Long LHR connection--use airside lounge, then depart terminal?
Nov 15, 2014, 4:12 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: WAS
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Long LHR connection--use airside lounge, then depart terminal?
Will be transiting LHR for ~8 hours on Monday. Planning on running into London for some time. Since I'm arriving at a little before 0700, I wouldn't mind getting to run into a BA lounge for a little while, then heading out. Is that plan possible with the way T5 is set up? I'm not clear on if it's possible to depart the terminal post-security screening without getting LHR/BA personnel involved.
Nov 15, 2014, 8:41 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: MUCCI
Posts: 5,706
Do you qualify (status or cabin) for the arrivals lounge? (which is landslide). If you do, use that.
(Assume your inbound is longhaul?)
Search the BA section of FT for numerous posts discussing leaving the departure lounge at T5.
(Assume your inbound is longhaul?)
Search the BA section of FT for numerous posts discussing leaving the departure lounge at T5.
Nov 15, 2014, 8:45 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: WAS
Posts: 3,010
Sadly, I do not qualify for arrivals access, hence the question. Thanks for the pointer, I'll go hunting.
Nov 16, 2014, 1:00 am
#5
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Just bear in mind that those 8hrs will be quickly consumed!
If you land at 7am, count on being landside at 8am so that would get you somewhere meaningful in central London by 9am.
If your flight departs at 3pm, given recent reports of long security waits at Heathrow, you should probably look at being back at the airport no less than 90 minutes before departure, so that would be leaving central London 2.5hrs before hand.
That gives you 3.5hrs usable time in central London. If you go to the lounge first you're going to have to account for an extra trip through security, lounge time and the time it takes to navigate back out of the place. That could really knock your London time down to just 2hrs or so...
If you land at 7am, count on being landside at 8am so that would get you somewhere meaningful in central London by 9am.
If your flight departs at 3pm, given recent reports of long security waits at Heathrow, you should probably look at being back at the airport no less than 90 minutes before departure, so that would be leaving central London 2.5hrs before hand.
That gives you 3.5hrs usable time in central London. If you go to the lounge first you're going to have to account for an extra trip through security, lounge time and the time it takes to navigate back out of the place. That could really knock your London time down to just 2hrs or so...
Nov 16, 2014, 1:15 am
#6
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
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I echo Swiss Tony's comments regarding usable time. Even assuming both arriving and departing flights leave from T5 it should be possible to get to the departures lounge easily enough, but to get from there to immigration and thence landside will require an escort of some kind as there's no easy/signposted way to do this. My advice: Enjoy London, and when you're ready for a shower and lunch come back and use the lounge before departure.
Nov 16, 2014, 4:07 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2011
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Last time I saw a post mentioning it, it was said that the escorts from T5 airside to landside only run once an hour, and aren't quick as you have to go for a moderately long walk then through immigration. I think you have to ask at the Customer Service desks nearish gate 13, have a decent reason why you've ended up there and now want to be landside, then wait for the appropriate time.
As the others have said, I think it's going to eat too much into your time. Plus, given how bad the showers in the T5 lounges currently are (well overdue a refurbishment), you might not miss that much anyway...
As the others have said, I think it's going to eat too much into your time. Plus, given how bad the showers in the T5 lounges currently are (well overdue a refurbishment), you might not miss that much anyway...
Nov 16, 2014, 8:15 am
#9
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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I agree that the airside lounges are impractical for this proposition. There is however a paid for lounge option landside by arrivals, the Regus Business Centre. However it is primarily for business use, and there are no showers.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...-comments.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...-comments.html
Nov 16, 2014, 10:49 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2013
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If you give up on central London then you might consider the Yotel at T4 as you have plenty of time, or the Sofitel at T5 for greater convenience at greater cost. Either way you get a good shower and a bed! I have found a four hour slot at the Yotel very restorative after a TATL in coach.
Nov 16, 2014, 11:08 am
#11
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There are at least a dozen threads on the BA forum that have discussed that same question and which you will be able to access through a search for details. If you are only interested in the summary, the general answer is don't do it.
Nov 16, 2014, 11:08 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: WAS
Posts: 3,010
Thanks all for the advice and thoughts--greatly appreciated. Think I'll plan on just running into the city; sounds like I didn't have a great understanding of the usual timeline, and my expected downtime doesn't actually exist. Now, if one of you could do something about the rain in the morning, that would be just perfect. 
Nov 16, 2014, 12:52 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2012
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On arrival, go through connections, clear security, go to the Lounge. When done, hop on the transit to B and onward to C gates. Do NOT get off, stay on, and return with the arriving passengers, then clear immigration, as if you were just arriving.
When you return to T5 later in the day, you will need a new boarding pass, so go to a check-in desk and explain that you have already passed through security and had to leave.
Very doable.
Nov 16, 2014, 9:00 pm
#15
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Last time I saw a post mentioning it, it was said that the escorts from T5 airside to landside only run once an hour, and aren't quick as you have to go for a moderately long walk then through immigration. I think you have to ask at the Customer Service desks nearish gate 13, have a decent reason why you've ended up there and now want to be landside, then wait for the appropriate time.
I'd echo the advice of others to go straight into London and rely on showers/lounges by coming back in very good time when you leave. There are some showers in public restroom areas at LHR btw. No idea how they are to use.