Chaos at Terminal 5
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Middlesesx
Posts: 2,075
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not strictly correct BA have had a team involved from the outset within the group building and ITing the systems. The problem is that there are few systems on offer and all promise the user the earth and always fail to deliver, not unlike those companies that make the aircraft, and the airlines that fly them. We are now well into a culture of offering services that do not meet requirements or expectations. Nothing new here then?
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
Age: 42
Posts: 6,168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Had no wait to check my case in, no delay and very efficient through security. Lots of room in the departures area
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: London
Age: 58
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Skipness One Echo
Proof of the pudding is when the bulk of Terminal 4 long haul moves across.
It was the T4 flights to Basel or longhaul that were the huge PITA, with the insane queues to check-in and then more queues to enter the shopping mall. It's those flights that need to show a radical improvement in the LHR experience before T5 can be truly deemed a success.
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Outside the EU on a small Island
Age: 79
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It was the T4 flights to Basel or longhaul that were the huge PITA, with the insane queues to check-in and then more queues to enter the shopping mall. It's those flights that need to show a radical improvement in the LHR experience before T5 can be truly deemed a success.
] and Security were dire.Adding the collection of long-haul pax [350 per flight?] from T4 to T5 could make life quite interesting, I guess.
Good to hear simfly had a painless T5 experience, though. Perhaps it's actually beginning to function!
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Painless at T5
Went through T5 on Tuesday, as I had a meeting in Colnbrook and its easier than driving from oop north.
No probs getting off the aircraft and plenty of people in blue t-shirts offering help for taxi routes etc.
On returning to the airport for the flight home, trouble free run through security and transit to the gate, although the x-ray machines were a pain with some pax really taking the pi$$ on hand baggage. These things are bl**dy suitcases! Sort it out.
Didn't have time for anything other than a quick walk past the shops before the flight was called and we went through another security check and normal gate procedure. Flight pushed back on time, but the 20 min taxi was slightly tedious before take-off.
Having said all this, I was just commuting in and out and with a briefcase only. Might be different with real luggage!
Overall thumbs up and a definite improvement on T1, but will wait and see with my other two trips this year if the experience is still positive.
No probs getting off the aircraft and plenty of people in blue t-shirts offering help for taxi routes etc.
On returning to the airport for the flight home, trouble free run through security and transit to the gate, although the x-ray machines were a pain with some pax really taking the pi$$ on hand baggage. These things are bl**dy suitcases! Sort it out.
Didn't have time for anything other than a quick walk past the shops before the flight was called and we went through another security check and normal gate procedure. Flight pushed back on time, but the 20 min taxi was slightly tedious before take-off.
Having said all this, I was just commuting in and out and with a briefcase only. Might be different with real luggage!
Overall thumbs up and a definite improvement on T1, but will wait and see with my other two trips this year if the experience is still positive.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: East in the hills
Age: 61
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
New T5 advert
Anyone seen the new T5 spoof on youtube
Now you know where all the PAX bags went
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=sNlEpk...eature=related
Now you know where all the PAX bags went
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=sNlEpk...eature=related
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
T4 move?
What's the date for this action, and is it likely to one mass move or a slow trickle??
Agree will be interesting once BA gets all in flights in one basket....oooppss sorry not going to happen...T5 TOO SMALL !!!
Agree will be interesting once BA gets all in flights in one basket....oooppss sorry not going to happen...T5 TOO SMALL !!!
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: London
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Taffy, the move is scheduled for April 30 when a further 20% of BA flights move from T4 to T5. The difference this time is that it's long-haul which means (obviously) more pax and more baggage. There was a time that they were considering putting off the move, but sounds like the various parties have sorted things out.
You can find out more about it here.
I'm not sure whether that leaves any BA flights in T4, but I agree that even with the size of T5 it's amazing (or should that be irritating) that they can't fit them all in. I want T5 for my trip to Australia, not T3!
You can find out more about it here.
I'm not sure whether that leaves any BA flights in T4, but I agree that even with the size of T5 it's amazing (or should that be irritating) that they can't fit them all in. I want T5 for my trip to Australia, not T3!
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: germany
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
will go through T5 next tuesday. what about the luggage
Hi,
I'm going to use T5 next tuesday morning for the first time.
As I'll be only for 30h at my destination until proceedding further on, I hope that baggage handling is sorted out until then...
Nevertheless, I'll stick to my habit to have a 2day survival-kit in the cabin bag.
Having only one seriously bad experience using BA last year (security queues outside the building 4 times the distance between entrance 1 and 3 at T4), I'll be happy if it works like during the remaining experience (>10 departs from LHR without problems except delay < 1h).
I'll let you know.
Chris
I'm going to use T5 next tuesday morning for the first time.
As I'll be only for 30h at my destination until proceedding further on, I hope that baggage handling is sorted out until then...
Nevertheless, I'll stick to my habit to have a 2day survival-kit in the cabin bag.
