Originally Posted by Tobix

My first T5 visit last week JFK/LHR in J.
Arrivals:
Nice not to have to wait for a stand once landed. But the journey from T5B to arrivals is too vertical. Going down several escalators to the transit and then up several more with wheelie luggage is hassle. Good to have two Iris's though. Arrival lounge is ridiculous. Looks great, but the shower cubicles are so plastic and small and the furniture for breakfast is dreadful. It's like eating breakfast from a table that's 3 inches off the ground. Arrivals lounge requires MORE escalators to get to. Great to see the lovely breakfast lady with the beehive though.
Departures:
What a shambles. Checked in online. No luggage to check. Go to the 'security check' and after queuing for ages they say I need to go to check in for them to see my passport. Why doesn't it say that when you check in online? I agree the non-concorde room shuffel up and down MORE escalators is crazy. I wonder how long it will be for the 'cloud' by the lounges to malfunction and just be a lump of plastic. Lounges were OK, but PLEASE BRING BACK FLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS. The relaxing atmosphere is lost when you have to check on the (difficult to find) boards every few minutes. The terrace with the fireplace in the first lounge was hot and sweaty (and the fire wasn't even lit!).
Transit broke while I was waiting for it to depart but other than that, getting aboard with fast track is easy.

I hate to say it, but I preferred T4.