Maybe T5 suffers from its architecture. The lack of internal walls and the immensely high ceiling make the distances covered seem huge. It may be that you need to walk just as much in other terminals around the world but it doesn't seem so far when you're in corridors and surrounded by walls.

That said, if you're looking to use the north of the terminal, maybe for a domestic flight or if you have a desperate need to eat at Giraffe then the walk to the CW or the F checkin normally takes the same time as queueing at the normal bag drop desks.

What I can't understand is why the dedicated F and CW checkin areas weren't dual-situated or situated at the North end where most people who don't know T5 get dropped off. Other than the positioning of the CCR entrance door, of course...