Thetownend.com

How exactly do you think it's possible to have tested the place (infrastructure & systems) to the level of normal daily use?  It's impossible, hence why so many large projects spend the first few days/weeks/months even looking like this.

It's impossible to recreate the real world when testing, so it's not until it's launched that most of the bugs come to the fore.

Unrelated, other than planes, but the Manchester plane disaster back in the 80's puzzled the industry because all tests had shown you could vacate a full plane in plenty of time so nobody should have burned to death.  It wasn't until some bright spark suggested turning the test into a competition where people getting off quickly were rewaded with lots of cash did they find out the answer.  In that real situation people forgot to act calmcy and take instruction, it was every person for themselves.

If you are sensible, you'd have avoided Heathrow on BA flights for a good few months after Terminal 5 launched.

Somebody will be blaming Malpas in a minute.....

I pity anyone who has to deal with BA's customer service. Worst CS department ever. Even worse the NTL (of old). That bad.

I do.
He's also the reason Lucy Beale ran away.

15-20,000 backlog of bags now. Oh dear. That'll cost a bit in compo.

British Airways has delayed moving most of its long-haul flights to Heathrow's new Terminal 5 until June.

"It is only sensible to ensure that Terminal 5 is operating consistently at a high standard before the move begins," said BA boss Willie Walsh.

The new £4.3bn terminal has been plagued by problems, especially with its baggage handling, since it opened.

Almost all of BA's long-haul flights were supposed to switch from Terminal 4 to Terminal 5 on 30 April.

Tough opening

In a joint statement with BAA, the airports operator, BA said that: "While a normal flight schedule has been operated at Terminal 5 since Tuesday, we want to ensure that customers can be confident of high service standards when additional flights are introduced."

"We will work together to iron out any remaining problems, including the baggage system and its operation, and develop a robust timescale for phasing the move of Terminal 4 services into Terminal 5."

BA's Mr Walsh added that the companies had taken the decision "in the interests of customers".

"Though Terminal 5 is now working well, we need to have confidence that good service can be maintained when the terminal is handling larger numbers of customers."

Sixty arrivals and 60 departures per day were due to be moved.

Customers whose terminal has been changed will be contacted shortly, BA and BAA said.

Lost bags

BAA's chief executive Colin Matthews said: "BAA fully recognises that the inauguration of Terminal Five has not been as smooth as we and BA would have wished."

"BAA regrets this postponement and we recognise the impact it has on other airlines," he added.

Terminal 5 opened on 27 March, but was not able to offer its full short-haul schedule until 8 April.

Thousands of passengers have lost their bags and hundreds of flights have been delayed or cancelled.

Last week, BA said the problems had cost it at least £16m so far.

"This is a sensible move, which gives time to make sure everything works smoothly," said Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union.

BA shares opened 1.4% higher in London and were not significantly moved by the announcement.

Poor people this morning turning up to check in at 4am for a 06.45 flight ended up missing their flight cause staff didn't know what they were doing!

On the subject of Airports, anybody been to Singapore Airport? It is fucking ace.

You NEVER have to wait for your luggage, and on departure it has a wicked rooftop terrace bar thing overlooking the runway. Best airport I have been to by far.