 Poster: A snowHead
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Don't know why we hadn't thought of this before ( and apologies if it has been covered before on snow heads).
Encountered a massive queue to go through security at Geneva airport back in December. So much so that we nearly missed our flight.
So last weekend when we were coming home we just entered the airport as normal and then crossed over to the French side within the terminal. Ok, it's a bit of a labyrinth but fine if you follow the signs, and then to pass through the French security check was an absolute piece of cake. We were the only people there and after you pass through, you take the escalator and come out (a bit bizzare) in one of the duty free shops just a bit along from all the restaurants on the airside.
We just wanted to test it out really and it was absolutely fine. Will definitely do that again instead of standing in any queue on the Swiss security side.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks for this, will give it a go one day
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Is the French side clearly marked as 'The French Side' ?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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PP, pretty much - something like 'sector francais' with a French flag beside it.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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loatie, Any clues where we might first see this sign  Start me off from the EJ check-in.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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cad99uk, hang on I'll get mr loatie on the case to advise as to be fair it was his idea and he'll remember the directions! Back in a mo!
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loatie, Cool, thanks.
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loatie, Thankyou... Top tip. 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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cad99uk, it's the opposite end of the airport from the easyjet check in. On arrival from a uk flight if you look to your left having gone through passport control and before reaching baggage reclaim you will see the French security conveyor belt through a glass wall. That is the level you're aiming for so I think we went down a level from the ej check in by escalator but there were quite a few twists and turns! My suggestion would be to try this option when you have time on your side so that the route is clear in your mind for when you're in a hurry or the Swiss side security queues are very long. It often seems completely empty and I'm sure you'll wonder as we did if you are in the right place but the one or two staff around are very helpful! Once you're through don't forget to get the escalator up one level.
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This sounds great. Along with the '2p coins work in the trolley' trick, I reckon we've got GVA completely sussed now.
I for one have queued what seems like an entire week at GVA security on the Swiss side, more than once...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Mr Pieholeo, 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Ah, down a level. We somehow came through the french sector when we arrived on a UK flight, not sure how we managed that.
Will give it a try when we use Geneva in the summer. Thanks for the tip.
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Not so much security queues but Easyjet have emailed to say baggage drop at Geneva going to be busier this year due to renovation work. Having nearly missed a flight last year having queued for 1.5 hrs, any SH had any issues so far this year?
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You know it makes sense.
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I'd definitely look at the queue before you faff about going round the French way. I've flown out of Geneva 20+ times in the last year and the only time it's been more than 15 minutes was right before Christmas. The queue has to be so bad they stop the escalators and it goes down to the ground floor before it takes more than 30 minutes
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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damobloke1, we only travel with hand baggage so haven't been down to the check in area recently. Didn't notice any renovation work going on when we were last at Geneva airport though (last weekend)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Steve77, it was the first weekend in December when we encountered the delay - the queue started just within the guide rails and took at least half an hour. I agree that it is a bit of a faff the first time you try it, but as I have suggested, if you try the route on a day when you have plenty of time, it may be the preferable option when the queues on the Swiss side are tediously long.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Great tip, chapeau!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You can only go through the French side if you have hand luggage and have printed off your boarding pass. It is usually very quiet, normally you can walk straight through and it is just a 5 minute task to have your hand luggage and boarding pass checked.
However, there is always the possibility that you can be delayed there, we were caught in a 40 minute queue last season and ended up missing our flights. It appeared that a flight had just arrived in the French sector or that an International flight had been redirected that way so always give yourself plenty of time if taking that option.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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We went through French security last year when there was a bomb scare. Starting from EJ check in...assuming you are facing it, turn right and keep walking until you see the French car hire area. There is an escalator up to your left. Go up. Turn left at the top. You don't have any more options - follow the walkway through passport control then down to French security. After that we were bussed from French departure gate to the plane as teh route back to 'the other side' was closed. Shouldn't take more than 10 minutes from EJ check in to get back to the duty free shop airside.
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As a TO user we are usually dropped off at the charter terminal, then we have to get a bus to the main terminal and then there is about 15-20 walk down endless corridors to directly opposite the charter terminal where we started
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Further loatie's excellent idea to avoid the queue's at Swiss Geneva's security, I was wondering if there was also any EasyJet check-in desks on the French side which could also be used? Those on the Swiss side are a nightmare and I have always had to queue for at least 30 minutes to reach them.
Annoyingly, I walked passed the check-in desks on the French side last Saturday after dropping off the 'French' hire car and didn't look to see if there were any EasyJet desks as I walked past. I also do remember checking-in at these 'French side' desks years ago, but I can't remember if it was an EasyJet flight.
