Jun 21, 2020, 1:16 am
Last edit by: JDiver
American Airlines has moved all operations to Terminal 5, and departs from Satellite B, effective 7 July 2020.
(NOTE: In Sep 2020, the BA Galleries B Lounge remains closed.)
AA is expected to remain until Terminal 3 is reopened once flight operations increase to the point T3 is needed, though there has been chatter about a permanent Terminal 5 presence.
AA has a dedicated check-in area at Zone C, and two AA personnel, the left-most and devices are in First Wing Security channel as well, ostensibly for longhaul F, AA Concierge Key and Executive Platinum members not needing to check baggage or have visas or passports checked.
See post #1 for a map of T-5B.
Link to PDF of full Terminal 5 map.
NOTE: As of July 7, AA Concierge Key and AA Flagship First passengers have access to the Concorde Room (terrace, currently). AA F and J, plus Executive Platinum, may use the Galleries Arrivals Lounge when it reopens later this year. CCR and Arrivals Lounge are not covered by oneworld lounge access rules.
(NOTE: In Sep 2020, the BA Galleries B Lounge remains closed.)
AA is expected to remain until Terminal 3 is reopened once flight operations increase to the point T3 is needed, though there has been chatter about a permanent Terminal 5 presence.
AA has a dedicated check-in area at Zone C, and two AA personnel, the left-most and devices are in First Wing Security channel as well, ostensibly for longhaul F, AA Concierge Key and Executive Platinum members not needing to check baggage or have visas or passports checked.
See post #1 for a map of T-5B.
Link to PDF of full Terminal 5 map.
NOTE: As of July 7, AA Concierge Key and AA Flagship First passengers have access to the Concorde Room (terrace, currently). AA F and J, plus Executive Platinum, may use the Galleries Arrivals Lounge when it reopens later this year. CCR and Arrivals Lounge are not covered by oneworld lounge access rules.
AA at LHR / London Heathrow In Terminal 5-B on 7 Jul 2020 w/ BA, IB
Jun 6, 2020, 8:55 am
#31
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Sussex
Programs: BA; IHG; LHW; Hilton
Posts: 786
Baths are glorious
As someone for whom LHR has pretty much become my home away from home, I can’t say I’m very pleased about this. I certainly won’t miss the Heathrow Express wait forever connection between T3 and T5 but it was a small price to pay for dedicated lounges and the arrivals showers, both of which are far superior to BA’s offerings in T5. Yes, the dedicated security lane in the T5 F lounge is very convenient but the lounge itself is always jam packed and hot as an oven. The food is admittedly better than AA’s offerings, so there’s that, but the staff not nearly as helpful. And T5 arrivals? Just forget about it - antiquated and subpar.
The only way I can see to make this work in any fashion is to convert the remote lounge in T5 to an Admirals Club. It’s very small but at least we would have dedicated AA staff (which sounds silly but try getting BA staff to help with anything AA related and you’ll be jumping for joy at the sight of winged lapel pins). Overall this seems to be a massive loss for those of us who spend a great deal of time at LHR. Two thumbs down.
The only way I can see to make this work in any fashion is to convert the remote lounge in T5 to an Admirals Club. It’s very small but at least we would have dedicated AA staff (which sounds silly but try getting BA staff to help with anything AA related and you’ll be jumping for joy at the sight of winged lapel pins). Overall this seems to be a massive loss for those of us who spend a great deal of time at LHR. Two thumbs down.
Jun 6, 2020, 9:41 am
#33
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 153
Curious what is going to happen to the Batcave a.k.a. the AA Offices in T3?!
And I would not compare the situation of the IB-DCS, with AA's - Resiber is terrible and was notorius, for not "talking" to SABRE or Altéa properly.
I've seen QiK/SABRE, Resiber & FLY running smoothly on CUTE-sets, so moving terminals shouldn't be causing major issues.
And I would not compare the situation of the IB-DCS, with AA's - Resiber is terrible and was notorius, for not "talking" to SABRE or Altéa properly.
I've seen QiK/SABRE, Resiber & FLY running smoothly on CUTE-sets, so moving terminals shouldn't be causing major issues.
Jun 6, 2020, 11:15 am
#34
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,179
I've smiled as I read through the posts that are here. I heard these rumours some time ago. Frankly in the present climate all bets are off as to what traffic will resume after this period. Whilst I see the sense of putting AA in T5 - I await with trepidation the impact on all the Lounges. God knows they are full enough now. Further from the city? T5 is one stop down from T3.
