Originally Posted by
BA or bust
If the OP has disappeared (for whatever reason) and we don’t have a venue, can I suggest we go with Kay Baden’s suggestion of the T5 forecourt.
Given that it is only 3ish weeks or so till the 1st April, people need to make arrangements e.g. I will be coming up to London for this, so need to book a place to stay, convenient for the DO and also to get into London the next day to meet some people.
PS If anyone has a better suggestion, tell us now or forever hold your peace.
Apologies for the AWOL. I found my head down with work the past few weeks. Also far fewer BA-based trips being planned in the aftermath of these changes :/
It's 7 weeks or so until the 1st of April. The enthusiasm here is amazing, but it does pose a different level of scope to what I first thought possible. I think the numbers are into the 60-80 mark which is making it a find a quite substantial venue which need a either a deposit or minimum spend on food and drinks. Thanks to several FT members for putting enquiries into venues over the past couple of weeks, but we haven't found availability through friendlies (if you have suggestions with availability, drop them in the thread!). It's also been suggested by some in or close to the industry that few might want to sponsor something with a more downbeat tone (maybe the black dress code didn't help there..). Virgin also don't appear to sponsor anything, even if this was their vibe.
The date (April 1st, day after BAEC disappears) and time (evening, so more people can come after work) should be fixed. Airside mega lounge crawl sounds fun, but less straightforward for anyone to attend.
I'd suggest a landside location either:- Central London Bar - something like this at the Gerkin.
- T5 Arrivals meeting point (with the M&S on the arrivals level and The Globe Pub & Kitchen upstairs for supplies). Simpler, and perhaps more of a spectacle. Folks could easily pile into the lounges right after too.
But, this would have to be a more informal gathering so as not to cause problems. Others may be much more informed, but
ChatGPT had this to say.
Key Takeaways for Your Meetup
✅ If you casually meet up in small groups across cafés, lounges, or public spaces without coordinated activities, it is unlikely to be an issue.
⚠️ If you organise a structured meetup in a high-footfall area or bring signs, speeches, or other organised elements, you should check with the airport in advance.
🚫 If your presence risks causing disruption, blocking access, or raising security concerns, you may be asked to leave or require official permission.
All that to say, let's meet at T5 Arrivals? Unless there are strong views and good alternatives the other way?