LHR Terminal 5: FAQ, information and updates
#1
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,191
LHR Terminal 5: FAQ, information and updates
Introduction
Eagerly-awaited, long overdue and with the hopes of British Airways, BAA and the travelling public all resting on its success, Heathrow Terminal 5 opened its doors on March 2008. Well, you know the rest….
At the time of this rewrite, Terminal 5 (which is used exclusively by British Airways) has been open for over 3 months and for BA passengers, the picture is rosy; the customer experience is a vast improvement from before and best of all, BA is actually delivering on-time punctuality most of the time.
Terminal 5 comprises of three structures: the main terminal T5A plus two satellite terminals, T5B and T5C. T5A and T5B opened in March this year, while T5C is under construction, programmed to be ready in 2010. The primary functions such as check-in, security checks and baggage reclaim are all handled at T5A, the main and largest building of the three terminals. BA’s short haul European and Domestic services are operated in and out of T5A, with Gates A1-A6 at the north end of the terminal assigned to domestic flights. Terminal T5B primarily serves international flights and include dedicated aircraft stands for the new Airbus A380 aircraft. Some European services are also served out of T5B.
T5A is connected to the satellites via an automated underground track transit system (otherwise referred to as a train), which can shuttle up to 6,500 passengers every hour. The journey time is very short, at around 45 seconds, so the time it takes to transfer between T5A and T5B is in the region of 5 to 10 minutes.
Other useful resources and links
Special thanks to BA97 and AndyFlyer for providing the nice official glossies published by BA
Eagerly-awaited, long overdue and with the hopes of British Airways, BAA and the travelling public all resting on its success, Heathrow Terminal 5 opened its doors on March 2008. Well, you know the rest….
At the time of this rewrite, Terminal 5 (which is used exclusively by British Airways) has been open for over 3 months and for BA passengers, the picture is rosy; the customer experience is a vast improvement from before and best of all, BA is actually delivering on-time punctuality most of the time.
Terminal 5 comprises of three structures: the main terminal T5A plus two satellite terminals, T5B and T5C. T5A and T5B opened in March this year, while T5C is under construction, programmed to be ready in 2010. The primary functions such as check-in, security checks and baggage reclaim are all handled at T5A, the main and largest building of the three terminals. BA’s short haul European and Domestic services are operated in and out of T5A, with Gates A1-A6 at the north end of the terminal assigned to domestic flights. Terminal T5B primarily serves international flights and include dedicated aircraft stands for the new Airbus A380 aircraft. Some European services are also served out of T5B.
T5A is connected to the satellites via an automated underground track transit system (otherwise referred to as a train), which can shuttle up to 6,500 passengers every hour. The journey time is very short, at around 45 seconds, so the time it takes to transfer between T5A and T5B is in the region of 5 to 10 minutes.
Other useful resources and links
- Welcome to Heathrow Terminal 5. BA's dedicated web site
http://www.terminal5.ba.com/en/ - Interactive floor plans
http://www.terminal5.ba.com/en/Lounges/
http://www.terminal5.ba.com/en/map/ - Check-in and departures: "the perfect send-off"
http://www.terminal5.ba.com/en/departures/ - Lounges: "premium relaxation for premier travellers"
http://www.terminal5.ba.com/en/lounges/ - Information on flight connections: "making transfers easy"
http://www.terminal5.ba.com/en/flight-connections/ - Arrivals
http://www.terminal5.ba.com/en/arrivals/ - BA's facility at Terminal 3: "a little piece of Terminal 5 at Terminal 3"
http://www.terminal5.ba.com/en/terminal-3/
- The offical airport website
http://www.heathrowairport.com/t5 - BAA promotional video: "T5 history in the making"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06e0WQ8p9N0
- JCDecaux Airport UK Ltd's dedicated T5 website provides us with some additional terminal maps. To get a peek at these, follow the Advertising Opportunities link to Long Term Sites.
http://www.jcdecauxairport.co.uk/terminal5/adop.html
Special thanks to BA97 and AndyFlyer for providing the nice official glossies published by BA
Last edited by Prospero; Jul 26, 2008 at 7:11 am Reason: Updated introduction
#2
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,191
BA introduced a very useful plug-in to its website enabling customers to check for themselves which terminal their flight departs from or arrives into. This is particularly useful to those travelling slated to depart or arrive into terminals 1 and 4 after 22 October.
www.ba.com/londonterminals
The timetable for changes to Terminal 5, are outlined below (listed by destination)
All comments welcome. Let me know if you spot any errors and omissions
www.ba.com/londonterminals
The timetable for changes to Terminal 5, are outlined below (listed by destination)
Code:
DESTINATION SWITCH EFF. SWITCH EFF.
