I'm wondering how bad it really is? I also saw these videos about lines in Heathrow, this seems quite unreal I'm having second thoughts if I made the right decision to transit through LHR. I hope T5 isn't going to be this bad!
I don't think anyone can answer that question yet. Heathrow has been "that bad." It was a nightmare for us last Spring, and others have testified to their experiences there also.
I'm sure everyone is hoping that the opening of Terminal 5 will solve most of the problems, but we'll all just have to wait and see.
I was disappointed to learn that AA now will be abandoning Gatwick and transferring all their arrivals and departures to Heathrow. Gatwick was SO much easier to deal with!
In its most recent edition, The Economist described Heathrow as "a torture chamber." I would agree!
However, if you've already booked tix thru LHR, relax and forget about it. I've been thru LHR many times and would do it again if it fit my overall travel plans. Just lower your expectations to the basement, and you won't be disapppointed. (My other advice for traveling thru LHR is to dress in removable layers, since in unexpectedly warm weather, the terminals can feel like saunas).
My daughter is due to fly out through Terminal 5 the day after it opens, which should be interesting - their group hasn't been able to identify a meeting place yet! However, there are lots of check in desks - it is newly designed to cope with the mass of passengers that they get. They will be trying very hard, since all eyes will be on them - BAA (the airport owners) are nobody's favourite people at the moment.
Terminal 4, which is newer than T1,2,3 has served, until now, mostly BA, and has always been a much, much better experience than the T1-3: older and never designed to cope with the quantities of people that they have to cope with. Also, as soon as permission was granted for Terminal 5 (and that is a whole other heap of contention - I am a local resident ) they stopped spending money on the other Terminals and it showed - I have been ashamed to see the sight that greets passengers when arriving, in terms of tattiness,inadequate staffing and long treks from the gate.
Security fears have a played a part in departing passenger issues - they started telling passengers to arrive a great deal earlier to check in, in order to carry out more stringent security checks - but without providing more space to wait or sufficient extra staff to clear people through.
I do hope that Terminal 5 has been designed to plan these problems out.
Posts: 925 | Location: London, UK | Registered: 20 September 2006
We don't think so. We have flown thru Heathrow (and always with British Airways) at least 26 times in the last 8 years and we have had no problems. Granted that in the last few years we have flown Club World and can go thru FastTrack - transitioning has been a breeze.
We are looking forward to Terminal 5 for our flight a month from tomorrow. In talking with one of the flight attendants last January on our flight home (they had a walk through just a few days prior), Terminal 5 is fabulous.
And by the way, we have had no problem with our luggage.
Posts: 471 | Location: san francisco but so excited being in Venezia for the holidays!! | Registered: 22 April 2005
I love Heathrow airport myself and Heathrow 5 looks great. There are bound to be teethign problems but Terminal 5 should help to alleviate some of the crowd problems in Heathrow other terminals. I wouldn't hesitate to fly in or out of Heathrow anytime as the facilities are excellent.
I've only done Terminals 1, 2 and 3, but all of my experiences have been bearable. I know it might be different if I had been there during a weather event like that Christmas-time fog a couple years ago.
It does sound like T5 is having some problems. I would not check luggage if using T5, at least until it's clear that the situation has drastically improved.
Also from the Telegraph, a poetic jab at BA and BAA by columnist Craig Brown called "Mayhem at Heathrow." Entertaining enough that it just might produce a few chuckles from those who have experienced delays on any airline!
Cindy ~ "Follow your Bliss." Find where it is, and don't be afraid to follow it. ~ Joseph Campbell
Posts: 767 | Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA | Registered: 16 November 2005
I'm having second thoughts if I made the right decision to transit through LHR. I hope T5 isn't going to be this bad!
) they stopped spending money on the other Terminals and it showed - I have been ashamed to see the sight that greets passengers when arriving, in terms of tattiness,inadequate staffing and long treks from the gate.
