Air chaos: Tell us your experiences

Thousands of air passengers have faced long delays to their journeys from Britain's airports.

This is due to a computer glitch that took place at the new air traffic control centre in Swanwick, Hampshire on Friday.

Although the software problem was fixed, airlines have struggled to clear the backlog of flights.

In addition, services have also been affected by an air traffic control problem in Brussels, which has delayed the recovery of flights out of Gatwick and Heathrow in particular.

Airports aimed to clear all the backlog by Saturday night, but passengers were advised to call ahead before making their journey.

Have you been affected by air traffic control delays? Tell us your experiences.

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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Your reaction

Inconvenience is better than death

Brian, Scotland

I'd rather be delayed than allow the pilot to fly off with a known air traffic or aircraft problem. Inconvenience is better than death. I just wish there was more to do at airports - such as a health spa/ sauna/ pool.
Brian, Scotland

My wife, 2 young children and I were due to fly on the 12.25 from Stansted to Nice with Go. We got to Nice at 9.30pm! I realise that the delays weren't their fault but the lack of info and customer service most certainly was.
Gavin Platman, UK

Lack of communication has cost people a lot of money with extra hotel stays

Peter Fox, England

I was due to fly home to Southampton from Paris CDG by Air France 5.30 Friday evening. At 7.30pm Air France cancelled the flight. Fortunately I had seen AF for a reservation for a Saturday morning flight. Others who approached AF at 6.30pm could not get a flight until Sunday!!! Other than saying "All flights to UK temporarily cancelled" no further information was available. Lack of communication has cost people a lot of money with extra hotel stays.
Peter Fox, England

How can millions be spent on a state-of-the-art (so called!)ATC system that plunges the entire UK air transport system into chaos when a software bug is experienced? I was due to fly out of Paris CDG at 1800 Friday evening. We finally boarded at 1230 at headed back to LHR. Then a drive home! Surely there should be better back-up systems to cope with this type of eventuality?
Adrian Pickering, UK

Our 'GO' Flight from Nice to Stansted, did not GO anywhere on Friday night. Our 1600 flight was cancelled, the next at 21.10 tried to taxi off at 2200 but had a problem with the brakes! Took off at 2300. On arrival our bags were delayed for just under two hours! Welcome home!!! (It never rains, it pours)
Barry Brown, UK

I was heading for a 10 o'clock check-in, for a 12.30 flight and heard at Hounslow West that there were delays, caused by a power failure. We were stuck at Heathrow for eight hours. Our president and a number of our directors were taken off a cancelled 9:30 flight and flew with us at 6pm! Not a great way to start our annual meeting in Bucharest.
Bryan Whitford, Romania

These recent glitches must put into question the quality control of the group that is maintaining these systems. Poor pre-planning and/or failure of procedures will inevitably produce these results. It is of great concern to me that apparent inadequacies or incompetence are exposed in such a critical system.
John Berry, UK

I am still waiting to hear when my luggage will arrive

Nick, Netherlands

Having arrived in London from Cairo on BA yesterday and being late departing due to an airplane technical problem, I was pleased in some way to find that my connecting flight to Amsterdam was delayed and I was therefore still able to catch it. However, on my arrival in Amsterdam last night I was less pleased to find that my luggage remained in London. As I write this, I am still waiting to hear when my luggage will arrive. Not impressive.
Nick, Netherlands

I was due to fly to Madrid yesterday morning at 9. I checked in at 7.30 and was warned that there was a potential 4 hour delay. I decided still to fly. Four and a half hours later British midland cancelled all flights and "politely" told us to go home. I was offered a flight that would get me to Madrid at 7pm the following day, not exactly any good for a weekend break. They just don't have the capacity to deal with this, their flights were already fully booked. I just wish I had been sent home earlier instead of sitting around for more than four hours. It was just ridiculous, and not one proper apology.
Stephen, England

We sent a taxi down whose driver then had to wait 4 hours to collect a delayed flight. These delays are costing the people collecting passengers as well....
Dominic Lund-Conlon, UK

I heard about the delays on BBC Breakfast TV at 9:00 am on Friday. We were due to fly out to LA at 10:00 from Heathrow. We got the call to go to the gate for boarding at 9:20 and once we got there they then told us the flight was delayed! 3 hours later we were on our way again.
James Palmer, UK

I was meant to flight from Stockholm to Heathrow at 20:50 using BA but the airline did not bother changing the flight information on the Arlanda airport WEB side. I think that is a lack of consideration on their part. Also I was left with no flight, no compensation and no alternative flight because I didn't make my destination at the airport after queuing for 3 and a half hours.
Carlos Curiel, England