BA to move to new Terminal 2 at Cairo
Mar 4, 2017, 4:28 am
#76
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: SPG-Plat, Hilton-Diamond, Club Carlson-Silver, Cathay-Diamond, Virgin-Gold
Posts: 2,183
They just haven't updated the website. On departure they meet you kerbside, take your luggage, to the front of security and take you to a private lounge while they process your immigration formalities. You can either stay there or head to the airline lounges. They will then escort you to the gate where you will pre-board ahead of everyone else.
Depending on the time of day it can immensely useful.
Depending on the time of day it can immensely useful.
Thanks
Mar 5, 2017, 11:23 pm
#77
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP 2 MM
Posts: 2,823
No queues for departure at T2 at 7am. No postal facilities (maybe next year I was told). Did not notice any banks to change money.
The VIP lounge invite from BA was confusing as the map for reaching the lounge was still for T1! Good food selection in the lounge, but nothing that looked like breakfast at the time I arrived. Few sockets for power.
Unable to to connect my MacBook to wifi but iPhone OK.
The VIP lounge invite from BA was confusing as the map for reaching the lounge was still for T1! Good food selection in the lounge, but nothing that looked like breakfast at the time I arrived. Few sockets for power.
Unable to to connect my MacBook to wifi but iPhone OK.
Last edited by nbevan; Mar 6, 2017 at 1:45 pm Reason: Clarified
Mar 7, 2017, 10:51 pm
#78
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: KSA
Programs: BA LTG, UA Gold, EK Silver, Hilton LT Diamond, Marriott LT Titanium, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,242
Just to add my 2 cents. Landed into the new T2 with EK, bought a couple of Visa on arrival stickers from the counter (to the right just before immigration). Visa's are still $25 USD each.
Getting through was very easy even with about 30 people ahead of me (took about 5 mins)
I was booked into the Le Meridien at the airport. I did not ask for any arrival pickup as seemed easy enough to get to which it was sort of. On exiting T2 and being accosted by at least 10 "Taxi Normal" offers I walked over to T3 arrivals. (which is across the road and turn right walk to the end of the building and turn left towards T3). I could see Le Meridien on the right and the walkway from T3.
However, you cannot enter T3 arrivals (to get to the walkway) and the guy said I should wait for the bus. Le Meridien is less than 200 yards from T3 arrivals so I phoned the hotel who talked to the guard at the front of T3 arrivals and he agreed to let me in so I could use the walkway to Le Meridien.
The hotel is definitely one of the better ones in Cairo. New, clean, has a lounge (Happy Hour 6-8pm) and very cheap on SPG points.
Left in the morning using the hotel shuttle (leaves every 30 mins). Time to T2 is about 3 mins.
On arrival at T2 (at 7.15 for a 10am flight) there is no one around. Almost totally deserted. The terminal has about 10 flights listed to depart before 1340 so not surprising it is quiet. The flight before BA leaves at 0820 so again is reason why terminal is deserted.
Usual security mess however. Everything off, through the scanner, pat down etc. No queue at checkin counters, lounge invite given and upstairs to immigration. No queue here either so get a stamp and walk 10 yards to get a pointless guard to check your exit stamp. Walk another 100 yards and through actual security. Same drill, and once through you turn right for the lounge.
There are plenty of signs for every airline except BA so just follow the First/Business class lounge banner directions. You pass another guard who also checks your exit stamp (no idea why) and then round a few corridors to the VIP lounge in the corner.
Lounge is pretty large and newish like the rest of the terminal. Food is usual fare for the ME and is of ok quality. No alcoholic drinks, just water, juices, tea etc. Rolls and croissants average.
Wifi appears to work but with a stupid password (for an airline lounge) which is awkward to type on a phone.
All in all, a MUCH better experience than T1 (but it couldn't be worse could it).