___________________________ ___________________ ___________________
A ABZ Aberdeen ............. T1 to T5 27 Mar
AUH Abu Dhabi ............ T4 to T5 17 Sep
ABV Abuja ................ T4 to T5 05 Jun
ACC Accra ................ T4 to T5 17 Sep
ALG Algiers.. ............ N* to T5 30 Mar
AMS Amsterdam ............ T4 to T5 27 Mar
ATH Athens ............... T1 to T5 27 Mar
ATL Atlanta.. ............ N* to T5 30 Mar 2009
B BAH Bahrain .............. T4 to T5 17 Sep
BWI Baltimore ............ T4 to T5 17 Sep
BLR Bangalore ............ T4 to T5 05 Jun
BKK Bangkok .............. T4 to T3 TBA
BCN Barcelona ............ T1 to T3 27 Jan 2009
BSL Basel Mulhouse ....... T4 to T5 27 Mar
PEK Beijing .............. T4 to T5 05 Jun
BEL Belgrade ............. T1 to T5 27 Mar
TXL Berlin Tegel ......... T1 to T5 27 Mar
BOS Boston ............... T4 to T5 22 Oct
BRU Brussels ............. T4 to T5 27 Mar
OTP Bucharest ............ T1 to T5 27 Mar
BUD Budapest ............. T1 to T5 27 Mar
EZE Buenos Aires ......... T4 to T5 17 Sep
C CAI Cairo ................ T4 to T5 05 Jun
YYC Calgary .............. T4 to T5 22 Oct
CPT Cape Town ............ T4 to T5 05 Jun
MAA Chennai .............. T4 to T5 22 Oct
ORD Chicago .............. T4 to T5 17 Sep
CPH Copenhagen ........... T4 to T5 27 Mar
D DFW Dallas Fort Worth .... N* to T4 30 Mar T4 to T5 17 Sep
DAR Dar Es Salaam ........ T4 to T5 17 Sep
DEL Delhi ................ T4 to T5 22 Oct
DEN Denver ............... T4 to T5 22 Oct
DAC Dhaka ................ T4 to T5 22 Oct
DOH Doha ................. T4 to T5 17 Sep
DXB Dubai ................ T4 to T5 22 Oct
DUS Dusseldorf ........... T1 to T5 27 Mar
E EDI Edinburgh ............ T1 to T5 27 Mar
EBB Entebbe .............. T4 to T5 17 Sep
F FRA Frankfurt ............ T1 to T5 27 Mar
G GVA Geneva ............... T4 to T5 27 Mar
GLA Glasgow .............. T1 to T5 27 Mar
GCM Grand Cayman Island .. T4 to T5 17 Sep
H HAM Hamburg .............. T1 to T5 27 Mar
HEL Helsinki ............. T1 to T3 27 Jan 2009
HKG Hong Kong ............ T1 to T5 27 Mar
IAH Houston .............. N* to T4 30 Mar T4 to T5 17 Sep
I ISB Islamabad ............ T4 to T5 22 Oct **route suspended - see BA.com**
IST Istanbul ............. T1 to T5 27 Mar
J JNB Johannesburg ......... T1 to T5 27 Mar
K KBP Kiev ................. T1 to T5 27 Mar
KWI Kuwait ............... T4 to T5 17 Sep
L LOS Lagos ................ T4 to T5 05 Jun
LCA Larnaca .............. T1 to T5 27 Mar
LIS Lisbon ............... T1 to T3 27 Jan 2009
LAX Los Angeles .......... T1 to T5 27 Mar
LAD Luanda ............... T4 to T5 17 Sep
LUN Lusaka ............... T4 to T5 17 Sep
LYS Lyon ................. T1 to T5 27 Mar
M MAD Madrid ............... T1 to T3 27 Jan 2009
AGP Malaga ............... T1 to T5 27 Mar
MAN Manchester ........... T1 to T5 27 Mar
MRU Mauritius ............ T4 to T5 17 Sep
MEX Mexico City .......... T4 to T5 17 Sep
MIA Miami ................ T3 to T5 27 Mar
LIN Milan Linate ......... T1 to T5 27 Mar
MXB Milan Malpensa ....... T1 to T5 27 Mar
YUL Montreal ............. T4 to T5 22 Oct
DME Moscow Domodedevo .... T1 to T5 27 Mar
BOM Mumbai ............... T4 to T5 17 Sep
MUC Munich ............... T1 to T5 27 Mar
MCT Muscat ............... T4 to T5 17 Sep
N NBO Nairobi .............. T4 to T5 17 Sep
NAS Nassau ............... T4 to T5 17 Sep
JFK New York JFK ......... T4 to T5 05 Jun
EWR New York Newark ...... T4 to T5 17 Sep
NCL Newcastle ............ T1 to T5 27 Mar
NCE Nice ................. T1 to T3 27 Jan 2009
O OSL Oslo ................. T4 to T5 27 Mar
P CDG Paris CDG ............ T4 to T5 27 Mar
PHL Philadelphia ......... T4 to T5 17 Sep
PHX Phoenix .............. T4 to T5 05 Jun
PRG Prague ............... T1 to T5 27 Mar
PLS Providenciales ....... T4 to T5 17 Sep
R GIG Rio De Janeiro ....... T4 to T5 17 Sep
