Originally Posted by
HFHFFlyer
I’m afraid the reality is that T5 is just not fit for purpose any longer. It has nowhere near enough gates and even when one is lucky enough to board by airbridge in T5A it is a chaotic experience of too many people crammed too closely together. Far too much retail (not BA’s fault I accept) has left insufficient gate and circulation space, and BA’s expansion with shorter and faster turnarounds to boot has only compounded the problem. As the A319s are replaced by A321s over time the problem will only get worse.
T5 promised a new era of passenger comfort when it opened in 2008 but 15 years on it makes me nostalgic for T1 and especially T4.
There are actually fewer off pier departures than there were when T5 opened than there were when it opened in 2008 thanks to T5C opening in 2012.
The main issue in my opinion at the A gates is that the gate agents are unwilling to fill up the queue maze well in advance of boarding, which in turn makes the gate area congested, while there remains lots of empty space directly in front of the gate.