Airport incommunicado

Recent panic has reminded me of the situation regarding airports in recent times. It now seems almost impossible to talk to anyone at an airport-all you get are recordings and menus. To speak to someone(who can't help) costs a fortune. It is nigh on impossible to speak to any desk or airline rep certainly at Gatwick. Surely the airports have some responsibility to accommodate access to live information. Just moaning but it has been a real issue in the last 24 hours when someone was late for their flight and it was impossible to speak to anyone. Had to call the airline offices in Prague, and they didn't know anything as they couldn't contact their rep at Gatwick! Any ideas?