Choosing to depart from T3 rather than T5 for the excellent lounges.
Dec 7, 2017, 3:53 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Highlands, Scotland
Programs: EK,BA,QR
Posts: 547
Choosing to depart from T3 rather than T5 for the excellent lounges.
I am inclined think that I would. We are leaving from there in 2018 on BA F to YVR, I'm so glad it's not T5 as it would seem from reviews that in T3 the new QF lounge is great, as is the CX lounge, plus it has an F area to relax and dine in.
It's sad in a way that as LHR is BA's home base and it's Flagship lounges are, in many ways, inferior to these OW lounges in T3 Yes, CCR has it's advantages and it's "charm"! (we'll use it on our return). Of course, it's not possible to choose in most cases, however, given that we could choose on that occasion, I'm just interested to know if many others would do the same.
It's sad in a way that as LHR is BA's home base and it's Flagship lounges are, in many ways, inferior to these OW lounges in T3 Yes, CCR has it's advantages and it's "charm"! (we'll use it on our return). Of course, it's not possible to choose in most cases, however, given that we could choose on that occasion, I'm just interested to know if many others would do the same.
Dec 7, 2017, 3:55 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: GLA
Programs: BAEC: Silver. Nothing else as TopCashBack trumps all hotel programs
Posts: 801
If travelling with family I would go out of my way to fly from T3 if possible. For the simple reason I can get my kids into the Qantas lounge as OW status holder.
As for business. I will just do whatever is quickest and easiest. I try and time my flights so I don't even have time for the lounges anyway. 40 mins in wagamamas and im onto the plane usually in T5.
As for business. I will just do whatever is quickest and easiest. I try and time my flights so I don't even have time for the lounges anyway. 40 mins in wagamamas and im onto the plane usually in T5.
Dec 7, 2017, 4:17 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: London, Strathaven
Programs: BA (Gold). Various other statuses
Posts: 1,466
We don't fly from T3 very often but would really like to try the new OW lounges so are thinking of doing a quick trip to somewhere on a Saturday afternoon (so we can enjoy all the lounges), flying back on Sunday. So far we've found that Prague and Luxembourg seem to be quite cheap. Any other suggestions?
Dec 7, 2017, 4:44 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BA, Hilton
Posts: 2,091
We don't fly from T3 very often but would really like to try the new OW lounges so are thinking of doing a quick trip to somewhere on a Saturday afternoon (so we can enjoy all the lounges), flying back on Sunday. So far we've found that Prague and Luxembourg seem to be quite cheap. Any other suggestions?
List of BA flights from T3
Barcelona maybe? But my vote would be LUX. Short flight, lovely place to visit, nice enough lounge at the other end.
Dec 7, 2017, 4:58 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 732
We don't fly from T3 very often but would really like to try the new OW lounges so are thinking of doing a quick trip to somewhere on a Saturday afternoon (so we can enjoy all the lounges), flying back on Sunday. So far we've found that Prague and Luxembourg seem to be quite cheap. Any other suggestions?
Dec 7, 2017, 5:26 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: Meh
Posts: 2,598
I am inclined think that I would. We are leaving from there in 2018 on BA F to YVR, I'm so glad it's not T5 as it would seem from reviews that in T3 the new QF lounge is great, as is the CX lounge, plus it has an F area to relax and dine in.
It's sad in a way that as LHR is BA's home base and it's Flagship lounges are, in many ways, inferior to these OW lounges in T3 Yes, CCR has it's advantages and it's "charm"! (we'll use it on our return). Of course, it's not possible to choose in most cases, however, given that we could choose on that occasion, I'm just interested to know if many others would do the same.
It's sad in a way that as LHR is BA's home base and it's Flagship lounges are, in many ways, inferior to these OW lounges in T3 Yes, CCR has it's advantages and it's "charm"! (we'll use it on our return). Of course, it's not possible to choose in most cases, however, given that we could choose on that occasion, I'm just interested to know if many others would do the same.
Dec 7, 2017, 5:38 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: GLA
Programs: BAEC: Silver. Nothing else as TopCashBack trumps all hotel programs
Posts: 801
As I consider BA to be an EJ competitor now. I am frequently pleased when I see things like M&S sandwiches being sold on board rather than the "not quite as good options" sold on EJ
It's a great tactic, you can actually convince yourself into thinking that BA is great, and the best budget airline in Europe!
That is.... until you see the fares don't match budget airlines...
Dec 7, 2017, 6:00 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Effectively grounded
Programs: BA GGL for a little while longer
Posts: 844
The sooner people (in their minds) stop putting BA alongside the likes of Cathay, Qantas, Malaysian, Finnair, Japan etc. The sooner they will stop being dissapointed.
As I consider BA to be an EJ competitor now. I am frequently pleased when I see things like M&S sandwiches being sold on board rather than the "not quite as good options" sold on EJ
It's a great tactic, you can actually convince yourself into thinking that BA is great, and the best budget airline in Europe!
That is.... until you see the fares don't match budget airlines...
As I consider BA to be an EJ competitor now. I am frequently pleased when I see things like M&S sandwiches being sold on board rather than the "not quite as good options" sold on EJ
It's a great tactic, you can actually convince yourself into thinking that BA is great, and the best budget airline in Europe!
That is.... until you see the fares don't match budget airlines...
?I am no apologist for BA but I think the comparison is slightly unfair...
Dec 7, 2017, 6:03 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: GLA
Programs: BAEC: Silver. Nothing else as TopCashBack trumps all hotel programs
Posts: 801
Dec 7, 2017, 6:19 am
#13
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
@offtothehills - your thread (well-intentioned though it is) is not exactly helping my personal quest to encourage as many people as possible to restrict themselves to the BA lounge at T3, thus protecting the CX and QF facilities from overcrowding
More seriously, I see that Rob at headforpoints is also smitten by the new OW lounges, and his site currently features a piece about those BA destinations which provide an opportunity to try them by departing from T3.
Worth a read, and a useful addition to the info given in the CWS post already linked upthread.
Which British Airways flights use Heathrow Terminal 3?
More seriously, I see that Rob at headforpoints is also smitten by the new OW lounges, and his site currently features a piece about those BA destinations which provide an opportunity to try them by departing from T3.
Worth a read, and a useful addition to the info given in the CWS post already linked upthread.
Which British Airways flights use Heathrow Terminal 3?
Dec 7, 2017, 6:31 am
#15
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,820
T5 is indeed nearly 3 times larger than T3. There's a sign in LHR that says that T5B alone is bigger than Stansted, which I find hard to believe. However the walk distances are far greater in T3, 400 metres is typical in T3 and T5 shouldn't go much above 200m, I don't think it's quicker to get around compared to T5. And T3 is a lot more congested than T5, 18 million passengers a year compared to 32 million for T5, given there is only a third of the space.