Farewell LHR Terminal 1 from Noniron
Sep 10, 2014, 10:28 am
#17
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Leafy Lytham
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 40
I had my final one back to DUB last Friday and very thoughtfully, BA provided an "interesting" boarding experience....
I was in the lounge and the monitors showed the usual "Wait in Gate 8". No more info appeared until about 30 mins before departure. From where I was sitting I could just make out that the display had changed to "Go to Gate X" so I gathered up my stuff and headed out through the back door to find Gate 8 area practically deserted. Took a look at a monitor out there and of course it said "Boarding Gate 78" :roll eyes:
Cue the mile dash and by the time I reached 78 monitors said "Flight Closing". There were a few people still queuing so I slowed to a walk. Now the fun bit... BP's and PP's were duly checked and off to the airbridge only to be met with a barrier blocking the way and being sent down the emergency stairs. Waiting outside was a bus which took us on a little sightseeing trip to, yes you guessed it, Gate 8
. Back up emergency stairs and onto the airbridge to board.
Didn't know whether to laugh or cry.....
I was in the lounge and the monitors showed the usual "Wait in Gate 8". No more info appeared until about 30 mins before departure. From where I was sitting I could just make out that the display had changed to "Go to Gate X" so I gathered up my stuff and headed out through the back door to find Gate 8 area practically deserted. Took a look at a monitor out there and of course it said "Boarding Gate 78" :roll eyes:
Cue the mile dash and by the time I reached 78 monitors said "Flight Closing". There were a few people still queuing so I slowed to a walk. Now the fun bit... BP's and PP's were duly checked and off to the airbridge only to be met with a barrier blocking the way and being sent down the emergency stairs. Waiting outside was a bus which took us on a little sightseeing trip to, yes you guessed it, Gate 8
. Back up emergency stairs and onto the airbridge to board.Didn't know whether to laugh or cry.....
Sep 10, 2014, 2:23 pm
#18
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Reading, UK
Programs: BAEC GCL
Posts: 37
I had my final one back to DUB last Friday and very thoughtfully, BA provided an "interesting" boarding experience....
I was in the lounge and the monitors showed the usual "Wait in Gate 8". No more info appeared until about 30 mins before departure. From where I was sitting I could just make out that the display had changed to "Go to Gate X" so I gathered up my stuff and headed out through the back door to find Gate 8 area practically deserted. Took a look at a monitor out there and of course it said "Boarding Gate 78" :roll eyes:
Cue the mile dash and by the time I reached 78 monitors said "Flight Closing". There were a few people still queuing so I slowed to a walk. Now the fun bit... BP's and PP's were duly checked and off to the airbridge only to be met with a barrier blocking the way and being sent down the emergency stairs. Waiting outside was a bus which took us on a little sightseeing trip to, yes you guessed it, Gate 8. Back up emergency stairs and onto the airbridge to board.
Didn't know whether to laugh or cry.....
I was in the lounge and the monitors showed the usual "Wait in Gate 8". No more info appeared until about 30 mins before departure. From where I was sitting I could just make out that the display had changed to "Go to Gate X" so I gathered up my stuff and headed out through the back door to find Gate 8 area practically deserted. Took a look at a monitor out there and of course it said "Boarding Gate 78" :roll eyes:
Cue the mile dash and by the time I reached 78 monitors said "Flight Closing". There were a few people still queuing so I slowed to a walk. Now the fun bit... BP's and PP's were duly checked and off to the airbridge only to be met with a barrier blocking the way and being sent down the emergency stairs. Waiting outside was a bus which took us on a little sightseeing trip to, yes you guessed it, Gate 8
. Back up emergency stairs and onto the airbridge to board.Didn't know whether to laugh or cry.....
I hope it's not a sign of things to come for the remaining 6 weeks. I still have a handful of BHD's to endure from Gate 8 or maybe more likely at the end of the tubes.
I'm not nostalgic about T1 going but the two remaining LHR based ex BMI A319's still remind me of my old BD80/91 day trips to BHD when my current project started. Only two of those scheduled on my remaining trips.
Sep 10, 2014, 3:15 pm
#19
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: City of Kingston Upon Hull
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 4,940
I have only only flown from T1 once and I have every sympathy for the regulars there. If I never went back there again (extremely likely now) it would be too soon. The sooner it is pulled down the better.
Sep 10, 2014, 3:18 pm
#20
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 816
Last night I used T1 for the first (and presumably last) time. Happened to be the final VS departure from the terminal before their move to T2 this morning; Little Red to MAN.
Obviously T5 is far nicer, but the T1 central area was fairly pleasant and had some decent shops. If LHR had more slots it would make a good base for a LCC.
Obviously T5 is far nicer, but the T1 central area was fairly pleasant and had some decent shops. If LHR had more slots it would make a good base for a LCC.
Sep 10, 2014, 3:25 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,209
If they did that then they'd not be able to carry out their plan of knocking it down and extending T2 into the space that it occupies.
Sep 11, 2014, 1:14 am
#22
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle
Programs: BA GGL & LTG, EK Silver, HHonors Lifetime Diamond; Proudly Mucci Free - total nonsense
Posts: 862
It always seemed a bit pointless to me.
Sep 11, 2014, 2:36 am
#23
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: London, Babylon-on-Thames
Programs: BAEC Blue (back to Earth)
Posts: 1,507
What will happen to the old secondary ID check for flights to Ireland from T5. Will this still happen, and if so - where?
Sep 11, 2014, 2:43 am
#24
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BA Exec Club Bronze, Hilton Diamond, Virgin Flying Club Red
Posts: 1,257
I may be wrong, but I think BA and El Al will have the whole of T1 to themselves come the end of October. Can't be long now until they announce plans to vacate?
Sep 11, 2014, 3:47 am
#26
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Reading, UK
Programs: BAEC GCL
Posts: 37
Sep 11, 2014, 5:19 am
#27
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: KEL (1 Km) or HAM (85 Km)
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 1,129
Such fond memories (not really) of the Green Mile since I started working in the early 90s, and connecting to and from there to all of the other terminals over the years. The random gate selection/changes/delays go back to my BD days and EI have been a bit like that too.
In recent years I've been doing a lot more T5, and I'm looking forward to DUB-LHR being based in T5, makes it good option to connect in LHR on the way back to the ould sod.
This picture was taken in April 2012 - but this was not always the sentiment.
In recent years I've been doing a lot more T5, and I'm looking forward to DUB-LHR being based in T5, makes it good option to connect in LHR on the way back to the ould sod.
This picture was taken in April 2012 - but this was not always the sentiment.
Sep 11, 2014, 6:32 am
#28
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 399
I think 9 BA routes will remain in T1, along with El Al and Icelandair, for at least part of the winter.
Sep 11, 2014, 9:24 am
#29
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Reading, UK
Programs: BA Gold,, Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 399
Sep 11, 2014, 10:13 am
#30
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NI
Programs: BAEC Blue, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 140
This will be very sad indeed. I have made this trip myself many a time and will be doing so for the last time in 2 weeks.
Not having to connect to T5 is most welcome.
On a different note - any silver/gold status holders based in NI ever consider adding their details to the lounge meet up thread. BHD doesn't get enough of a mention
Not having to connect to T5 is most welcome.
On a different note - any silver/gold status holders based in NI ever consider adding their details to the lounge meet up thread. BHD doesn't get enough of a mention