This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7320497.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Third day of flight misery at T5 T5 cancellations set to continue
(1 day later)
Baggage problems are causing delays, cancellations and misery for a third day for British Airways passengers using Terminal 5 at Heathrow. Flight cancellations at the new Terminal 5 of London's Heathrow Airport look set to continue for several days.
One fifth of flights from the troubled terminal were scrapped on Saturday - 67 out of the 330 scheduled. British Airways called off 37 flights from T5 on Sunday. A further 54 services will not operate on Monday and some may also be disrupted on Tuesday.
Many passengers reported departing on flights after being told their luggage would not be travelling. A further 37 flights have been cancelled for Sunday. The chaos is due to problems with the baggage handling system. About 15,000 bags are stranded across all terminals.
The airline has also scrapped its £100 limit for delayed passengers' hotels. BA said it was working hard to clear the backlog and hoped to increase the percentage of flights taking off.
Check-in was suspended for an hour after 0900 GMT on Saturday as airport workers attempted to deal with the backlog. A total of 208 flights in and out of the terminal were cancelled during T5's first three days. On Sunday, BA said 85% of its 331 scheduled flights were running normally.
The whole experience has been meltdown Elizabeth DruryPassenger The fifth terminal opened amid great fanfare on Thursday, but difficulties with the baggage handling system and with staff training quickly derailed operations.
The brand new fifth terminal opened amid great fanfare early on Thursday, but problems with the baggage handling system and "staff familiarisation" quickly derailed operations. T5 LATEST
  • 37 domestic and European flights cancelled on Sunday
  • 54 cancelled on Monday
  • Long-haul flights operating
  • Passengers able to check in both hand and hold baggage
  • Some customers' bags will be delayed
  • Flights to and from Terminals 1 to 4 operating normally
  • BA information line - 0800 727800
    •  class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/7318444.stm">Your experiences of T5 class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7318568.stm">What has gone wrong at T5? class="" href="/1/hi/business/6199297.stm">Q&A: Air passenger rights class="" href="/1/hi/business/7318455.stm">Open Skies deal comes in
    A total of 208 flights in and out of the terminal were cancelled during the first three days. On Sunday, BA said the system was now "generally working well" and 400 staff members had volunteered to come in on their day off to sort through piles of stranded suitcases.
    Airport operator BAA also confirmed that a "small percentage" of lifts at the terminal were not working on Saturday, but said they were either not in passenger areas or would not interfere with passenger flow. A team of engineers and IT specialists from BAA and BA are also dealing with problems as they arise.
    Left luggage Bags for UK destinations will be returned by courier, while international luggage will be put on the next available flight.
    On one of the delayed planes, passengers on flight BA0662 to Larnaca were held on the tarmac for some four hours before leaving at 1205 GMT. In a statement BA said: "A backlog of undelivered bags has built up. This backlog is not affecting the day-to-day operation of the baggage system, and we are making every effort to reunite delayed bags with their owners.
    T5 LATEST
  • 67     short-haul flights cancelled on Saturday
  • 37 likely to be cancelled on Sunday
  • Long-haul flights operating
  • Passengers will be able to check in with both hand and hold baggage
  • BA information line - 0800 727800
    •  class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7317797.stm">Fury at Heathrow 'shambles' class="" href="/1/hi/business/6199297.stm">Q&A: Air passenger rights class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/7318444.stm">Your experiences of T5     		"We have more than 400 volunteers from across the airline supporting this effort.
    One, Elizabeth Drury, told the BBC the captain said they would be leaving without any luggage. "This work takes time as delayed bags must undergo enhanced levels of security screening. Much of this process has to be done manually because we have been unable to use the Terminal 5 baggage system to process these bags automatically.
    They had been told this was because some of the bags initially put on the plane had not been screened properly. "We are sorry for the disruption and inconvenience caused to customers whose flights have been cancelled or whose bags have been delayed."
    "The whole experience has been meltdown," she said. The company said it and BAA had "invested an enormous amount of time and effort to create Terminal 5", and remained confident that "these early difficulties can be overcome".
    A group of school pupils on flight BA285 to San Francisco also said they were told by the airline that their bags were not on board and they could choose whether or not to travel. They were bound for a skiing trip. 'Full-blown tantrum'
    "It could ruin it because we are scheduled to start ski-ing tomorrow," said one schoolgirl, Natalie Bakhurst. But, at the airport on Sunday, some passengers remained critical.
    Costs considered We will not rest until our service has been restored to the high standard customers rightly expect BA statement
    BA said it apologised to its customers for disruption and its operational staff were working tirelessly to make the operation work "robustly". Kerry Johnstone, 35, said she found out only upon arrival at T5, from the electronic board, that she faced an eight-hour delay on a flight to Copenhagen.
    Some passengers were forced to depart without their luggage "Everyone has to find out when they get here," she said. "It's appalling that such a big organisation has got it so wrong. I can't check in, because they don't know what flight I'm going to be on.
    They advised people to call their information line or check their website before travelling. "There was a two-year-old child screaming next to me. When one of the staff tried to make light of it, I said that was exactly what I felt like doing.
    The airline has also faced criticism over its upper limit on hotel accommodation costs for delayed passengers. "I feel like having a full-blown tantrum but I'm too old."
    On Thursday evening, leaflets were handed out to blighted passengers saying they were entitled to £100 compensation for two people sharing a hotel room. Government on stand-by
    But the airline has since said it will consider any "reasonable accommodation cost" claims. Transport Minister Ruth Kelly said she had spoken to airport operator BAA and BA: "While the problems at Terminal 5 are for them to resolve, I have made clear that the government stands ready to assist.
    Under 2005 rules, an airline is obliged to supply meals and refreshments, along with accommodation if an overnight stay is required, when a flight is delayed. The Air Transport Users Council said the letter could be in breach of regulations. The CAA has written to BA to ensure it safeguards passengers' rights
    The unexpected heavy demand for hotel rooms when the crisis began on Thursday meant that by the evening passengers were being asked to pay £250 for a double room. "Everything possible must be done to deliver a better service for passengers who are unfortunately still facing disruption and delays to their journeys."
    But by Saturday night a typical rate for a single room at one of Heathrow's airport hotels was about £80. The Conservatives have called for an inquiry into the "chaos and confusion", with Shadow Home Secretary David Davis calling the situation "a dreadful national embarrassment".
    Liberal Democrats home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said the infrastructure project was an "incredible shambles" which "neither British Airways nor BAA seem to be able to put right quickly".
    Plans reviewed
    The problems have led BA to consider postponing the transfer of its long-haul operations at Terminal 4 to the new Terminal 5, which had been scheduled for the end of April.
    "We haven't said we will alter the original plan," a spokesman said. "But obviously, in the light of what has happened in the last few days, it is prudent to review the situation."
    The airline has also faced criticism after initially imposing a £100 upper limit on hotel accommodation costs for delayed passengers.
    BA has since said it will consider any "reasonable accommodation cost" claims and the Civil Aviation Authority has written to the company to make sure it complies with European legislation on passengers' rights.
    BA has set up an information line for T5 passengers: 0800 727800BA has set up an information line for T5 passengers: 0800 727800
    Have     you been affected by flight cancellations? Has your luggage gone astray in the recent troubles? Tell us about your experience using the form below.
    Have you been through Terminal 5 today? What was it like? Do you work there? Tell us about the new terminal at Heathrow airport. You can also send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or MMS to 61124. If you are not in Britain, send your MMS to 44 (0) 7725 100 100
    You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100.
    Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
    Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and videoClick here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video
    Name
    		 Name