Jul 29, 2020, 4:12 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: Genius1

WHAT'S OPEN IN T5?

Current to 14 January 2022. Changes from previous update in red where applicable.

Landside - Departures
Boots
Caffè Nero
Excess Baggage (both units in Zones B and F)
Excess Baggage Wrap
Kanishka Kitchen
Travelex
WHSmith (both units in Zones C and H) - including Post Office in WHSmith Zone H

Landside - Arrivals
Boots
Bradley Smith Hair Express Bar
Caffè Nero (both units North and South)
Costa Coffee
Excess Baggage
Hotel Reservations / Sim Local
Marks and Spencer
Travelex
WHSmith

Airside - T5A Upper Level
Accessorize
Boots
~~Dixons Travel~~
Giraffe
Glorious Britain
Gordon Ramsay Plane Food
Harrods
The Harry Potter Shop
The Macallan Boutique
Travelex
Wagamama
WHSmith
World Duty Free Tobacco

Airside - T5A Gate Level
Be Relax
Boots
Bottega Venetta
Bulgari
Burberry
Cartier
Case
Caviar House & Prunier Seafood Bar
Chanel
Dior
~~Dixons Travel~~
Fortnum & Mason
Gucci
Hermès
Hugo Boss
InMotion
Itsu
Kurt Geiger
Louis Vuitton
Orlebar Brown
Paul Smith
Pilots Bar & Kitchen
Prada
Pret a Manger (both Main and Express units)
Ray-Ban
Reiss
Rituals
Rolex
Smythson
Starbucks
Sunglass Hut
Ted Baker
The Crown Rivers (JD Wetherspoon)
Tiffany & Co.
Travelex
Watches of Switzerland
WHSmith (both North and South units)
WHSmith Bookshop
World of Whiskies
World Duty Free (all units - Collection, Main, North, Perfumerie)

Airside - T5B
Boots
~~Dixons Travel~~
Sim Local
Starbucks
Sunglass Hut
WHSmith
World Duty Free

Airside - T5C
Boots
Starbucks
WHSmith
World Duty Free

Airside - Arrivals
World Duty Free (both North and South units)

COVID-19 and BA: Using Heathrow T5

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Jul 29, 2020, 4:14 pm

#196

RB211

Join Date: Jan 2010

Posts: 3,190

I took the liberty of creating a WikiPost from the post by Genius1 (with contributions from others like c-w-s) for what's open. Hopefully this can be kept up to date - and maybe add other info.

If I have crossed some line or broken some rule - just shoot me now!

rb211.

Genius1 and alex67500 like this.

Jul 30, 2020, 4:44 am

#197

abfab80

Join Date: Oct 2011

Programs: BA Silver VA Red SAS Gold

Posts: 109

Going through security

Hello, is it still possible for J passengers and above or Silver & above Ex Club members to clear security well above the minimum 2 hours for short haul flights? It was possible in the past but not sure if now with The Covid situation, they are enforcing the two hours minimum ! Thanks

Jul 30, 2020, 4:55 am

#198

KARFA

Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2012

Location: Leeds, UK

Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond

Posts: 42,991

Quote:

Originally Posted by abfab80

Yes that's fine. I am not aware of any restrictions of you going through security based on time before your flight is due to depart.

Jul 30, 2020, 5:09 am

#199

13901

Join Date: May 2014

Posts: 7,238

There was a 2 hour max limit for bag drop last week, which was weird since I don't think the early bag store(s) downstairs are anywhere near capacity.

Jul 30, 2020, 5:21 am

#200

corporate-wage-slave

Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club

Original Poster

Join Date: Feb 2010

Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer

Posts: 63,854

The problem HAL is having is the opposite: people are turning up way too early for flights, thinking the situation demands extra time, and that means staffing levels get screwed up. This was also made worse by BA scheduling a silly number of services between 08:00 and 09:30. In reality, turning up 65 minutes before longhaul services is not just sufficient, it's overkill. So it's best not to turn up too early, and in T2 they have had to develop a strange queuing system to keep people out of the building, luckily T5 has been spared that so far. Either way, it is not a 2 hour minimum check-in, it's a 2 hour maximum. The mixed messaging comes from Social Media teams playing safe to avoid someone complaining afterwards.

If you have lounge access you can still go in early (I really wouldn't advise it). You can also twilight check-in the night before.

adrianlondon likes this.

Last edited by corporate-wage-slave; Jul 30, 2020 at 5:59 am

Jul 30, 2020, 5:38 am

#201

adrianlondon

Join Date: Aug 2006

Location: Switzerland

Posts: 1,593

They really want you at the airport early. I don't undewrstand why.

