Premier Inn T4 vs Hilton Garden Inn T4 vs Thistle vs Sofitel?
Sep 10, 2023, 12:22 pm
#167
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: BA Gold, AA PLT PRO, AGR, Strawberry (Nordic Choice), Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 4,275
No! I’m sure it’s either because they’re hotels whose bathrooms are guaranteed to be covered in algae or which are so bad that you’d only pick them by algorithm not by choice.
Sep 11, 2023, 1:42 am
#169
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,422
Big car park at the Hilton T4 and for extended trips the Hilton room+parking package can be cheaper than just the parking charge at T5 long stay.
One issue is that they don’t have a lift from the car park to reception so if there are any heavy bags involved, drop those off before parking.
One issue is that they don’t have a lift from the car park to reception so if there are any heavy bags involved, drop those off before parking.
Sep 11, 2023, 5:44 am
#170
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: NCL
Programs: BA Silver / IHG Platinum Elite / Pan Pacific Gold / Hilton Silver / Accor Silver
Posts: 48
For T5, always the Sofitel for me. I've been let down by the trains too many times, so generally always stay at an adjoined hotel to whichever terminal we're flying from.
Oct 26, 2023, 4:19 am
#171
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, BA Amex Prem, Amex Plat, Hilton Diamond, Sir Crazy8534 de l'ordres des aides de Pucci
Posts: 4,555
This is the KARFA approved route from the PI T5 or Thistle to T5. If you are coming out of T5 basically exit T5 on ground level at the north end, follow the fence around, cross the short non pedestrian bridge (google won't route you across this), and then up bath road.
As long as it isn't raining I much prefer walking rather than getting the bus. Normally takes me around 20 minutes.
I suspect the gps is not taking you across the bridge which is marked not for pedestrians - but which everyone uses anyway
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34969642-post31.html
As long as it isn't raining I much prefer walking rather than getting the bus. Normally takes me around 20 minutes.
I suspect the gps is not taking you across the bridge which is marked not for pedestrians - but which everyone uses anyway
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34969642-post31.html
: no problems going T5 to PI, the planes were landing on 9L so made it quite dramatic. On the way back as I rounded the end of Old Bath road there was a police XC90/ARV stopped at the side of the road, right in front of the blue sign “Police (something) zone” just before you would walk over the no pedestrians bridge so I thought better of it and walked backed to the bus stop in front of the Kings Arms. A 423 turned up 2 mins later so I hopped on that and made it safely to T5 
.Overall a useful experience but I think I might stick to HGI or Sofitel in the future.
Oct 26, 2023, 3:14 pm
#173
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, BA Amex Prem, Amex Plat, Hilton Diamond, Sir Crazy8534 de l'ordres des aides de Pucci
Posts: 4,555
You know it is quite funny to me that you would mention that as I was reflecting to myself that I felt significantly more emboldened marching OUT of T5 than I did when trying to get back INTO the terminal! I don’t have the qualifications to comment on the legality of the matter but the psychology of being effectively forced to pay to leave a place is interesting. If you took the free train to T3 or T4 would you then be able to walk out? I think you might be able to from T4 anyway but I’m not sure actually!
Oct 26, 2023, 4:11 pm
#174
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 43,414
I had a look in the Human Rights Act but was unable to find a right to free passage from T5 to a nearby hotel I am afraid. So far the ECHR hasn't seen fit to expand the listed rights to cover this
Of course you do have free passage by tube to Hatton Cross though
Of course you do have free passage by tube to Hatton Cross though
Oct 27, 2023, 6:40 am
#176
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 43,414
I don't really see. I don't see any requirement or legal principle that airports must have at least one free method of accessing them.
Oct 27, 2023, 7:40 am
#177
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 64,414
Arrive with a horse and you are fine. You don't even need to ride the steed. More boringly, you can continue to walk around the Northern Perimeter plus there are some tracks out on the south side.
Oct 27, 2023, 8:21 am
#178
Join Date: May 2019
Location: FL390 or the iron way
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 1,918
Obviously there are sufficient free ways of accessing T5 (even if not all convenient or available 24/7) that I doubt this would apply here.
Oct 27, 2023, 8:25 am
#179
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 43,414
I think the only angle would be a consumer law one viz-a-viz the airline or whoever is selling the flight, on the basis that if you cannot possibly access the airport without paying a fee, the effective price of the flight is higher and this is something you must be warned of before purchase. Not dissimilar to departure/entry/tourism taxes levied by countries.
Occasionally things we don't like are not actually against consumer law.
Oct 27, 2023, 12:14 pm
#180
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Devon, UK
Programs: VS Silver; Matmid Silver, BA Bronze; Accor Plat.
Posts: 1,014
As there is no contract between the flyer with the airport there is nothing to enforce. As it is private property, again, no duty under the law. Transport to LHR is not a matter of law, within its confines may well be. By way of example Turnbull and Asser have no duty to get me to their store ( although I wish they would knock it of my bill), within it I am free to roam around providing I do not shoplift or cause a criminal offence within the store.