Heathrow T5A - T5B British Airways

[Dewi Madden]

Hi there,

Just a quick question.

I am flying into London Heathrow from Manchester on a Shuttle from Manchester on July 14th to then fly from EGLL-CYYC on BA0103. I was wondering (As it is not very clear) how I get from Terminal 5A to Terminal 5B which is a completely separate building.

If someone could let me know I would appreciate it as the Heathrow T5 maps are not very clear.

Thanks

[CaptainDoony]

Hi,

It's really pretty easy. Based on my ABZ experiences, you get off the MAN a/c and there should be a desk for connections just as you get out of the jet bridge.

There is an underground people mover that connects the satellites (B &C) to the. Main building. The train is well signposted within the terminal and is pretty much impossible to miss. You won't need to worry about going outside and getting busses or anything, it's really a stress free and simple connecting experience. :ok:

[Dewi Madden]

Thanks very much for your quick reply. Sounds nice and easy.

Thanks again.

[Currock Base]

The BA103 can go from T5A, B or C and it varies from day to day. The Flight Information Displays will tell you where to go. Don't leave T5A until the screen indicates which gate.

[giblets]

Stupid question maybe, but why not extend this underground people mover to T1/2/3 for Transfers? Certainly make a lot of sense over a bus round the houses.

[Devils Martini]

Money, I expect!

[Fairdealfrank]

Quote: "Stupid question maybe, but why not extend this underground people mover to T1/2/3? Certainly make a lot of sense over a bus round the houses."

Yes, it is common sense, particularly linking up oneworld carriers BA and IB in LHR5 and the rest in LHR3. Perhaps when LHR1/2 is completed and LHR3 is rebuilt.....

[giblets]

The the people mover seems like it's halfway there already, clearly T4 would be a bit further, but makes even more sense bearing in mind the distance they have to travel round the outside.

[ara01jbb]

One hopes that with the acquisition of BD, BA and BAA are seriously reconsidering which terminals they will be using. If the fuel farm were re-located, and a further satellite (T5D) were constructed, could BA fit all it's newly enlarged operations within the one terminal?

Before veering off-topic completely, if the OP fancies stretching his or her legs, the people mover is complimented by this pedestrian tunnel between the satellite terminals:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3644/5789471128_05d8a86ff9_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/businesstraveller/5789471128/)
Tunnel between T5C and T5B (http://www.flickr.com/photos/businesstraveller/5789471128/) by businesstraveller (http://www.flickr.com/people/businesstraveller/), on Flickr

[Heathrow Harry]

wow! only 32 years after Atlanta showed the way to go with a modern airport layout...................................

[edi_local]

You should be check in all the way through at MAN so all you need to do at LHR is walk off one plane, hang around for a bit, keeping an eye on the screens and then head off to the next gate. The gate numbers will appear roughly one hour before departure time, and like others have said definitely do not get on the train unless your gate number is in one of the satellite buildings!

I am told that when the new T2 opens it will also have a similar underground train which will link the satellite buildings (one of which is already in use as gates 31-47 in T1, but at the moment involves a long walk!). Perhaps that will be linked up to the T5 system in time...although at the moment you do also have the Underground which links the terminals in only 3 stops as well as the Heathrow Express and Connect services so there is probably not much room for another train service under Heathrow, although one which serves airside and transit passengers would be nice!

[Fairdealfrank]

Quote: "The the people mover seems like it's halfway there already, clearly T4 would be a bit further, but makes even more sense bearing in mind the distance they have to travel round the outside."

Quote: "One hopes that with the acquisition of BD, BA and BAA are seriously reconsidering which terminals they will be using. If the fuel farm were re-located, and a further satellite (T5D) were constructed, could BA fit all it's newly enlarged operations within the one terminal?"

Suspect (hope) that this the long term plan, with a link to the rebuilt LHR1/2 and LHR3. A link to LHR4 might be more problematic.

For now, between LHR5 or LHR4 and LHR1/2/3, take the train it's free, the tube costs.

Quote: "Before veering off-topic completely, if the OP fancies stretching his or her legs, the people mover is complimented by this pedestrian tunnel between the satellite terminals:"

Is that the emergency evacuation route, ara01jbb? Good photo!

[Currock Base]

You only need to take the train if you are landside. Airside there is a good bus network for transfers.

[Fairdealfrank]

Quote: "You only need to take the train if you are landside. Airside there is a good bus network for transfers."

Yes, sorry, should have made that clear!!

Many do the landside transfer by bus (also free) rather than by train where it's a case of just using the lifts.

