At Heathrow: stranded passengers clean out shops

[mawilson 2,133]

At Heathrow: stranded passengers clean out shops

Severe fog has grounded more than 350 flights through Heathrow today and

100 more will follow tomorrow. Patrick Foster, of The Times, was at the airport

today and said that the shops have run out of sandwiches and stranded

passengers are cursing the bad British weather.

"Most of the people in the airport are not British. They are mostly from

North America and Europe.

"The reason they are still here is that they have come in from North America

or Europe to transfer at Heathrow to fly on to their final destination and they

have been stranded overnight.

"British people seem to have heeded the warnings and found alternative

ways to travel and only turned up at the airport if their flight has not been cancelled.

"There are marquees at Terminals 1, 2 and 4, where people can go for free tea

and coffee. However, it is not much fun inside them - they are freezing. People

are huddled up under blankets and they are quite busy.

"In order to stem the flow of passengers into the terminals, raffle tickets are

being given out. Staff are guarding the terminal doors and people are only

allowed inside when their number is called out.

"Passengers slept in queues last night, which started again at about 5.30am this

morning. Some of the shops have run out of sandwiches and the coffee shops

are packed out as well.

"Lots of people have said that British Airways have been very good to them and

given away free hotel rooms and food. BA said they have given out 5,000 blankets

to passengers at the airport.

"Most of the people I've spoken to are down in the dumps, but they seem to

appreciate that no-one is to blame apart from the weather."

The Times

[luvaLimey 0]

... Am I the only one to giggle at this line:

"People are huddled up under blankets and they are quite busy."

Edited December 21, 2006 by luvaLimey

[almaty 19]

... Am I the only one to giggle at this line:

"People are huddled up under blankets and they are quite busy."

hey, a good way to past the time

[mawilson 2,133]

... Am I the only one to giggle at this line:

"People are huddled up under blankets and they are quite busy."

[doodlebug 3]

I just hope it's lifted by Tuesday morning!