Originally Posted by
13901
Actually... there definitely is a "Bus" gate in T5B and I think in T5C. The one in B is not far from the Engineering stores/office/crew room and has stairs connecting to the departure level, even a lift I think, and a desk with power ports and microphone (unplugged). It's very small and narrow, so perhaps it was only meant to be used for emergency service, but it could be used as a satellite remote gate. I used to use it to gain access to the ramp from departures.
There is definitely no dedicated coaching gate in T5B or C. (Maybe you have seen the HAL connections bussing area to other terminals)
The only dedicated coaching area is A4/A10. T5B is sometimes used when A10 is full, for US coaching flights which require the search equipment for Selectees or sometimes a late aircraft change and most passengers are already in B - in which case you board through a normal gate not in use, down the stairs in the node and onto a bus.
Originally Posted by
Agent69
As title suggests, was on the 7:10am ACE service yesterday which boarded gate A10, but we were then bussed around to the C terminal where our A321 was parked on the tarmac near an A380 (FRA of MAD service I assume).
Wouldn't it have been easier to board through one of the C gates and have a short hop on the bus?
I dont think so. The hassle of a train to T5C and then a bus on top through a normal jetty gate, down the long jetties in T5C, then down the steps in the node. Onto a bus on the open tarmac? Would cause lots of hassle and confustion for families, non english speakers etc.
Much easier and quicker to relax in T5A, use the dedicated coaching areas A4 and A10. No walking down jetties, nodes or steps required 😁