British Airways CEO Wants to Make London Heathrow Less Miserable
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Visitors to the UK have been growing increasingly frustrated with London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR). Throughout the summer, the line for immigration at the busiest airport in Europe has been hours long (including one day when the border officers “abandoned” their posts to watch the World Cup).
British Airways CEO Alex Cruz also finds that the typical two-hour wait for passengers to get their passports checked is unacceptable, calling the checkpoint a “border farce” in a letter to the editor of the Times of London on Monday. Cruz wants the UK government to take action to address the issues with LHR’s immigration, which he says is worse than any other airport in Europe.
Cruz also said it makes the nation look bad as it prepares to leave the European Union. “What kind of message does this send, as we try to build links outside the EU?” Cruz wrote, adding that the wait times should be no more than 45 minutes.
British Airways is the UK’s flag carrier and biggest airline, and its home base is Heathrow.
In June, BA issued a warning to the airport that its passport lines were “totally unacceptable,” and blamed the wait times on a deficit of Border Force staff and the closure of large amounts of e-gates that electronically process visitors’ passports.
Britain’s Home Office, which oversees the immigration checkpoints, pushed back against Cruz, arguing that “the vast majority” of passengers from outside of Europe visiting the UK pass through immigration “within our service standards.”
Featured image by Prisma Bildagentur/UIG via Getty Images.
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
WELCOME OFFER: 80,000 Points
TPG'S BONUS VALUATION*: $1,650
CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners
*Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. View our latest valuations here.
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Plus earn up to $50 in statement credits towards grocery store purchases within your first year of account opening.
- Earn 2X points on dining including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,000 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories.
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get up to $60 back on an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership through 12/31/2021, and get full access to their workout library through the Peloton app, including cardio, running, strength, yoga, and more. Take classes using a phone, tablet, or TV. No fitness equipment is required.
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.