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rubbish security at heathrow airport

S

southerly

Member
Messages
6
I recently had the misfortune to have to travel through Heathrow.
When asked to take my shoes off I asked for some to put on in most airports eg gatwick and paris they give you a pair of anysize plastic overshoes to wear while you walk through. Two years or so ago I am pretty sure I picked up a Planters wart Or verruca on my foot, the skin guy at the hospital I had it removed said that it was a very good chance that I had picked it up at heathrow as the timing was perfect.
Removing the planters wart was not a pleasant experience, more like a barbecue underneath you foot!
I did write to the airport at the time complaining about the lack of overshoes, and in the past two or so years they have done nothing.
This time I refused point blank to remove my shoes told them why, and eventually they let me sit down take my shoes off and they brought the shoes back to me.
Perhaps I was luck in that I had a reasonable person check me out.
The fact is that BAA have no interest in providing protection for individuals who they want to search. Foot protection is paramount for diabetics. This should be pointed out to BAA and BAA should do something about it. This they have singularly failed to do.
Hopefully they will provide overshoes or someone will take them to task. Myself I dont think they care and are not fit persons to run an airport, I shall take overshoes with me next time.
I dont want to lose a foot, because I am forced to walk again on a filthy floor.
Sorry for the rant but there doesnt appear that there is anything I can do.
best regards
 
They have a duty of care towards you and as such NOT to protect your feet from possible infection would put them at risk of a possible law infringement. That is probably why they decided to treat you the way they did after you told them of your previous experience.... good for you!!
 
Knowing these days that pretty much every airport security force will ask me ro remove my footwear, I make sure that the footwear in question does not leave me barefoot when removed. The airport operators (not the security operators) may have a duty of care, however surely the first responsibility for my care lies with me.
 
Duty of care? :shock:

I've flown through hundreds of airports, and no-one has ever insisted that you walk through the scanner barefoot. I'm not sure that I've ever seen anyone provide "overshoes" at LGW, CDG, or anywhere else.

Since, in the scenario you describe, you were asked to remove your shoes, the "overshoes" that you mention could more accurately be described as "socks". That being the case, why didn't you just wear a pair of your own?

This sounds more like rubbish planning by you than "rubbish security at heathrow airport". I would have thought that the boys and girls working at LHR security have more important things to worry about rather than your podiatric health.

And to think that you posted this message on September 11th of all days.

I was flying home from JFK yesterday, it's a pity you weren't too. I would have enjoyed watching the TSA reaction to your "I'm not taking my shoes off" routine.
 
Nice mixture there. I can assure readers that I did carry hospital slippers for a while. but stopped when I found out that the airports I was using gave you plastic slippers. Then this time and I have no interest of whether it was the 9 or 11 or anything heathrow failed to offer footwear. As for the person who suggested socks what did they think I had on when I took my shoes off. The idea of this post was to warn others, try to get the owners of heathrow to act responsibly.
 
I see little point in continuing this. Hopefully when you catch a planters wart on your foot walking on a very dirty carpet ( it was grey at one time but a filthy oily black colour as I walked through it). Socks are no protection against viruses. Please write in when you do I will not write comments on it.
And of course to keep the forum friendly. I will refrain from any comments. Enjoy the barbecue!
I have never had a planters wart in my life until then, and never had one since. And now I have slippers from the Hyatt to carry about with me. regards to all, well most anyway.
 
I think you will find that what you had on your foot was a plantar wart, not a planter's wart. I daresay planters can contract plantar warts, but most people who catch them are infected at swimming pools, gymnasia, etc. It seems unlikely that anyone can track down where they picked up the infection. On the other hand, if there are studies that show rubber planters are more susceptible to plantar warts, I'd be most interested to know.
 
How about wearing two pairs of socks. Or three.

What do you think is the maximum number of socks you could wear, while still being allowed through security?

How do you know that you didn't catch the wart from the Hyatt slippers? I thought that you weren't supposed to take them from the room...
 
viv1969 said:
So you wanted them to supply over-shoes despite the fact that you were wearing socks? Seriously?
Click to expand...

Plantar warts can spread directly or indirectly. When the virus enters your body and causes warts, it means they spread directly. If you have warts from another people who have warts as well, it means you get issues indirectly. Only by sharing your shoes with a warts sufferer, it’s possible you will have to get warts in a short time. Thus, try to be careful.
 
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