Using Leeds Bradford Airport Questions & Reviews

[Aviador]

I have to admit I have noticed the World Duty Free shop have been a bit cheeky with their mobile fixtures of late placing them on the black shiny tiles. When will they realise, people wont buy things just because they've either walked or tripped into them. All they have achieved is to create obstacles through the shop that was previously meant to be part of the airports so called "circulation zone". It's deeply annoying and very unnecessary particularly if you're running late for a flight. Sort it out World Duty Free!!! :shout:

 

[Galaxy]

I'm flying on Thursday so will report back on my experience here.

 

[SNOWMAN]

hi galaxy
when we went thro lbe last time the exit walkway from the duty free was partly obstructed with sales stands (on the black tiles) our flight had a10hr delay and we had to battle back to the big camden food outlet not good,have a good trip.
thanks for the info the other day.

regards
sm1

 

[Galaxy]

Cheers mate, Merry christmas. 10 hours that bites. Mind you I once did 8 hours at Banjul, that really did suck!!!

 

[Galaxy]

Re: Leeds Bradford Infrastructure & Developments

An observation from today.....whoever measured the 'count down' distances to the fast track may have been using a very dodgy metre stick. The 60 to 45 and 45 to to 30 metre sections really don't seem to be 15 metres each, more like 20-25 metres each, or possibly even more!

 

[Galaxy]

I have to admit I have noticed the World Duty Free shop have been a bit cheeky with their mobile fixtures of late placing them on the black shiny tiles. When will they realise, people wont buy things just because they've either walked or tripped into them. All they have achieved is to create obstacles through the shop that was previously meant to be part of the airports so called "circulation zone". It's deeply annoying and very unnecessary particularly if you're running late for a flight. Sort it out World Duty Free!!! :shout:

Here is what I came across when I flew on the 27th of December:

The black tiles are clearly a path through, I find this placement extremely disruptive, and very disrespectful to those who need more space such as wheelchair users. For those with visual impairments it just makes a ridiculous and unnecessary obstruction. White Heather, I believe that this ought to be raised at your next meeting with the airport management et al.

To compound this, the majority of 'duty free' isn't applicable to the majority of LBA passengers who are mostly flying to EU destinations, so it just seems like a waste of time and resources.

 

[White Heather]

Galaxy I agree completely - what they have done there looks wrong and it is wrong. It may also contravene fire regulations if that is a fire escape route. However, the next meeting is not until March, so I would suggest that unless you wish to wait almost 3 months, you write to John Parkin to point out the error of Word Duty Free's ways. He has always said he would rather people write to him and he will respond, so a chance to put it to the test. Alternatively you could email the airport. All I can do at the moment is do the same, but it would probably be better coming from a passenger who has been there and found it objectionable. My next flight is not until May! If the matter is not resolved in the meantime, I will of course mention it at the next meeting. If you feel you would rather me do it I will email the airport secretary for you. Just let me know what you decide.

 

[Aviador]

It's worth mentioning there are several of these mobile fixtures and although they're not a problem when it's quiet they do cause a significant obstruction when it's busy. There are probably around four or five of these fixtures in the narrowest section of the store.

 

[Galaxy]

Heather - please can you message me JPs email address via the forum. I'm flying to Vilnius in a fortnight, so I'll see if my email makes a difference.

 

[airforced]

Unless you are into "retail therapy" having to make your way through shops to get to the departure gates is out of order in my view anyway but one of those things we seem to have to put up with these days unfortunately. Deliberate blocking a walkway (and that is what it is) is totally out of order and as White Heather pointed out, there may well be some sort of infringement of the law here viz a viz escape routes.

Well done Galaxy for pointing this one out. It does need to be raised with the airport management. Please keep everyone posted on the outcome.

 

[White Heather]

Well it was just the same before the terminal work at LBA - Duty Free was the first thing you walked into after leaving the security area wasn't it? Forcing customers to walk through is just standard marketing, putting a bit of glitz and tempation in front of people who otherwise might not see what is on offer or bother to go and see. People going on holiday in particular are often feeling ready to spend, so it's not a surprise really. I don't have a problem with it although I know some people who use the airport mainly for business flying and they are very vociferous against it, believing they should have their own 'executive' route to the lounge areas, by-passing the shopping area. They are not going to get it though.

