Switching terminals in LHR for lounge use
May 12, 2022, 1:24 pm
#106
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,059
Logically, you’re absolutely right. But because you need to be registered as entering the specific terminal even if not departing from there, and the T3 systems aren’t capable of recognising domestic passengers, this makes it impossible. As I said, I could be wrong, but that’s always been my understanding.
May 12, 2022, 1:47 pm
#107
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Logically, you’re absolutely right. But because you need to be registered as entering the specific terminal even if not departing from there, and the T3 systems aren’t capable of recognising domestic passengers, this makes it impossible. As I said, I could be wrong, but that’s always been my understanding.
May 12, 2022, 1:48 pm
#108
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 816
I've got a T3 arrival in a couple of weeks, connecting to a JER flight from T5 about 5 hours later (thanks to a number of cancellations). Is there any way I can clear connections at T3 and stay there for a few hours before heading over to T5, or would the only option be to go to T5 and try to go back to T3 (far outside my patience threshold and risk appetite!)?
I wouldn't mind going landside at T3 and then going airside afresh (since I'd probably connect landside even if I was heading straight to T5).
My instinct is that I probably have to go to T5 (especially since I'm connecting to a CTA flight) but thought I'd check anyway...
I wouldn't mind going landside at T3 and then going airside afresh (since I'd probably connect landside even if I was heading straight to T5).
My instinct is that I probably have to go to T5 (especially since I'm connecting to a CTA flight) but thought I'd check anyway...
May 12, 2022, 2:54 pm
#109
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
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Logically, you’re absolutely right. But because you need to be registered as entering the specific terminal even if not departing from there, and the T3 systems aren’t capable of recognising domestic passengers, this makes it impossible. As I said, I could be wrong, but that’s always been my understanding.
You get your photo taken when you enter t5 as it sees you as domestic
T3 would just treat you as it would any other passenger
May 12, 2022, 3:46 pm
#110
Join Date: May 2012
Location: JFK, MAN
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 425
I've got a T3 arrival in a couple of weeks, connecting to a JER flight from T5 about 5 hours later (thanks to a number of cancellations). Is there any way I can clear connections at T3 and stay there for a few hours before heading over to T5, or would the only option be to go to T5 and try to go back to T3 (far outside my patience threshold and risk appetite!)?
I wouldn't mind going landside at T3 and then going airside afresh (since I'd probably connect landside even if I was heading straight to T5).
My instinct is that I probably have to go to T5 (especially since I'm connecting to a CTA flight) but thought I'd check anyway...
I wouldn't mind going landside at T3 and then going airside afresh (since I'd probably connect landside even if I was heading straight to T5).
My instinct is that I probably have to go to T5 (especially since I'm connecting to a CTA flight) but thought I'd check anyway...
May 12, 2022, 3:56 pm
#111
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I've got a T3 arrival in a couple of weeks, connecting to a JER flight from T5 about 5 hours later (thanks to a number of cancellations). Is there any way I can clear connections at T3 and stay there for a few hours before heading over to T5, or would the only option be to go to T5 and try to go back to T3 (far outside my patience threshold and risk appetite!)?
I wouldn't mind going landside at T3 and then going airside afresh (since I'd probably connect landside even if I was heading straight to T5).
My instinct is that I probably have to go to T5 (especially since I'm connecting to a CTA flight) but thought I'd check anyway...
I wouldn't mind going landside at T3 and then going airside afresh (since I'd probably connect landside even if I was heading straight to T5).
My instinct is that I probably have to go to T5 (especially since I'm connecting to a CTA flight) but thought I'd check anyway...
If you went landside when you arrive at T3, then it is game over, you cannot go back in to T3 using a T5 bp when coming from landside so you would have to go to T5.
Jun 4, 2022, 10:48 pm
#112
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 24
Hello, now that t3 lounges are reopened, anyone have experience if the transfer still works the same way as prior to COVID? Going to have a long layover arriving and departing terminal 5 international, would love to see Cathay first lounge even if it involves a couple hours of transfers. (I know lots of people think it’s not worth the time, but this is probably my only year as one world emerald, probably my only chance to ever check it out.. and who knows with how Cathay is doing if they will ever return to their precovid state). Thank you!
Aug 22, 2022, 1:40 pm
#113
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London / Los Angeles
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If I am flying out of T5 on a non transit flight i.e. I'm starting from LHR. Can I go through security at T5 say 12 hours before flight, then connect to T3 by airside transfer, use T3 lounges and then use airside connection back to T5?
I appreciate this may be more hassle than its worth but I am primarily interested on whether it is allowed. There are multiple threads on this on Flyertalk and some people say it is definitely possible, while some say it is definitely not possible.
Can anyone speak definitively from personal experience? Thanks!
I appreciate this may be more hassle than its worth but I am primarily interested on whether it is allowed. There are multiple threads on this on Flyertalk and some people say it is definitely possible, while some say it is definitely not possible.
Can anyone speak definitively from personal experience? Thanks!
Aug 22, 2022, 1:44 pm
#114
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On your return to T5, once you've arrived back in the terminal, you would need to visit a desk in Flight Connections to have your boarding pass unloaded from the system and reloaded again, as it won't work on the automatic gates (as the system will think you are already in departures in T5).
Aug 22, 2022, 2:01 pm
#115
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
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Posts: 5,902
If I am flying out of T5 on a non transit flight i.e. I'm starting from LHR. Can I go through security at T5 say 12 hours before flight, then connect to T3 by airside transfer, use T3 lounges and then use airside connection back to T5?
I appreciate this may be more hassle than its worth but I am primarily interested on whether it is allowed. There are multiple threads on this on Flyertalk and some people say it is definitely possible, while some say it is definitely not possible.
Can anyone speak definitively from personal experience? Thanks!
I appreciate this may be more hassle than its worth but I am primarily interested on whether it is allowed. There are multiple threads on this on Flyertalk and some people say it is definitely possible, while some say it is definitely not possible.
Can anyone speak definitively from personal experience? Thanks!
Aug 22, 2022, 2:04 pm
#116
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London / Los Angeles
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there have been mixed reports recently regarding entry to t3 if you do nit have a t3 boarding pass. Some posters have been successful, some not. It could be that when security in t3 is backed up they are being more strict about who gets in. So success is currently unpredictable.
Aug 22, 2022, 2:07 pm
#117
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London / Los Angeles
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Side question, do they not make everyone get off the train when it gets to T5C before closing the doors on one side, and opening on the other side to allow arriving passengers? I thought I remembered seeing someone checking that the train was def empty before the switch.
Aug 22, 2022, 2:28 pm
#118
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
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They need to make sure 'unclean' arrivals to not mix with clean departures at A so do check the train is empty there.
There is no need to worry about clean departures mixing with unclean arrivals so no check at C, but once in the unclean arrival stream you will be considered unclean and need to reclear security to get back into departures.
a to b to c to b to a is fine, (clean to unclean)
C to b to a to b to c is a problem (unclean to clean)
There is no need to worry about clean departures mixing with unclean arrivals so no check at C, but once in the unclean arrival stream you will be considered unclean and need to reclear security to get back into departures.
a to b to c to b to a is fine, (clean to unclean)
C to b to a to b to c is a problem (unclean to clean)
Aug 22, 2022, 3:15 pm
#119
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You can just get the bus back to T5 if you aren’t let in (not that that will happen).
Aug 22, 2022, 3:32 pm
#120
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Side question, do they not make everyone get off the train when it gets to T5C before closing the doors on one side, and opening on the other side to allow arriving passengers? I thought I remembered seeing someone checking that the train was def empty before the switch.