Last night I received an email from a reader asking me if I will ever run out of things to rant about in the travel industry. I think the fact that I have written on this blog for over three years answers that question, but I am going to prove that the ranting is me is still alive and well.
Over the next three weeks I will be writing a series of posts titled ‘Five things that I hate about.’
Slow check-in
Technology is improving and we are starting to see airlines introduce online and mobile check-in. In my opinion it cannot come quicker for all airlines to offer this. I have started to take very little luggage on my trips so I can take it on as hand-luggage just to speed up the process of check-in.
Lack of free, reliable WiFi spots
It’s 2008, and we still have to pay £1 for 10 minutes internet access at most of our regional airports. The few airports that do have free WiFi spots, the quality of the service is poor. It’s just profit hoarding to charge people for internet access in public spaces.
Lack of information on delays or cancellations
One of the most annoyances I hear from consumers is the lack of information from airlines on delays and cancellations. How about information booths or an airport intranet for those with laptops where passengers can get the latest information their flight, and destination and tourist attraction content.
Too many shops – less space for security checks
It would seem common sense that the space that shops take up that the airport operators could use that space to make life easier for passengers. London Heathrow is a good example of this, where, more lines for security checks could be created if they took a way a few shop units.
Attitude of baggage handlers
As I wrote on a previous post about the uncaring attitude some baggage staff have when handling wheelchairs, the same applies to pushchairs, and baggage in general. Everyone’s holiday nightmare is arriving at the destination to find that damaged items or worst still lost luggage.
Add your own ‘hates about airports’ in the comments.
Related posts
- UK airports start to introduce premium service charges
- Worst airport security experiences
- Five things I hate about hotels
- Flying with a pushchair rant
- Travel industry should be leading the way in mobile technology
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Kara | 5 December, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Slow checkin and lack of free wi-fi are my biggest peeves on this list.
Laura Byrne Paquet | 5 December, 2008 at 5:07 pm
My pet peeve is the lack of sufficient, sensible signs in airports. You get off a plane and you’re often reduced to following the person in front of you to find the baggage claim. When signs DO exist, they often make no sense, such as those that point upward on an angle when there are no stairs or escalators in sight. Does that mean “teleport yourself to your next destination”?
Sam Daams | 5 December, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Free wifi; how true! Fast check in is default in Oslo. Checked in for home bound flight at same time as outbound flight this morning. Not more than 1 minute total! And not a single print needed to board 
Mary G | 5 December, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Funchal airport on the island of Madeira is the exception with great free WIFI, it’s free all over the city too, great boost for visiting tourists packing a laptop or blackberry.
Murray Harrold | 5 December, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Those sanctimonious, ingenuous, vapid BAA types in their stupid green jackets trying to look important, bossing everyone about. Tschoch!
WSW | 5 December, 2008 at 8:07 pm
I would say “other travelers.” Seriously, most people turn into animals when they travel. The pushing, the shoving, the running to the front of the plane because they absolutely HAVE to get off first. Seriously you guys, what ever happened to just enjoying the ride?
Europe on a Budget: Weekly Round Up | 5 December, 2008 at 9:21 pm
[...] Sick of Airports? Darren at Travel Rants, well… rants : Five Things I Hate About Airports [...]
UK airports blog - Trackback | 9 December, 2008 at 11:06 am
[...] I’m not really prone to rant, but after reading Darren Cronian’s Five things I hate about airports on his travel rants blog, I really feel the need to add some of my [...]
Pauline | 9 December, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Lack of information on delays or cancellations is my biggest peeve on this list.
And,I agree with Laura about signs in airport…it’s a calamity!!
Jason | 10 December, 2008 at 1:51 am
here in the last couple of years I have found flying just too stressful, if it is within a days drive I’m not going to fly. It seems like once you get there 1 1/2 early and then you are delayed, your flight turned into you loosing a day to get to your destination anyway
Hjortur Smarason | 10 December, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I can add to that list. It really, really annoys me when I go through thorough security check in the US, fly 6,5 hours across the ocean, land at 5 o’clock in the morning and need to go through a new security check, being stripped of all liquids, belt and shoes to get from the airplane into the airport. That’s what I had to do this morning when I landed in Iceland, coming from the US.
It’s an idiotic way to spend millions of tax money on irritating travelers for NO use at all. I did not have the chance to acquire weapons or make a bomb on board the plane.
And I so much agree with you on the wifi thing. It costs almost nothing to have good free wifi spots and yet, almost nobody does it.
Erica | 31 December, 2008 at 12:10 am
You do like to rant Darren, but in this case I disagree. As an eternal optimist I must say there’s nothing to hate about airports. Even though technology is improving we can’t expect quick check-in at all airports. A tip, if you’re traveling with a friend or two, have a contest of who picks the quickest line and gets to check in first.
Regarding WiFi, the high prices are a good reason to take care of any urgent online business before going to the airport and pick up on what you’ve missed once you arrive at your new destination. If possible, schedule your trips so you don’t need to be online until you reach your hotel, hostel, a cyber café etc.
Lack of information is not that fun, but we just gotta make the best of it. I recently read about a service where travelers can get updates concerning their flights via their cellphones.
Too many shops? Men may not care, but I know I’m not the only woman who enjoys a bit of shopping while waiting for my flight, or during delays.
Baggage handlers may come across as having an uncaring attitude because they just have to get their job done as quickly as possible. That doesn’t mean they are. The answer to this is a great suitcase, or backpack.
I think it’s unnecessary to get annoyed about these things when you’re about to travel. Practice tolerance and accept things for what they are.
Darren Cronian | 31 December, 2008 at 3:52 am
@ Erica
That’s why you write on travel blissful because you are an eternal optimist, I just see everything that annoys me and I rant about it
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13 responses to “Five things I hate about airports”