FCO Rome Fiumicino ....... T1 to T5 27 Mar
S LED St Petersburg ........ T1 to T5 27 Mar
SFO San Francisco ........ T1 to T5 27 Mar
GRU Sao Paulo ............ T4 to T5 17 Sep
SEA Seattle .............. T4 to T5 22 Oct
PVG Shanghai ............. T4 to T5 22 Oct
SIN Singapore ............ T4 to T3 TBA
SOF Sofia ................ T1 to T5 27 Mar
ARN Stockholm Arlanda .... T1 to T5 27 Mar
STR Stuttgart ............ T1 to T5 27 Mar
SYD Sydney ............... T4 to T3 TBA
T TLV Tel Aviv ............. T4 to T5 17 Sep
NRT Tokyo ................ T1 to T5 27 Mar
YYZ Toronto .............. T4 to T5 17 Sep
TIP Tripoli .............. T1 to T5 27 Mar
V YVR Vancouver ............ T1 to T5 27 Mar
VIE Vienna ............... T4 to T5 27 Mar
W WAW Warsaw ............... T1 to N* 27 Mar
IAD Washington Dulles .... T4 to T5 17 Sep
Z ZRH Zurich ............... T4 to T5 27 Mar
___________________________ ___________________ ___________________
Key
* LGW North
All dates 2008, unless otherwise stated
Last edited by Prospero; Sep 23, 2008 at 5:07 pm Reason: update: ATL switch from LGW to T5, 30 Mar 2009
#3
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,191
T5: Photo portfolio
British Airways has very generously offered Flyertalk members an exclusive preview of its T5 facility: an online photographic portfolio containing a very impressive set of shots, providing us with a vision of what will no doubt become a second home to many.
BA invites all to view, enjoy and marvel at the photographs of its new Terminal.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2281972...7604032177838/
BA invites all to view, enjoy and marvel at the photographs of its new Terminal.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2281972...7604032177838/
Last edited by Prospero; Mar 11, 2008 at 1:02 pm
#4
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,191
Lounge information
Terminal 1
27 March - 17 September 2008
Lounge facilities shall be provided for BA passengers travelling to BCN, HEL, LIS, MAD and NCE in the current BA Domestic Terraces lounge located adjacent to the present Gate 5 cluster where these flights, it is believed, will depart from.
This lounge presently offers seating on two levels some with excellent panoramic views; each level with its own bar area and showers on the upper level.
Dedicated facility for BA Gold and oneworld Emeralds?: TBC
The existing international lounge pavilion (comprising Terraces and First Lounges) is expected to close on 27 March 2008. This information is unconfirmed and may be incorrect at this time.
Terminal 3
17 September 2008 onwards
It is expected that BA shall announce the opening date of its new Galleries Club lounge offering soon. However, it is anticipated (by us) to open on 17 September 2008 to coincide with the switch of BCN, HEL, LIS, MAD and NCE flights from T1 to T3. These routes are expected to be joined by BA flights to BKK, SIN and SYD in January 2009.
Terminal 4
30 April - January 2009
The existing Gate 1 lounge shall remain open until BA's final flight leaves T4 and the final routes (BKK, SIN and SYD) switch to T3 in January 2009. Note, this lounge presently offers dining facilities and showers.
Dedicated facility for BA Gold and oneworld Emeralds?: TBC
The Gate 10 lounge pavilion will remain open until 17 September 2008. A First pre-flight dining area will be provided at Gate 1 when the CCR closes. The closure dates of the individual lounges are currently slated as follows:
Gate 10 Terraces: 27 May
Gate 10 First lounge: 05 June
Gate 10 Concorde Room: 17 September
The existing Arrivals lounge is anticipated to remain open until January 2009. It won't be a full service arrivals lounge (no spa) and will only be open for a couple of hours for the SYD/BKK/SIN arrivals though the exact details are yet to be confirmed.
