xenole

It's not quite that bad, but it's definitely showing its age and it seems too compact in some areas, and spread out in others.
Took me ages using Goodtogoparking to get there and back from their drop off point near the animal reception centre Maybe 3x the time to get to T5. So not a great parking option if time isn't on your side.

As mentioned earlier, I like the lounges there and flying AA lets me use them, most of which are a breath of fresh air compared to GF.

mec72

I'd be fine with AA moving to T5 only if CX moves there too, along with its lounge

FlyerTalker688786

The long term plan map I have seen from HAL's website and master plans have a T3 as the Qantas/Emirates wing will stay, Where the control tower is, will house a satellite T3 building. And the current T3 will be bulldozed down to build a terminal like T5. So T3 will be staying, at least according to varies planning images showed in relation to 3rd runway application.

The current BA US_EU transfer involve with T5A-T5B-T5C-T3 giant web. It is very complicated and time consuming. For US flight that arrived in T5B and T5C, passengers have to go through a lot of procedures to depart on a T5A or T3 European flight.

By positioning most oneworld carrier in T5B, BA can concentrate US arrivals and departures to T3 and T5C, while most of the European departures and arrivals to T5A and T5B, with a well designed streamline procedure and APM between individual terminals, it may work better than the current system, at least for passengers, once arrive into London, they can clear the secondary security check in T3 and take shuttle or train to T5A and T5B without any additional check. And European/Domestic passengers can get off in T5A and T5B then go to join the secondary security check in T3. It is no different than the current mess, but can be better designed.

And, for all we know, if US pre-clearance comes to Heathrow, T3 would be the ideal place to implement.

By all of these above happens, T3 would be way too old and way too inefficient then. Seems to be a good idea to start to plan now to overcome all the shortcomings T5 currently has with a re-imagined T3. Just my 2 cents.

lhrpete

Some time back there was a sort out of where airlines were at LHR and a broad lining up of the three alliances and for a while it was good and it worked but as ever things change so it's probably time for another sort out.

T2 is fine but EI should move out probably to T5. Maybe move in one non-aligned if that's necessary. The gates EI use have split stands taking two A320s or one A380 so no problems with who moves if necessary.

T4, move out QR and MH - in MH's case back to T3 and in exchange move back DL and VS, if necessary take out too EY as there are underused A380 gates at T3.

Sort out T3 & 5 in terms of where the best connections lie across oneworld rather than the current arrangement of BA mostly in one place and the others in another with BA secondary routes that are in the main point to point routes. In that acknowledge that for instance AY and CX already connect to each other at HEL and so neither connects heavily to BA and so on.

ajeleonard

Lounges are a key obstacke to making the moves you suggest. Airlines have to be compensated by the airport when they move terminals.

If it were as obvious / easy as you suggest it would have been done already

skipness1E

Didn't Air India dig their heels in about moving out of T4 to T2 (after just having done the T3 to T4 move) after building out their own lounge in T4? I suspect HAL offered some incentive.
American have 18 daily long haul flights, not something T5 could take without screwing over a lot of existing BA flights by banishing to T3.
BTW T1 is still standing and still has Pier 4A (the Green Mile) still attached, is it too late to re-open? #kiddingnotkidding

footballfanatic

Swanhunter

msm2000uk

Although one of the new TPG writers is a very well known FTer, who's pretty knowledgeable when it comes to BA and AA out of the UK.

M

Heathrow Tower

Until it's built, and airlines have moved, it's all speculation.

Of course AA would like to move to co-locate with most of BA's short haul. They'd be stupid if they didn't.

onobond

That would certainly make EI fit well to T1/Pier 4A

lcylocal

There is the potential for quite a lot of changes with expansion, but plans and aspirations seem to be much less advanced than in the runway. And expansion coming on stream is still some way in the future.

I wonder if in the shorter term there could be some more straightforward improvements of T3-T5 transfers made, for example more frequent buses and a better/more integrated premium experience. Then some shuffling of flights between the two terminals might happen.

LTN Phobia

And stop using the bus.

Heathrow Tower

Plans and aspirations are well advanced, it's just at this stage there are so many different options. At some point a decision will be made. I wouldn't hold your breath though!

Sixth Freedom

I am not sure about this. If I were BA I would want to stick around at Terminal 3 so that I was seen as a terminal user who could be consulted about proposed changes. If BA only operated from Terminal 5 this might reduce their ability to influence other developments at their main hub.