How would YOU improve T5 - radical ideas to reboot BA’s “home”
#136
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Perth WA/ UK
Programs: BA Gold, Priority Club Gold, Accor Silver, Virgin Australia Gold
Posts: 1,750
Alternatively, we await with wild anticipation on the carnage by Brexit. That in itself might have to restructure some of T5!
Liked this thread. Some interesting progressive and logical views.
Wonder if anyone from the airport management team has been reading. Could save them a brainstorm session or how about inviting members from FT to participate. There is a opportunity to seek views and challenge.
Liked this thread. Some interesting progressive and logical views.
Wonder if anyone from the airport management team has been reading. Could save them a brainstorm session or how about inviting members from FT to participate. There is a opportunity to seek views and challenge.
#137
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold; FB Silver; SPG; IHG Gold
Posts: 2,981
Having a strictly enforced Quiet Area, where talking at a level beyond whispering and any noise-making activities beyond quiet typing is banned (anyone making noise beyond that will be asked to leave immediately).
Examples of banned activities:
Slurping, on food or otherwise, or loud chewing etc.
Talking on the mobile phone
Listening to music etc. on a speaker
Mobile phone that is not on Silent/Vibrate-only
Typing loudly
Banging or tapping on things etc.
Making excessive noise with crockery/cutlery etc. or anything else for that matter
Shouting, screaming, running etc.
Talking loudly enough that it can be heard more than 8 feet away
(In fact they could have a dedicated "Quiet work area with no talking or eating permitted")
Examples of banned activities:
Slurping, on food or otherwise, or loud chewing etc.
Talking on the mobile phone
Listening to music etc. on a speaker
Mobile phone that is not on Silent/Vibrate-only
Typing loudly
Banging or tapping on things etc.
Making excessive noise with crockery/cutlery etc. or anything else for that matter
Shouting, screaming, running etc.
Talking loudly enough that it can be heard more than 8 feet away
(In fact they could have a dedicated "Quiet work area with no talking or eating permitted")
A gym in GF, or as a separate facility (by Elemis?) would be very welcome. All this travelling and eating makes it hard to stay in any kind of shape. BA would probably save money as there would be less eating going on. Let's face it, a lot of eating in the lounges is not "necessary" in the sense that people are actually hungry. It's just passing time.
#139
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Sussex
Programs: QF BAEC [Gold]
Posts: 536
#141
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,197
#142
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,286
(as a point of comparison from last night: there is one in the lounge at MUC, and one next to the departure gate)
#143
Join Date: Apr 2018
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 267
You can have smoking rooms that don't break the law. Most European airports have them. Hell, it seems Heathrow has them in other terminals. It's only T5 and T3. I've spoken recently to a couple of Americans who were really p'd off at the need to fill in a landing card to go landside for a smoke on a 3-4 hour layover. It's not that hard. Even the old "cage" hanging out of T3 not so long ago would be enough, it doesn't have to be inside.
(as a point of comparison from last night: there is one in the lounge at MUC, and one next to the departure gate)
(as a point of comparison from last night: there is one in the lounge at MUC, and one next to the departure gate)
#144
Join Date: May 2003
Location: TLL
Programs: OZ Diamond, BA Gold, Bonvoy Ambassador, HH Gold
Posts: 4,410
I hate the way security screening is done in T5. Having four people standing simultaneously at the conveyor and unloading their belongings might seem faster, but it's not. First, there is always at least one person who is totally confused by the concept and ends up taking far longer than normal. This is because the system is totally unique and unlike anything else in the world. Unless you're an LHR frequent flier, it's new. Second, there is always some DYKWIA who, instead of letting everyone take a turn, will shove all of their bins onto the conveyor ahead of everyone else and mess up the system. Third, obeying the rules of the system and waiting my turn for my multiple bins means either my wallet or my laptop is through the scanner and out for public pick up long before I can get through the metal detector. I just loathe this system and feel that it is responsible for the backup in the transfer lanes, especially, for some reason, in Fast Track.
#145
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 778
#146
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,286
Anyway, that's actually very high on my list of topics that would improve T5 (and Heathrow as a whole). Not top, but high.
#147
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: 63,760
I hate the way security screening is done in T5. Having four people standing simultaneously at the conveyor and unloading their belongings might seem faster, but it's not. First, there is always at least one person who is totally confused by the concept and ends up taking far longer than normal. This is because the system is totally unique and unlike anything else in the world.
The system manufacturers claim a 30% speed improvement, and that sounds about right to me. Moreover this forum used to have a regular "T5 security takes forever" thread, never far from the top of the forum. Now I can't even find it.
There is a knack to using them efficiently, and one of the great things about The First Wing is that almost all users know how (a) how to pack their bags and (b) how to move the contents efficiently on to the trays.
#148
Join Date: Apr 2018
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 267
Similarly, we will gradually introduce improved opportunities for exercise as travelators and escalators will be switched off over time when
As always, we are listening to our customers and introducing new services to increase the health and welfare of our valued customers.
#149
Join Date: May 2003
Location: TLL
Programs: OZ Diamond, BA Gold, Bonvoy Ambassador, HH Gold
Posts: 4,410
No, I don't think that's proven by the evidence. I don't think LHR invented Automated Screening Lanes (sometimes Automated Security Lines, but still ASL), but they are now spreading quite fast through the USA so in the last few months they have appeared at SFO, LAX, DEN, EWR, SEA, DFW and ATL all come to mind. In the UK ASLs are now pretty much the norm, I get occasionally unpleasantly surprised to find an airport using the old "one at a time" system (hello LDY). One of the biggest factors in their success is that the trays are a lot larger than the ones used previously.
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#150
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: BAEC "I'm blue Da ba dee da ba di", Skywards Blue, Miles & More (very passive)
Posts: 80