Pinkies' slow-shoe shuffle helps to ease airport blues
Saturday August 12 2006
Sections of the thoroughfare were cordoned off to allow the free passage of people, but traffic jams every few seconds meant everyone was simply shuffling along.
Suited businessmen with a destination in mind, put their heads down and feet to the floor, and determinedly ploughed through the throng.
Those overburdened and carrying wide loads were quietly cursed as they encroached onto the oncoming lane.
Rubberneckers held up the whole show as they gazed around, trying to get their bearings among the buzzing crowd.
When the meandering lane was negotiated and wider spaces were reached on the other side, those who fought their way through wondered why were there so many holdups.
But overall, things were running smoothly at the airport yesterday with significantly smaller crowds than the previous day.
Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) staff, wearing hot pink t-shirts, guided passengers to cordoned off queues to wait their turn to check-in.
"Unfortunately the media told everyone to get here three hours before their flight," said one flustered Pinkie.
"Can I just get you to wait over here?" he asked as he gently but firmly pushed one wannabe passenger towards a bulging line.
Aer Lingus, who are offered a silent prayer of thanks by passengers who regularly use their electronic check-in system, had signs everywhere. Absolutely everywhere: there was no way anyone could plead ignorance of the new security measures.
Those travelling to the US had to get rid of anything that wasn't solid and put all bags into the hold.
Those travelling to the UK were ok but they had to check their luggage if they were flying onwards.
While green-suited hostesses helped passengers through the simple system, blue-suited Ryanair workers were beginning to look increasingly harried.
As were the Pinkies who were trying to corral travellers into nonexistent spaces to wait their turn.
Huge and meandering queues formed at each Ryanair desk and they moved slowly. Very slowly. "We thought things were supposed to be back to normal," said one man who was travelling to Milan.
"But these queues are unreal. If I'd realised it would be so bad I would have checked in online." Others returning to Ireland travelled light.
John Daly, back for the weekend, said he had been unsure if he would be able to get home. But he decided to take the risk. "It was horrible at Heathrow," he said.
"There were huge queues all over the place and it was incredibly hot which made people even more irate.
"I'd checked about the restrictions so I'd left pretty much everything at home in London but there were others whose bags were being emptied of cosmetics and drinks by security." Last night the Pinkies were still directing traffic. And they will probably have to continue to do so for the coming weeks.
- Edel Kennedy
