T5 arrivals experiences
Apr 14, 2021, 4:06 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: QF Plat & Partner Gold, QF Life Gold, SPG Gold , Hilton Gold, CO, MH, VS Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 95
T5 arrivals experiences
Hi All
has anyone arrived at T5 over the last couple of weeks? I’m arriving on Friday at 6.20am on the JAL flight and wondered what the immigration queue / wait time is like?
I’m assuming Fast Track is a covid casualty....
has anyone arrived at T5 over the last couple of weeks? I’m arriving on Friday at 6.20am on the JAL flight and wondered what the immigration queue / wait time is like?
I’m assuming Fast Track is a covid casualty....
Apr 14, 2021, 4:10 am
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Lots of people have arrived and it has often not been a great experience. See the thread in the UK forum.
See here:
Heathrow Airport seven-hour queues 'inhumane' at arrivals
See here:
Heathrow Airport seven-hour queues 'inhumane' at arrivals
Last edited by Prospero; Apr 14, 2021 at 5:22 am Reason: Merge consecutive posts
Apr 14, 2021, 3:08 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,237
It’s still being reported (see below). Based on the alerts my OH is seeing, early morning and late evening are the worst times.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56743571
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56743571
Apr 14, 2021, 9:16 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Home: East Mids UK - Work (Base): Accra, Ghana.
Programs: BAEC: Silver - Marriott: Titanium
Posts: 12,086
I have arrived back in the UK several times since January, all early morning (06:00-07:30) and had no issues at T5. I think the longest I waited was about 10 minutes.
Apr 15, 2021, 3:34 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Colchester, England
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 7
I arrived back via T5 on a Wednesday afternoon (1pm) and there was no queue for border control. I was through in 5 minutes with a few questions. To the best of my knowledge, all the horror stories involve T2.
Apr 15, 2021, 6:21 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Leicestershire / Dubai
Programs: BA Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite & Lifetime Gold, Heathrow Rewards Premium, Tesco Clubcard
Posts: 663
Arrived at T5 the other week and it was fine, but not sure if that is because I was in 1A and therefore one of the first to disembark.
I had all the necessary documentation ready for Border Force so was straight through. Others who were not prepared were faffing around trying to find documentation and holding others up.
I had all the necessary documentation ready for Border Force so was straight through. Others who were not prepared were faffing around trying to find documentation and holding others up.
Apr 15, 2021, 6:55 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: AA MM, AA EXP; OW Emerald, EK silver
Posts: 928
Thanks, nice to know. Pass through next Wednesday mid morning, hopefully my experience will be the same!
Apr 15, 2021, 6:59 am
#11
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: London N8
Programs: BA (LTG), Miles&More (whatever the lowest level is), Oyster card (zones 1-2)
Posts: 891
Apr 15, 2021, 9:28 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Home: East Mids UK - Work (Base): Accra, Ghana.
Programs: BAEC: Silver - Marriott: Titanium
Posts: 12,086
Arrived at T5 the other week and it was fine, but not sure if that is because I was in 1A and therefore one of the first to disembark.
I had all the necessary documentation ready for Border Force so was straight through. Others who were not prepared were faffing around trying to find documentation and holding others up.
I had all the necessary documentation ready for Border Force so was straight through. Others who were not prepared were faffing around trying to find documentation and holding others up.
Apr 16, 2021, 3:32 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: QF Plat & Partner Gold, QF Life Gold, SPG Gold , Hilton Gold, CO, MH, VS Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 95
Update
For anyone that’s interested....arrived at 6.20 this morning at T5. Border control were pretty fast (as was said above, people with their documents in order sailed through in a minute or so).
Added to JAL’s focus on fast bag delivery, I was out getting a cab within 30 mins of the doors opening.
Added to JAL’s focus on fast bag delivery, I was out getting a cab within 30 mins of the doors opening.