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Luggage problems hit Terminal 5 T5 check-in reopens after glitch
(about 1 hour later)
Passengers at Heathrow Terminal 5 have faced disruption following problems with the baggage system. Check-in desks at Heathrow Terminal 5 have reopened following problems with luggage conveyor belts that caused major disruption.
Check-in was suspended by airport operator BAA because of a mechanical failure, but it was later reopened after the problem was resolved. Thousands of passengers were delayed, with some saying they had to queue for hours. Others had to rebook or board flights without their luggage.
Airport operator BAA blamed a mechanical failure.
British Airways has apologised for the inconvenience and said it hoped its customers could fly on Sunday night.
BAA stressed flights had continued to run to schedule and said earlier delays of more than two hours were not related to the fault.
BA added that no flights had been cancelled as a result of the problem.
British Airways warned there would be delays but said it was doing everything it could to minimise disruption.British Airways warned there would be delays but said it was doing everything it could to minimise disruption.
One baggage handler said there were more than 1,000 pieces of luggage piled up at one stage. Some travellers said they had difficult and expensive journeys ahead.
A BAA spokeswoman said: "We are working hard with our colleagues at British Airways to help passengers to continue their journeys. I was told that BA would not send on the luggage if I took my flight so I had to miss it MickTerminal 5 passenger
"We hope that passengers wishing to depart tonight will be able to do so and we are sorry for the obvious inconvenience to travellers and British Airways." Nial O'Connor, from London, was due to fly from T5 to Marseilles on Sunday.
Backlog However, after his luggage went missing, he rebooked his flight with BA and was given one flying out of Gatwick on Monday.
A BA spokesman said there would be a knock-on effect. He said the change of plan has cost him an extra £80 to rebook the flight, £130 on a taxi and more on a hotel.
"As a result of the problem some passengers have been unable to check in bags. Check-in has now reopened but there will be some delays. Mr O'Connor has been told his luggage will be flown out to Marseilles separately.
"We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience. We are doing everything we can to minimise disruption." He told the BBC he was very angry and had found BA very unhelpful.
Earlier, he said he could not be sure how long the backlog would take to clear once the fault was fixed. Honeymoon couples
Barry Goldstone, who was due to fly to Denver with BA on Sunday afternoon, said it was "absolute chaos". Barry Goldstone, who was due to fly to Denver with BA on Sunday afternoon, described the scene at the terminal as "absolute chaos".
There were couples going on their honeymoon crying and younger girls crying too MickTerminal 5 passenger "They [BA] don't seem to have any continuity plan if anything goes wrong, and unfortunately they don't seem to have any consistency of information either."
"We've received very little information. Our flight was due to be at 1545 BST, but we weren't given any information by BA as to whether there are any back-up systems," he said.
"They don't seem to have any continuity plan if anything goes wrong, and unfortunately they don't seem to have any consistency of information either."
Mick, from Dublin, Ireland, told the BBC: "I waited in the queue to check in bags for the full three hours prior to my flight leaving.Mick, from Dublin, Ireland, told the BBC: "I waited in the queue to check in bags for the full three hours prior to my flight leaving.
"The queue moved maybe two people in that time. I was told that BA would not send on the luggage if I took my flight so I had to miss it."The queue moved maybe two people in that time. I was told that BA would not send on the luggage if I took my flight so I had to miss it.
"There were couples going on their honeymoon crying and younger girls crying too.""There were couples going on their honeymoon crying and younger girls crying too."
The baggage handler described the situation as "absolute chaos". One baggage handler said at one stage there had been more than 1,000 pieces of luggage piled up, and described the situation as "absolute chaos".
The terminal was hit with problems when it opened in March 2008, with flights cancelled and thousands of bags lost. 'Obvious inconvenience'
A BAA spokeswoman said: "We are working hard with our colleagues at British Airways to help passengers to continue their journeys.
"We hope that passengers wishing to depart tonight will be able to do so and we are sorry for the obvious inconvenience to travellers and British Airways."
A BA spokesman said: "As a result of the problem some passengers have been unable to check in bags. Check-in has now reopened but there will be some delays.
"We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience. We are doing everything we can to minimise disruption."
The terminal was hit by problems when it opened in March 2008, with flights cancelled and thousands of bags lost.
Are you at Heathrow Terminal 5? Do you know someone who has been held up at the airport? Let us know what is happening near you.Are you at Heathrow Terminal 5? Do you know someone who has been held up at the airport? Let us know what is happening near you.
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