Will see how the flight works out and will be my first time in CW on an A321
Getting through was very easy even with about 30 people ahead of me (took about 5 mins)
I was booked into the Le Meridien at the airport. I did not ask for any arrival pickup as seemed easy enough to get to which it was sort of. On exiting T2 and being accosted by at least 10 "Taxi Normal" offers I walked over to T3 arrivals. (which is across the road and turn right walk to the end of the building and turn left towards T3). I could see Le Meridien on the right and the walkway from T3.
However, you cannot enter T3 arrivals (to get to the walkway) and the guy said I should wait for the bus. Le Meridien is less than 200 yards from T3 arrivals so I phoned the hotel who talked to the guard at the front of T3 arrivals and he agreed to let me in so I could use the walkway to Le Meridien.
The hotel is definitely one of the better ones in Cairo. New, clean, has a lounge (Happy Hour 6-8pm) and very cheap on SPG points.
Left in the morning using the hotel shuttle (leaves every 30 mins). Time to T2 is about 3 mins.
On arrival at T2 (at 7.15 for a 10am flight) there is no one around. Almost totally deserted. The terminal has about 10 flights listed to depart before 1340 so not surprising it is quiet. The flight before BA leaves at 0820 so again is reason why terminal is deserted.
Usual security mess however. Everything off, through the scanner, pat down etc. No queue at checkin counters, lounge invite given and upstairs to immigration. No queue here either so get a stamp and walk 10 yards to get a pointless guard to check your exit stamp. Walk another 100 yards and through actual security. Same drill, and once through you turn right for the lounge.
There are plenty of signs for every airline except BA so just follow the First/Business class lounge banner directions. You pass another guard who also checks your exit stamp (no idea why) and then round a few corridors to the VIP lounge in the corner.
Lounge is pretty large and newish like the rest of the terminal. Food is usual fare for the ME and is of ok quality. No alcoholic drinks, just water, juices, tea etc. Rolls and croissants average.
Wifi appears to work but with a stupid password (for an airline lounge) which is awkward to type on a phone.
All in all, a MUCH better experience than T1 (but it couldn't be worse could it).
Will see how the flight works out and will be my first time in CW on an A321
Mar 10, 2017, 12:38 pm
#79
Join Date: Mar 2003
Programs: BA GGL; AA LT Gold; AS 100K; DL MM GM; Hyatt G*list, Hilton Diamond; SQ silver
Posts: 3,806
Mar 10, 2017, 7:06 pm
#81
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: KSA
Programs: BA LTG, UA Gold, EK Silver, Hilton LT Diamond, Marriott LT Titanium, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,242
to finish the mini-report form above.
On leaving the lounge you have to put your bags through another scanner and have your passport checked again (this is just getting stupid.....if the airport is so insecure that you have to check bags after walking down a corridor then something else is very wrong). Guess what....walk to the gate for yet another security check (so that is now 2 security checks in about 150 yards). This time they wanted me to turn my laptop on, open my bag so they could swab it etc etc.
There is no fast track boarding so you just queue up with everyone else.
We were all on board 20 mins early so was looking for an early departure. However, this was not to be. In the lounge there was a guy crying his eyes out (on the phone) sitting in the chair next to me. Obviously something wrong and did consider whether to mention something to the lounge staff but as he was speaking in Arabic then decided it was none of my business what he was upset about. All became clear a little later when he was the last to board the flight. He was a bit unsteady and was escorted to his seat, seemed to insist on having a window seat but none available as flight was full (he was in J as was I). So after 5 mins he decided he didn't want to fly (I presume he was claustrophobic or just afraid of flying). Of course now we had to have a full security check of bags on the plane and his hold luggage had to be offloaded (so our 10 min early departure became 10 mins late).
Observations of the flight.
