doug Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Yep, safe and sound after a hickup Ay Nice Airport with French Security, more details tomorrow. Slightly knackered so will just be browsing for now. Had a job getting my Internet connection up. Turned out to be a dodgy microfilter. Anyway Hi All! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Welcome back - I look forward to reading about your saga - or whatever it was................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Welcome back - I look forward to reading about your saga - or whatever it was................... I would like to echo these sentiments too. Should I get a handkerchief for drying tears of laughter or sympathy?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandalph Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Welcome back Doug. I will look forward to reading all about it. Don't forget some piccy's. B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 I used Nice airport an awful lot 1983 - 1996. Security? Never saw any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug Posted August 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 Complete farce this time!We started off running a bit late - had had a "dry run" last Tues when I ran Eldest Daughter and No.1 G'son to the Airport as they had only joined for one week as a last minute thing. Unfortunately, the missus had to have a couple of comfort stops on the motorway so I was beginning to sweat a bit. Hope I got away with the speed cameras thanks to the Satnav - only used it for the first time this year. If it wasn't for the time pressure would have enjoyed the high speed run - don't do that anymore. Always try to get to airports in plenty of time because of the extra delays because of wheel chair issues etc. Anyway got Avis and the cars were queuing back onto the ramp and thought this was going to be expensive as we were bound to miss the flight and have to re-book with an overnight stop etc. The missus was desperate for the loo again. Eventually crawled into the car check in - through everything out and assembled the electric buggy. Danni - our 13 year old G'daughter charged off to find a trolley then ran after missus who was charging along at top speed "4 mph" to find the nearest loo. I loaded up the trolley and went racing off to the check in desk. Can you imagine a trolley with 3 big luggage bags my rucksack and No.1's car booster seat careering across airports roads and through a terminal, the Avis depot is the furthest away. Anyway got to check in to find the queue, which is always very long was worse than normal so joined the back of the snake and sweated 'till the family arrived - at least they hadn't got lost.Easyjet were operating a filter system halfway along the queue and the girl let out a whoop for help and sent us straight to the front with comments that the Newcastle check in was closed. Made usual comments in English that it wasn't when I joined the queue - butt didn't I hear the last call for Newcastle? Not where I was stuck with the queue snaking behind the Kiosks I replied. Anyway the girl checked us in and asked if Anne would use her buggy direct to the plane instead of checking it through the oversize desk and transfering to an airport wheelchair - which is normal. Of course we said where to next? Was told to go to lounge B, so made our way to the normal security check in queue I went to the front and asked if this was correct as my wife was on her buggy and the bloke in charge said yes start at the back. When we got to him he took one look at the buggy an said NON so we had to go back to the Easyjet desk and explain what happened and were direct elsewhere where we were met by the airport disabled assistance staff and told not to worry but we were. After an endless wait Dani and I were told to check through and I remembered that I still had my small pocket knife in my pocket - ooooops - so I slipped it into the rucksack and loaded it onto the conveyor together with pipe money wallet belt etc followed by and walking sticks, handbag and Dani's stuff. Anne was transfered to an all plastic wheel chair and pushed through the detector loop. Going well I thought.Then came the buggy, after a further long delay it was decided to load it through the X-ray dooda. So big heave onto the belt and it went through then offloaded the other side. Lots of muttering came from the operator. More delays and was told that we would have to wait for the Judge? After more delays was told that the had to wait for a sniffer dog because they couldn't decide if the battery pack was a battery or a bomb ad it was only showing up as a black box with no detail! I promptly whipped the pack off and suggested that the sent it through on it's own. Non it had already been deemed as suspect so the Security staff had to abide by the rules. The assistance staff were getting very upset at this point including the aircraft dispatcher, who it turned out had been sent by the plane's Captain to sort things out as he had missed his slot.Eventually a Gendarme type arrived with this Alsation, who wouldn't play ball but kept trying to sniff up a French Poodle thingy that was nearby. It then became very excited and started to jump around frightening the life out of Dani who broke down in tears. Eventually, the dog was made to play ball and the Gendarme the muttered shrugged his shoulders and dragged the dog off. We were allowed to proceed and got on the plane. The Captain had announced that he was holding the plane as some passengers were being delayed by Security. We spoke to him a Newcastle while waiting for the airlift ambulance to arrive at the plane and thanked him profusely. Not to worry he said, his main worry was the Anne was a disabled person and was going to be left stuck in security. The Airport staff had been wanting to offload our luggage and send the plane off. Not Easyjet's policy to let their passenger's down.Always had excellent service from Easyjet and will be writing to them to compliment them and their staff for their help. will add a bit more later about the holiday will be mostly family shots though. Hope this reads OK lots to do today so did this in a rush. French Security you may remember we had had problems with them a couple of years back at Charles de Gaull. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 What a shame - typical french efficiency - they are still trying to actually win a war. Will they never ever forgive and forget us over the Battle of Agincourt .................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug Posted August 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 I've still got my 2 fingers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 I've still got my 2 fingers!One rampant finger (middle one) means more in France. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 I think you are a very brave chap.......with patience too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 What a shame - typical french efficiency - they are still trying to actually win a war. Will they never ever forgive and forget us over the Battle of Agincourt .................. They will never forgive us for anything because we are so much superior to them in every way. Our farmers don't set fire to lorries loaded with live English lambs for a start. Glad you had a good time in spite of the trials and tribulations. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artist Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 There's always SOMETHING! isn't there.Hope the holiday was ok though..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandalph Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 Core blimey Guv'nor, what next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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