BA at T3 - check-in, security etc
Apr 26, 2022, 2:44 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 285
BA at T3 - check-in, security etc
I’ve read a few comments on social media that the situation at T3 isn’t great re: journeying through the terminal for departures. Has anyone got recent experience they’d like to share? All I can find on the forum about BA at T3 is which lounge is preferable to have salt and pepper squid at. 
Apr 26, 2022, 2:57 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 243
Went through T3 just before Easter to BGI. In addition to the excellent lounge choices, we found both check-in and security to be quicker than normal than T5. Good ratio of open check-in counters for a relatively low number of departures and fast track seemed to have a long queue but it moved quickly and it too less than 10 minutes start to finish.
Apr 26, 2022, 3:28 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,059
Absolutely love T3, I find it much better than T5 in many ways despite the older buildings. Check-in can be a bit slow, but so can T5, and it’s a quick hop up the escalators for rarely any queue at fast track. The fast track channel itself is allowed to bypass the horrendous duty free walk (which even T5 doesn’t, unless Gold) and throws you out in a straight line for the lounge corridor (via the free chocolate given at the HAL info desk). Add that to much more convenient transport connections (double frequency tubes, more bus options than T5, etc.) and it’s a winner for me.
Apr 26, 2022, 3:33 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Oxford (&Western Isles )
Programs: BA GGL, CCR; RyanAir MillionMiler :( ;
Posts: 756
I’ve got flights in July to MRS, which I now realise are from T3, which I love when travelling alone. However, I have family in tow for a family+ holiday and expected to use the “ GGL = 5 pax for lounge entry”. Lwill any of the T3 lounges allow more than +1 per gold traveller? Thks
Apr 26, 2022, 3:41 pm
#6
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
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Posts: 42,941
I’ve got flights in July to MRS, which I now realise are from T3, which I love when travelling alone. However, I have family in tow for a family+ holiday and expected to use the “ GGL = 5 pax for lounge entry”. Lwill any of the T3 lounges allow more than +1 per gold traveller? Thks
Apr 27, 2022, 2:08 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 163
Used T3 on a LHR-HEL-BKK flight Saturday 9th April returning on Sunday 24th April.
Going out arrived at 14.00 no lines at check-in & no-one waiting at fast track security so straight through.
Returning, 09.00 landed 20 minutes early waited 30 minutes for a gate to be made available. 5 minute queue at passport control and 1.5 hour wait for the bags to be returned!!
So gained at the front but was robbed on the return.
Going out arrived at 14.00 no lines at check-in & no-one waiting at fast track security so straight through.
Returning, 09.00 landed 20 minutes early waited 30 minutes for a gate to be made available. 5 minute queue at passport control and 1.5 hour wait for the bags to be returned!!
So gained at the front but was robbed on the return.
Apr 27, 2022, 2:16 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold; FB Silver; SPG; IHG Gold
Posts: 2,983
For various reasons I am quite a frequent visitor to T3 (due to often flying to VIE and having recently had a lot of AY flights). I like it because of the choice of lounges. The two things I am less keen on are that Fast Track security is not always that fast (it's rarely terrible, but when they only have one belt in operation it can back up a bit) and also recently I found that at some of the gates where they check boarding passes and passports on entry into the gate holding area, BAY have not had a priority lane open, and the queue has actually been quite long. I don't understand why they can't filter Priority Passengers through a separate queue.
Apr 27, 2022, 2:16 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Edinburgh
Programs: BAEC Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 450
Apr 29, 2022, 4:28 am
#14
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
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Posts: 17,907
Currently in T3 on my way back down to London.
to sun up, if you can avoid MAN do so. You’ll have a far more pleasant experience by rail. It is utter bedlam today. The lounge full to the brim and the scenes below are representative of a zoo. It is Friday so the place is now overrun with stag and hen dos.
timings - security 30 mins. Was moving but just busy @ 1020.
checkin was busy but moving, about 15 mins or so. No seating whatsoever in the main departures area, lots of people giving up on the massive Qs for bars/eateries and opening bottles of vodka from duty free.
For those of us that have frequented T3 since the early noughties, it is sad to see it today. The main airline being Ryanair has certainly brought in the numbers into a facility that just can’t cope.
Avanti will have my trade next time.
to sun up, if you can avoid MAN do so. You’ll have a far more pleasant experience by rail. It is utter bedlam today. The lounge full to the brim and the scenes below are representative of a zoo. It is Friday so the place is now overrun with stag and hen dos.
timings - security 30 mins. Was moving but just busy @ 1020.
checkin was busy but moving, about 15 mins or so. No seating whatsoever in the main departures area, lots of people giving up on the massive Qs for bars/eateries and opening bottles of vodka from duty free.
For those of us that have frequented T3 since the early noughties, it is sad to see it today. The main airline being Ryanair has certainly brought in the numbers into a facility that just can’t cope.
Avanti will have my trade next time.
Sounds like you were at MAN T3?
This thread relates to Heathorow T3 BA ops. There is a dedicated MAN thread here somewhere
But a good tip to avoid MAN if possible as it looks like a poor experience
Regards
Tbs
Apr 29, 2022, 4:30 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BAEC silver
Posts: 775