Theoretically speaking, if you were stuck at Heathrow...
Apr 28, 2019, 1:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: BAEC GFL, GGL, CCR; Marriott PFL, Ambassador; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,076
Theoretically speaking, if you were stuck at Heathrow...
After a long day of going almost nowhere, sitting at Carluccios for dinner, my daughter has an interesting question: if we were in the lounge and our flight got canceled and the next one was only the next day (the actual situation almost), would we be forced to leave the lounge and/or the airport? You often see people sleeping in airports but I can't imagine they let you do that at Heathrow.
Apr 28, 2019, 1:39 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold-GGL
Posts: 1,184
I wouldn't stay at the airport. I'd take the offer of a free hotel room. You could stay put but it would be uncomfortable and unpleasant.
After you get asked to leave the rarified air of the lounge, and have to slum it with the norms, you'll soon wish you took BA up on the hotel
After you get asked to leave the rarified air of the lounge, and have to slum it with the norms, you'll soon wish you took BA up on the hotel
Apr 28, 2019, 2:25 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: BAEC GFL, GGL, CCR; Marriott PFL, Ambassador; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,076
Thanks, folks. It was theoretical. We are heading to Gatwick and it was not BAs fault. My daughter was just curious.
She did make a good point though: the lounges can't possibly stay open all night in these circumstances because all the alcahol would be gone in the morning. That's my girl
She did make a good point though: the lounges can't possibly stay open all night in these circumstances because all the alcahol would be gone in the morning. That's my girl
Apr 28, 2019, 2:27 pm
#6
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,945
The airside area closes overnight so you would definitely have to leave there. You could sleep on the seats landside but not something I would personally do. In any case, as noted BA would provide a hotel as they are obliged to do under EC261.
Apr 28, 2019, 2:35 pm
#7
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: 63,784
It depends a bit on which lounge and where the Abjua/Tel Aviv / Moscow flights depart from, but usually the lounges close from 22:00 hrs. Sometime T5B will stay open a little later particularly if there are delays, but otherwise you will be turfed out around 21:45 hrs. There is security scan of all 3 buildings after the departure of the last flight, and every so often someone will need some guidance about what to do next - there can be language difficulties involved if someone was on a cancelled service. Only a deliberately uncomfortable section of landside Arrivals is kept open 24 hours a day.
Though there are plenty of lounges which do stay open 24 hours a day, there aren't any in London, and I can't think of one in the UK either.
Though there are plenty of lounges which do stay open 24 hours a day, there aren't any in London, and I can't think of one in the UK either.
Apr 28, 2019, 5:55 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 494
After a long day of going almost nowhere, sitting at Carluccios for dinner, my daughter has an interesting question: if we were in the lounge and our flight got canceled and the next one was only the next day (the actual situation almost), would we be forced to leave the lounge and/or the airport? You often see people sleeping in airports but I can't imagine they let you do that at Heathrow.
This contrasts with a winter night a few years earlier when snow closed the airport between my arriving in T4 and reaching T1 for a connecting flight to GLA (or possibly EDI). There were no hotel rooms that could be reached because of the driving conditions, so I spent an uncomfortable night in the checkin barn in T1,
Apr 28, 2019, 6:23 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon or Costa Alegre take your pick
Programs: AS MVPG,
Posts: 1,066
FYI : https://www.sleepinginairports.net/g...port-guide.htm
May you never need this information
May you never need this information
Apr 28, 2019, 8:19 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,380
Apr 28, 2019, 11:24 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Posts: 1,754
When I was younger and more care free, I stayed out until the bars closed at 2 am, returned the rental car at 3 am (was not drinking), arrived at the terminal at DTW at 330 am, for a 6am flight. Got about 2 hours of sleep at the gate.
Apr 29, 2019, 12:18 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
Programs: BAEC Gold / Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,543
I stayed the night in STN on the floor. Turns out it was the night before Middleborough vs Sevilla in the UEFA cup final. Ended up translating and drinking all night. Finally boarded a Ryanair flight at 7am to Pisa. I was butchered haha.
Apr 29, 2019, 2:57 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Vancouver
Programs: AB BA Waterloo Mama Mia
Posts: 1,147
Not entirely relevant..
Couple years back 747 went tech during Wimbledon early evening...spent night on Sofitel ballroom floor on yoga mats and sleeping bags with my family and another 200 persons...also were fed...not the best but accetable given no rooms available