Thank you all. This has been an incredibly cathartic thread. You have all mentioned each and every reason I so thoroughly despise this hell hole to the very bottom of my soul. I'm typically through there a couple of times each month, and as I read this thread , I sat here vehemently shaking my head and loudly proclaiming "Yes, Yes, my god.... absolutely spot on!." (good thing I'm home alone!)

That being said, for some inexplicable reason, I continue to go back for even more abuse. It is somewhat disturbing when one discovers he has masochistic tendencies so late in life. Perhaps a 12 step program is in order.

I'm trying to even picture it. I've been there so many times, but I'm so exhausted by the time we arrive that I am in a daze. And then we go to some many airports around the same time they are all a blur. I do recall the ticket counter being a madhouse with lines a mile long, but where doesn't have that now?

And when we flew out of Gatwick on Easyjet last summer I can tell you that it looked like some half demolished parking garage and made Heathrow look regal. I think they were either still builing the Easyjet wing, remodeling it or something, but it was a construction zone where you just run to the counter with no discernable lines and a million people pushing to get to the front. Worst airport experience yet I think.

how very much I agree with all of you!
:) pcf

hate it!

the last time i flew through heathrow, I had priority line status at security and found the priority line took 2x as long to go through...of course we missed our connection even though I asked if we could move up as we would miss our plane...and of course we did...

fortunately i've been able to avoid it and go with AMS instead.

AMS is indeed a wonderful airport. It's just a shame it's home to such a poor airline!

I hate transferring there, but love to watch the hustle. I try to enjoy ever moment.

Agreed with that lot. LHR is a third-world, run-down, overcrowded dump. Checking in at the Malaysian counters I felt like I was in some third-world secondary airport, not a major world city.

Schiphol, OTOH - now there's how to do a large-scale, world-class airport. Its only problem is the slow luggage handling.

Neil

Well, you've named the only two American airports I would rank behind LHR. Airports in the States that are far, far nicer than LHR: DEN, DTW, MSP, SFO, IAH, even EWR.

When I was younger I really enjoyed the bustle and variety of LHR. Now I find ways to avoid Heathrow at all costs. The rat's nest/labyrinthine/disrepaired aesthetic of the place is sort of fascinating -- like something from the movie "Brazil" -- but I don't care if I never see it up close again. LHR is a big part of why I stopped flying BA.

It's bad. Real bad.

Having waited an hour today for my bag (delays due to "overcrowded ramps and insufficient resources": translation, BAA needs to hire more baggage handlers), I would say I hate it, for that and most of the other reasons listed above. The FCC is probably highest on my list, followed by the ridiculous carryon restriction and then the interminable walks to get anywhere. Honorable mention to the remote gates and the buses that never come to them.

Calling LHR a zoo is giving zoos a bad name. What a disgrace.

I just transferred from SAA to UA (T2-T3) a couple of days ago. Jeezus.

First you have to contend with the retarded one-carry on rule before security at the connection centre.

7 am, hundreds of Japanese ladies, backpackers from Joburg, grandmas from Bangalore who thought they could bring on their duty free bag WITH their handbag are all crouched on the floor trying to fit everything in ONE bag. Chaos. Of course some can't. There's crying. There's frustration. There's sweaty anger. These people have flown 12 hours, they're tired, they don't argue well. Some say screw it and tie bag 2 to bag 1 calling it one bag. Others hide bag 2 under their clothes. Others pile bag 2 on top of bag 1 pretending it's one bag. All of the above is valid, apparently.

The stupidass goon in charge of letting people through couldn't understand a policy if it hit him on the head. I personally wanted to hit him. Seriously, I did. He just stood there with that fat inbred expressionless Carling-impregnated face letting some people through, some not. It made no sense.

Then of course there are smartass twits like me who argue with the goon: why are you letting THAT guy through with 2 bags and *I* can't bring my duty free bag through? Why? No, really, WHY??? Pleae explain. Retarded.

Then there is the horrendous security line. 3 X-Ray machines at the damn centre for 10 47s that land at the same time. An hour.

Then there is the damn bus that takes you to T3 though the pretty bowels of the airport.( the ride takes 5 minutes in English, 10 minutes, in French:confused: ).

This airport is an absolute MESS.

LHR being what it has become is the main reason why I've shifted a good amount of my long-haul travels away from OneWorld carriers and toward other carriers.

.... and for all the greatness of LHR, we'll soon be able to pay more for it too as the UK government doubles the UK APD tax.

Heathrow
 

I avoid Heathrow at all costs. It is one of the worst terminals to transit that I encounter and it is one of the most expensive too. I fly direct to all the European cities I wish to visit now and transit within Europe to those I cannot reach directly. Schiphol leaves Heathrow for dead. I now no longer fly BA for the same reason and don't really miss them either.

So, am I in for a treat as I fly BA MAN-LHR on a Friday afternoon, then LHR-BRU the following Saturday late morning? Seriously, how early do I have to get to T4 on Saturday for a 10am departure? (AA EXP if that helps)

I wouldn't even consider flying either of those! The train is much better.