Are the T5 business parking pods operating ?
 

I know the pods were closed but I’m flying next week and can only seem to see long stay / short stay / drop off options so I’m assuming still not open (or full..)?

There are lots of cars parked there but I've not seen the actual Pods working. The entrance is still blocked with cones so not sure who is parking there.

I thought the same last week, had to do a T5 pick up so wasted some time plane spotting driving along the perimeter road. Loads of vehicles parked up but it wasn’t open...

Booked Short Stay last week and it seemed as cheap as the pod parking used to be.

I doubt both of those car parks will open for a while. There is building work going on in the business car park and as others have said, the pods parking is full but not with paying customers.

I can't remember the pod pricing as its been so long but £82 for 30hrs in short stay seems punchy.. £51 for long stay.

Maybe they are using it for meet and greet parking?

Looking on LHR website, it looks like bus service ends on 21/10 so hope POD's up and running 22/10

I saw the pods running on Sunday 10th October so something is happening. I was too far away to see if they had passengers.

As I understand it, POD is open for parking but transfer is currently by bus - as above:

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...8b16e7cf62.jpg

However, if you try a booking beyond that date it still shows a bus transfer, so who knows:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c03859ece3.jpg





POD Parking has re-opened. Please be aware that until 21 October inclusive, POD Parking will operate a bus service.

Talking about Long Stay, Business and Pod Parking, I am really worried especially for Long Stay once the drop off fee comes in.

There doesn't seem to have been any additional capacity created on the road which serves all of the car parks, and the entry to Long Stay already gets sticky at times where prebookings haven't been recognised. Multiply the number of vehicles heading to Long Stay by 3 or 4 times and I think the whole thing could just clog up.

I may be wrong of course - and LHR may have planned it all perfectly, including the additional bus capacity required, but there has been no sign of anything happening yet..

It’s great that they are now warning people that the pod is not running. I booked 3 weeks before leaving on Friday and had no prior warning (of course, they have now emailed me about the return journey :td:). If I’d have known, I‘ d have booked short stay, which was virtually the same price :(

Worth noting - I just managed to book a night at the Thistle T5 + 8 nights parking with them for £115. Made even better with £30 AMEX Cash back deal....

I was going to book POD parking but it was £140 and of course bus transfer so glad I looked around. It definitely wasn't operating with passengers last week

Also received the email about the pods, though at least it seems the bus service to/from there (and long stay) is now regular rather than on request, based on the parking website when you search.

Still showing a bus for the 26th Nov for me.

Used the Pod Parking last week, and it was a bus service.

It was the Business minibuses, and at both ends, there was one ready and waiting to go as soon as I boarded. In all, it didn’t take too much longer than the pod.

The pods are a fun, novelty thing though ;)

Wonder if the £5 to get through the gate of the Thistle will reappear if and when the pods start up again?

Im unsure why the £5 drop off fee would impact parking? simpleton here...

To avoid the fee, you can drop off and collect for free at the Long Stay parking. So my logic is that the entrance to and exit from Long Stay parking will get much busier and they will need more (and / or higher capacity) buses. However there doesn't appear to have been any preparation for this change at the Long Stay car park.

Either I am wrong with my logic or LHR will pull a rabbit out of a hat on this one. Clearly I might have totally misunderstood the proposition.

Once the terminal drop-off fee starts, the only free drop-off will be at long stay parking, so anyone doing that will need to use the buses from long stay.

Can anyone confirm if the pods started today or is it still minibuses?

Surely the increase in people dropping off at the long stay car park to avoid a £5 charge will be minimal? Most people have spent hundreds / thousands on a flight or holiday and so the cost will just be "oh well - annoying, guess I'll pay it" and get dropped at the terminal door rather than playing around with buses and luggage.

A cab for me is £50 and I certainly won't be contemplating swerving by the long stay to avoid that £5.

I am interested to see if they have re-started the PODS too- if not what date are they due?

I saw some pod movement on last Sunday evening but not sure if this was just bringing them back to use or actually available to parking customers. If no one else checks beforehand, I will have a poke around on Sunday when I am back again.

There were business buses waiting in POD parking last weekend. I had imagined that covid cleaning of the PODs themselves was probably the issue.

Closing car parks would seem to be a double edged sword - yes there are potentially fewer travellers but they are being concentrated into fewer car parks. The buses for the long stay are much less frequent such that those that are running are jam packed.

The pods are operational again, I used them this week.

Definitely working used them an hour ago

Is the Pod access from The Thistle still possible?

The PODs are now bookable on the Heathrow website but not through the parking option on BA. POD working times are 04:00 - 00:30 daily and charges from £46.90 pay on the day rates.

I've just booked POD parking for my upcoming visit to GLA (to see the OH, not for COP26). I'll report back whether it's running as expected. I doubt I'll have time to investigate the Thistle access but will try.

Pods are out of action again…https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...dc84ef14f.jpeg

just got the same message regarding my pod booking for first week of december.
ffs.

They’re also sending it out for bookings in early 2022…. not a good sign.

I have a POD booking for early December. Nothing received yet but what a disappointment. Might as well just use the ordinary long term and save a few quid then.

shame, was going to give it a try in June, shall find a long term option instead.

I got the email today as well, so I've stumped up a bit extra to switch to short stay. Shame, was looking forward to a pod ride again!
wonder if it's a technical issue or a covid safety issue?

They did seem to be running pods earlier in the week. Anyone know what the impediment to using them is?

I’m parked there at the moment, the pods were working fine when I arrived on 17/11. Pretty cheeky not to offer some sort of refund or credit for not providing the PODs on return

Anyone know what buses they are using as a replacement?
Travelling tomorrow with infant - standard bus used like LS so can wheel on pram or not?

They’re using the minibuses that were used for Business Parking.

Which didn’t go down too well with me after my last arrival. Ended up waiting in a line at T5 for 30 minutes or so before I could get on one. And you’re paying a premium for that too…

Regular long stay for me until either the pods are back in action or the Business Parking re-opens. They’re charging extra for a service they’re not providing, and won’t be providing for the foreseeable future.