Who knows why: it takes much longer, they're exposed to the elements and potential traffic jams, and they have to lug baggage on and off buses that are not designed for it.

[ara01jbb]

Is that the emergency evacuation route, ara01jbb? Good photo

Not my photo, sadly. A journo from Business Traveller found it before being flown out on the inaugural LHR-SAN press junket. I don't think it's emergency only, but it has quite an incline on it to pass beneath the taxiways between the satellites.

Given that the architectural and planning quality of most major public infrastructure jobs in the UK get gradually valued engineered out of the equation, I'm delighted to see LHR's tangle gradually be rationalised with the "toast rack" of T5, T2/LHR-East and hopefully T3 as well. As edi_local has reminded me, it's also quite incredible to see that T1 gates 31-47 (opened in 1996?) will indeed become the northern half of LHR-East's satellite terminal. Who thought such sensible forward planning would be possible in this country? :D

[Skipness One Echo]

Gates 47-49 only opened in early 2010 or thereabouts,31-33 some time later. These are stands 247-249 and 231-233 of the new T2 satellite building and were needed for capacity as the southern wide body gates on the Europier were closed. They are currently linked by the Europier to T1, but this newish part of T1 will be demolished before T2 is opened and the new transit system in in play.

[Fairdealfrank]

Quote: "I'm delighted to see LHR's tangle gradually be rationalised with the "toast rack" of T5, T2/LHR-East and hopefully T3 as well."

Yes, this is essential to make the best use of limited space.

Quote: "Gates 47-49 only opened in early 2010 or thereabouts,31-33 some time later. These are stands 247-249 and 231-233 of the new T2 satellite building and were needed for capacity as the southern wide body gates on the Europier were closed. They are currently linked by the Europier to T1, but this newish part of T1 will be demolished before T2 is opened and the new transit system in in play."

AFAIK, the existing LHR1 will be demolished once the new LHR2 is open and will be rebuilt as part of a new LHR1/2. Without this, the new LHR2 would not be big enough.

After this, logically, LHR3 would also need to be rebuilt and "toast racked" to make the best use of space and to fit in with LHR1/2 and in particular to be aligned with LHR5. In these circumstances, there could see some "satelite sharing" between the 2 oneworld terminals (LHR3 and LHR5) if the transit is extended.

[Skipness One Echo]

Hi Frank, the quote function is second from the end on the RHS when you reply. Copy (CTR+C) what you want to quote then tap the QUOTE function then paste (CTR+V) what you copied into the middle.
VOILA :
AFAIK, the existing LHR1 will be demolished once the new LHR2 is open and will be rebuilt as part of a new LHR1/2. Without this, the new LHR2 would not be big enough.
Once the new T2 is open, T1 is coming down to allow T2 to be extended. Indeed the North wall of the new terminal bulding looks to be temporary.

[EISNN]

Once the new T2 is open, T1 is coming down to allow T2 to be extended. Indeed the North wall of the new terminal bulding looks to be temporary.


When you say T1 do you mean all of T1 or just part of it? I'm not familiar enough with LHR as I used to be and I'm curious to know if they are going to knock the entire metal tubing that is T1 and stiffling hot during the summer. The memories of flying back and forth to Ireland in the 90's and early 00's.

[ara01jbb]

When you say T1 do you mean all of T1 or just part of it? I'm not familiar enough with LHR as I used to be and I'm curious to know if they are going to knock the entire metal tubing that is T1 and stiffling hot during the summer. The memories of flying back and forth to Ireland in the 90's and early 00's.

The diagrams at the bottom of this newspaper image should explain the sequence:

http://im.media.ft.com/content/images/ea079178-598b-11e1-8d36-00144feabdc0.img?width=961&height=726&title=&desc=

The old T2 having been demolished, the southern half of the new "LHR-East" / T2A is now under construction. When complete, T1 will be demolished. The northern half of the new terminal will then be built in its place. The existing stands 247-249 and 231-233 (the furthest reaches of the current T1) will become the northern half of satellite terminal 2B parallel to the new "LHR-East" / T2A. I'm not sure whether a further satellite T2C (as shown in the diagram) is certain to be built or not, but LHR surely needs it.

What will remain is a significant improvement: one large terminal ("LHR-East" / T2A) and one or maybe two parallel satellites (T2B and T2C) perpendicular to the runways. The satellite(s) will be connected by an underground tunnel / people mover, allowing for a full sized taxiway between them.

Whether T3 ever gets rebuilt like this is another matter...

