LHR connection. M&S Tea purchase options?
 

I'm a novice at connecting at LHR (Did my 1st a few days ago) and I'm flying DEL-LHR-PHL (BA then AA metal) in a few days. My better half enjoys Marks and Spencer teas and asked me to purchase some to bring home. The LHR website shows M&S Simply Food stores in T5 and T3 but I didn't see them on my outbound trip (T3 to T5 connection - I was a bit rushed).

Do the LHR M&S stores sell tea? I have a four hour connection so what are my best options? I'm OW Sapphire though I doubt that matters.

The stores are landslide so that's why you may not have seen them.

Contact details will be on the m&s website so you may want to contact them to make sure they have what you want in stock

I think they do. I'm sure I saw tea in there last time I was in. You'd have to go through border control and into arrivals though to get to the M&S shop.

I know I'll need to go through security screening going from T5 to T3. Then I'd need to enter the UK to get to the arrivals area, purchase the tea, and then go back again through security to get back to T3 departures?

Probably the most straight forward way would be for you to enter the UK at T5, purchase the tea, then transfer to T3 landside. Then go back through security at T3.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...-landside.html
http://www.heathrow-airport-guide.co.uk/shops-t-5.html

So I get off the plane and head for C&I, go through, and then to M&S. Purchase the tea and head to the HEX station (signs point the way I assume). Hop the HEX to T3 and head to departures, screening, and off to the lounge I go.

Any issues with my checked bag in this plan?

Not if it's through checked.

It would be quicker to transfer airside, using the buses, than using the HEX and walking the underground corridors.

You'd be better off transferring airside from T5 to T3, going landside at T3 to M&S, and then re-entering through security there.

As long as your bag is checked through to PHL then there will be no issue with going landside. Some airlines at T3 now use Positive Boarding (the non-T5 equivalent to conformance) so you may need to re-enter security no later than T-45.

The bag will be through checked to PHL. I've got 4 hours nominal connection time so that should be plenty.

I'm not a tea drinker so I hope it's worth the runaraound. This better be some really good tea! :p

You could just NOT go for the teabags :eek: (tell your better half there were none left/don't seem to sell them anymore :eek:) and head straight to the lounges and enjoy the ambience, alcohol etc etc :p:D

It is a bit of a conflict between the 'happy wife/happy life' approach, versus the extra hassle at LHR and the need for some extra lounge time on a long journey.

4 hours as a connection time though is plenty of time as it shouldn't take that long to get them. Everyone's a winner! :)

Can you not just steal a handful of twinings from the lounge? :)

Twinings we can get in the states. M&S can be had, but usually with some outrageous prices and shipping attached.

If you want a 1000+ catering pack of PG Tips, Typhoo or Yorkshire Tea I'm more than happy to guest you into Costco which is a couple of miles from the Airport! ;)
Also would the CBP dogs have an issue with you importing tea?