KARFA

usually all on the basis they want to reduce numbers.

it may be outbound only.

let_BAegones_be

Yes when the Germans do something, they tend to go all out.

crazy8534

Not wanting to throw another spanner into the works here, but the weather for next Friday is not looking promising at the moment...
A 40mph cross wind and the T5 security strikes might be the least disruptive thing on the day!

Siz

If the strikes go ahead is it likely fast track will be closed? I know it will be busier, but we are flying J to EWR on 2/4 with and ASD child who can tolerate a little queuing and a hearing impaired child who really struggles when it’s crowded and noisy. Have never booked assistance as have always had fast track when travelling with them in the past, but now i’m concerned if it’s shut. Do you think it’s worth trying to get special assistance via Ba incase the queues get too much or is this not offered at Heathrow, have done it at Gatwick and were whisked to the front and escorted through there. Also is it likely special meals might be affected if the cargo security are also on strike, we always take snacks etc incase things aren’t loaded but wonder if I should take extra?

Sorry starting to stress about it all now and would like to prepare in advance to hopefully reduce the risk of meltdowns!

Grmaht

in the same boat as you! Traveling with a child who has special needs on 03/31 and very anxious about this whole situation!

corporate-wage-slave

Best not to get stressed about it, what good can that do? I've got 8 flights during this period and I'm fairly relaxed about it.

Getting a few extra snacks in is sensible, they may be of use in your destination if they are the sort of food that are allowed into the USA (so cookies, baked items and savoury snacks are fine, so are fruit juices, but not fresh fruit generally).

I would use the Zone E family check-in and see if you can ask an agent for any sunflower lanyards if you don't have them already. Then approach someone from HAL Security and see if they are prepared to make it easier for you.

LCY8737

Saw this on arrival in T3 today and felt it was a fitting description...

Confus

My personal speculation is that fast track will be open (not necessarily particularly fast) but FW could well be closed.

Only at the T4 checkpoint does catering enter through the same gate as cargo, for T5 they have separate areas.

Dave_C

There are no "clean" intra-terminal buses are there? Everything dumps you into the FCC at T5 doesn't it?

sigma421

Correct. Virgin Atlantic ran 'clean' buses from T1 (and later T2) to T3 when they were operating Little Red domestic flights but that's the only example I know of.

KARFA

so yes the only security trusted and not requiring you to re do security at LHR during a connection is when arriving on a domestic flight. this works if you are doing a T5->T5 or T2-> connection.

however, even if arriving on a domestic flight, once you are doing any inter terminal connection you are mixed with people who have come in on international flights and have to do security at the onward terminal flight connection point.

joepatr

I’m travelling on the flight to GRU this Sunday - it was originally (as booked) departing from T3 but I had an email in February from BA saying it’s now T5.

The Heathrow airport departures page however says it’s back at T3, but my BA App still shows T5.

Is it likely to be changed due to the strikes, or is it just the data powering Heathrow Airport’s website out of date?

corporate-wage-slave

Or Domestic or CTA. They are allowed to do this, and very occasionally Domestic T5 to International T3 happens if there are a lot of passengers involved, either by limo or mini bus. But you are right, they could for example invite some people to enter airside at T2 or T3 or and then run them by bus to Domestic T5 Arrivals, then no security into the departure area. T3 has an obvious set of gates for this.

Door5L

I’m hoping that those of us travelling on Friday and next weekend will find that we all go through T5 security easier than ever before! But it all depends on the detail of the contingency plans and whether passengers will only be allowed through within strict time slots (no more than 2hrs before shorthaul, 3 for longhaul).

KARFA

For some context, here is the thread from when there was a strike threatened but called off at the last minute back in 2019 LHR strikes (HAL employees) - 23/24 Aug 2019 [called off for now]

The kind of waiver that was issued was along the lines of:

And the changes to security were:

If I had to bet on what we are likely to see in terms of BA waiver, and for changes to security should the stirke go ahead, I would expect it to be broadly similar to the above. I am sure we sill start getting details very soon though.