If it was possible to check-in and go through security all on the less crowded French side, then it may ease my increasing hatred of Geneva airport!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Mr Marmot, A couple years ago I tried to check in on the French EasyJet desks and was politely told no. Only certain flights can checkin there
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Thankfully this year we're travelling through Grenoble rather than GVA. However last year we had a back corridor tour from the EU side, via the French Sector, back to the EU side and then private transfer onto the plane. Granted Mrs SS was in a wheelchair having dislocated her knee and broken her leg 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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loatie - that is genius thank you. GVA security was bad enough sat after NY but we will be back there at half term and that will obviously be hideous.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Quote: |
we were caught in a 40 minute queue last season and ended up missing our flights. It appeared that a flight had just arrived in the French sector
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Ah a FLIGHT had arrived ... taking them by surprise, no doubt.  I often get the impression, sitting on the tarmac for 20 mins waiting for them to bring the steps, that GVA ground staff have other more important things to do and that dealing with actual planes and passengers is a bit of a nuisance for them
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Mr Marmot, You can now only check baggage in for flights to France in the French sector.
It usually works well going through the French sector if you have printed your boarding pass online and only have hand luggage, but if you need to check anything in you now have to go to the Swiss side.
It used to be possible to do it in the French sector, Easyjet did have machines at one stage where you could print out your own luggage labels on the French side but that was stopped a few years ago.
At the moment for anybody hiring a car or parking in the French sector there are currently temporary traffic lights on the road to the terminal so could add 5 minutes onto your journey in or out of the airport. There is major building work going on and the long term car park is closed and the entrance to the short term car park has moved to nearer the airport terminal.
The car hire car park has not been affected by the building works.
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You know it makes sense.
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No problem getting through security at GVA yesterday evening (about 6:30pm). What a pleasure it was not to be asked to remove shoes and belt too .
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Is that really quicker than waiting? I guess it depends on the queue, but I tend to think they are pretty efficient at GVA, certainly quicker than LGW
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Poster: A snowHead
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@halfhand, What airports ask you to remove your shoes? I have only ever been asked to remove walking boots. Personally I have never encountered a security queue at Geneva airport. The time I get there for a late evening flight the place is usually deserted.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@johnE, Liverpool and Manchester to name two. When traveling I usually wear walking shoes as opposed to boots but am always asked to remove them at uk airports. Even asked to remove Webbing belt with a small plastic clip.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Half the problems at Grenoble are down to the security - belts off, shoes off, separate trays for your bag, said boots/belts/coats, iPads etc. And this seems to all shoes, we've noticed, regardless of whether they are trainers or big snow boots.
Manchester, I always have to take my snow boots off, understandably so, could have anything shoved down there!!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@johnE, I don't pay so much attention but ampngst others I think Schiphol does, Stockholm, etc. Quite a few.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@jocrad, Birmingham, Luton, Heathrow, Glasgow and Ronaldsway (I know it is not in the UK) do not ask for shoes to be removed and when I last went through Manchester I kept them on. I rarely use a belt so cannot comment on their removeal.
But thanks for the warning I will now inspect my socks for holes before heading to these airports.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I've walked though Geneva with snow boots on, luton definitely ask to be removed, but not shoes.
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@johnE, ronaldsway did to me in January and I had regular Street shoes on. They wanted belt off too.
I've often thought is a bit of a lottery and depends on how they feel on the day.
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My understanding is that the standard protocol is that if you set off the detector, they have to inspect (by x-ray or hand) your shoes. This slows down the inspection process.
As a result its sometimes quicker to get everyone to remove their shoes, than to hold the line up by an extra 10 seconds per inspection, plus the added number of alarm triggers from metal components in shoes which each adds a 30 second full inspection time. Almost everywhere I fly in the US has mandatory shoe removal even though the TSA say its not required.
At JFK (I think) domestic there used to be two security lines - fast and slow. The fast one you were expected to know all the rules yourself and were rudely shouted at if you didn't have your shoes in your hand, belt off etc.- families with kids weren't allowed in this lane. The slow one they didn't expect you to know the rules and were polite and helpful. I thought this was a great system.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Manchester Airport do as has been mentioned above, we had to remove shoes empty all pockets etc etc going to Malaga last Dec (14).
Malaga asked us to do all the above as well on the return trip, so those going skiing in S.Nevada may well face this.
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Yes, boots off at Manchester, I had taken my ski jacket off but was also told to take my fleece off.
I can’t remember whether I had to take much off when returning from Grenoble; don’t think I did - but we seemed to be directed into different queues. My OH got completely done over, as did others in his queue.
He reckoned it was the queue run by the Saturday part-timers who were being unbelievably slow as well as completely arsy. He had to unpack everything from his hand luggage; unfortunately we’d put the phone chargers, MP3 charger etc in his bag so they all had to come out for inspection.
Daftest thing was that they’d even taken our binoculars out of their pouch to check what they were (the P/T Saturday folk don’t know how to use the scanner??) They must have been disappointed to find a cute logo of an Avocet & RSPB marked on them when they’d expected KGB or IS Special issue.
Moral of the story is pack your stuff neatly so it won’t take too long to unpack and don’t stop in the food places near the check-in thinking you’ve got lots of spare time. Also, with Grenoble, be aware that they can’t organise queues and you may find fifty people queuing at the check-in who are actually on a much later flight to your destination. It’s always worth asking the folk in front of you which flight they think they are queuing for.
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FAQ
Anyone identified was then ushered through the tapes to the front.
