T5 is open!
Mar 27, 2008, 4:55 am
#31
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Mucci, BA-GGL, LH-Sen
Posts: 2,241
. BBC World are reporting that pax are having to wait 1hr+ for bags.I'm glad I'm flying out of T4 tomorrow (who ever thought I'd say that?).
Mar 27, 2008, 5:08 am
#33
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Glasgow
Programs: BA Gold, KLM Cardboard
Posts: 180
Just off BA1477 from GLA, we landed on time and were on stand 5 minutes later. Trying to pass through flight connections for my onward to NRT and was told I'd have to visit BA customer services first. Apparently advanced passport information is not showing and is having to be manually entered/corrected by hand.
Signage is a bit lacking, I had to ask for directions to Galleries South (and once inside, where the Club galleries was - you have to walk through the First and Concorde Room entrace to get upstairs to the area for mere mortals - nothing like trying to tempt you with what you're missing
). I spotted quite a few hastily-printed A4 paper signs pinned to walls, so they're obviously trying to sort it.
Every staff member I've spoken to has been clutching a handwritten notepad or scrap of paper which they are referring to rather a lot. They even offered to write down all the advice they were giving me so I could take it away.
Departure screens in the lounge have much more gate information than the main BAA ones. There was no gate for my onward flight, or indeed any flight leaving more than an hour away, so I asked at a desk and was told it hadn't been assigned yet, but it would probably depart from 5B somewhere. (I was also told not to rush, as they "don't like people in 5B more than 90 minutes before departure.") The screen on the lounge has gates for every flight shown, even into the late evening. Wether they're accruate or not, well, only time will tell.
I'm going to wander around a little more to admire the place. So far, I like it, on the condition my onward flight takes off on time and my luggage arrives
Signage is a bit lacking, I had to ask for directions to Galleries South (and once inside, where the Club galleries was - you have to walk through the First and Concorde Room entrace to get upstairs to the area for mere mortals - nothing like trying to tempt you with what you're missing
). I spotted quite a few hastily-printed A4 paper signs pinned to walls, so they're obviously trying to sort it.Every staff member I've spoken to has been clutching a handwritten notepad or scrap of paper which they are referring to rather a lot. They even offered to write down all the advice they were giving me so I could take it away.
Departure screens in the lounge have much more gate information than the main BAA ones. There was no gate for my onward flight, or indeed any flight leaving more than an hour away, so I asked at a desk and was told it hadn't been assigned yet, but it would probably depart from 5B somewhere. (I was also told not to rush, as they "don't like people in 5B more than 90 minutes before departure.") The screen on the lounge has gates for every flight shown, even into the late evening. Wether they're accruate or not, well, only time will tell.
I'm going to wander around a little more to admire the place. So far, I like it, on the condition my onward flight takes off on time and my luggage arrives
Mar 27, 2008, 5:10 am
#34
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: MAN
Programs: F
Posts: 2,898
Looking at the vast expanse of the colour red on flightstats, I bet the managers are no longer finding it difficult to look serious.
Mar 27, 2008, 5:12 am
#35
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP 0.72MM
Posts: 547
Come on, there will always be a few kinks and you also have to remember that this is BAA we're talking about, when have they ever had everything go without a hitch?!
I don't think an exoudus of T5 is in order!
I'm there as off midday tomorrow and i'm looking forward to it!
Chris
I don't think an exoudus of T5 is in order!
I'm there as off midday tomorrow and i'm looking forward to it!
Chris
Mar 27, 2008, 5:16 am
#36
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP 0.72MM
Posts: 547
On a seperate note has anyone experienced the '500 strong flash mob" that BBC are claiming are expected to be taking over Terminal 5??
BBC also now claiming that baggage problems are due to 'staff problems' and that the staff do not know where they are going.
Chris
BBC also now claiming that baggage problems are due to 'staff problems' and that the staff do not know where they are going.
Chris
Mar 27, 2008, 5:18 am
#37
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: London
Programs: BA silver, VS, Jet, Carlson gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 614
Definately appears to be the baggage system thats causing the problems at the moment.
The press are beginning to report arriving passengers complaining about having to wait anything from 75 minutes to 2 hours for bags.
The press are beginning to report arriving passengers complaining about having to wait anything from 75 minutes to 2 hours for bags.
Mar 27, 2008, 5:19 am
#38
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London
Posts: 3,439
And that 1 plane left wiyhout any bags onboard - oops!
Mar 27, 2008, 5:20 am
#39
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,257
They've just been interviewed by Richard Quest!
Mar 27, 2008, 5:27 am
#40
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: AA 2MM - PLT, BA GGL, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,221
Mar 27, 2008, 5:28 am
#41
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: London, UK & Oslo, Norway
Programs: Mucci (Diamond Hairbrush Status), BA Gold (earned on almost all (wh)Y travel), *A Gold.
Posts: 567
Mar 27, 2008, 5:29 am
#42
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: North-east UK
Programs: BAEC lowly blue, various semi-worthless hotel programs.
Posts: 174
Very interesting! For those of you lucky enough to be in the shiny new lounges today keep the reports coming for us poor souls chained to our desks 
Mar 27, 2008, 5:33 am
#44
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
Programs: BA Blue, IC Spire Ambassador
Posts: 5,228
I was meant to be coming back from HKG today into T5 and then onwards to Paris...but I had a last minute change, and I had to shoot over to Tel Aviv where I am now. Cannot believe that I have managed to miss the opening! So annoyed (very vain I know it's just an airport terminal, but...)
I think baggage problems/signage issues are to be expected at this stage. It wouldn't surprise me if they have to rethink some of their systems at some point as that's to be expected.
Anyway, it's open at last and we all have to just get on with it, at least they have management there taking an interest, hopefully this will be 'BA's baby' and they will look after it.
Is it really not possible to return from T5B?? Do they have someone checking BPs before people get on the shuttle train thing then?? What about last minute gate changes/people going to the wrong gate/left jumper/coat/shoes/small child in a lounge back in the main building?? Presumably they have to be escorted through the arrivals route and back round.
Sadly, TLV is operating into T4 currently so I will have to wait until next week when I am off to BUD.
I think baggage problems/signage issues are to be expected at this stage. It wouldn't surprise me if they have to rethink some of their systems at some point as that's to be expected.
Anyway, it's open at last and we all have to just get on with it, at least they have management there taking an interest, hopefully this will be 'BA's baby' and they will look after it.
Is it really not possible to return from T5B?? Do they have someone checking BPs before people get on the shuttle train thing then?? What about last minute gate changes/people going to the wrong gate/left jumper/coat/shoes/small child in a lounge back in the main building?? Presumably they have to be escorted through the arrivals route and back round.
Sadly, TLV is operating into T4 currently so I will have to wait until next week when I am off to BUD.
Mar 27, 2008, 5:34 am
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,440
Delays don't look so bad on the departure board, but there appears to be two seperate problems:
* Stand guidance - lots of plane arriving but waiting a while to dock
* Bags, which we can't see from our terrace
The lounge is lovely, and the 'poo is flowing freely. Have cleared them out of Jacquart Rose, now on to Blanc des Milliainaires '95.
* Stand guidance - lots of plane arriving but waiting a while to dock
* Bags, which we can't see from our terrace
The lounge is lovely, and the 'poo is flowing freely. Have cleared them out of Jacquart Rose, now on to Blanc des Milliainaires '95.
