well, arrived in TXL in one piece... about 2.5 hours late... at least our flight wasn't cancelled... Not sure about the bags though, since I only had hand luggage.... can't wait for my return flight tomorrow to LHR T5...
Why the rolley eyes?! According to the Telegraph article you actually planned to be on the first flight into T5 (why?!?) Surely you didn't honnestly expect there to be anything less than mild chaos on big bang day?! I, like many of my colleagues, put in our valuable leave to avoid the first few days of T5 ops. SO glad I had high enough points to get the leave
At London Heathrow Terminal 5 we’ve created a natural, logical journey that’s so calm, you’ll flow through. It should only take ten minutes to get from check-in to departures *. Transferring and arriving are just as simple and calm. Spend the time you save enjoying the excellent range of shops, cafes and restaurants. Or simply relax and be wowed by the world class architecture.
* Based on the average time it takes one passenger using a self-service Check-in Kiosk and checking one bag at Fast Bag Drop on a normal operational day.
I'm afraid that is what many Madrileños say about T4 at Barajas. It is normally said with a sneer.
Of course we have to wait to see what T5 will be like when it has bedded down. But in case you think I am naturally one to make "negative" comments, in the past I have tended to defend LHR more than most people on here. When people said how shocking arriving at T1 must appear to a first-time visitor to London, I responded that I would much rather pass along corridors whose ceilings are falling apart and being patched up and be out with my bags in 25 minutes, than spend an hour and a half hanging round a beautiful airport terminal. I stand by that view.
Having spent a huge amount of time traversing the globe in a previous life, I was fortunate to see and transit through many airports - everything from the outstanding (HKG, SIN) to the truly awful (MEX, MVD, GRU, MIA).
When all is said and done, I admit to having something of a love affair with Heathrow as I truly love the hustle and bustle of it. There is something special about it and I always view London and it's various airports as the crossroads of the world.
I don't disagree that most, if not all of us, would love to be in and out of an airport in double quick time. But reading the various pages of FT, I personally believe that LHR gets an unfair bad press in comparison to other airports that are (in my humble opinion) equally, if not more, stressful to move through. For example: MIA (what a god-awful run down place); JFK (can the delays waiting to take off get any worse ?); LAX (hell on earth); FRA (cold and empty).
T5 will, in time, improve things for the LHR traveller !!!
Let's stop the 'teething problems' excuses, this is 2008 and they've had months to sort out the major issues or have a plan B; a total shambles - who knows when my flight will leave!!!!!!!