Terminal 5
27 March 2008 onwards
Galleries Concorde Room
The Galleries Concorde Room shall provide a "genuinely exclusive" environment for FIRST passengers and VIP guests only. Facilities shall comprise:
Galleries First
Galleries First shall be offered to passengers travelling in FIRST and Gold Executive Club members (and oneworld Emeralds). Facilities shall comprise:
Galleries Club South
Open to all passengers travelling in First or Club World as well as Gold and Silver Executive Club members (or oneworld Emerald and Sapphire equivalent), the following facilities shall be on offer:
Galleries Club North
A small Club lounge at the northern end of the terminal will open for Club Europe passengers as well as Gold and Silver Executive Club members (or oneworld Emerald and Sapphire equivalent) travelling on short haul and domestic routes.
Galleries Club in Satellite B
This 465 seat Club lounge is located in T5B, the satellite terminal
Elemis Travel Spas
There are no less than four travel spas at T5. Three will be dedicated to departing passengers flying FIRST, Club World. Gold Executive Club members departing on a long haul flight in any class will also be welcome. These are located inside the Galleries First, the Galleries Club South and the Galleries Club in Satellite B lounges. The fourth is an arrivals spa, located in the Galleries Arrivals lounge (see below)
Galleries Arrivals
A landside lounge dedicated to arriving passengers flying FIRST, Club World. Gold Executive Club members arriving on a long haul flight in any class will also be welcome. Facilities shall comprise:
Your official guide to the Galleries
BA has published a lovely guide to its lounge offerings at Terminal 5. This is available for download, <<here>>
An interactive 3D lounge guide is also available: http://www.terminal5.ba.com/en/Lounges/
27 March - 17 September 2008
Lounge facilities shall be provided for BA passengers travelling to BCN, HEL, LIS, MAD and NCE in the current BA Domestic Terraces lounge located adjacent to the present Gate 5 cluster where these flights, it is believed, will depart from.
This lounge presently offers seating on two levels some with excellent panoramic views; each level with its own bar area and showers on the upper level.
Dedicated facility for BA Gold and oneworld Emeralds?: TBC
The existing international lounge pavilion (comprising Terraces and First Lounges) is expected to close on 27 March 2008. This information is unconfirmed and may be incorrect at this time.
Terminal 3
17 September 2008 onwards
It is expected that BA shall announce the opening date of its new Galleries Club lounge offering soon. However, it is anticipated (by us) to open on 17 September 2008 to coincide with the switch of BCN, HEL, LIS, MAD and NCE flights from T1 to T3. These routes are expected to be joined by BA flights to BKK, SIN and SYD in January 2009.
Terminal 4
30 April - January 2009
The existing Gate 1 lounge shall remain open until BA's final flight leaves T4 and the final routes (BKK, SIN and SYD) switch to T3 in January 2009. Note, this lounge presently offers dining facilities and showers.
Dedicated facility for BA Gold and oneworld Emeralds?: TBC
The Gate 10 lounge pavilion will remain open until 17 September 2008. A First pre-flight dining area will be provided at Gate 1 when the CCR closes. The closure dates of the individual lounges are currently slated as follows:
Gate 10 Terraces: 27 May
Gate 10 First lounge: 05 June
Gate 10 Concorde Room: 17 September
The existing Arrivals lounge is anticipated to remain open until January 2009. It won't be a full service arrivals lounge (no spa) and will only be open for a couple of hours for the SYD/BKK/SIN arrivals though the exact details are yet to be confirmed.