Galaxy I will message you the address to write to - you need to go via the directors secretary, but she is very helpful.

 

[Galaxy]

I emailed John Parkin about the disruptive displays in World Duty Free as follows:

I am a frequent user of LBIA for both business and leisure purposes, and I have noticed great improvements with the infrastructure works that have so far taken place at the airport, but one thing that does concern me is how the 'duty free' shop en-route to the gates area is encroaching upon the walkway through their with merchandise displays, this can be demonstrated with the attached photograph which I took on December 27th, 2012.

It seems that the back tiled area is designed as a route for visitor flow, in case of an emergency I do not believe that it should not be covered in this way, assuming that the walkway is a main fire escape route, then surely it is against fire regulations to obstruct it. It would be a major hazard in the event of an evacuation. I also believe that this provides an unnecessary obstacle to those in wheelchairs and a hazard to blind passengers.

I am therefore writing to you to request that obstacles such as this are removed from the walkway, and that safety and passenger courtesy are prioritised over sales from this establishment.


I received this reply as a PDF, which I have to say is a little disappointing in terms of not being willing to budge on this: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/2481695/Linked ... letter.png

So I guess it's over to the consultative committee Heather...

 

[Aviador]

It does look as if some of these shop fixtures have been moved further to the edge of the black tiled walkway except at the entrance of the shop where there are now three of these fixtures. It doesn't seem as bad as it was but it will be the summer months that will be the real test.

 

[Galaxy]

I'm flying on Wednesday next week, so I'll take another pic and compare.

 

[Aviador]

I think the airport possibly takes a cut from what the World Duty Free shop makes so it is in their interests to maximise their sales.

 

[airforced]

The response to your enquiry comes as no surprise to me Galaxy as it seems retail is and always will be paramount at every airport we pass through and the retailers will do more or less as they think fit. The response does however call into question the airport authorities commitment to their customers comfort and well being when using the airport. Why, if there wasn't any need to provide a clearly defined walkway through the so called Duty Free shop, did they lay down the attractive sparkly black tiled route in the first place? If it was never intended that it should be maintained as an unambiguous 'clearway' through the shop what was the point of spending the money on it in the first place?

I would be in favour of keeping this particular pot boiling in an effort to keep this route clear of merchandise for the convenience of passengers and their safety, even though it seems there is no statutory need. I think it is probably over to you now White Heather for you to use your good offices in this respect. And good luck as I think you will probably be swimming against the tide.

 

[White Heather]

I have to say I am surprised to say the least that the walkway is not viewed as a fire escape route since it is the most direct route for passengers in the terminal to the land side of the terminal - should there be a fire on the airside. The fact it isn't leaves only the aesthetical impact and that of enabling free access to people with disabilities, but even that is difficult if the gaps left are in accordance with minimal requirements.

You are correct to say I would be swimming against the tide and I have seen only one instance so far where the airport have reversed their view on an issue following the matter being regularly raised at the meeting, and that is the covered walkway which was not originally part of the recently completed scheme. I can complain all I like but if it comes to a battle between myself and the airport director there is only one winner.

If it is correct that some of the displays have been moved further to the side rather than bang in the middle as before, then it would appear that if nothing else, the point has been made and taken on board. Unfortunately I would think that the very reason these displays have found their way on to the walkway is so World Duty Free can fit more of them in to the space allocated in an attempt to increase the range of their stock. So despite getting a much larger area, it is apparent that they still want more space!

 

[Seasider]

I am due to fly from the airport in 5 weeks time. If the merchandising units are still in the "black walkway" I will take to task the World Duty Manager and Airport Terminal manger for their comments.

 

[SNOWMAN]

hi seasider
we have just returned from malaga on sat 26jan on our dep day sat 12jan 2merchandising units were placed in the black walkway in the duty free again.

have a good flight
sm1

 

[Galaxy]

They are both still there.