How would YOU improve T5 - radical ideas to reboot BA’s “home”
Feb 1, 2019, 4:15 am
#122
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 74
It's not coming
They've been asked to submit plans - all of which result in too many trains going over the four level crossings around Egham, and no one is willing to pay for sunken lines or road bridges, with their attendant closure of one of the busiest rail lines in Europe for months
Nine sets if plans have been submitted dating back to the '70s, and all have been rejected
It's still a pipe dream at the moment
They've been asked to submit plans - all of which result in too many trains going over the four level crossings around Egham, and no one is willing to pay for sunken lines or road bridges, with their attendant closure of one of the busiest rail lines in Europe for months
Nine sets if plans have been submitted dating back to the '70s, and all have been rejected
It's still a pipe dream at the moment
Feb 1, 2019, 4:34 am
#123
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Surrey, UK
Programs: BA Gold, *A Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 654
Have BA given any further details on the lounge refurbishments at LHR? As always they take years to do anything. For their main hub airport the lounges are terrible, arguably the worst lounges at LHR.
While i realise little can be done to the hardware in the short term, at least make an effort to ensure the lounge is kept clean and the power points work. The BA lounge feel as premium as a BP wild bean cafe. I was much more impressed by the Iberia Velázquez lounge which doesnt even claim to be a First level lounge. It was impeccably clean with for a start.
While i realise little can be done to the hardware in the short term, at least make an effort to ensure the lounge is kept clean and the power points work. The BA lounge feel as premium as a BP wild bean cafe. I was much more impressed by the Iberia Velázquez lounge which doesnt even claim to be a First level lounge. It was impeccably clean with for a start.
That being said, I do agree that the BA lounges need to have a proper refurbishment, rather than some new furniture and polished floors which has taken place in the last couple of years.
Feb 1, 2019, 5:44 am
#125
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 887
Transitted through Amsterdam last weekend with KLM, long haul arriving E gates to UK flight departing D gates.
Transit security was quick and efficient, in part because it was separate from main security and also due not needing to remove laptop and electronics from bag for screening.
Having a dedicated security search for those transiting and not having to remove laptops etc would make a difference to the T5 experience imho.
Transit security was quick and efficient, in part because it was separate from main security and also due not needing to remove laptop and electronics from bag for screening.
Having a dedicated security search for those transiting and not having to remove laptops etc would make a difference to the T5 experience imho.
Feb 1, 2019, 5:51 am
#126
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: CO Platinum / BA Gold
Posts: 780
A frequent shuttle bus from T5 to Ashford or Feltham station would be nice.
Should take 15 mins, actually takes about an hour by public transport. Or Ł25 quid by Uber (assuming your driver doesn't murder you for ordering one for such a short trip.)
Connecting everying to Paddington is really annoying - it is so much worse than Waterloo for onward connections.
Should take 15 mins, actually takes about an hour by public transport. Or Ł25 quid by Uber (assuming your driver doesn't murder you for ordering one for such a short trip.)
Connecting everying to Paddington is really annoying - it is so much worse than Waterloo for onward connections.
Feb 1, 2019, 5:51 am
#127
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: 63,779
HAL is trailling some of AMS' baggage scanners at the moment. Unlike some other improvements suggest above, this one has a clear business case: fewer staff will be needed in security, if it is done correctly. Therefore I think we will see this implemented in the next year or two.
Feb 1, 2019, 5:54 am
#128
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 887
HAL is trailling some of AMS' baggage scanners at the moment. Unlike some other improvements suggest above, this one has a clear business case: fewer staff will be needed in security, if it is done correctly. Therefore I think we will see this implemented in the next year or two.
Feb 1, 2019, 6:56 am
#129
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: London
Programs: plenty - ggl, ccr, etc, etc.
Posts: 1,704
I was chatting at length to a very strong critic of T5 the other day
My starters
- find a way to run more than two shuttle trains on the existing lines
- expand the footprint of GC north and turn it in to a dedicated business / silver lounge with a spa and showers, with checkin desks for J and fast track all moved to zone A
- turn GC south in to a second level for GF, with dining, showers and a gold spa
- remove the existing kitchen and spa and extend the CCR into them, including the wasted terrace space
- build a bridge and air bridges to the four aircraft stands immediately opposite the GF terrace by the south runway
- install a lift down to car service pickup direct from the GF lounge
- create a First Wing arrrivals zone with dedicated passport control, meet point and connections desk / security point
My starters
- find a way to run more than two shuttle trains on the existing lines
- expand the footprint of GC north and turn it in to a dedicated business / silver lounge with a spa and showers, with checkin desks for J and fast track all moved to zone A
- turn GC south in to a second level for GF, with dining, showers and a gold spa
- remove the existing kitchen and spa and extend the CCR into them, including the wasted terrace space
- build a bridge and air bridges to the four aircraft stands immediately opposite the GF terrace by the south runway
- install a lift down to car service pickup direct from the GF lounge
- create a First Wing arrrivals zone with dedicated passport control, meet point and connections desk / security point
Get JAL to run it. Hardware fixes if still BA run won’t fix software (BA) incompetence
Feb 1, 2019, 8:45 am
#130
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 4,771
There's no way that conformance will ever be removed as it has led to such significant improvements in overall punctuality over the years. Among other benefits, without it, BA would have no way of knowing where in the terminal any transfer passengers were, or even IF they were in the airport at all, and so the ability to take early decisions to offload any baggage would therefore pretty much disappear...
Feb 1, 2019, 10:00 am
#131
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,471
HAL is trailling some of AMS' baggage scanners at the moment. Unlike some other improvements suggest above, this one has a clear business case: fewer staff will be needed in security, if it is done correctly. Therefore I think we will see this implemented in the next year or two.
Feb 1, 2019, 1:15 pm
#132
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: London. Or a plane.
Programs: "Only" 50,000 TPs until BA GGLfL
Posts: 2,774
Credit where it's due: they added the First Wing and it works really, really well - fast, convenient and you get popped right into the lounge. There's nowhere else in the in the world that is that good to OWE/Gold flyers (LH F terminal is even better but requires HON).
What should they fix? The lounge toilets are an absolute disgrace. The standard of the toilets in the CCR is pathetic
What should they fix? The lounge toilets are an absolute disgrace. The standard of the toilets in the CCR is pathetic
Feb 1, 2019, 1:19 pm
#133
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,193
there is only conformance at T5 and is supposed to help with BAs one time performance as well as letting them know where passengers are and to start, if necessary, off loading bags if the passenger hasn’t been scanned at certain points.
Feb 1, 2019, 2:26 pm
#134
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 1,736
Gender neutral loos in the CCR and BA lounges. There are more male loos that female in the CCR but a they are individual cubicles why do they need to be designated. Improve them- they are disgusting- the average secondary school has nicer loos than the CCR.
Feb 2, 2019, 1:54 am
#135
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: London, United Kingdom
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold;BA GGL; hhonors lifetime diamond; Marriott lt Gold; IH Plat Amb; Amex Centurion
Posts: 4,738
Yes. Gender specific individual toilets are a ridiculous and non-inclusive concept these days.