T5 is open!
Mar 26, 2008, 11:12 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, Amex Cent, SPG Gold, IC Plat Amb, Hilton Diam(given it though I'd never stayed in a Hilton)
Posts: 333
T5 is open!
Sitting in the new Concorde Room. I have to say it is impressive but the champagne is not yet on ice. Have been given gifts by the extremely friendly staff and I can assure you BA must have cancelled all leave for their senior management.
No-one at first check-in, however, but spotted by a manager who escorted me to a desk elsewhere and waited with me until I had been checked in and then escorted me to security.
If you're travelling today, walk through South Security and you can go straight in to the new Concorde Room - I doubt they'll mind if you're Gold as it's the first day and everyone is excited...
The lounges, I have to say, are beautiful and stunning. What they'll be like with lots of passengers it's difficult to say and of course, I am sorry to report the champagne is Heid..sick and Jacquard in First and Heid-sick and Lanson (aaaaghhh...) in CR.
All in all - if the staff were to keep up today's start - it will be a very, very impressive start to a BA journey. Wait and see...
No-one at first check-in, however, but spotted by a manager who escorted me to a desk elsewhere and waited with me until I had been checked in and then escorted me to security.
If you're travelling today, walk through South Security and you can go straight in to the new Concorde Room - I doubt they'll mind if you're Gold as it's the first day and everyone is excited...
The lounges, I have to say, are beautiful and stunning. What they'll be like with lots of passengers it's difficult to say and of course, I am sorry to report the champagne is Heid..sick and Jacquard in First and Heid-sick and Lanson (aaaaghhh...) in CR.
All in all - if the staff were to keep up today's start - it will be a very, very impressive start to a BA journey. Wait and see...
Last edited by Shuttle-Bored; Mar 27, 2008 at 8:01 am
Mar 26, 2008, 11:39 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA - Gold for Life, CCR & GGL; IC Spire Elite Ambassador; Diamond Hilton Honors; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 6,720
Great to read the first T5 report - thanks!
Shame that the champagne is not yet on ice - hope that there are many bottles chilling as we write! The Lanson Noble Cuvee is actually pretty good.
Enjoy and have a good trip!
Shame that the champagne is not yet on ice - hope that there are many bottles chilling as we write! The Lanson Noble Cuvee is actually pretty good.
Enjoy and have a good trip!
Last edited by TravellerFrequently; Mar 27, 2008 at 12:09 am
Mar 27, 2008, 12:08 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Tokyo
Programs: BA Au; IHG Pl; Hyatt Au; IC RA; Marriott Pl
Posts: 817
F Lounge champagne also not on ice. Choice of two - Heidseck Brut Reserve and Jacquart 2000 Vintage.
Initial problems noted are that the Passport check desks are not obvious and most passengers are attempting to get through the Concorde Room door to the right of Security South to reach Galleries South - the walk around takes about 6-7 minutes. Also - boarding screens in F are not working so they are announcing all flights.
On my second glass already....
Initial problems noted are that the Passport check desks are not obvious and most passengers are attempting to get through the Concorde Room door to the right of Security South to reach Galleries South - the walk around takes about 6-7 minutes. Also - boarding screens in F are not working so they are announcing all flights.
On my second glass already....
Mar 27, 2008, 12:10 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: HKG
Programs: AA 3MM EXP, SQ Solitaire, LH SEN, CX DM, Hyatt CC, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,177
Sitting in the arrivals lounge after arriving on BA26... Got to shake hands with Mr Walsh after getting off the flight, and got his autograph on my commemorative certificate.. 
Too bad I was only the 4th person to get off the plane, behind a woman and a guy travelling with his son... oh well..
Anyways, got mobbed by reporters after getting out into the arrivals area.. apparently I was the first guy to bolt through since I didn't have luggage... I hope they won't put me on TV with me saying something stupid.. haha..
IRIS worked very well and everything seemed to be working fine.. a lot of staff wandering around still though... The arrivals lounge is quite nice, although I thought the shower cubicles were a bit smaller than the ones in T4 and T1... But at least the water pressure was very good, and the towels they give out are bigger.. The Elemis spa is also apparently open, but no-one is here yet and its already 6am...
Anyways, here are some pictures I took:
Arrivals lounge entrance
Elemis Spa Area
Lounge area and entrance to showers
Breakfast area
Concorde breakfast room?
Outside the terminal
Too bad I was only the 4th person to get off the plane, behind a woman and a guy travelling with his son... oh well.. Anyways, got mobbed by reporters after getting out into the arrivals area.. apparently I was the first guy to bolt through since I didn't have luggage... I hope they won't put me on TV with me saying something stupid.. haha..
IRIS worked very well and everything seemed to be working fine.. a lot of staff wandering around still though... The arrivals lounge is quite nice, although I thought the shower cubicles were a bit smaller than the ones in T4 and T1... But at least the water pressure was very good, and the towels they give out are bigger.. The Elemis spa is also apparently open, but no-one is here yet and its already 6am...
Anyways, here are some pictures I took:
Arrivals lounge entrance
Elemis Spa Area
Lounge area and entrance to showers
Breakfast area
Concorde breakfast room?
