People flying from Bristol Airport have been faced with hours-long queues over the past few weeks as the airport - and airlines - grapple with IT issues and chronic staff shortages. Although experiences have varied, some people have reported missing their flight.
But what rights do passengers have in such circumstances, if any? Can they get on the next flight, or claim a refund?
Luckily, we've got all the answers. Read on for all the information you'll need if you're going away this summer and are worried about the queues.
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Long queues at security are the responsibility of the airport. However, since the airport is not the entity responsible for your flight, and has not directly taken any money from you, it does not have to reimburse you for any missed flight.
Passengers could potentially argue that the security queue causing them to miss their flight is a case of frustrated contract. However, this would likely require going to court and could therefore be an exhaustive process and is not one you're guaranteed to win.
Long queues for check-in and bag-drop, however, are the responsibility of the airline. That includes cases where they outsource the service to another company, according to Which?.
That means, therefore, you could have a case if that's what causes you to miss your flight - as long as you can prove you got to the airport at the time stipulated by the airline. The consumer rights act means you could take the airline to court, and since it will have taken money directly from you, your case may be stronger in this scenario - but again, it would be a long process without guarantees.
You could claim on your travel insurance, though this would depend on your policy and to what extent it covered unforeseen circumstances. You'd have to double-check your policy statement and check with your insurer first.
In all the above scenarios, proof that you were at the airport on time will be very important. So make sure to keep hold of train, bus, or car park tickets, and/or receipts for anything you buy, such as food or a coffee, in the terminal.
Above all, though, if you're at the airport and worried you're going to miss your flight, tell your airline. Most airports and airlines will skip you to the front of queues to get you on the flight where possible.
And where that's not possible, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic both say they will book you on the next available flight to your destination - so long as you missed your original flight for reasons beyond your control. EasyJet does the same for a small fee, while Ryanair will charge you an eye-watering £100.
Failing that, you can also try asking the airlines directly for compensation. Tui says you may be eligible if your flight is delayed by more than three hours.
It continues: "But not all flights delayed over three hours are eligible – it depends on the circumstance of the delay. If it’s caused by ‘extraordinary’ circumstances – think bad weather or an air traffic control strike – and the airline has taken ‘all reasonable measures’ to reduce the delay, then you won’t be entitled to compensation."
Jet2, meanwhile, says: "Compensation is potentially payable under Regulation EC261 if your flight’s arrival has been delayed for more than three hours, the flight has been cancelled, or you have been denied boarding."
However, the airline goes on to say: "In line with the advice from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, delays and/or cancellations arising from circumstances relating to covid-19 will be treated as extraordinary circumstances and therefore not eligible for compensation."
