Leaving Heathrow T5 after security
 

Long time reader first time poster. Hello! I am a BA Gold card member. I need to fly from Heathrow T5 to Manchester next week. If I get to the airport, check in, go through security and then need to cancel my flight (I have a fully refundable ticket), how would I leave the airport? Is this allowed? Does anyone have any experience of this specifically at Heathrow? Thanks!

i have done this twice. i had to go thru border control each time, no "easy" way out!

but both times i had to ask in the lounge for specifics on how to navigate to the exit to border control because it is not obvious, and i dont remember now exactly how or where i was able to.

Welcome to afish777, and congratulations on your first post :)

The traditional easy way out was to take the transit and stay on at T5C, and when you got back to T5A you would be at the border. However, considering the queues and restrictions now at the border I would not recommend this route atm. There is an escorted way out and I would strongly suggest you take that rather than taking the T5 transit to leave. The escort used to be every hour but is now on request, so speak to a BA person once you are airside and want to leave.

Not sure how it is handled during covid times (or if it is different even), but it used to be possible by going to the South ticket/services desks to ask to be "let out". I asked in the lounge first, and they directed me that way - they only do it once an hour though, I believe, and the time I had to go through due to a cancelled flight, I had to wait for around 30 mins.

EDIT: I see KARFA beat me to it :)

Would this be before or after you've used the lounge? :D

Also, as you’re on a domestic route, there’s an additional complication in that you’ll need to be removed using a particular channel (that can handle biometric security).

No you don’t. It is as Karfa has explained.

What if you don’t have a passport with you? And therefore can’t go through the border.

Thanks so much ! Cannot wait to get back to long haul.

So I go back to the first class lounge at ask them to let me out? It seems that the only downside may be a wait for them to send someone but other than that you don't think they'll give me hassle? Thank you !

You get escorted around the border check by a member of Heathrow staff if on a domestic...at least that’s what happened when I did it.

So it’s exactly as I said... through a particular channel. Thanks :tu:

Much appreciated - thank you

No, you said it was a particular channel that can handle biometric security. Domestic arrivals at T5 do not require any security. You simply get off the plane and leave the secure airside area. Are you suggesting that there is a specific area of T5 that is set up simply to allow those who no longer need to travel domestically to leave?

Being escorted around the ‘border check’ is not the same as ‘being removed by a particular channel that can handle biometric security’.

And if you go through the transit route, there is no need to go a particular route through immigration. You can use the manned or egates (when open).

You don’t necessarily need a passport - but it helps.

It's a Heathrow specific process. You're mug entered the Heathrow security system and must be expunged. This normally happens as you board your plane. Not an issue if you've entered T5 from another UK airport, since you never entered the Heathrow security system.

I was seriously affected by this years ago when Heathrow practically closed for 3 hours on a Friday afternoon for a security test run . We were all " boarded" i.e. expunged from T5 security system, and then "guided" back out into T5 departure checkin. Hundreds of us.