Well, either you go through FCC or landside-airside. They're not going to let you through FCC without a boarding-pass, are they?
Talking of FCC - can someone please point it out to me on the BAA Maps of T5? (Please be gentle - I also have problems finding my socks in the morning!!)
I presume that pax connecting to BA T4 flights will be treated just like non-OW pax and hearded through a FCC....any goss on what happens with connect F pax? Will there be a meet and great anywhere along the way given there will be no FIRST lounge in T4?
Just made a booking at the Hilton T4, and according to the website there will be a shuttle running to and from T5 (complimentary) beginning at the end of March. Just wanted to pass alog the info in case anyone else finds themselves having to stay at the Hilton.
From what you folks are able to tell, is the Galleries First lounge a step above in terms of amenities and plushness, or is it about the same as the Galleries Club?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by unitedbusiness
From what you folks are able to tell, is the Galleries First lounge a step above in terms of amenities and plushness, or is it about the same as the Galleries Club?
It will definitely be a step above - whilst the amenities might be similar (they share the showers, for example), the F lounge has a viewing terrace, champagne bar, some of the fancier artwork pieces, and most likely a more comprehensive food menu.
Should all the facilities in T5 be open from March 27?
I am flying to Hong Kong on 29 March - purely coincidentally timing wise - and am keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly.
I had considered having dinner at Plane Food but when I contacted the Gordon Ramsay group to see if reservations would be required, the woman who returned the call seemed to suggest that Plane Food wouldn't be opening until April.
Is T5 going to be a ghost town, shuttered and desolate, on 29 March?
Not all of the shops and restaurants may be open but I expect that, contrary to countless predictions on here that the lounges wouldn't be ready until months after opening, the lounges will be open and up and running from Day 1.
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Minimum Connecting Time T2 to T5?
I've tried searching on FlyerTalk and ba.com but can't find details of the official minimum connecting times between the other Heathrow terminals and T5.
I'm flying SJU-MAD-LHR-EDI next month on a BA miles booking and arrive into LHR T2 at 14.35 on IB. I'd hoped to fly from T5 on the 16.15 flight to Edinburgh, 1 hour 40 mins later, but I've been told this isn't allowed because it's within the minimum connecting time. (There are award seats available on the 16.15 flight). Trying a dummy MAD-LHR-EDI booking on ba.com confirms that only the 17.15 and later flights to EDI are offered as connections. So I presume the minimum connecting time is 1 hour 45 mins.
At present the minimum connecting time between an international flight arriving at T2, T3 or T4 and a BA domestic departure to Edinburgh from T1 is 75 minutes. So it seems that the minimum connecting time between arrivals at other terminals and domestic departures is going to increase by 30 minutes when T5 opens
I did the T5 trial today, was really impressed by the building itself, very spacious and airy. Well, that did not last long, because we hit a bottleneck at ID/Passport control and baggage scanners at the south side, near FIRST checkin. We were in the queue for about 20 minutes, just at the scanners, the queue was all the way out to the Bag drop area. That was so dissapointing. This is the biggest complaint from travellers and they could not get it right?
Anyway, I am curious to know, why after the bag scanners in the South, there were loads of HM Customs officers doing random questioning? Why in Departures? Initially, I thought, because of connecting pax, but the connecting pax are sent to the north baggage screening, there is no way they can use the south side? Any ideas?
OTOH, the lounges looked really good. I can't wait to use them in 3 weeks.
Well, that did not last long, because we hit a bottleneck at ID/Passport control and baggage scanners at the south side, near FIRST checkin. We were in the queue for about 20 minutes, just at the scanners, the queue was all the way out to the Bag drop area. That was so dissapointing. This is the biggest complaint from travellers and they could not get it right?
I was there too today.
I was one of the first ones through at 10am but still got a bit held up at the pre-flight check and the security check. Thought the photo / finger printing system was a little weak (Mrs SB had to re-present her hand 2 or 3 times) and it took me longer than normal to get through security. Couldn't get the hang of the X ray box/belt system at all. Those boxes on belts did my poor "hungover" head in !
Had a trip over to T5B even though we weren't supposed to go there at all... No one stopped us - but it was quite a difficult process to get back to T5A (via immigration) and we almost missed our T5A "flight".
Apparently there will be nothing to stop someone going over to T5B - but the route back looks quite difficult. I can see inquisitive people coming a cropper.
I agree - Lounges looked good from what we saw !
Plus, as Mrs SB has had her chance to look at the shops already we won't need to bother with those on March 29th !
All in all - I was a little underwhelmed - but I possibly expected a bit too much.
I should have used my Flyertalk baggage tag. I was wondering if there would be fellow FTers there.
What annoyed me a bit was that to get to the lounges you have to go through the shopping centre and it's quite a long walk, especially annoying when you're right next to the lounge once you clear security, but then forced to go all the way down and up again. Unless you travel First...
I do like the shops, I love Paul Smith so can see myself popping in a few times. I got some great deals at BAA airport, like a Cartier watch saved myself almost £2000, as there is no VAT there. So don't mind them at all. Of course, we must not forget that it is an airport first of all, not a shopping centre.
Did you see the lounge in T5B? Looking from the outside, there is no way that will open in 2 weeks. There's a lot of work outstanding.
We also had to board a 747, which was great, apart from my profile saying that I was going to be a World Traveller pax. Never sat on Y on long haul and after sitting there for 30 minutes, I hoped that I will never have to experience it on long haul. I'd find it really uncomfortable. Imagine LHR-NRT in Y? I hope never.
