Originally Posted by
KenJohn
The final reshuffle of airlines at LHR would be the main reason for the reshuffle of gates. ... I suspect this is more to do with the logistics for the airlines not for their pax.
Gates further away do mean that there are less hassle for planes to access the runways. Gates nearer the centre mean that pilots have to navigate the traffic of other moving planes to get to/from their gates with anxious pax wanting to get up from their seats.
I should have thought about the musical terminals being played at LHR recently as a factor in this change: thanks for reminding me of it.
I'd note, though, that of course the more central gates are more beneficial for passengers since they get more time in the lounge on departure. I can certainly say I'd prefer that to the shorter taxi time of a more remote gate.
Originally Posted by
SpeedbirdLHR
The gate allocation at T3 is done by a centralised stand planning section by BAA. BA for example puts in requests for use of certain gates for the longhaul flights and then wait to see what gets assigned. We don't always get our preferred gates, but we do get pier 5 (gates 23-42) that we prefer. Not many airlines like pier 7 (gates 13-22) and it could be that with many airlines having moved, AA has arranged for more of its flights to be in pier 5. IIRC eventually pier 7 is to be either renovated or rebuilt completely. It is a horrible area that feels very sterile and claustrophobic. I personally have only been down to pier 7 once and hope never to have to do it again. I know QF often gets gate 18 and many of their staff don't like it.
Interesting comments on logistical issues here. I'd add, though, that the reason why pier 7 feels so claustrophobic now is that they've had to segregate the departing and arriving passengers with the glass walls, and the structure was never intended to be laterally divided in that way, and so was not designed for such small spaces. Add to that the silliness of having to close/open the doors in the glass walls, and to hold back another flight's departing passengers so they don't mix with those arriving at an adjacent gate (and vice versa), and the whole thing seems quite annoying.
I remember when (not too long ago: even 2005-2006, perhaps) when it was all unsegregated and you walked straight on and turned left at the end of the T corridor and walked past the windows of a restaurant accessible only from the departures side on arrival (which restaurant: anyone know/remember?) to get to the immigration hall. Then they blocked the T off half-way down, and you had to go up the stairs and on a long wild goose chase before descending again to get to immigration.
Originally Posted by
pennineuk
Yes, there is a discount for bussing. for example, at MAN
And presumably at LGW, too. The charters I've taken from there in the past always seemed to use buses and I assumed it was to save them money.