2019 World Airport Survey : LHR T5 voted World’s Best Terminal
#61
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: United Kingdom
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#62
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London, UK
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I'll grant that showing up at the wrong time can definitely lead to one of those two outcomes, neither of which is good. I will say that the former holds true for centralised security too. On the other hand, I find that showing up at the gate around the time boarding is scheduled to start (or sometimes even after) gets me through security in no time and leaves me with little to no wait for boarding. I can't say the same for centralised security since it takes a bit more information to figure out when it might be crowded.
#63
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Balham - Gateway to The South
Programs: BA Bronze
Posts: 2,020
Best = Least worst.
Let’s face it if you are schlepping through any sort of transport terminal you face queues, expensive average coffee and souvenir shops. Add a cloud of unpleasant mixes of premium perfumes and you have an airport terminal (well throw in a few aircraft!).
Since T5 is easy to navigate I would consider it to be the least worst even for a novice. In my experience a lot of airports have too many closed in corridors and inadequate signage- not something that T5 is known for.
Let’s face it if you are schlepping through any sort of transport terminal you face queues, expensive average coffee and souvenir shops. Add a cloud of unpleasant mixes of premium perfumes and you have an airport terminal (well throw in a few aircraft!).
Since T5 is easy to navigate I would consider it to be the least worst even for a novice. In my experience a lot of airports have too many closed in corridors and inadequate signage- not something that T5 is known for.
#65
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I'll grant that showing up at the wrong time can definitely lead to one of those two outcomes, neither of which is good. I will say that the former holds true for centralised security too. On the other hand, I find that showing up at the gate around the time boarding is scheduled to start (or sometimes even after) gets me through security in no time and leaves me with little to no wait for boarding. I can't say the same for centralised security since it takes a bit more information to figure out when it might be crowded.
The fact that T4 in was built with central security, and some of the T3 gates have a semi central check point makes me suspect that the rulers of Changi did realise that the concept is not ideal. I would also imagine the CAPEX position is better with central security.. But I did not count the hardware needs.
#66
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 610
There is a pretty easy resolution for this and one i have found works- all my valuables / laptop bag goes in one tray so that is the one that i have to keep my eye on..
#67
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 610
its priced the same.. Compared to the overpriced Gordon Ramseys plane food, £5 sandwiches from Pret and overpriced Giraffe, i would rather spend £10 on a nandos with a drink that will actually fill me than anything else. Even Burger King at Stansted charges £8 for a whopper junior meal.
#68
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,797
Compared to many other airports around the world, T5 is miles ahead. SIN in just awful. I can’t understand why it gets so many accolades! HKG is lovely, but the distances you have to cover between gates can be ridiculous. Transport links into T5 are excellent and we have a very easy and quick check in area that leads straight through to security with very little walking. Lounges are easily accessible and shopping is excellent. I’ve literally saved thousands of pounds by buying things in T5, rather than on the high street and it’s rare that I find ‘designer’ goods cheaper elsewhere. I also love how compact everything is and how easy gates are to get to. Getting to satellite gates can be a little more painful, admittedly, but the transit is quick and frequent and the tunnels are available for people who prefer to walk. Despite the fact that my passport never works in the e-gates at immigration, I rarely have a delay of more than a few minutes on my return into the country. Overall, I think T5 is excellent and, as someone who travels more than most on here, it would still get my vote for the best airport terminal. I certainly haven’t found one that ticks as many boxes.
Last edited by 1010101; Apr 1, 2019 at 6:00 am
#69
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Dundee
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Your iPad/laptop is still sitting in a separate tray, quite possibly some distance away and easily lifted either accidentally or “accidentally”.
#71
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#72
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
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This is OT - but I have long wondered who would be responsible in the case of someone - maybe in all innocence - making off with your things. I have been assured at North Terminal at Gatwick that the place is festooned with CCTV. That said, I am always leery at letting my possessions out of my immediate control. At least at Gold Wing that risk is reduced.
#73
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I would not have expected anything different from Skytrax. If you had raised the same question in Hong Kong the answer would probably have been Singapore, Hong Kong and London. If you had raised it in Australia you would have heard Sydney, Singapore and Hong Kong. My serious question however is, what made Baku being at 10th place.
#74
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: Cunard Platinum, SQ * Silver.
Posts: 48
I quite like MUC T2.
Talking about BA, I actually prefer T2 to T5. T5 is OK though. I have a soft spot for the LHR terminals, although calling T5 the best in the world is stretching things a little maybe.