Personally I detest T3 - it is years old and shows it. Pre-clearance was trailed at LHR in the late eighties as I recall - it was still the time of PanAm and TWA - why it was never taken up I do not know but I could see either the B gates or C gates being dedicated for this purpose - but I would still imagine that it would be overwhelmed if traffic got back to pre-pandemic levels.
Personally I detest T3 - it is years old and shows it. Pre-clearance was trailed at LHR in the late eighties as I recall - it was still the time of PanAm and TWA - why it was never taken up I do not know but I could see either the B gates or C gates being dedicated for this purpose - but I would still imagine that it would be overwhelmed if traffic got back to pre-pandemic levels.
Jun 6, 2020, 11:17 am
#35
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
Although I appreciate the "F" security line that leads directly into the BA F Lounge at T5 as well as the champagne bar(s), I find T3 more "intimate" and I enjoy the variety of lounge options. I can't see having AA being at T5 as a long term solution simply due to capacity constraints.
Jun 6, 2020, 11:36 am
#36
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PP, DL PM
Posts: 2,086
Jun 6, 2020, 11:51 am
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,196
Now what fix has been done it may be able to be used to enable AA to move to T5 but that would depend on what underlyign sysyem AA uses and if the BA system can talk to it easily
Jun 6, 2020, 12:16 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSY (finally); previously NYC, BOS, AUH
Programs: AA EXP, 6MM; BA GLD
Posts: 17,248
I spend way too much time in the T5 F lounge and find that it, and its showers, are not nearly as bad as people on here and on the BA board make it out to be. That said, I do much prefer the lounges at T3, especially CX and QF.
Jun 6, 2020, 12:48 pm
#40
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Vail, CO
Programs: AA EXP/1mm, Marriott Titanium/LT Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 626
I join in being disappointed with this. I go to Barcelona about once a year and its always nice to stay within T3.
Did AA ever start renovating the T3 AC? I had thought they were in the process of that. Would BA they let AC members without status use the Galleries Lounges?
Did AA ever start renovating the T3 AC? I had thought they were in the process of that. Would BA they let AC members without status use the Galleries Lounges?
Jun 6, 2020, 12:58 pm
#41
Join Date: May 2001
Location: (AA EXP)
Posts: 609
I actually enjoyed the T3 AA arrivals lounge and the landside transfer to T5. Especially if one had access to the BA FIRST check in, the security process ended directly in the T5 FIRST lounge (still too hot). Hated the T3-T5 busses and the line. I might be a bit different though, as I would usually connect same day on the outbound, but would overnight at the Renaissance before flying from LHR back to the states. I wouldn't extend the trip, but would take an afternoon/evening flight from Belfast/Glasgow/wherever to LHR and enjoy the Exec Lounge at the Renn, then take the free red busses right to T3 in the morning. Of course, loved the T3 CX lounge for the champagne, the T3 BA lounge if I was in a whiskey mood, and would hardly hit the AA lounge unless there was a flight delay or an upgrade pending. Hopefully flying again soon.
Last edited by MIAFlyer; Jun 6, 2020 at 12:59 pm Reason: added security process
Jun 6, 2020, 1:43 pm
#42
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Everywhere
Programs: AA EXP - 3.7MM, Bonv LIFETIME Titan, HH Dmd, Hyatt Glob., Priority Clb Dmd, Ntnl Exec El., Sixt PLT
Posts: 1,680
Jun 6, 2020, 3:13 pm
#43
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,041
Jun 6, 2020, 3:52 pm
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: AA Gold AAdvantage Elite, Rapids Reward
Posts: 38,324
Yes, I knows LHR airport very well. Easy airport. I have been in LHR for a many times. I always rode on a bus from T3 to T5.
Yes, it is. This is a false alarm. There is no way to move to T5. They won't let AA to entire T5.
Jun 6, 2020, 4:40 pm
#45
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PP, DL PM
Posts: 2,086
If BA ground staff handles the AA flights, it could be possible that AA also runs a split T3/T5 operation, e.g. moving JFK flights to T5. It would create some headaches below the wing, but it would simplify things dramatically in IROPS if all flights to the same US airport left from the same terminal.