Terminal 5
27 March 2008 onwards
Galleries Concorde Room
The Galleries Concorde Room shall provide a "genuinely exclusive" environment for FIRST passengers and VIP guests only. Facilities shall comprise:
- Intimate dining with elegantly designed booths, serving delicious gourmet meals all day
- Cocktail Bar
- Champagne Bar
- Private dining area with intimate booth style seating
- State of the art boardroom capable of seating 8 with fully supported flat screen for presentations and PCs
- Three private cabanas - hotel-style rooms with a comfortable day bed, TV and ensuite bathroom so you can take a nap and freshen up before your flight
- The Terrace - a relaxed viewing area where you can enjoy a drink and spectacular views
Galleries First
Galleries First shall be offered to passengers travelling in FIRST and Gold Executive Club members (and oneworld Emeralds). Facilities shall comprise:
- Champagne Bar, Gold Bar and Wine Gallery
- Coffee House
- The Refectory and Deli
- Terrace viewing area and bar
- Interactive work and entertainment zone with internet and 60% more PCs than today’s lounges
- News Zone with newspapers, magazines and TV news channels
- Kids Zone designed by El Ultimo Grito
- Shower suites
Galleries Club South
Open to all passengers travelling in First or Club World as well as Gold and Silver Executive Club members (or oneworld Emerald and Sapphire equivalent), the following facilities shall be on offer:
- The Chef’s Theatre and Food Court with a view into the kitchen
- The Terrace viewing area and bar
- Two ‘Silver’ Bars
Galleries Club North
A small Club lounge at the northern end of the terminal will open for Club Europe passengers as well as Gold and Silver Executive Club members (or oneworld Emerald and Sapphire equivalent) travelling on short haul and domestic routes.
Galleries Club in Satellite B
This 465 seat Club lounge is located in T5B, the satellite terminal
Elemis Travel Spas
There are no less than four travel spas at T5. Three will be dedicated to departing passengers flying FIRST, Club World. Gold Executive Club members departing on a long haul flight in any class will also be welcome. These are located inside the Galleries First, the Galleries Club South and the Galleries Club in Satellite B lounges. The fourth is an arrivals spa, located in the Galleries Arrivals lounge (see below)
- Intensely relaxing massage chairs
- Expert massages and a range of treatments
- The Spa bar, offering products to keep you feeling great throughout your flight, including tailored prescriptions
Galleries Arrivals
A landside lounge dedicated to arriving passengers flying FIRST, Club World. Gold Executive Club members arriving on a long haul flight in any class will also be welcome. Facilities shall comprise:
- The Buffet Breakfast Bar, where you can see the food as it’s being prepared in the kitchen
- The Breakfast Room, exclusively for FIRST passengers
- Elemis Travel Spa with treatments specifically designed to prepare you for the day ahead
- Hydrotherapy area with 94 shower rooms, of which there will be three types: full body jet, steam shower and deluxe massage. There will also be a suit pressing.
- Cabanas, with new Infinity Bathrooms where the water will continually roll through the bath and over the sides to keep it clean and fresh.
- Internet and news zones
Your official guide to the Galleries
BA has published a lovely guide to its lounge offerings at Terminal 5. This is available for download, <<here>>
An interactive 3D lounge guide is also available: http://www.terminal5.ba.com/en/Lounges/
Last edited by Prospero; Jun 4, 2008 at 1:14 am Reason: update on Gate 10 lounge closures
#5
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,191
Airport Logistics
Here is a collection of useful information from tfl and BAA for anyone doing land side transfers between T4 and T5, as compiled by nbevan:
- Free travel between terminals including estimated transfer times
- Buses from T4
- Buses from T5
- Heathrow public transport
Last edited by Prospero; Mar 30, 2008 at 1:41 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: East Lothian
Programs: SMWS
Posts: 733
Prospero, you have beaten me to it - I started my very own T5 FAQ recently; if you like, you can integrate it into yours:
Will Terminal 5 improve everything?
I won't lie to you, of course it will.no thanks necessary!
Will Terminal 5 improve everything?
I won't lie to you, of course it will.
#13
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BA & VS
Posts: 533
#14
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Sydney
Posts: 690
Thanks for setting this up Prospero ^. Will look for regular updates from this especially as I just got back from the T5 trial today. Given the emphasis on public transport how about a section on how to get there/parking/drop offs/pick ups etc when more info is available? Also any time saving tips for BA/FT regulars would be welcome
#15
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Switzerland
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 841
Premier
The December issue of BA's Business Life magazine has a full page article about T5 lounges. As Premier card holders and their benefits are not mentioned (by BA) very often, here is one excerpt from page 70:
Galleries arrivals lounge
The Galleries Arrivals Lounge - for First, Club World and Gold Executive Club members travelling longhaul - has a full restaurant for First and Premier card holders, a selfservice breakfast bar for Club World and Gold Exec Club members travelling on longhaul flights, ...
The chapter about Concorde Room only mentions F pax, not Prem.
Galleries arrivals lounge
The Galleries Arrivals Lounge - for First, Club World and Gold Executive Club members travelling longhaul - has a full restaurant for First and Premier card holders, a selfservice breakfast bar for Club World and Gold Exec Club members travelling on longhaul flights, ...
The chapter about Concorde Room only mentions F pax, not Prem.