From https://www.heathrow.com/departures/checking-in

Jul 30, 2020, 11:25 pm

#202

Saltire74

Moderator, Emirates

Join Date: Oct 2012

Location: Where My Heart Is

Programs: BAEC Silver, FB Platinum, KQ Asante Gold, Shebamiles Blue, Emirates Blue

Posts: 3,386

Morning Folks.

Quick question. My company have booked me into the Thistle hotel overnight next weekend. Are the Pods running yet? If not, what's the best way to get to the hotel from T5?

Many thanks.

Jul 31, 2020, 2:18 am

#203

corporate-wage-slave

Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club

Original Poster

Join Date: Feb 2010

Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer

Posts: 63,854

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saltire74

As of last week the Pod wasn't working.

The 423 bus is running on the normal timetable, and the bus stop is just outside the hotel. That's free and you can use the TfL website to see how far off the next bus is. The Hoppas are also running on an hourly basis but I'm never going to recommend them. If it's a nice day you could walk, it is almost exactly 1 mile (though there is a short bridge that pedestrians aren't supposed to use).

flatlander, crazyarmadillo and Saltire74 like this.

Jul 31, 2020, 6:41 am

#204

GinSling76

Join Date: Feb 2012

Programs: British Airways Executive Club Silver

Posts: 21

Does anyone know if OLCI is available for Greece at the moment? Not sure and wondered if the requirement to have filled out a PLF before travel and show QR codes means we would need to check in at airport. Trying to decide whether to plan to check bags or take hand baggage only and also how much time to allow for check in and security. Our flight is next Friday lunchtime.

Jul 31, 2020, 9:13 am

#205

corporate-wage-slave

Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club

Original Poster

Join Date: Feb 2010

Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer

Posts: 63,854

Quote:

Originally Posted by GinSling76

OLCI is not supposed to be available for Greek destinations to ensure QR codes are checked. If you are not travelling on a Friday or Saturday morning you should be OK to arrive 90 minutes to departure.

Jul 31, 2020, 9:33 am

#206

instastam

Join Date: Jan 2019

Posts: 4

Quote:

Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave

It's not, I learnt the hard way this morning with the family. Only applied for our QR code last night and only had the option of stating arrival date as 1st Aug, not thinking it would be an issue based on the instant delivery of the QR code when travelling to Spain last week - Refused travel with a heavily pregnant other half and six year old and no Avios availability on the flights to Chania tomorrow.

Now travelling via Athens tomorrow + £300 in the hole for the connections. Not ideal!

I've submitted another PLF form now as we're coming in on different flights, assume this won't cause another issue as the website does say to only submit one per family but doesn't give the option to amend travel plans should they change?

corporate-wage-slave likes this.

Jul 31, 2020, 9:48 am

#207

GinSling76

Join Date: Feb 2012

Programs: British Airways Executive Club Silver

Posts: 21

Quote:

Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave

Thanks cws - I suspected that might be the case but couldn’t find confirmation anywhere. We are in 12.15 flight so we’re planning to arrive about 10.15 which should hopefully be enough time even though still Friday morning then!

corporate-wage-slave likes this.

Jul 31, 2020, 10:44 am

#208

Genius1

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2006

Location: London, UK

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Posts: 16,356

This week's update added to the wiki - Crown Rivers back in operation.

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Jul 31, 2020, 11:09 am

#209

corporate-wage-slave

Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club

Original Poster

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Posts: 63,854

Eat Out to Help Out scheme
(and I did not invent this title, it really is something that originated from HMG)

The following restaurants in T5 have registered to offer half price food and non alcoholic drinks for seated service, to a maximum of £10 discount per person on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in August:

- Crown Rivers (Wetherspoon)
- Plane Food
- Giraffe (not currently open)
- Pilots (not currently open)
- Caviar House
- Fortnum & Mason Bar

A few others of use to BA passengers
- Holiday Inn Express T5
- Heathrow Tandoori, High Street Harlington (nearish Harlington Corner bus stop and hotels around there)
- Mercure Heathrow
- Novotel Heathrow Cherry Lane
- Doubletree Bath Road
- HGI Hatton Cross
- Hyatt Place

[Thinking aloud, should I do a separate thread on this????]

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Jul 31, 2020, 11:21 am

#210

Genius1

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2006

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Posts: 16,356

Pret, Caffè Nero and Starbucks have also registered with the Eat Out to Help Out scheme (for eat-in customers).

corporate-wage-slave likes this.