Why BA Flights are Split Between T-5 and T-3
Mar 11, 2024, 5:33 pm
#1
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Why BA Flights are Split Between T-5 and T-3
Why is it that BA flights to places like VIE and PRG are all the way over in T-3 yet IB flights from LHR are in T-5? Don't BA flights take precedence over IB in T-5 ?
Mar 11, 2024, 5:55 pm
#2
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Even if IB weren’t in T5, there wouldn’t be the facilities needed for all of BA’s flights.
When T5 was first thought of way back when, it might have been big enough for BA, but BA is bigger now and T5 isn’t big enough. Some routes are in T5 because T3 can’t handle them (domestic and CTA) and otherwise it’s down to commercial considerations.
When T5 was first thought of way back when, it might have been big enough for BA, but BA is bigger now and T5 isn’t big enough. Some routes are in T5 because T3 can’t handle them (domestic and CTA) and otherwise it’s down to commercial considerations.
Mar 11, 2024, 5:59 pm
#3
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Higher % of US connections on combined BA/IB LHR-MAD so they both operate out of T5. But I see your point.
Mar 11, 2024, 7:25 pm
#4
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IB used to operate from Terminal 3 along with BA flights. The answer is there’s not enough room at T5. That said flights do switch between terminals from time to time as they work out which flights have more connections and where will ever possible have those in the same terminal to make the transfer process easier
Mar 12, 2024, 2:46 am
#6
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IB switched to T3 from July 2022 to June 2023. I presume the data didn't support IB staying at T3.
BA and IB are the same company anyway I don't see why BA would have to "take precedence" over IB…
BA and IB are the same company anyway I don't see why BA would have to "take precedence" over IB…
Mar 12, 2024, 3:07 am
#7
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IB moved to T3 in 2022 because they were fed up with BA as a ground handler. you may remember at the time BA under the wing were pretty rubbish with lots of delays loading and unloading aircraft., I think they used Menzies in T3.
Mar 12, 2024, 3:31 am
#8
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The reason that this nonsense started goes way back. When T5 opened it was known that the baggage operation had to be in bins. The 757s that were still operating could not take bins so they went to T3 which could do both.
Others may know better but there is no rhyme nor reason why certain flights go from T3. The sooner that BA is out of that drab and dingy dump the better. Sorry if it incommodes the Lounge hoppers, but that situation is getting out of hand from what I can observe.
Still the whole system at Heathrow is so redolent of a task incomplete with bus boarding in this day and age. If they’re going to use T3 then do so and make sure that there is a jetway for every blessed flight.
Others may know better but there is no rhyme nor reason why certain flights go from T3. The sooner that BA is out of that drab and dingy dump the better. Sorry if it incommodes the Lounge hoppers, but that situation is getting out of hand from what I can observe.
Still the whole system at Heathrow is so redolent of a task incomplete with bus boarding in this day and age. If they’re going to use T3 then do so and make sure that there is a jetway for every blessed flight.
Mar 12, 2024, 3:47 am
#10
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Maybe if they extended T5C to the size it was originally supposed to be and then built T5D and T5E (that were planned) this would allow BA to operate from one terminal but I guess these decisions are HAA and not BA.
Mar 12, 2024, 3:48 am
#11
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The only thing I find odd about this is why BA operate flights with F from T3. Doing so means they have to provide the amenities for F in T3 as well as 5, which surely creates extra costs vs streamlining F into T5. Surely it would make more sense to only operate flights without F from T3, so just SH and flights on the 350, 788, or 772 configured without F.
Mar 12, 2024, 4:13 am
#12
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Mar 12, 2024, 4:30 am
#13
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Which makes it weirder that they now have a sort of CCR in T3 after this change.
Mar 12, 2024, 4:35 am
#14
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I can't point to anything specific as to why I think this, but my understanding was that the issue of O&D was a significant - but not the only - factor, when deciding to send the service off to T3. And certainly at one point, when flights like LUX, LYS and LAS were T3, it seemed to ring true. However the other factor was the timetable, T3 doesn't have the staff to manage too many services at the same time. Hence I suspect it's a combination of factors, with some trade offs involved.
Mar 12, 2024, 4:39 am
#15
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The key thing to note is that all flights aren't evenly spread out throughout the day.
Removing an IB flight from T5 at 10am doesn't enable you to slot in a BA flight at 5pm.
So where there's points of congestion in T5, they move flights to T3, and they choose ones which typically have the fewest connections to other T5 flights if possible.
Removing an IB flight from T5 at 10am doesn't enable you to slot in a BA flight at 5pm.
So where there's points of congestion in T5, they move flights to T3, and they choose ones which typically have the fewest connections to other T5 flights if possible.