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Old Oct 7, 2008 | 5:13 pm
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Need Advice on Heathrow

Looking for some advice on a couple of questions regarding London's Heathrow (did a search but couldn't find anything that addressed my specific questions). Here are the details: I'm arriving Terminal 4 on CO 28 at 6:45 AM. My business associates are arriving Terminal 3 on AA at 9:30 AM. Our company arranged the transport so we all have to ride into town together My questions are:
1. After arriving, can I go straight to the Holideck lounge in T4 and kill time until I need to wander over to T3, or will having to pass through immigration/customs eliminate any chance of that?
2. If I can go to the Holideck lounge, what about my checked bag - will it be OK down at baggage claim for 1 1/2 hrs or will some authority probably decide its owner is MIA and take it to lost/found, or worse?
3. How do I get to T3 from 4 easily after clearing immigration/customs?
4. If the answer to #1 is NO and I have to exit the secured area after landing, any advice on killing 2-3 hrs in T3?

Thanks for any help!
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Old Oct 7, 2008 | 6:22 pm
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1. I haven't been to T4 in a while, but you will not be able to enter the departures area after arriving. (It's like International arrivals in the US in that regard.)
2. Unsure-- like the US, the baggage claim is between Immigration and Customs, so it's not like someone could wander in off the street and pick it up.
3. You can take the Heathrow Connection, runs every 10-20 minutes and leaves from a station in the basement of T4 and runs to a station that serves T1-3. From there, it's a 5 minute walk (and an insanely long elevator ride) to T3.
4. Talk your way into the VS arrivals lounge at T3 :-). Or maybe head over to T5 and check it out. I don't think there's much before security at any terminal at LHR. Are you going into Central London? The Heathrow Connection will take you there in 35+ minutes, and isn't that expensive (maybe 10 pounds??). No need to wait around the airport for three hours for your co-workers to show up just to share a cab.
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Old Oct 7, 2008 | 6:31 pm
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Originally Posted by Hawkeye78
1. After arriving, can I go straight to the Holideck lounge in T4 and kill time until I need to wander over to T3, or will having to pass through immigration/customs eliminate any chance of that?
As per previous response, not possible at all. You cannot enter the departures area without a departing T4 boarding pass
Originally Posted by Hawkeye78
2. If I can go to the Holideck lounge, what about my checked bag - will it be OK down at baggage claim for 1 1/2 hrs or will some authority probably decide its owner is MIA and take it to lost/found, or worse?
You will have to pick up your bag - the chances of finding it diminish greatly if they take it anywhere. And as above, you will not be using any T4 lounge anyway.
Originally Posted by Hawkeye78
3. How do I get to T3 from 4 easily after clearing immigration/customs?
Easiest way is to get the free Heathrow Express train - takes about 5min, leaves every 15-20min. Very clearly signposted when you arrive in T4.
Originally Posted by Hawkeye78
4. If the answer to #1 is NO and I have to exit the secured area after landing, any advice on killing 2-3 hrs in T3?
You have no chance whatsoever of getting into the VS arrivals lounge. By the time you get through immigration at T4, pick up your bag and head over on the HEX to T3 you're looking at more like 90min max, a lot less if immigration is busy. Best option will be to just grab a coffee somewhere in T3, either upstairs in the departures level where there are a few choices, or down at the arrivals level which can be very busy during the morning arrival period.

Thanks for any help![/QUOTE]
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Old Oct 8, 2008 | 9:12 am
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Thanks star_world and andymell for your advice; appreciate all my questions being addressed! Answers are pretty much what I thought...looks like I'll be having several cups of coffee at T3!!!
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Old Jan 19, 2009 | 11:46 am
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All CO departures Terminal 4?

I'm heading out tomorrow am from LHR on Continental.

I have been unable as yet to find terminal info on CO.com.

I arrived Terminal 4. Departures also all from there?

If I take the Piccadilly line to Heathrow can I hit T4 directly? I've been on the line a few times this weeken and trains all seem to say they go to Terminal 1,3,5.

thanks?





also ....can prolly find this on FT on ym next search ...but what lounge from T4 to use? (assuming my above theory is correct)



edit: OK ---i wasn't reading well....it's right on my flight info that it's terminal 4.

