How would YOU improve T5 - radical ideas to reboot BA’s “home”
Jan 22, 2019, 3:53 am
#17
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: BNE / LHR
Programs: QF Gold
Posts: 1,601
I've only been in London for 4 months, but have been through T5 now 10 times. I was confused as to how it had won terminal of the year for 4 or 5 years.
Lounge/BA
- Fast track A is good, throws you out right by the N-Lounge, N-Lounge terrace is nice but overall is lacking to south
- Fast track B dumps you in a dumb spot, you then need to go through the masses of people to swing back to the S-Lounge (unless you have Concorde Room)
- Bathrooms in BA lounges seem like something out of a train station, the in-terminal bathrooms have a nicer colour scheme and overall feel
- Yes bacon rolls are a UK tradition, but a little variety in the J lounge would be nice
Terminals
- walking from one side of the terminal A to the other is a clusterf*ck, there is absolutely no thought towards the management of people flow. Everyone just clogging the one walkway, get gate information out quicker and get people to disperse into B/C
- B/C just seem so deserted because everyone sits in A until 20 mins before boarding
Other
- Transit frequency/capacity is terrible
- Overall cleanliness/maintenance - particularly bad in the walkways between terminals, or in the arrival corridors of terminal B
- e-gates are off too often
- Duty free is uncompetitive even with high street prices
- Insufficient escalators / stairs from immigration to baggage claim,, alternatively increase the speed of these so that people are more alert and not blocking them (Have missed enough busses on a sunday and had to wait 30 mins because the stairs were blocked)
Lounge/BA
- Fast track A is good, throws you out right by the N-Lounge, N-Lounge terrace is nice but overall is lacking to south
- Fast track B dumps you in a dumb spot, you then need to go through the masses of people to swing back to the S-Lounge (unless you have Concorde Room)
- Bathrooms in BA lounges seem like something out of a train station, the in-terminal bathrooms have a nicer colour scheme and overall feel
- Yes bacon rolls are a UK tradition, but a little variety in the J lounge would be nice
Terminals
- walking from one side of the terminal A to the other is a clusterf*ck, there is absolutely no thought towards the management of people flow. Everyone just clogging the one walkway, get gate information out quicker and get people to disperse into B/C
- B/C just seem so deserted because everyone sits in A until 20 mins before boarding
Other
- Transit frequency/capacity is terrible
- Overall cleanliness/maintenance - particularly bad in the walkways between terminals, or in the arrival corridors of terminal B
- e-gates are off too often
- Duty free is uncompetitive even with high street prices
- Insufficient escalators / stairs from immigration to baggage claim,, alternatively increase the speed of these so that people are more alert and not blocking them (Have missed enough busses on a sunday and had to wait 30 mins because the stairs were blocked)
Jan 22, 2019, 3:59 am
#18
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 610
Honestly? Announce gates earlier- As someone that doesnt have access to the lounges, the main shopping area is too busy (especially when getting a lunch time flight) and the gate areas empty with loads of places to sit. I would happily buy my food take away and go and sit somewhere in the gate area waiting for my flight. I have only been able to do this once and it was glorious.
Jan 22, 2019, 4:11 am
#20
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 373
Change the shopping mall image by introducing more relaxation zones similar to Schiphol. Green areas with plants/water/bird sounds and designated reading zones rather than forcing passengers into buying more plastic! But I get that LHR is all about the revenue opportunities.....
Jan 22, 2019, 4:18 am
#21
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
Programs: BAEC Gold / Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,545
- more plugs in lounges.
- open plan urinals in addition to the individual bathrooms. Always people waiting for an individual room just to take a leak.
- follow the US airports that can now scan bags without need to remove laptops and liquids.
- haven't found them yet, but if they do not exist... Water fountains. Would like to be able to fill my bottle before boarding. Apologies if they do already exist.
- don't call people to gate 40 mins before opening it. Sat for ages at the bus gate a couple of times.
- open plan urinals in addition to the individual bathrooms. Always people waiting for an individual room just to take a leak.
- follow the US airports that can now scan bags without need to remove laptops and liquids.
- haven't found them yet, but if they do not exist... Water fountains. Would like to be able to fill my bottle before boarding. Apologies if they do already exist.
- don't call people to gate 40 mins before opening it. Sat for ages at the bus gate a couple of times.
Jan 22, 2019, 4:23 am
#23
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 610
Change the shopping mall image by introducing more relaxation zones similar to Schiphol. Green areas with plants/water/bird sounds and designated reading zones rather than forcing passengers into buying more plastic! But I get that LHR is all about the revenue opportunities.....
Jan 22, 2019, 5:58 am
#26
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Surrey, UK
Posts: 495
More injuries occur on escalators than the lifts - if it wasn't for the staff areas on the mid level I'm sure they would be tempted to remove them or never installed them or used stairs.
Jan 22, 2019, 7:19 am
#29
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Gone to Carolina in my mind
Programs: AA ExpMM, DL 2MM, IHG Spire/RA
Posts: 1,986
I've only been in London for 4 months, but have been through T5 now 10 times. I was confused as to how it had won terminal of the year for 4 or 5 years.
Terminals
- walking from one side of the terminal A to the other is a clusterf*ck, there is absolutely no thought towards the management of people flow. Everyone just clogging the one walkway, get gate information out quicker and get people to disperse into B/C
Terminals
- walking from one side of the terminal A to the other is a clusterf*ck, there is absolutely no thought towards the management of people flow. Everyone just clogging the one walkway, get gate information out quicker and get people to disperse into B/C
First thing should be to remove the idiotic advertizing signs that sit in the middle of the aisles, blocking the flow of traffic. Stupid as hell and has frustrated me since T5 opened.