[airsmiles]

wow! only 32 years after Atlanta showed the way to go with a modern airport layout

Atlanta is one of the worst airports in the USA! Why string out all of the terminals in a line from the front door? Why the ridiculous security check after collecting your bags on arrival? The catering is rubbish and TSA/immigration 'welcome' diabolical. There are many better airports in the USA than Atlanta.

[pwalhx]

Would it not also be fair to say Atlanta benefits from one thing Heathrow does not .. space?

[edi_local]

I certainly hope LHR ends up looking like those images as it is one of the most confusing airports to get around. T5 is a dream, T4 is also ok, T3 I have never used, but have heard mixed things about it and T1 is more or less an abomination at the moment.

The general layout does not follow any logic at all and is not at all pleasant to use. They have gate 2 next to 8 and 77-84 next to 5, and then Gates 16-21 are between 77-84 and 39-47. Even on the new bit which will become T2 doesn't make a lot of sense as they are numbered 47A,B, 48, 49 and then it switches to 31 and starts to count down again until you get the old Europier and you see gate 41 next to 39!!!! :mad:

It makes no sense, it's no wonder passengers get lost and miss flights. I say these things about T1 from both a passenger and staff point of view! I know it's the oldest living terminal at the moment but it really is the best example of BAA's lack of organisation and general "that'll do" approach to some of their airports!

My only gripe would be that if LHR is reduced to 3 mega-terminals (or 2 mega terminals and T4) that they will surely renumber them to just be 1, 2 and 3 and not have 2, 4 and 5 which would just be stupid.

[Skipness One Echo]

The general layout does not follow any logic at all and is not at all pleasant to use. They have gate 2 next to 8 and 77-84 next to 5, and then Gates 16-21 are between 77-84 and 39-47. Even on the new bit which will become T2 doesn't make a lot of sense as they are numbered 47A,B, 48, 49 and then it switches to 31 and starts to count down again until you get the old Europier and you see gate 41 next to 39!!!!

The gates are based on the stand numbers, however in T1 it was changed as per below :
Gate 1 was BMI serving Stand 102
Gate 5 was the BA lounge serving Stands 101, 103, 105
Gate 7 also serves Stand 105
Gate 8 is the BMI lounge area and serves :
8A Stand 104
8B Stand 106
8C Stand 109
8D Stand 108
8E Stand 110
8F Stand 112

The "old Novembers" is the steel construct for the Irish and some domestic flights now used by T1 international. They are gates 174-192, of which 188 onwards is now used by Terminal 3 and has had the airbridges removed.
Confused? See the link below.
http://www.ead.eurocontrol.int/eadbasic/pamslight-2BB3043229844628920922115CA2F967/7FE5QZZF3FXUS/EN/Charts/AD/NON_AIRAC/EG_AD_2_EGLL_2-7_en_2012-05-31.pdf

The new bit is only half built remember, so the West side will run Gate 31-39 and the East side 41-49. At the moment we have 31-33 and 47-49 in use, with both 33 and 47 able to have two narrow bodies parked so they have two gates. It's easier to see the stands on the chart as they are 233L and 233R, 247L and 247R. These stands can either have one heavy aircraft like a B747 or two smaller aircraft like an A320. Hope that helps a little.....
T3 is the same where some of the A380 gates are split so they can park two smaller aircraft.

[Fairdealfrank]

Quote: "Hi Frank, the quote function is second from the end on the RHS when you reply. Copy (CTR+C) what you want to quote then tap the QUOTE function then paste (CTR+V) what you copied into the middle."

Thanks for that, Skipness, can never get it to work!

Excellent "before" and "after" diagrams from ara01jbb,the "messy sprawl" in the "before" diagram clearly shows how the original constructions had to fit in with the rwy patterns of the old RAF airfield. In the "after" diagram, LHR2 looks a very odd shape and appears to have no landside! Poor old LHR3 has disappeared altogether.

Quote: "My only gripe would be that if LHR is reduced to 3 mega-terminals (or 2 mega terminals and T4) that they will surely renumber them to just be 1, 2 and 3 and not have 2, 4 and 5 which would just be stupid."

It's entirely possible that by the time this is all done, that LHR1 and LHR3 will be the two terminals in the expanded LHR north of the A4, near rwys 10L/28R and 10R/28L. Flying pigs anyone?

[airsmiles]

Would it not also be fair to say Atlanta benefits from one thing Heathrow does not .. space?

Yes, that's true and a valid benefit to the airport operator and airline users. However, the fact remains that from a passenger point of view Atlanta is significantly worse than some others.