T5 Xmas New year Experience
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 453
T5 Xmas New year Experience
What it likely to be like traveling through T5 over the xmas holiday period.
I will be doing a MAN day return on 23/12 and then I am travelling DUB-LHR-JFK on 1 Jan with a tight connection.
Does T5 get particularly bad over the holidays? Is it likely to be worse than a normal day?
I will be doing a MAN day return on 23/12 and then I am travelling DUB-LHR-JFK on 1 Jan with a tight connection.
Does T5 get particularly bad over the holidays? Is it likely to be worse than a normal day?
#5
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 469
We have flown from T5 to JFK on Christmas Day a number of times and it can be a very pleasant day to travel. The staff often go out of their way to make the kids feel extra special and we still get to Manhattan in time for Christmas lunch! By contrast we've also flown on Christmas Eve and that was a nightmare.
This year we are heading out early (19th) but then returning on the New Years Eve day flight which lands at 19.25. I expect it to be pretty quiet.
This year we are heading out early (19th) but then returning on the New Years Eve day flight which lands at 19.25. I expect it to be pretty quiet.
#7
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: WC1
Programs: BAEC Gold, SK *G, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 658
Last year I travelled through T5 on 19 Dec and it was noticeably busier than normal. The fast-track security queue was tensa-barriered and snaked around a few times. I had no time to go to the lounge at all. YMMV.
#8
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: North East
Programs: Hilton HHonors, BAEC Silver
Posts: 1,204
I think Wed 23rd will be extremely busy in the terminals as a rule, at both MAN and LHR (perhaps not so much in the lounges). You'll have a fine fusion of commuters, holiday makers, and people off visiting family over Christmas.
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 207
It is just like any day with the crew either being happy to be earning a little bit more or sad they have to work on Christmas and NYE.
However, some boring sods don't celebrate NYE. I made the mistake of being on a flight once during that time expecting a party atmosphere but all the crew did was announce the time and give me a glass of champagne.
However, some boring sods don't celebrate NYE. I made the mistake of being on a flight once during that time expecting a party atmosphere but all the crew did was announce the time and give me a glass of champagne.
#10
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,913
So you think lounges are generally pretty empty around X-mas time then as a vast majority of the travelers are leisure based flying in Y? I guess premium class travel really declines during this time as well.
#11
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold; FB Silver; SPG; IHG Gold
Posts: 2,957
It is just like any day with the crew either being happy to be earning a little bit more or sad they have to work on Christmas and NYE.
However, some boring sods don't celebrate NYE. I made the mistake of being on a flight once during that time expecting a party atmosphere but all the crew did was announce the time and give me a glass of champagne.
However, some boring sods don't celebrate NYE. I made the mistake of being on a flight once during that time expecting a party atmosphere but all the crew did was announce the time and give me a glass of champagne.
#12
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: North East
Programs: Hilton HHonors, BAEC Silver
Posts: 1,204
In an nutshell that is my general experience, yes. I would expect the terminals to be busy with Y non status holders and holiday makers though. The lounges generally consist of status holders and their families making use of avios redemption's, or premium sale fare passengers enjoying a trip or two, who are more often than not high status holders anyway
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,136
"I'm gold and never had a guest on my last 20 flights so I think you should let me guest in this coach party"
Premium class travel does not decline - there are just more leisure J and F fliers than at other times of the year taking advantage of the various BA offers because business traveller numbers are reduced.
And there are plenty of Y flyers who have Gold cards.
#15
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Herts, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, HH Diamond.
Posts: 3,156