Eiffel Tower Shut In Dispute Over 'Monstrous' Lines

[appalachiablue]

Source: AFP

Staff at the Eiffel Tower shut down the Paris landmark on Wednesday afternoon in protest over a new access policy that they say is generating "monstrous" lines for tourists.

Access to the monument, which welcomed more than 6 million visitors last year, was blocked from 1400 GMT, according to a sign at the base of the tower. Staff had already been set to strike on Thursday.

The site's management said staff took action after talks with unions fell apart earlier on Wednesday afternoon. The site was not evacuated, and tourists already inside were allowed to finish their visit.

Staff are angry over a decision last month to start setting aside half of the Eiffel Tower's daily tickets for people who buy them online in advance and choose a scheduled time for their visit. Previously just 20 percent of tickets to go up the 324-meter (1,063-foot) "Iron Lady" could be booked ahead of time.

The tower's management has also started reserving specific elevators for each type of ticket holder, a move that "creates lines that are at times monstrous and often lopsided," the CGT union said...More...


Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/eiffel-tower-shut-in-dispute-over-monstrous-lines/ar-BBLmQ4b

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And high demand at the pre-booked elevator can cause back-ups that force people to wait long beyond their scheduled visit. "Employees' patience has run out," the CGT's Denis Vavassori said on Monday, adding that many visitors were unhappy with the long waits. Staff want all the elevators to be available to all visitors, no matter what kind of ticket they have bought.
SETE, the company which runs the site, says it sells 10,000 online tickets for the tower every day and that "the waiting time is very short." "For visitors who come without tickets, the waiting time at the checkouts at the foot of the Eiffel Tower is exactly the same as last year, while the number of visitors has increased," it insisted.

[rickford66]

1. I've been up twice.

In 1988 had no line and went to the top with no waits. Second time in 1999, took a few hours. Depends upon the time of year and time of day.

[sdfernando]

2. Was able to go up once in 2002

Wait was not long, it was September as I recall. But high winds forced the closure of the top level so I couldn't make it up there. Considering my great fear of heights, it was probably for the best.

[rickford66]

3. It was swaying at the top on a normal day.

My wife hugged the inside wall while I peered over the railing. It was very noticeable. I've also been up the replica in Las Vegas. That was a long wait, about an hour.

[sdfernando]

4. I could never peer of the railing

I have Vertigo and would be clutching the railing until my fingers turned blue...then I'd probably thow-up. Good luck prying my fingers off the railing to get me back down too.

[rickford66]

5. There was a chain link fence. Maybe 120 years old ?

[sdfernando]

6. Oh yeah...that gives me great confidence! :sarcasm:

[lanlady]

7. I lived in Paris in the 80s

And remember with nostalgia when you could go up the Eiffel Tower, visit the Louvre, and enter Notre Dame or Versailles without waiting in line for hours and hours. I was lucky to have experienced that wonderful city before the number of tourists got so out of control.

[JCMach1]

8. Been to Paris many times... Never done this

Hardly seemed worth it. Want a view? Climb Montmartre