AVOID LHR
May 18, 2012, 7:30 am
#16
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 38
Transit LHR 30 times a year. I have never experienced any of that. If you were going to the Concorde room, would that not be a T5 to T5 transfer since it is BA first only that have access to the Concorde room?. T5 to T5 quite easy.
From T5 arrival at the gate to T3 Admirals club for me with fast trak only takes 45 min.
From T5 arrival at the gate to T3 Admirals club for me with fast trak only takes 45 min.
May 18, 2012, 7:39 am
#17
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 38
I have to mention that on a recent experience with LHR, I was quite dissatisfied with the security personnel at T5 who I thought were both rude and arrogant. First, as an EXP, I thought we were allowed to utilize the fast track line at T5 (came in on an AA flight TATL in J, transferred onto a domestic UK flight with BA with no CE). The BA gatekeepers on the lower level allowed me into the fast track lane, but when I got upstairs, the security personnel informed me that since I am not traveling in J or F, that I am not allowed to use the fast track lane and tried to send me to one of the other lanes. I informed them that I was an EXP and arriving on a J ticket and transferring to Y since there was no J on this UK domestic flight; and in the process was accused of being "arrogant". Obviously, I was quite irrate at that point, spoke with the supervisor for this agent, and got his name and badge number to file a complaint with BA/BAA. Nevertheless, this has been only one poor security experience in over 10+ years of transiting in LHR.
May 18, 2012, 7:40 am
#18
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,433
Is there data somewhere on average LHR immigration wait times sorted by time of day?
May 18, 2012, 7:42 am
#19
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: ORF
Posts: 1,740
Avoid LHR? Got any other tidbits from the obvious files?
May 18, 2012, 8:02 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,387
I don't get these recurring LHR/CDG/MIA hate threads. I travel through all of them frequently and I find them to be no better and no worse than the average major international airport.
May 18, 2012, 8:37 am
#21
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,477
I, too, indeed found following statements being false:
1>, UK Immigration being rude
-- You have to go through US and Australia boraders to tell what is called rude
2>, Luton or Stansted being major getaway:
-- Which airline flys you from US to that two airports? And yet I failed to see any sensible man will fly from Germany to Italy via those two airports on a through fare yet...
1>, UK Immigration being rude
-- You have to go through US and Australia boraders to tell what is called rude
2>, Luton or Stansted being major getaway:
-- Which airline flys you from US to that two airports? And yet I failed to see any sensible man will fly from Germany to Italy via those two airports on a through fare yet...
May 18, 2012, 9:30 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
We seek out LHR. Rarely more than 35-40 minutes from on-the-plane to the lounge on the far side. Less for same terminal, maybe 5 minutes more for T3<->T5.
Of course, knowing where to go and how to get around there helps.
Cheers.
May 18, 2012, 9:32 am
#24
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 57,952
Non!
I can sympathize with the OP. I won't go anywhere near LHR while there is (if one is selected) mandatory body scan with no opt out possible, and the OP is spot-on about the awful "security" staff from the UK's DfT. I used to visit/transit the UK quite often; now I happily spend my money elsewhere. The First lounges (and sometimes the Concorde Room) just aren't worth the misery, especially when one factors in the APD and the possibility of long immigration waits due to immigration personnel job actions. As to whether the UK "security" or immigration is worse than US: I couldn't care less. I won't cater to the lowest common denominator - I'll spend where I am appreciated and not harassed whenever possible.
I can sympathize with the OP. I won't go anywhere near LHR while there is (if one is selected) mandatory body scan with no opt out possible, and the OP is spot-on about the awful "security" staff from the UK's DfT. I used to visit/transit the UK quite often; now I happily spend my money elsewhere. The First lounges (and sometimes the Concorde Room) just aren't worth the misery, especially when one factors in the APD and the possibility of long immigration waits due to immigration personnel job actions. As to whether the UK "security" or immigration is worse than US: I couldn't care less. I won't cater to the lowest common denominator - I'll spend where I am appreciated and not harassed whenever possible.
May 18, 2012, 9:35 am
#25
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SFO/OAK
Programs: AA EXP 3.4MM, BAEC, UAMP, Skyteam (<10k) HH Gold, IHG Plat, Hertz Gold, GE/TSA TT
Posts: 2,723
It's pretty common to take a one-off situation and make a generalized rant here in an effort to "help" all of us learn something new. And here it is again. And we've heard this whine many,many times...but a new thread on a played out topic is always welcome
We seek out LHR. Rarely more than 35-40 minutes from on-the-plane to the lounge on the far side. Less for same terminal, maybe 5 minutes more for T3<->T5.
Of course, knowing where to go and how to get around there helps.
Cheers.
We seek out LHR. Rarely more than 35-40 minutes from on-the-plane to the lounge on the far side. Less for same terminal, maybe 5 minutes more for T3<->T5.
Of course, knowing where to go and how to get around there helps.
Cheers.
May 18, 2012, 9:42 am
#26
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Bay Area
Programs: WN A-List, AA good-riddance, Safeway Club Card Extraordinaire
Posts: 3,851
May 18, 2012, 9:45 am
#27
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,645
I have to mention that on a recent experience with LHR, I was quite dissatisfied with the security personnel at T5 who I thought were both rude and arrogant. First, as an EXP, I thought we were allowed to utilize the fast track line at T5 (came in on an AA flight TATL in J, transferred onto a domestic UK flight with BA with no CE)...
EXPs do not have access to the Fasttrack lane at T5, that I know of.
I took this photo recently and it seems that Fast Track at Terminal 5 is only for BA and IB elites and pax flying Club or First Classes.
No mention of Oneworld status.
May 18, 2012, 9:47 am
#28
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
From my own experiences, the LHR T3 immigration wait times this year are far worse on average this year than they were in prior years. Amongst the latest excuses posted on the screens in the immigration wait area there: "industrial action".
May 18, 2012, 9:49 am
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-EP, TK-*G, HL-DM, HY-GLO, MR-LTP
Posts: 25,932
Yeah but I do agree. LHR is bad. The security procedures also do not make sense. They have 2 entrances at T5 but will direct you to the farthest one just because your flight departs after a certain time. Wouldn't it logical to open both entrances at peak times?
Even though its new, LHR T5 for example, just does not make sense !
May 18, 2012, 9:51 am
#30
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 161
Ah thanks for the photo; there is a magic security book that they have in the back offices that shows pictures of the all the elite cards that are allowed to use fast track for security at T5, in that book there is a picture of the AA EXP card but no AA PLT or AA GLD. I havent seen that sign before so thanks for posting it.