T5 muppetry continues

[TheFaQQer]

Yes, the problem will occur LATER (not on the launch day), and also the scale of problems will be gradual - you'd have to cancel 1-2 flights, but not 15-20.

No - you'd not realize until it was too late, by which time the press will really go to town because it's all been hidden from the public up until that point. Cue lots of "why didn't they see this coming...." discussions.

[AtW]

Starting slowly and ramping up means that the problems will just occur later, after all the hype about how smoothly it all works.

Yes, the problem will occur LATER (not on the launch day), and also the scale of problems will be gradual - you'd have to cancel 1-2 flights, but not 15-20.

[TheFaQQer]

I think their biggest mistake was to move too many flights on day 1 - if they just moved 10-15 then any throughput problems would not have lead to collapse as it happened.

The system fell over because the baggage handlers were too slow unloading the bags, so the conveyer belt stopped, so they had problems with check-in.

Starting slowly and ramping up means that the problems will just occur later, after all the hype about how smoothly it all works.

[AtW]

From a project management perspective, it looks like they went for, effectively, a big bang implementation.

I think their biggest mistake was to move too many flights on day 1 - if they just moved 10-15 then any throughput problems would not have lead to collapse as it happened.

[Tensai]

Not quite a big bang - they haven't moved a lot of flights over there yet. They are still flying out of all the other terminals as well at the moment - next month they move everything over there.

I think that it's more down to heavily unionized baggage handlers having to work with a new system, and not liking it.

Point taken. I guess maybe they migrated more than was strictly necessary to gently ramp up the new systems.

And couldn't they have predicted the unionised staff chucking the odd wrench in the works?

20-20 hindsight is a wonderful thing.

[TheFaQQer]

From a project management perspective, it looks like they went for, effectively, a big bang implementation.

Now, call me a big scaredy cat, but Big Bangs usually end up as a CF to some extent. With something as hyped as T5 was, surely they would have been better doing this gradually?

No glory in that though....

Not quite a big bang - they haven't moved a lot of flights over there yet. They are still flying out of all the other terminals as well at the moment - next month they move everything over there.

I think that it's more down to heavily unionized baggage handlers having to work with a new system, and not liking it.

[Tensai]

From a project management perspective, it looks like they went for, effectively, a big bang implementation.

Now, call me a big scaredy cat, but Big Bangs usually end up as a CF to some extent. With something as hyped as T5 was, surely they would have been better doing this gradually?

No glory in that though....

[Dow Jones]

How hard can it be?

Having done a lot of travelling in Europe/US/etc, I am amazed by how only BA were caught in this. Where is the BAA CEO or any spokesmen indeed? This is entirely their doing. Just to think that in places as far away as Hong Kong and Athens, entire airports (not just terminals) were dismantled and were migrated 10-20 miles away overnight and without a hitch! Just wait till 2012 for the mother of all fiascos to take place!

[TheFaQQer]

My bmi flight on Friday and again today were both on time.

I think they are pulling out the stops to look good, so thanks to BA for that!

[PAH]

I bet the other airlines are thanking their lucky stars that BA got exclusivity of the terminal. Wouldn't suprise me if they also put a few of their best piss-takers into the terminal as moles to stir it up a bit.

[moorfield]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7322172.stm

Many bags have been sent to Manchester and Scotland to be processed.

WTF??? Mr Elbow meet Mr Arse