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I've never visited the UK, but I found the people who work at Heathrow to be unhelpful and gave off snobby vibes whenever I've been there for a layover/connection. I'm not sure if this applies to London or UK as a whole.
My guess is that the problem is more than likely with you and your attitude.
My biggest complaint is with the degradation of the English language. When is the last time you heard a Limey say, "Pip Pip!", "Tally ho!", "By Jove!", What ho!", "Jolly good, Jeeves!" etc. etc. So sad.
Having flown into many airports around the world I’d say many had similar attitudes, but the worst attitude was Newark New Jersey , talk about rude. Big mistake to use the attitude of airport staff to judge a country of city.
I've found that the staff at Newark Int'l to be helpful if curt, and if all else fails, they at least respond to directness or some cash. I would say that people in NJ have no bones about being direct and rude, and no one around here will try to sell you something else. Heathrow staff were just in their own cloud. It was like they're dealing with the gall of these "plebs" and "commoners"!!!! Royalty airport workers.
I've actually been to Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, and Turkey (amongst, other countries) and the airport staff were very down to earth and helpful, and the people in the country were absolutely lovely. Like haughty airport staff isn't the best marketing for your country.
My guess is that the problem is more than likely with you and your attitude.
My guess is that you are just a stuffy Brit who wants to defend stuffy Brit behavior. I see that you have cotton and presumption popping out of your mouth there.
My biggest complaint is with the degradation of the English language. When is the last time you heard a Limey say, "Pip Pip!", "Tally ho!", "By Jove!", What ho!", "Jolly good, Jeeves!" etc. etc. So sad.
Even here, here! Bloody damn! Bloody good! By God, Sir! Or even Right that way, Sir!!! All you get is airport staff who think they're royalty and won't even give you useful advice on how to get to your connecting flight. Been there three times, and I'll never go through Heathrow ever again unless maybe I go to Ireland again. You get more earnest help at airports by people who speak Spanish or Arabic and don't speak a lick of English.
I've found that the staff at Newark Int'l to be helpful if curt, and if all else fails, they at least respond to directness or some cash. I would say that people in NJ have no bones about being direct and rude, and no one around here will try to sell you something else. Heathrow staff were just in their own cloud. It was like they're dealing with the gall of these "plebs" and "commoners"!!!! Royalty airport workers.
I've actually been to Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, and Turkey (amongst, other countries) and the airport staff were very down to earth and helpful, and the people in the country were absolutely lovely. Like haughty airport staff isn't the best marketing for your country.
I lived in New Jersey, and London, and several states. I’d never judge the character of the people of a country, or a state or a city by the behaviour of airport staff.
Worst airport by FAR=Newark. Rude, unhelpful, don't tell you that your flight gate has been changed until it's too late.
What don't I like about British culture? Probably all the drinking. I drank back in college days and even today I'll have a glass of wine but you go to England and it's drink, drink, drink. Go out Friday for drinkies. Meet after work and you get stuck paying for rounds of drinks for people you don't even know. I've seen vomit on the pavement (sidewalks) in cities the morning after. Too much emphasis on drinking. But I love just about everything else, especially the food.
Yep, the drinking I’d agree with. I lived in New Jersey and hated that airport.
Worst airport by FAR=Newark. Rude, unhelpful, don't tell you that your flight gate has been changed until it's too late.
What don't I like about British culture? Probably all the drinking. I drank back in college days and even today I'll have a glass of wine but you go to England and it's drink, drink, drink. Go out Friday for drinkies. Meet after work and you get stuck paying for rounds of drinks for people you don't even know. I've seen vomit on the pavement (sidewalks) in cities the morning after. Too much emphasis on drinking. But I love just about everything else, especially the food.
Agree with all of this.
I much prefer the Italian drinking culture. But otherwise love the UK, including the food.
Heathrow is far from the worst airport I have been to. Mexico City was pretty awful and LA many years ago had staff shouting insults at the Central American passengers when we arrived (we were transferred to Air Costa Rica)
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