Advisory: Crown Service Strike

In case this dandy tidbit of news hasn't reached the other side of the pond...

If you are arriving in the UK next Wednesday, 30 Nov, you can expect all of hell's clowns and dancers to be rampant at the major ports.  It's possible that the knock-on effect could extend to Thursday/Friday.

They will be bringing in guvvies from the Post Office and what-not to do landing interviews and grant or refuse LTE.

Bring water, maybe a blanket, etc etc etc...

What's a "guvvie"?

I think he means government workers lol x

If anyone's flying on BA or Virgin, I saw an article last week that said they're offering to let people change flights to a different day with no additional charge.  It's probably worth calling your airline if your schedule is flexible to see if they'll let you change.

I saw an article in the newspaper that said BAA expects that the Customs and Immigration area at Heathrow may be completely full by 7 AM and fire regulations may then require airlines to keep people on planes until there is sufficient room in the arrivals hall for them.  They are talking about as much as 12-hour delays.  Whew  -- next Wednesday sounds like a good day NOT to fly ...

Will be landing on Friday at 7am. Not looking forward to this, especially as I'll be 32 weeks pregnant at that point. Water, blankets and pillows methinks.

Will be landing on Friday at 7am. Not looking forward to this, especially as I'll be 32 weeks pregnant at that point. Water, blankets and pillows methinks.

Sounds a good idea you are on a spousal visa if I remember correctly will your hubby be coming with you x

I'm arriving on Saturday morning...I *hope* it's clear by then!

6:20 Wednesday morning.... This should be fun.  And my girlfriend is not with me, so I'm in the non-EU line...

6:20 Wednesday morning.... This should be fun.  And my girlfriend is not with me, so I'm in the non-EU line...

Can you possibly get back to us with a narrative on what it's like when all of hell's clowns and dancers are on parade?

I'm arriving on Saturday morning...I *hope* it's clear by then!

Me too - I'm on holiday in the US at the moment and we're landing back at Heathrow on Saturday morning... hoping it's clear by then too .

I'm actually quite glad I'm not in the UK this week though, so that I don't have to worry about what will be happening on the 30th (I'm a civil servant and although I wasn't actually going to strike, I know that a few of my colleagues will be, which is going to affect the staffing at work).

Sounds a good idea you are on a spousal visa if I remember correctly will your hubby be coming with you x

Hubby is the USC (he's just allergic to paperwork ) and yes he will be with me. I'm hoping I'll get lucky with a sympathetic member of staff but of course am not expecting anything.

I'm more concerned that we'll get to the local airport Thursday morning and be turned away. Or worse we'll be stuck in Houston airport prior to departure. I'd rather wait in the immigration hall for 12 hours, at least we'll be there. This move has been a year and a half in planning, the last few weeks have been stress up to the eyeballs, our house still isn't sold. I just want to be home.

Can you possibly get back to us with a narrative on what it's like when all of hell's clowns and dancers are on parade?

Tea came out of my nose at this one. 

Rivers I really hope the queues won't have built up by then you might be lucky arriving so early.

Nose transpondia does have a way with words  I too choked on my tea. x


Hope everyone gets through ok love pads x

Can you possibly get back to us with a narrative on what it's like when all of hell's clowns and dancers are on parade?

I'm getting a strong visual in my imagination of this scene 

This morning's newspaper says they will be deploying the Army in the arrivals hall.  Wow.