who travelled to Scotland in droves for the British Open last weekend - have been frustrated after being separated from their bags.

Edinburgh is just an hour drive to St Andrews, where a record-breaking 290,000 sports fans watched the 150th Open.

The tournament’s thrilling climax saw Aussie Cam Smith edge out Brit favourite Rory McIlroy and American Cameron Young to clinch the Claret Jug.

An insider said: “A lot of fed-up holidaymakers have gone home without their luggage.

“Their trips have been ruined due to under-staffing at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports.

“It is a real mess, and the photos leaked to The Scottish Sun show the scale of the problem.

“Staff are being drafted in from across the UK to try and work through the backlog. It’s a bit embarrassing.”

The images emerged as shattered passengers were forced to wait for hours on Scotland’s hottest ever day to reclaim bags at the capital’s airport.

Hundreds of cases were laid out in front of passengers who were forced to rummage to find their own bags as Swissport staff opened a temporary storage centre set up to deal with the backlog of cases.

And the chaotic luggage scenes were mirrored at airports across the UK.

At Heathrow, airport staff said “tens of thousands” of bags have been “hidden away” to avoid being photographed after passengers were separated from their belongings due to epic staff shortages.


Image: Scottish Sun

Edinburgh Airport told The Scottish Sun that various handling agents were responsible for drafting in extra staff to clear the monster backlog.

An airport spokesman said: “Although large amounts of baggage had been anticipated, the volume of golf clubs which required processing was far higher than forecast. This caused a delay in the baggage system on Monday and teams worked with handling agents to resolve the issue.

“Measures were put in place to rectify the situation and while all bags have now been processed, unfortunately some items will be delayed arriving to their final destination.

“We are working with handling agents and airlines to help them repatriate bags with their owners. We thank passengers for their patience during what are challenging times for the entire aviation industry, and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Pictures of the luggage pile-up, taken on Tuesday evening, are an embarrassment to First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, who had said: “The Open Championship is a brilliant opportunity to showcase Scotland as the home of golf on a global stage.

“The event, which will welcome visitors from across the world to Scotland, will also have an extremely positive impact on our economy, businesses and tourism industry.”


Image: Scottish Sun

these airports USED to be able to cope with this why not now what has changed

oh silly me they've cut staffing and upped fees and charges of course

_________________
Taxis Are Public Transport too

Join the campaign to get April fools jokes banned for 364 days a year !

Indeed.

I will not do pick-ups at Heathrow at the mo, other than for very close friends or family.

As for Gatwick, the punters are told only to ring me when they have all their bags and are on the way out of the terminal, and then they will have to wait there for the 30 minutes it takes for me to drive there.

It's a nightmare.

_________________
IDFIMH