Access to T5 airside
Jul 18, 2018, 3:38 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: BA GGL, LH FTL
Posts: 3,578
Access to T5 airside
Hello all,
I‘m planning on accompanying my mother to the gate in T5 without actually flying myself. I plan on booking a cheap one way avios ticket, taking her to GF and then the gate. I would then take the train and stay on at C gates, being dropped off back at arrivals.
Is this something that will work?
Also, would I get the taxes back if I cancel after departure?
I‘m planning on accompanying my mother to the gate in T5 without actually flying myself. I plan on booking a cheap one way avios ticket, taking her to GF and then the gate. I would then take the train and stay on at C gates, being dropped off back at arrivals.
Is this something that will work?
Also, would I get the taxes back if I cancel after departure?
Jul 18, 2018, 3:57 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: London, United Kingdom
Programs: British Airways Gold
Posts: 2,636
Polite thing is to tell the CS desk in the lounge you are no longer planning to travel so they offload you and don't make calls for you to board
Whatever you do don't follow the 'official' route to leave the terminal, I stupidly did it and wasted an hour of my life with their bureaucracy. Just take the train out
Whatever you do don't follow the 'official' route to leave the terminal, I stupidly did it and wasted an hour of my life with their bureaucracy. Just take the train out
Jul 18, 2018, 4:01 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,262
I would take the train back as noted, and speak to CS landside after so you don't get talked into leaving the official way. And I don't think you'll get the £17.50 back at this point. Just ensure you eat and drink enough to get your money's worth 
Jul 18, 2018, 4:02 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: BA GGL, LH FTL
Posts: 3,578
Also, would I potentially make a couple of people happy by choosing a middle seat that then stays empty? Or would theoretical seating block the aisle and the window?
Jul 18, 2018, 4:12 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: WAW ✈ LHR ✈ GLA
Programs: BA GfL/GGL/CCR, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,501
Hello all,
I‘m planning on accompanying my mother to the gate in T5 without actually flying myself. I plan on booking a cheap one way avios ticket, taking her to GF and then the gate. I would then take the train and stay on at C gates, being dropped off back at arrivals.
Is this something that will work?
Also, would I get the taxes back if I cancel after departure?
I‘m planning on accompanying my mother to the gate in T5 without actually flying myself. I plan on booking a cheap one way avios ticket, taking her to GF and then the gate. I would then take the train and stay on at C gates, being dropped off back at arrivals.
Is this something that will work?
Also, would I get the taxes back if I cancel after departure?
Jul 18, 2018, 4:15 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: London
Programs: Newbie BA Gold
Posts: 570
I did this a few days ago. Went up to the ticket desk in the GC lounge about 20 mins before the flight and they offloaded me, this only took a few minutes. They said that there is a security/escort visit to the CS desk in the main terminal hourly and on the hour, which was only 5 mins away for me, so I just went straight there. I had a little wait 10-15 mins because there were two other people leaving as well. She then took us through to passport control.
So if you are leaving just before the hour then you could go to the desk, otherwise just take the train.
So if you are leaving just before the hour then you could go to the desk, otherwise just take the train.
Jul 18, 2018, 4:24 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Glasgow, UK
Programs: Seigneur des Tarifs Utils First Class Mucci with Honours :) - BA GGL / CCR
Posts: 1,551
Can't comment on the leaving part via C gates as I have never done it but you wont get the avios or the charges back as its within 24 hours and the full RFS fare (avios and money component) are forfeited
Jul 18, 2018, 4:41 am
#11
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
To me, it seems rather rich even thinking about asking for a refund of various fees and taxes after booking a ticket without the slightest intention of flying and using the privileges that come with flying (at least the expectation of the genuine intent to do so).
Jul 18, 2018, 5:12 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: BA GGL, LH FTL
Posts: 3,578
No expectation in getting anything back, but I would argue that "them ticket rules are them rules" - this works both ways. My relationship with BA is governed by terms and conditions, not by a moral compass.
Jul 18, 2018, 5:29 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: ±38,000 feet
Programs: LH HON, BA GGL, AF Plat, EK Plat
Posts: 6,428
Jul 18, 2018, 5:30 am
#14
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,252
Jul 18, 2018, 5:45 am
#15
Community Director
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, BD Gold (in memoriam), IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 8,477
Originally Posted by BAEC
24. British Airways' right to terminate membership
24.1. In addition to any other rights or remedies it may have, British Airways reserves the right at any time in its absolute discretion to terminate the Membership of any Member and/or the right of any Member to use the Card if a Member commits Fraud, Misconduct, is given a banning notice or withdraws their consent under Clause 4. If this occurs, British Airways must write to the Member to inform them that his/her Membership is being terminated for this reason. British Airways and/or AGL may in its discretion suspend such termination and impose a reduction in Tier grade and/or remove Avios points and/or Tier Points and/or request undertakings in respect of future conduct.
24.2. In the case of Fraud and/or Misconduct, British Airways and/or AGL may cancel all accrued and accruing Avios points of the Member and any Reward tickets.
24.3. The Member shall be liable to British Airways and/or any Airline Partner for the full price of any travel undertaken on Reward tickets, wholly or partly as a result of such Fraud and/or Misconduct, in accordance with the published fare applicable to such travel together with any reasonable costs, including legal fees, incurred by British Airways.
24.1. In addition to any other rights or remedies it may have, British Airways reserves the right at any time in its absolute discretion to terminate the Membership of any Member and/or the right of any Member to use the Card if a Member commits Fraud, Misconduct, is given a banning notice or withdraws their consent under Clause 4. If this occurs, British Airways must write to the Member to inform them that his/her Membership is being terminated for this reason. British Airways and/or AGL may in its discretion suspend such termination and impose a reduction in Tier grade and/or remove Avios points and/or Tier Points and/or request undertakings in respect of future conduct.
24.2. In the case of Fraud and/or Misconduct, British Airways and/or AGL may cancel all accrued and accruing Avios points of the Member and any Reward tickets.
24.3. The Member shall be liable to British Airways and/or any Airline Partner for the full price of any travel undertaken on Reward tickets, wholly or partly as a result of such Fraud and/or Misconduct, in accordance with the published fare applicable to such travel together with any reasonable costs, including legal fees, incurred by British Airways.
Has it ever been used? Certainly Lufthansa's version has where they penalised a member who entered the lounge every day, ate and drank, then moved his fully flexible ticket to the next day, time after time - so it is not without precedent, and indeed there are certain similarities with what you're doing in terms of accessing GF. LH, incidentally, won in court when the member challenged the decision.