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[qrypt]

"Chaos" at Heathrow -- in part because Theresa May is a goon.

[expatinuk]

"Chaos" at Heathrow -- in part because Theresa May is a goon.

Now, you're not saying that she's a member of the goonies are you?

[testingthewaters]

Oh, crap.

Uh, maybe a stupid question, but:

Does Scotland do its own thing here, or will Edinburgh be a mess on the 30th, too?

please answer Edinburgh will be OK please answer Edinburgh will be OK please answer Edinburgh will be OK

[wegie]

Scotland does *not* do it's own thing :-(

Budget to take twice as long as usual to get through immigration, assuming that your flight isn't cancelled.

[expatinuk]

Scotland does *not* do it's own thing :-(

Budget to take twice as long as usual to get through immigration, assuming that your flight isn't cancelled.

Yep, the Gov't is asking airlines to cancel flights. Expect to spend a LOT of time on the plane once you've landed.

[llanfair]

How long is this going to last? Is it a one-day thing, or will it start on Nov 30 and continue for as long as it takes?

I'm a union supporter myself, but I'm also due to fly into LHR on Dec 9.

[qrypt]

How long is this going to last? Is it a one-day thing, or will it start on Nov 30 and continue for as long as it takes?

I'm a union supporter myself, but I'm also due to fly into LHR on Dec 9.

It's a one-day thing.  There might be another day at some point, but it would be announced well in advance. 

"Chaos" at Heathrow -- in part because Theresa May is a goon.

Now, you're not saying that she's a member of the goonies are you?

That would be far too complimentary, in relation to my true opinion of her. 

[testingthewaters]

Scotland does *not* do it's own thing :-(

Budget to take twice as long as usual to get through immigration, assuming that your flight isn't cancelled.

Yep, the Gov't is asking airlines to cancel flights. Expect to spend a LOT of time on the plane once you've landed.

Sh*t.

I have a presentation on the 1st that is too early to fly on the 1st; my flight on the 30th is late, so I won't get in until after 10 PM as it is.

I was worried about the late arrival to start with, since at nearly 6 months pregnant, my energy level isn't what it used to be. Now I'm worried I won't get to the hotel until 2AM, or not at all.

[qrypt]

Scotland does *not* do it's own thing :-(

Budget to take twice as long as usual to get through immigration, assuming that your flight isn't cancelled.

Yep, the Gov't is asking airlines to cancel flights. Expect to spend a LOT of time on the plane once you've landed.

Sh*t.

I have a presentation on the 1st that is too early to fly on the 1st; my flight on the 30th is late, so I won't get in until after 10 PM as it is.

I was worried about the late arrival to start with, since at nearly 6 months pregnant, my energy level isn't what it used to be. Now I'm worried I won't get to the hotel until 2AM, or not at all.

BBC story includes an indication that managers at Edinburgh don't expect the impact to be as serious.  Who knows whether to believe it.

[llanfair]

Scotland does *not* do it's own thing :-(

Budget to take twice as long as usual to get through immigration, assuming that your flight isn't cancelled.

Yep, the Gov't is asking airlines to cancel flights. Expect to spend a LOT of time on the plane once you've landed.

Sh*t.

I have a presentation on the 1st that is too early to fly on the 1st; my flight on the 30th is late, so I won't get in until after 10 PM as it is.

I was worried about the late arrival to start with, since at nearly 6 months pregnant, my energy level isn't what it used to be. Now I'm worried I won't get to the hotel until 2AM, or not at all.

I hope you're not standing in line too long, Testing.  That would be really rough on a pregnant person.

[seniorscholar]

I was worried about the late arrival to start with, since at nearly 6 months pregnant, my energy level isn't what it used to be. Now I'm worried I won't get to the hotel until 2AM, or not at all.

Contact your airline and request to be met at the gate by a wheelchair (which will also help speed you through the line). I have a friend who used this dodge when traveling alone with two-year-old twins: no way she could manage the luggage, the heap of supplies needed by children in diapers, and two children who were either very lively or else falling asleep so they couldn't/wouldn't walk. She never got anything except the wheelchair and lots of help; no questions or unpleasant comments, on either side of the Atlantic.

[wegie]

Sh*t.

I have a presentation on the 1st that is too early to fly on the 1st; my flight on the 30th is late, so I won't get in until after 10 PM as it is.

I was worried about the late arrival to start with, since at nearly 6 months pregnant, my energy level isn't what it used to be. Now I'm worried I won't get to the hotel until 2AM, or not at all.

Assuming you're travelling on the local flag carrier, is there any chance you can move the flight up?   

[llanfair]

I was worried about the late arrival to start with, since at nearly 6 months pregnant, my energy level isn't what it used to be. Now I'm worried I won't get to the hotel until 2AM, or not at all.

Contact your airline and request to be met at the gate by a wheelchair (which will also help speed you through the line). I have a friend who used this dodge when traveling alone with two-year-old twins: no way she could manage the luggage, the heap of supplies needed by children in diapers, and two children who were either very lively or else falling asleep so they couldn't/wouldn't walk. She never got anything except the wheelchair and lots of help; no questions or unpleasant comments, on either side of the Atlantic.

That's a great suggestion, SS.

[testingthewaters]

Assuming you're travelling on the local flag carrier, is there any chance you can move the flight up?   

Alas, I'm not on the local flag carrier.... I'm on a low-cost airline, and they are likely to do exactly nothing for me. This is only the second time in my life I've ever flown with them (in part because the first experience was not great). The difference with the local flag was upwards of EUR 500 for flights that fit my schedule, and that just seemed unfair to my hosts. I thought, eh, it's a direct flight, what could go wrong? Apparently, this is what could go wrong.

I think I'm just going to go to the airport on Wednesday and see what happens. I will tell my host to be prepared in case I don't get in until Thursday; its a day-long symposium, so she can try to switch me with one of the late afternoon people just in case. I'd really like to get in on Wednesday, though, since I would actually like to hear the rest of the symposium.

I'll consider the wheelchair thing- hadn't thought of that, but I'm not really sure my guilt-laden Presbyterian upbringing will allow me to make use of a wheelchair when I don't strictly need it.

[wegie]

At least the low-cost carrier you're on won't charge you through the nose for the privilege of the wheelchair . . . unlike their major competitor!