17th July 2022

 On yesterday’s Today programme, a Heathrow official said what a wonderful job the airport was doing, post-lockdown. Well, over the last few weeks I’ve had an ideal opportunity to compare it with Boston’s Logan airport. A world of difference.  Heathrow was a nightmare, outbound and on our return. Passengers are treated like cattle, rounded up and steered into various ‘pens’!  Why is it thought acceptable to make us walk for twenty minutes to reach the departure gate? Meantime there’s the inordinate amount of time they expose everyone to the money-making plethora of shops and restaurants before announcing the gate numbers. And don’t even start me on the security queues and procedures, where - like hamsters in a revolving wheel - tired passengers are forced to walk yet more miles around Disneyworld-like barrier chicanes before being grilled and x-rayed. In contrast, Boston had few shops and, once through security, you’re straight through to one long space containing all departure gates. No twenty min walk anywhere. Boston security, though, was curious. Those under 75 (me, just) had a full-body x-ray, arms above my head, and had to remove shoes, whilst the over-75s (OH) didn’t! Now need a lie down in a darkened room.