Last edited by dergon darkhelm; Jan 19, 2009 at 1:16 pm
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Old Jan 19, 2009 | 12:11 pm
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Originally Posted by dergon darkhelm
...If I take the Picadilly line to Heathrow can I hit T4 directly? I've been on the line a few times this weeken and trains all seem to say they go to Terminal 1,3,5....
Important! Different Trains Visit Different Terminals.
Since the opening of Terminal 5 on 27th March 2008, a rather complicated routing of Underground trains at Heathrow applies.
Crudely, there are two different routes that Underground trains take, if you are travelling to Terminal 4 or Terminal 5 make sure you board the right train!.
Trains normally alternate between the different routes, if yours is not the first train, the next Heathrow train will be.

* Route 1 (Terminal 4) - Incoming trains from London will branch off after Hatton Cross station to Terminal 4. After Terminal 4 the train loops around to Central (Terminals 1,2,3) before going back to London. These trains do not go to Terminal 5 and do not travel the other way from Central to Terminal 4.
* Route 2 (Terminal 5) - Incoming trains from London will go straight to Central (Terminals 1,2,3) before going onto Terminal 5 where the train terminates. After a short while the train will return to London the same way. These trains do not visit Terminal 4.
http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/lhr_underground.htm
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Old Jan 19, 2009 | 12:25 pm
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Thanks!

So ...... just use trial and error? Get on a train and if it isn't heading to T4 I have 20 stops to change to the next one?

Or is there signage?
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Old Jan 19, 2009 | 12:34 pm
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Originally Posted by dergon darkhelm
Thanks!

So ...... just use trial and error? Get on a train and if it isn't heading to T4 I have 20 stops to change to the next one?

Or is there signage?
IIRC there's an indication on the front of the train as to which line it is (I believe that it designates which terminals at Heathrow it services). The sign at the station (The one that indicates the next trains to arrive) should also list that. I don't recall if every station has those signs, though.

ETA: If you accidentally get on a Route 1 train you can get off at Hatton Cross and wait for the next Route 2 train. I believe that the conductor makes announcements w/r/t which train you're on and where it will stop at Heathrow.

Remember when boarding the Piccadilly line going to Heathrow do not get on a train bound for Uxbridge. The Heathrow trains say Heathrow on the front.

Last edited by Bonehead; Jan 19, 2009 at 12:56 pm
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Old Jan 19, 2009 | 12:52 pm
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Thanks again!
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Old Jan 19, 2009 | 12:57 pm
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T4 is a dump. I would avoid it as much as possible
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Old Jan 19, 2009 | 1:11 pm
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My wife is flying BF to LHR Friday, connecting to Emirates Business Class. I believe Emirates is in a different terminal (3?). Can she get to The Emirates departure gate without going thru Immingration and if not, how long should the transfer take?
Thanks
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Old Jan 19, 2009 | 1:34 pm
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She will connect through the Flight Connections Center, which will involve an airside transfer by bus from T4 to T3, and a security check. You don't just go from one gate to the other, if she follows Flight Connections signs she will be fine. They will print her EK boarding pass there if she doesn't already have one.
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Old Jan 19, 2009 | 3:06 pm
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Originally Posted by star_world
She will connect through the Flight Connections Center, which will involve an airside transfer by bus from T4 to T3, and a security check. You don't just go from one gate to the other, if she follows Flight Connections signs she will be fine. They will print her EK boarding pass there if she doesn't already have one.
Thank you.
Ed
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Old Jan 19, 2009 | 6:10 pm
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How is the BF service on the daytime EWR-LHR flight compared to the overnight service?
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Old Jan 19, 2009 | 8:32 pm
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Originally Posted by ohstewardess
How is the BF service on the daytime EWR-LHR flight compared to the overnight service?
I'm sure it's pretty much the same as on the daytime LHR-EWR flights. If you want examples of the menus, they are available on continental.com.
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