T5 "Magic Door" now open to all?
#16
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA BLUE BADGE
Posts: 1,324
It happens so often it's obviously a design fault.
#17
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,977
Maybe. Even if it were true, it also makes no sense that this guy would be involved in and have knowledge of this operational change. He is Director of Strategy at IAG and not with BA, so he isn't going to be involved in sorting out lounge access routes at T5 - which makes it even more strange that he would tweet about it.
#19
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Manchester but from Yorkshire better known as Gods country
Programs: BA Gold, , Sandals plat
Posts: 839
Slightly OT do HAL really believe that because I have to walk the long way around to the Gf that I am likely to shop. No I just curse under my breath about the stupid layout of the airport.
#20
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: BA Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,809
I would be a little sad if this were true. One of my favourite events at T5, which I've brought up before in a DYKWIA thread, was waiting patiently behind a GCH desperately trying it on with the lounge guardian to be let through (I knew he was a GCH because he was telling her he was one, how he flies a lot and how important he is), she gave a very polite but firm no, and turned to me before welcoming me through.
#21
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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As to the core rumour, I'm afraid I am outside CCR's orbit range at the moment, but I will find out tomorrow morning and report back if no-one gets there first.
#22
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA BLUE BADGE
Posts: 1,324
It's ridiculous that a flagship lounge causes so much confrontation just as the passenger clears security.
#24
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: LHR / LAS
Programs: BA GfL, GGL/CCR
Posts: 2,409
well now a few people have tweeted him asking if 'he is sure' - no reply yet!
#26
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: US of A
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Posts: 1,775
Just as an academical discussion, if BA were to make it happen, do they need permission from HAL or can they just do it?
#27
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Londinium
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 930
Never thought I'd reach GCH status and still be viewed as amongst the Great Unwashed!
#28
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA BLUE BADGE
Posts: 1,324
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Well the only way this could possibly make sense is if they remodelled the entrance to the lounge when they're remodelling security. If they allowed everyone through the existing door, almost everyone would want to enter through the existing door. As well as causing a lot of traffic through the lounge (would you like people walking through your living room just to get to their own as it saved them walking round the block?) the entrance was not designed to cope with as many people. There can be up to 4 people scanning boarding passes on the entrance to Galleries First, I think there's even more for Galleries Club (there's two entrances, one via the escalator and one via the lift) on the current layout those that were eligible for these lounges would need to be checked twice as well as needing to be monitored in case they got lost on the way to their designated lounge and ended up in the CCR.
Now if they do remodel security and the lounges with an access corridor to the lounges then great, but I'm not sure how practical it would be.
Does anyone have a floor plan of the lounges and their relation to security? Is any part of the flounge next to security where another entrance could be added?
Now if they do remodel security and the lounges with an access corridor to the lounges then great, but I'm not sure how practical it would be.
Does anyone have a floor plan of the lounges and their relation to security? Is any part of the flounge next to security where another entrance could be added?