[updated:LAST EDITED ON 15-12-02 AT 00:14 AM (GMT)]I went to LGW on friday to meet a friend, and of course I couldnt resist a couple of hours on the spectators gallery.
Shock! Horror! yet another building is being erected obstructing the view of gates 13/15/17, soon theres only going to be the satelite visible.
Whats the matter with our airports? Why cant they be a bit more like Frankfurt or Amsterdam, these airports cater for the visitor, meeters and greeters, photographers, and anoraks. Providing them with restuarants , bars, shops, and unobstructed viewing, bringing in, no doubt, quite a bit of revenue for the airport. Frankfurt even has a childrens play area.
All our airports are building up and out leaving the spectator to guess just where the hell the runway is.
About 10 years ago the spectators gallery at LHR stretched right along the Queens building from T2 to T1, now its about the size of a postage stamp just above T2.
I fear the same is happening at LGW, and isnt there a lot of building going on at BHX as well?
Disgruntled from London (Dave)
By: 777crazy - 16th December 2002 at 11:05
RE: London City Airport
Got there around 1pm – had to meet friends off the Baku flight
By: dcfly - 16th December 2002 at 10:54
RE: London City Airport
It was free to get in because there was some kind of corporate function taking place in cafeteria.
I was there from about 10.30 until 12.30,not that there was much to see as it was foggy.
Dave+
By: 777crazy - 16th December 2002 at 09:05
London City Airport
I have to agree with dcfly, I was at LGW picking up someone on friday and I went to have a look as well, for some reason it was free to get in on Friday, but the views are disappering fast. Unlike place s like Amsterdam and Frankfurt. Stansted could do with a viewing area, havent been there in 2 years cause facilities are not brilliant.
BEST PLACE IN UK: LONDON CITY AIRPORT:
The only place that gives you any decent view is London City Airport. If you are wondering about the location. Tak the Docklands Light Railway to Royal Albert, make a left, and walk to the big River (thames) you cant miss it. NO facilities there but you can see entire airport and runway. Be warned flights on weekends are restricited. Best day is Friday PM and Monday AM.
By: Saab 2000 - 15th December 2002 at 17:07
RE: London Gatwick!!
Yeah I know where you mean now…I have a few pictures of them actually.Is it an extension to the passenger terminal or offices?
By: dcfly - 15th December 2002 at 13:50
RE: London Gatwick!!
Saab
I’ll write this on the assumption that you know the spectators gallery at LGW.
As you walk out of the lift you turn right , you then pay your £1.50 to the nice man in the kiosk and procede towards the viewing area.
The first thing you see on the viewing area is the front end of a Comet, then a Handley Page Herald (reg.G-CEXP)you then turn left onto the viewing area proper.
As you look out onto the apron, there slightly to your left is the main pier stretching away from you and there just in front are gates 13/15/17 where AA and Continental a/c normally stand , they have now been obstructed by the erection of yet another building.
We’ve already lost the domestic pier from view( thats even further to the left)
There’s some good photo opportunities to be had a LGW, but not for very long by the look of it!
Dave
By: dan330 - 15th December 2002 at 12:02
RE: London Gatwick!!
Completely agree!!
I can remember reading somewhere that the Frankfurt Gallery was very highly ranking in the most visited tourist places in the country. It really doesn’t take a lot and as you say people would be willing to pay quite a bit for a good area. There would be a lot of photographers that would pay quite a bit for a good spot at LHR.
Airports are constantly complaining about us lot trying to anywhere and everywhere around the airport for views and photos, but the best way to solve the problem is to build a good viewing area in the first place, even if it means paying a few quid then people would be willing to.
By: MINIDOH - 15th December 2002 at 10:45
RE: London Gatwick!!
I have to agree, people dont seem to care about visitors in England. My local airport Exeter has the worst viewing gallery possible! You can see 1/4 of the runway, this end of the runway is used very little too! LHR is bad too, something should be done there, one of the biggest airports in the world and they cant be bothered to change it from a dump into something nicer.
By: Saab 2000 - 15th December 2002 at 10:11
RE: London Gatwick!!
Where exactly are gates 13/15 and 17 and what is being built?
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December 15, 2002 at 12:12 am