The documentary will air tonight
Startling footage shows the moment desperate passengers climbed through the doors of baggage reclaim to find their suitcases amongst the chaos.
In an investigation produced by Channel 4 Dispatches, holidaymakers at Manchester Airport became frustrated with the service and attempted to get their bags themselves after hours of delays and “chaos.”
An undercover journalist was told the practice “happens all the time” and often results in fights. Branding the situation “f*****g chaos,” the employee claimed they had “literally no staff.”
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In one clip, a woman can be heard saying they’ve waited “one and a half hours” and even offered to assist with sorting out people’s bags.
“Do you want me to help with the bags,” she said. “We’ve got another flight to catch.”
In another clip, the reporter questions: “Am I sticking these on? Or have they just fallen off?”
A staff member candidly replied: “I give up, mate. I’ve just had enough already. It’s meant to be a two-man job – put me on my own. Trust me, this one’s failed a little bit, trust me. I thought, ‘You know what, f**k them. I don’t give a f**k, mate. F**k them.”
In the documentary, which airs tonight (August 1), a Wizz Air pilot said staff is almost guilted into working “absolutely brutal” hours to combat dwindling staff numbers.
“There is a shortage of crew and to avoid cancelling flights they encourage staff to work harder,” they said. “There is pressure for us to help out by flying on our days off. You can report sick if you are fatigued but you will lose financially if you do.”
Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi had previously said: “We are all fatigued, but sometimes it is required to take the extra mile.”
Related links:
- Airline to launch world-first economy bunk beds for long-haul flights
- Is it the end of the cheap summer getaway? Easyjet warns prices may rise after Gatwick cuts
- Disabled man dies at Gatwick airport after ‘falling down escalator’ when assistance did not arrive
