Here’s my experience hopefully this helps someone:
Applied for first child passport over 11 weeks ago. Reached out to upgrade service a week and half ago. MP has contacted to. Application stuck on process since 13th April. Only got approval 03 June. But no update on printing or dispatch. I travel 10th June.
Went to london office, early (4am). They will put signs up to dissuade you not queue ignore them. They will let people with appointments in first and then give you a form to fill in. So the impression I got from london is they are very frosty and cold. Regardless if your flight is today or tomorrow or 48 hours their response to nearly everyone we can’t do anything. Also found out that upgrade team hasn’t even looked at my request to Expediate the approval was done by the standard process. As mine went to central print it was considered “issued” and all I can do is wait for tnt to deliver and no option to collect and that even if I come back 24/48 hours before the flight they won’t do anything. People in london not only didn’t get their passports but those flying out that day lost their flights too.
In that same day I made the journey to Peterborough hopefully finding someone helpful there and they are a lot more receptive and attentive. Found out if my application hadn’t been approved by the standard process, Peterborough could have processed it, have it approved and printed on that day. However as mine has be sent to central print and “issued” all I can do is wait for delivery. They gave me tnt number with the hope if I call them Monday they can expediate my passport, which I don’t have a lot of faith in.
I did see somewhere in this form of people who had their application approved but not delivered and flying out within 48 hours going to Peterborough to get their passports. Will try again on Wednesday if there is no progress with delivery. Staff there did mention I’ve got time for it to arrive before 10th but I don’t have a lot of faith in the system.