I get tired of everyone moaning about things that are wrong with England without ever doing anything about it. If it annoy you so much. Choose the airline that suits yours needs and email the customer service dept of the other airlines that you choose not to fly with them because of their obstructive policies. If enought people do this things will change. We prefer to just moan instead.

eharris, Birmingham,

I find it ironic that there are Americans writing in to complain about heathrow. Have they tried flying into LAX? I fly from the UK to New Zealand twice yearly, tranisting thru LAX. I am only ever in LAX as a transit passenger, yet I must go thru immigration, have my photo and fingerprints taken, then collect my luggage, proceed thru customs, then go upstairs to re-check in for my connecting flight, but I cannot check my bags in til they have been x-rayed and a 'security checked' sticker is placed on them. Its a nightmare. And all this as transit passenger. Land of the free indeed! By the way, the only reason I fly thru the US is because of the increased baggage allowance.

Jude Keighley, Auckland/London, New Zealand/England

Britain is sick sick sick why are they incapable of organising themselves like the rest of the world.We travel extensively but aim where possible to avoid travelling to or via the UK,soon off to the States again for a few months but will avoid the UK with its chaos and discourtesy.

Ann Crak , Mugla , Turkey

I'm based in the UK, from where I travel all over the world, particularly in Europe, Asia and the US, visiting perhaps 20 different airports a year. There is no airport in the world that makes one feel as unwelcome as Heathrow. Perpetual traffic congestion on the approach roads, filthy terminal buildings, grumpy staff everywhere, particularly in the baggage check and Customs areas, ridiculously over-priced restaurants (if one can call then that...). What an appaling introduction to England for those visiting from abroad.

Ben Janssens, London,

The 'one bag' rule is ridiculous - I flew from Melbourne to London with one small cabin bag, a small handbag and a suit bag, with no problems whatsoever. Then we struck Heathrow and this rule. I had to throw my cabin bag and handbag in the suit bag which crushed my bridesmaid dress. The security buffoons were so busy enforcing this rule (and x-raying my rubber thongs!) that they didn't notice our toiletries bag which we inadvertently placed in our cabin bag!! This rule should be abandoned. As for Heathrow - never again.

Rebecca Thomas, Melbourne, Australia

The UK's hand carry regulations have been absurd from the start and now they've made matters even worse by allowing fragmented changes. I can't believe the stupidity of regulations that would allow you to fly in with two hand carry bags but only fly out with one! Or visa versa, for God's sake! This sounds like something the TSA would come up with...but our British brethern should be smart enough to straighten out this mess once and for all. I won't fly through or to the UK until they do. But then I'm a pro photographer who absolutely has to hand-carry two bags (or more). D Houser, Ruidoso, NM

Dave G. Houser, Ruidoso, NM, USA

My wife and I used BA to fly to Heathrow and then onto a cruise. We had purchased 2 new carry on pieces of luggage which met the size restrictions as outlined by the airline. No problems until the trip home. Took a BA fllight from Nice to Heatrow to make our connection to Newark Liberty. Were then told that our carry on were not the proper size by the airport personnel. We were asked to transfer our belongings(meds, passports, electronics etc,) to a small plastic bag. We had to leave quite a bit behind and they then confiscated our 2 pieces of carry on luggage. and were quite nasty about it. I have many friends in England but will not travel there again. because of that experience.

Joseph Favaro, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA

Different rules for outbound and inbound journeys are nothing new. I fly frequently between LHR and New York, and since New York never adopted the one-hand-bag-only policy, it's been one cabin bag outbound, but two inbound. The huge problem is the discrepancy in liquids policies. EU rules say liquid containers must not exceed 100ml; US rules say 3 fl oz. The problem is that 100ml is just over 3 fl oz, so one runs the risk of taking a small bottle of perfume or cream on the outbound and having it confiscated on the inbound!

Colombe, London,

The only solution to this mess is competent government intervention. The current regulatory regime and the private sector have failed miserably, penalizing passengers and subjecting the entire country to ridicule. These airports have in many cases been sold with huge windfalls going to the seller funded by huge loans taken by the buyer. That money should have gone into fixing the infrastructure not into enriching shareholders. The new owners' motto might well be "debt service before customer service." Also, there are two many flights, far in excess of capacity, because the full cost of air travel and its externalities are not included in the fare. The solution is to cap the number of flights at a sensible level, auction off the slots and apply the proceeds to fixing the infrastructure.

Brian Dickie, Aspen, Colorado

Heathrow is indeed a Third rate Airport, last time using it as a connection to Scotland, never again, trying to get a Wheelchair assist for my companion even though booked well ahead of time, had no problems anywhere else, why is Heathrow such a basket case? Britain should be ashamed of this place!

George Levecque, Fergus, Ontario, Canada

I would just like to ask if anyone knows of an airport, anywhere in the world, that compares with the appalling Heathrow ?

In UK there are very many regional airports that are a pleasure to use and from London there are wonderful trains to Europe..I am surprised that Heathrow is simply not being boycotted by travellers.
Peter M.

Peter Mitchell, Rome, Italy

I agree with Monica, Heathrow has to be the most unappealing place on the planet. I am English but live in Chicago, I fly to UK half a dozen times a year. I am always reaching for the Prozac when I land at Heathrow! A combination of lets circle Kent for an hour, lets wait for a gate, perpetual building works dim lighting stroppy Immigration staff and a general feeling of doom all contribute to the though ....why am I here? The reason I have to come otherwise I would never return to UK.
God Bless America

Paul Barrett, Hinsdale, Illinois

We recently flew from france to UK with BA, we were allowed 2 pieces of hand luggae each (2 travellers), we flew into gatwick with no issues, each with a small pieces of handluggage and a laptop bag each, When we flew out of Heathrow, the custome people made it very clear to everyone that only one piece could be carried on per person!, fortunately by juggling, my mini laptop bag just about fitted in my companions laptop bag (both laptops had been removed for separate scanning in xray machine. and his laptop bag, just squeezed into his handluggage. Many others were having arguements with customs as were being told you either check in the computer bag, of it doesnt go on the plane with you !! This, even though the airline clearly stated that 2 pieces were allowed on with you !! After clearing through customs and xrays, we decanted back into the origional bags, thank godness our bags just squeezed into each other.
Not flying to UK again until all becomes clear.
C. Mansell (Brit abroad)

C Mansell, Antibes, France

I fly frequently around europe and america. The rest of europe has different rules , they are more flexible but when you arrive in england it is a different story , they only care about making money . Heathrow airport is a third world country airport , the rules are stupid and I feel sorry for the people that are use these airports as tranfers.

monica, london,

I have been a frequent flyer from Los Angeles to Geneva on BA. My last trip in summer was a nightmare with unreasonable and arrogant BAA (British Airports Authority) personnel enforcing a one piece carry-on rule, even though I had been boarded in Los Angeles and Geneva with two pieces (my purse and laptop bag). When transiting Heathrow, I among dozens of other flyers were greeted by BAA's folks who seemed to delight in making fare paying passengers miserable. They insisted on me checking in my laptop case. I would have none of it. Like many others, data on my laptop is confidential and sensitive. I do not let it out of my sight, let alone allow it to be carried away by a stranger. They said I could take my purse! Another lady traveler with the same problem broke down in tears! I was able to force my purse into the laptop bag and moved on. I said to my companions, I will not traverse the UK again until this stops! I will spend my money and take my business elsewhere!

Alexis, Los Angeles, CA

As per usual Britain leads the way, total confusion &anyway to make a quick buck !!!!

Peter Nockall, SHEFFIELD, SOUTH YORKSHIRE