LGW very very early for flight.... [Can't go airside 6+ hours before flight]
Jul 10, 2018, 3:53 am
#17
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: BA Silver VA Red SAS Gold
Posts: 109
It happened the same to me over year ago. I arrived at LGW earlier then the six hours and was stopped at the Premium Fast Track from the automated gate and was told by the security personnel about the 6 hours rule. I then went to ask clarification from the BA members of staff at the reservation / ticketing desks. One of them confirmed the six hours rule, however the other one, upon checking my boarding card and passport (as I was travelling with hand luggage only), decided that I should not be penalised from accessing the BA lounge, by the LGW South terminal rules, so he escorted me to the premium fast track and asked the members of staff to let me through, which they did. I guess it is a question of luck. I never had any problems when BA was at T North and remember vividly arriving in many occasions before the 6 hours. Also I have never been stopped at T5 or T3 at LHR.
Jul 10, 2018, 4:17 am
#19
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: 63,735
That was presumably just a means to an end, namely to get into the lounge for 9 hours. I don't see that getting very far, to be honest.
From what I've been able to dig out, it's not so much a tactic to keep people out of airside (LGW will let people in sooner from Flight Connections, for example), it's just the gates at the front are fed a data stream of valid flights that can open up the gates, and it is set to know about the upcoming 6 hours. It could have been set to 4 hours, 8 hours or even 24 hours but they drew the line there. If a flight had been cancelled it wouldn't allow someone entrance, for example, and given the difficulty in going from airside to landside at LGW that's sensible enough.
From what I've been able to dig out, it's not so much a tactic to keep people out of airside (LGW will let people in sooner from Flight Connections, for example), it's just the gates at the front are fed a data stream of valid flights that can open up the gates, and it is set to know about the upcoming 6 hours. It could have been set to 4 hours, 8 hours or even 24 hours but they drew the line there. If a flight had been cancelled it wouldn't allow someone entrance, for example, and given the difficulty in going from airside to landside at LGW that's sensible enough.
Nov 30, 2018, 2:22 am
#20
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Silver, Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 627
I just got stung by this rule trying to enter + 6 hours before my flight. Should it not detail the 6 hour rule on the BA website? On the page for Gatwick Airport it says that for First, Club and status passengers you can drop bags 'From 03:30 on the day of departure' which kind of implies there would be no issue going through into the lounge?
Nov 30, 2018, 5:13 am
#21
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Kazakhstan
Programs: BA Gold, AirAstana Silver (much use as chocolate teapot)
Posts: 867
I just got stung by this rule trying to enter + 6 hours before my flight. Should it not detail the 6 hour rule on the BA website? On the page for Gatwick Airport it says that for First, Club and status passengers you can drop bags 'From 03:30 on the day of departure' which kind of implies there would be no issue going through into the lounge?
Nov 30, 2018, 11:34 am
#23
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: BA Bronze SPG
Posts: 273
We’ve done >6hrs at LGW as we had an early flight from EDI and our flight to CTA wasn’t till late afternoon. We did get the ‘seek assistance’ alert at the e-gates but a security person let us through.
We will also also have the same in May when we land at 0500 at LHR and our flight to INV has been put back from 1015 to 1630. We plan to spend the day in the CCR as it may be our only occasion to do so!
We will also also have the same in May when we land at 0500 at LHR and our flight to INV has been put back from 1015 to 1630. We plan to spend the day in the CCR as it may be our only occasion to do so!
Nov 30, 2018, 12:07 pm
#25
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 39
I had this once at GLA at about 5 hours early . Barrier said “seek assistance” the security guy said that I had to understand that once I was through, I couldn’t come back out. Once I acknowledged that, he overrode the system and let me through no problem.
Nov 30, 2018, 1:32 pm
#26
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 39
Data point: I often turn up at lunch time for evening flights so this can be as much as 8 hours before the flight. I have always been waved through even if the automated barrier rejects me.
It's so handy being able to travel during my lunch break and then work from lounge in the afternoon. My colleagues think I'm super diligent for working right up to my flight and I don't stress about late trains or someone asking "a quick question" as I leave the office.
It's so handy being able to travel during my lunch break and then work from lounge in the afternoon. My colleagues think I'm super diligent for working right up to my flight and I don't stress about late trains or someone asking "a quick question" as I leave the office.
Nov 30, 2018, 2:25 pm
#27
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: London, Babylon-on-Thames
Programs: BAEC Blue (back to Earth)
Posts: 1,500
I got this as well. Does this mean that if, hypothetically I nipped back out for a smoke, I man not permitted back airside? I get that the BP would not scan again but would they really deny you access?
Nov 30, 2018, 2:32 pm
#28
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Sheffield, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, Virgin Red, HH Silver, SPG Gold, Priority Pass,
Posts: 127
Nov 30, 2018, 3:47 pm
#29
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: 63,735
The layout of GLA is such that actually it would be possible to exit landside easily, just follow the signs once you get past the shops, and the gates would work again. At LGW it's much more complicated, so best assume you can't do it unless you have a far better reason than smoking.
Nov 30, 2018, 8:24 pm
#30
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Brighton UK
Programs: BAEC-Silver, AMEX-BA Prem' Plus & Standard, Accor Gold, HH-Silver, IHG,IBIS On Business
Posts: 955
100% it's LGW's rule it's to manage the amount of people in the IDL. The time of day isn't a factor it's time to flight departure.