Outside the terminal
Mar 27, 2008, 12:16 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA - Gold for Life, CCR & GGL; IC Spire Elite Ambassador; Diamond Hilton Honors; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 6,720
Interesting to read your experiences and see the pictures!
Not sure about the brown seats with yellow and pink stripes!
Ah, a Concorde arrivals room - fantastic! Wonder how they manage the entrance?
Not sure about the brown seats with yellow and pink stripes!
Ah, a Concorde arrivals room - fantastic! Wonder how they manage the entrance?
Mar 27, 2008, 12:18 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: MUCCI
Posts: 5,706
Sitting in the arrivals lounge after arriving on BA26... Got to shake hands with Mr Walsh after getting off the flight, and got his autograph on my commemorative certificate.. Too bad I was only the 4th person to get off the plane, behind a woman and a guy travelling with his son... oh well..
Too bad I was only the 4th person to get off the plane, behind a woman and a guy travelling with his son... oh well..
Free gifts, I bet people are getting free gifts todaty, knew I should have chanced day 1.
Bitter, - but still desperate to try it out!
Mar 27, 2008, 12:23 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: HKG
Programs: AA 3MM EXP, SQ Solitaire, LH SEN, CX DM, Hyatt CC, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,177
I asked the lounge attendant what the Concorde breakfast room was, and she said she thinks its for arriving F class pax to have breakfast in, although she was not sure.. Doesn't look like they are serving anything inside, and you still just get your breakfast from the buffet outside... Just had some food, and sad to say the quality is not much different from before... The Elemis Spa is also open now, but the wait is a bit too long..
Mar 27, 2008, 12:25 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Tokyo
Programs: BA Au; IHG Pl; Hyatt Au; IC RA; Marriott Pl
Posts: 817
Mar 27, 2008, 12:56 am
#11
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: London, UK & Oslo, Norway
Programs: Mucci (Diamond Hairbrush Status), BA Gold (earned on almost all (wh)Y travel), *A Gold.
Posts: 567
T1 A Ghost Town!
I'm having a swift coffee in the SAA arrivals lounge and just thought I'd share a view from the old T1.
Landed a tad late on BD from RUH into a ghost town. There were about 4 BD and 1 EI planes on the outer domestic stands. None on the inner stands. Nothing on the 16-29(?) pier and a couple of BDs on the 3x-5x pier. So we 'still' went and parked on 55!! The walk was the longest I've done for ages but for the first time in my T1 nightmares memory, ALL the travelators were working.
No point going for IRIS as immigration was devoid of pax and overrun with UK Borders staff (4 on the EU/EEA desks!!) has anyone told them that T5 is open??
And for the first time in 20 years of early morning flights in and out of LHR, there was little or no traffic. Absolutely amazing!
Well I'm hopefully grounded for a couple of weeks and I look forward to trying out the 'bedded in' T5 in a couple of weeks time.
Landed a tad late on BD from RUH into a ghost town. There were about 4 BD and 1 EI planes on the outer domestic stands. None on the inner stands. Nothing on the 16-29(?) pier and a couple of BDs on the 3x-5x pier. So we 'still' went and parked on 55!! The walk was the longest I've done for ages but for the first time in my T1 nightmares memory, ALL the travelators were working.
No point going for IRIS as immigration was devoid of pax and overrun with UK Borders staff (4 on the EU/EEA desks!!) has anyone told them that T5 is open??
And for the first time in 20 years of early morning flights in and out of LHR, there was little or no traffic. Absolutely amazing!
Well I'm hopefully grounded for a couple of weeks and I look forward to trying out the 'bedded in' T5 in a couple of weeks time.
Last edited by The Specialist; Mar 27, 2008 at 1:21 am Reason: Atrocious typos to be expected after restocking following a 'dry' trip!
Mar 27, 2008, 1:16 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,094
Well, I've just woken up to a beautiful blue sky. The weather Gods are smiling on BA today for sure.
In about 3 hours I'll be leaving for Paddington and then T5. I'm taking the laptop, so expect updates from Galleries Club, Galleries First and Galleries North soon after that.
The flight isn't until 1605, so there should be plenty of time!
In about 3 hours I'll be leaving for Paddington and then T5. I'm taking the laptop, so expect updates from Galleries Club, Galleries First and Galleries North soon after that.
The flight isn't until 1605, so there should be plenty of time!
Mar 27, 2008, 1:21 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Tokyo
Programs: BA Au; IHG Pl; Hyatt Au; IC RA; Marriott Pl
Posts: 817
Well, I've just woken up to a beautiful blue sky. The weather Gods are smiling on BA today for sure.
In about 3 hours I'll be leaving for Paddington and then T5. I'm taking the laptop, so expect updates from Galleries Club, Galleries First and Galleries North soon after that.
The flight isn't until 1605, so there should be plenty of time!
In about 3 hours I'll be leaving for Paddington and then T5. I'm taking the laptop, so expect updates from Galleries Club, Galleries First and Galleries North soon after that.
The flight isn't until 1605, so there should be plenty of time!
