Airports across the UK have faced weeks of chaos following staff shortages, issues with passengers arriving too early and long security waiting times. Leeds Bradford Airport has had its fair share of criticisms with passengers complaining everyday of issues when they are trying to head abroad.
The long queues are continuing, flights have faced extensive delays and passengers have been "fuming" over their experiences at the airport. The pattern, which LBA says is due to staff shortages and passengers arriving too early for their flights, doesn't seem to be going away.
LeedsLive has been following the stories of LBA travellers and it makes for some frustrating reading. Here are some of the issues passengers have been facing over the past few weeks.
Read More: Leeds Bradford Airport chaos continues with 'megaphone man', till failures and 'theme park' queues
Monday
The chaos was back, with passengers branding it like a "theme park" as they tried to get abroad for their summer holidays. Between 3am and 5am there were long queues seen outside the airport.
The queues led through to security, with some passengers reportedly waiting "in the cold" for over an hour, among a sea of people and luggage before the check-in desks opened.
One customer reported that when they got to the Ryanair check out, none of the self check-in desks were working, and marked with a large red cross. There has been no confirmation of them being up and running again.
LBA previously said the ongoing issues are linked to lack of staff at the airport, and bosses are seeking to hire new people. Other customers who travelled from 8am and onwards on Monday morning reported that they got through security in five minutes, and found a quiet airport.
Tuesday
On Tuesday, people were left furious after passengers began turning up to the airport eight hours before their flights. This prompted Leeds Bradford to tweet asking people to "arrive no earlier than three hours" before their departure time.
They tweeted: “If you're due to travel from @LBIAirport this week, our official guidance is to ARRIVE NO EARLIER THAN THREE HOURS BEFORE YOUR FLIGHT DEPARTURE TIME. You can help to speed up your passage through security by familiarising yourself with the process. Thank you.”
Despite the advice, passengers were sharing stories of some people arriving eight hours before they were due to set off.
Liam Copley tweeted saying: “Well British media done a good job in scaring the British public with the airport staff shortage people here for a 12:00 flight @LBIAirport this is the security queue, very bad management in my opinion.”
Wednesday
The mayhem continued on Wednesday as passengers were seen waiting in four hour queues that were tailing back 182 metres past the airport. Flights were delayed which didn't help the situation.
Flights heading out between 6am and 11am were delayed departing up to two hours late. Airport taxi services told Leeds Live customers were "not happy" when they were dropped off at the airport, and felt like they were "at Alton Towers queuing for the Smiler ride".
Taxi driver Mark Davies said: "I was dropping off two customers at 5.15am today and both were very unhappy."
Whereas one customer travelling through the airport at noon on Wednesday reported that there was a two-hour wait just to get through security.
Thursday
One passenger on Thursday was fuming and demanding a change at LBA after people were forced to wait in more huge queues outside the terminal. Pictures taken inside the aripirt at 4.45am showed holidaymakers in the car park outside the airport in Yeadon.
There were more snaking queues, that have seemingly become a fixture of the airport over the past few months.
Ian Gordon took to social media to express his feelings. @iangordon1959 said: "Queues not getting any better; 4.45am this morning. Goodness knows how long it will take to clear."
@iangordon1959 explained he had been able to get inside the airport within 15 minutes as he had paid for the fast track option. He continued: "Still only three out of four security belts open. Too many flights and not (sic) physical capacity or personnel to cope."
When approached by Leeds Live, the disgruntled passenger said "something has to change." Several departing flights have been delayed at the airport this morning.
Friday
On Friday, passengers were reporting a 'sea of luggage' and once again, huge queues and delayed flights. Long queues have been seen coming out of the airport doors and into the car park as far back as April.
The "shambles" continues, with passengers reporting a "total disconnect between airport and airline." Another passenger flying to Dublin in the early hours said it would have been "quicker to walk there", and others said they were amongst "chaos" while waiting in a sea of luggage and people outside.
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