1) The cabin crew used a lot of the overhead luggage space which is not on. I would estimate 2 completely full overhead bins in J taken by the crew. A guy who was in row 1 and boarded a bit late had to go back to around row 8 to store his luggage (and also half a compartment above row 1 is taken by a on-board wheel chair)
2) Seat were nice, absolutely bags of room in the single seat sections. IFE was new. The table "swing out" arrangement was a bit fiddly but overall a nice seat for the 5 hour flight
3) Food was full club world menu. I had salmon and steak and was of reasonably quality
4) Flight was reasonably bumpy all the way (which didn't bother me at all) and interestingly we flew the whole journey at 32000 feet with a strong headwind the entire journey (would have expected higher if only to try and get out of the turbulence). Despite the headwind we arrived exactly on time and to an A gate so off the plane and through passport control in 10 mins.
On leaving the lounge you have to put your bags through another scanner and have your passport checked again (this is just getting stupid.....if the airport is so insecure that you have to check bags after walking down a corridor then something else is very wrong). Guess what....walk to the gate for yet another security check (so that is now 2 security checks in about 150 yards). This time they wanted me to turn my laptop on, open my bag so they could swab it etc etc.
There is no fast track boarding so you just queue up with everyone else.
We were all on board 20 mins early so was looking for an early departure. However, this was not to be. In the lounge there was a guy crying his eyes out (on the phone) sitting in the chair next to me. Obviously something wrong and did consider whether to mention something to the lounge staff but as he was speaking in Arabic then decided it was none of my business what he was upset about. All became clear a little later when he was the last to board the flight. He was a bit unsteady and was escorted to his seat, seemed to insist on having a window seat but none available as flight was full (he was in J as was I). So after 5 mins he decided he didn't want to fly (I presume he was claustrophobic or just afraid of flying). Of course now we had to have a full security check of bags on the plane and his hold luggage had to be offloaded (so our 10 min early departure became 10 mins late).
Observations of the flight.
1) The cabin crew used a lot of the overhead luggage space which is not on. I would estimate 2 completely full overhead bins in J taken by the crew. A guy who was in row 1 and boarded a bit late had to go back to around row 8 to store his luggage (and also half a compartment above row 1 is taken by a on-board wheel chair)
2) Seat were nice, absolutely bags of room in the single seat sections. IFE was new. The table "swing out" arrangement was a bit fiddly but overall a nice seat for the 5 hour flight
3) Food was full club world menu. I had salmon and steak and was of reasonably quality
4) Flight was reasonably bumpy all the way (which didn't bother me at all) and interestingly we flew the whole journey at 32000 feet with a strong headwind the entire journey (would have expected higher if only to try and get out of the turbulence). Despite the headwind we arrived exactly on time and to an A gate so off the plane and through passport control in 10 mins.
Mar 11, 2017, 12:48 am
#82
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Programs: BAEC Gold [>20k Lifetime TPs] | Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond [as is Mrs PtF] | Various Others
Posts: 6,156
In the lounge there was a guy crying his eyes out (on the phone) sitting in the chair next to me. Obviously something wrong and did consider whether to mention something to the lounge staff but as he was speaking in Arabic then decided it was none of my business what he was upset about.
Mar 11, 2017, 1:48 am
#83
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,527
to finish the mini-report form above.
On leaving the lounge you have to put your bags through another scanner and have your passport checked again (this is just getting stupid.....if the airport is so insecure that you have to check bags after walking down a corridor then something else is very wrong). Guess what....walk to the gate for yet another security check (so that is now 2 security checks in about 150 yards). This time they wanted me to turn my laptop on, open my bag so they could swab it etc etc.
There is no fast track boarding so you just queue up with everyone else.
On leaving the lounge you have to put your bags through another scanner and have your passport checked again (this is just getting stupid.....if the airport is so insecure that you have to check bags after walking down a corridor then something else is very wrong). Guess what....walk to the gate for yet another security check (so that is now 2 security checks in about 150 yards). This time they wanted me to turn my laptop on, open my bag so they could swab it etc etc.
There is no fast track boarding so you just queue up with everyone else.
Mar 11, 2017, 3:06 am
#84
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: London, UK
Programs: A3 Gold
Posts: 158
This is the most frustrating thing about airport security in Cairo (and elsewhere). So many steps which cause inconvenience to the ordinary passenger while someone who wanted to find the security edge-cases (in Cairo, it'd have to be the airport employees / people "known" to the airport staff who walk straight through scanners, while in other airports its the less intensive security that happens when a backlog occurs at peak travel times).