Having only one seriously bad experience using BA last year (security queues outside the building 4 times the distance between entrance 1 and 3 at T4), I'll be happy if it works like during the remaining experience (>10 departs from LHR without problems except delay < 1h).
I'll let you know.
Chris
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
Age: 42
Posts: 6,168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's not 20% of the BA operation due to more on the 30-Apr it's around HALF. There are many threads on here and other sites on this matter, leaves Bangkok, Singapore and Sydney at T4 until next year when they join the B757 fleet at T3
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Bridgnorth UK
Age: 54
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
T5 Luggage
Hi Zarfbeam
Having been through T5 4 times (in 1 week) I experienced no problems whatsoever.
-Helpful pleasant staff
-No delay at checkin
-No delay at fast bag drop
-On time departure (well we were closed up ready but waited for ATC - std LHR stuff really)
The return trips were uneventful (apart from some muppet leaving the jetway out of position - result steps and a quick walk in).
A very positive experience - Willies champagne bar is rather good too, especially with no long haul PAX filling up the lounge.
Enjoy
Just to put all the other comments into perspective, I had to wait 20 mins last night for a Swiss flight to get from the runway onto stand. LHR is still the same overcrowded little airport.
Having been through T5 4 times (in 1 week) I experienced no problems whatsoever.
-Helpful pleasant staff
-No delay at checkin
-No delay at fast bag drop
-On time departure (well we were closed up ready but waited for ATC - std LHR stuff really)
The return trips were uneventful (apart from some muppet leaving the jetway out of position - result steps and a quick walk in).
A very positive experience - Willies champagne bar is rather good too, especially with no long haul PAX filling up the lounge.
Enjoy
Just to put all the other comments into perspective, I had to wait 20 mins last night for a Swiss flight to get from the runway onto stand. LHR is still the same overcrowded little airport.
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Outside the EU on a small Island
Age: 79
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
At 1737 today I received an email from BA telling me that "all or part" of my booked flight to IAD will now be going through T4 instead of T5.
I'm not sure which is Terminal is worst, but at least they're letting the paying punters know what's going on, and for that I'm grateful.
As for the rest of the LHR operation, there's going to be blood on the carpets before this story is complete
I'm not sure which is Terminal is worst, but at least they're letting the paying punters know what's going on, and for that I'm grateful.
As for the rest of the LHR operation, there's going to be blood on the carpets before this story is complete
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Waterworld
Age: 63
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Can you remember this?
Wonder if any of you can remember this far back? The calm before the storm as the chaos was brewing in the bowls of the beast. You really must watch this clip, if not just for Sir Colin Marshall, head of BAA who calls WW 'Willie Welsh'!!!! What a clutts! Hilarious, maybe 6am was a little early for his lordship to get the grey matter all lined up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frRZy2rtAzY&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frRZy2rtAzY&NR=1
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Waterworld
Age: 63
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Minister speaks out
Today (12 Apr 08) Tessa Jowell Minister stated the following;
No doubt the place is a running joke, much to our shame the fiasco rolls on and on. The sooner those at the top accept accountability and resign, the sooner the staff may feel empowered to actually start making a difference.
The shambles at Heathrow Airport's new Terminal 5 has damaged the capital and is costing the city international business
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Waterworld
Age: 63
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Terminal 5
Martin |Broughton breaks silence in todays Telegraph, say's Willie has to the end of June to get it right. Jokes about giving his confidence in Willie is the last act before he exits. Willie your on notice, as if you didn't know!
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: London
Age: 58
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Kate Moss received an instant compensation payment of £10,000 after being caught up in the Heathrow Terminal 5 chaos.
After arriving in Los Angeles following a flight with BA, the supermodel was horrified to discover that the airline had lost eight of her suitcases.
Included in the lost luggage was Moss's secret new Topshop clothing range, which she had brought to the States for a photoshoot.
A source told the Sunday Mirror: "Kate was caught up in the appalling scenes at T5 and just like thousands of other people experienced first hand the incompetence of BA. But unlike the rest of us, BA staff were fawning all over her. They paid £10,000 right away."
Six of Kate's cases have since been found and returned to her. She will return to London tomorrow following her two-week visit to the US.
After arriving in Los Angeles following a flight with BA, the supermodel was horrified to discover that the airline had lost eight of her suitcases.
Included in the lost luggage was Moss's secret new Topshop clothing range, which she had brought to the States for a photoshoot.
A source told the Sunday Mirror: "Kate was caught up in the appalling scenes at T5 and just like thousands of other people experienced first hand the incompetence of BA. But unlike the rest of us, BA staff were fawning all over her. They paid £10,000 right away."
Six of Kate's cases have since been found and returned to her. She will return to London tomorrow following her two-week visit to the US.
Well I guess BA desperately need to hold on to any First/Business customers still wishing to fly with them ...