Mar 12, 2017, 8:23 am
#85
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: EK Plat
Posts: 244
Just posted this in the EK forum as I did an EK turnaround but I assume it would be similar on QR. Thought I would link the post here as I've found this thread to be extremely helpful.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28025888-post25.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28025888-post25.html
Oct 3, 2017, 2:20 pm
#86
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 2,447
About hotels rather than flights. Where's the most logical place to stay at CAI overnight, departing T2 on BA the next morning? Some of the hotels sound pretty poor - but I'm hoping to balance simplicity/budget for the sake of 7hrs sleep, rather than busting out a huge chunk of cash.
Oct 3, 2017, 2:52 pm
#87
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: BA GGL, A3*G, Mucci de l'expertise des Apps
Posts: 3,366
Novotel without a doubt for these short nights between BA flights. It's usually about £60, the extra £5 for a superior room is good value although not necessary if you really do want it as cheap as possible. They will do a meet and greet service for free, just e-mail them a couple of days in advance and they will meet you at the bottom of the escalators before passport control and "fastrack" you through immigration and then contact the shuttle drive to come and collect you. Much easier than figuring it out yourself.
Oct 3, 2017, 3:02 pm
#88
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: London, UK
Programs: A3 Gold
Posts: 158
About hotels rather than flights. Where's the most logical place to stay at CAI overnight, departing T2 on BA the next morning? Some of the hotels sound pretty poor - but I'm hoping to balance simplicity/budget for the sake of 7hrs sleep, rather than busting out a huge chunk of cash.
LM is more expensive than Novotel (usually £100 for LM vs £60 for Novotel) but has the benefit of being adjacent to T2/T3 (there is a ~200 metre link bridge from LM to T3, and a walk of ~200 metres from T3 to T2 departures entrance).
Novotel is closer to the old T1 and about 1km from T2/T3 - it's possible to walk to T2/T3 (I've done so before in ~15mins) if you'd prefer not to be at the mercy of a shuttle-bus.
Oct 3, 2017, 3:34 pm
#89
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,527
We just did Meet & Assist from T2, VIP service. Met at the aerobridge, taken to a fleet of BMW 5 series and driven airside to the VIP terminal. Ridiculously OTT where a single immigration officer sights you and have a whole floor of the the building as a large lounge or private rooms in each corner.
We had to call out hotel driver to pick us up from there as their email support is terrible and doesn't explain the process.
On departure you complete all formalities in the VIP terminal and can use their lounges instead of the main ones in T2.
Worth every penny.
We had to call out hotel driver to pick us up from there as their email support is terrible and doesn't explain the process.
On departure you complete all formalities in the VIP terminal and can use their lounges instead of the main ones in T2.
Worth every penny.
Oct 4, 2017, 4:02 pm
#90
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 2,447
Le Meridien and Novotel are both in the grounds of Cairo Airport.
LM is more expensive than Novotel (usually £100 for LM vs £60 for Novotel) but has the benefit of being adjacent to T2/T3 (there is a ~200 metre link bridge from LM to T3, and a walk of ~200 metres from T3 to T2 departures entrance).
Novotel is closer to the old T1 and about 1km from T2/T3 - it's possible to walk to T2/T3 (I've done so before in ~15mins) if you'd prefer not to be at the mercy of a shuttle-bus.
LM is more expensive than Novotel (usually £100 for LM vs £60 for Novotel) but has the benefit of being adjacent to T2/T3 (there is a ~200 metre link bridge from LM to T3, and a walk of ~200 metres from T3 to T2 departures entrance).
Novotel is closer to the old T1 and about 1km from T2/T3 - it's possible to walk to T2/T3 (I've done so before in ~15mins) if you'd prefer not to be at the mercy of a shuttle-bus.