LHR T5 40 minute rule
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LHR T5 40 minute rule
A while back I got stuck in traffic and arrived at LHR T5 just in time for my flight to BRU – or so I thought. I was checked in online, hand baggage only. I tried to go through passport control 35 minutes before my flight – close but just in time – not. Apparently BA now put you down as a no show if you are not airside 40 minutes before departure.
This is all automated. When they scan the barcode on your boarding pass it posted me up as a no show and they send you to the check in desk. My flight wasn’t even boarding. The terminal was quiet and there was no queue for security. I could have easily been through security and sitting at the gate before the flight was called.
As it was I ended up having a futile conversation with the human tape recorder sitting at the check in desk who simply said I had been put down as a no show, my seat had been given to someone else, and I had to go to the sales desk. I continued the argument with the sales desk (by this time it was probably too late anyway) and to add insult to injury they told me that the flight was half empty so my seat hadn’t been given to someone else – it was just the system that doesn’t let you through after 40 minutes!
As I was on a no changes ticket and it was the last flight of the day I elected to jump back in the car and drive to Dover rather than pay a hotel and line BA’s pockets some more. As far as I am aware this is just a T5 thing. Not that I make a habit of it but it’s another element of flexibility taken out of BA’s offering. So be warned. I will fly BMI out of T1 in future. At least I have the option of running for the gate if I get stuck.
This is all automated. When they scan the barcode on your boarding pass it posted me up as a no show and they send you to the check in desk. My flight wasn’t even boarding. The terminal was quiet and there was no queue for security. I could have easily been through security and sitting at the gate before the flight was called.
As it was I ended up having a futile conversation with the human tape recorder sitting at the check in desk who simply said I had been put down as a no show, my seat had been given to someone else, and I had to go to the sales desk. I continued the argument with the sales desk (by this time it was probably too late anyway) and to add insult to injury they told me that the flight was half empty so my seat hadn’t been given to someone else – it was just the system that doesn’t let you through after 40 minutes!
As I was on a no changes ticket and it was the last flight of the day I elected to jump back in the car and drive to Dover rather than pay a hotel and line BA’s pockets some more. As far as I am aware this is just a T5 thing. Not that I make a habit of it but it’s another element of flexibility taken out of BA’s offering. So be warned. I will fly BMI out of T1 in future. At least I have the option of running for the gate if I get stuck.
Last edited by t1grm; 25th Jul 2012 at 17:28.
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you will have a job to fly BMI. they have been taken over by BA and once they figure out what they want to do you can be sure that all the BMI flights will be folded into BA ones out of T5. word is they are just keeping the flights going as they are for the moment whilst they decide which destinations to reallocate the precious heathrow slots to (the ones that make the most money!)
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It's called conformance and it was introduced as BA's on time performance was in the toilet at LHR. This - 35 minute rule was introduced when T5 was opened because of the sheer size of the complex. Your flight might be departing from T5C which even at a run still involves waiting for a train, bear in mind they want the gate shut nice and early. It also means a late passenger (s) needs a staff escort all the way back from T5 B/C as arrivals and departures are segregated? I think *some* leeway should be allowed for domestics which to my knowledge, reliably depart from 501-507 or thereabouts, certainly do-able in five minutes to the gate at speed.
Speaking of on time pressure, my Brussels Airlines departure out of LHR pushed at ETD -12 last Saturday , I was last man on with 15 minutes to go, and the Emirates on stand next to me at Glasgow last night was also pushed a quarter of an hour early.
Speaking of on time pressure, my Brussels Airlines departure out of LHR pushed at ETD -12 last Saturday , I was last man on with 15 minutes to go, and the Emirates on stand next to me at Glasgow last night was also pushed a quarter of an hour early.
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Conformance is not just designed to give you enough time to get to the aircraft, it's also designed to allow BA enough time to offload your bag if you don't make it without delaying the flight.
OK, but only a minority of flights actually depart from T5C, there are plenty from the main building which do not even involve the silly train. As there are walking times shown around Heathrow's terminals of different times to get to the various gates, why can't there be variable conformance times as well ?
As I understood it, the whole conformance thing at T5 (and only T5) at Heathrow) was introduced as a "spite" by BAA on BA, when the latter complained to the CAA about short-staffing at the T5 security checks, leading to excessive departure delays.
As I understood it, the whole conformance thing at T5 (and only T5) at Heathrow) was introduced as a "spite" by BAA on BA, when the latter complained to the CAA about short-staffing at the T5 security checks, leading to excessive departure delays.
Last edited by WHBM; 26th Jul 2012 at 15:42.
my Brussels Airlines departure out of LHR pushed at ETD -12 last Saturday , I was last man on with 15 minutes to go, and the Emirates on stand next to me at Glasgow last night was also pushed a quarter of an hour early.
At one domestic station he leant on the station staff so much that he departed significantly ahead of schedule.
On the taxi out, company called to say that a passenger had turned up on time but missed the flight due early push.
Back to the terminal to pick up passenger followed by a (now) late departure.
Didn't know whether to
or 
I know it is a bit of a thread move but to be honest I do not think i have ever had an on time push back at LHR never mind an early one. I usually despair when getting an early puch back and taxi for early departure en route to LHR cos it ends up waiting for a stand at LHR for what seems like an age.
I do however smile when we get going early out of or inbound Bristol with EZY - then you can really can say early away and early in! And this has happened more often than not in my fairly recent experience.
Nivsy
I do however smile when we get going early out of or inbound Bristol with EZY - then you can really can say early away and early in! And this has happened more often than not in my fairly recent experience.
Nivsy
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The bigger the airport, the less flexibility possible in all aspects of the passenger experience. As a 'constant flyer', I have consistently had the best customer experiences at medium-sized and small airports. Sadly, places like Heathrow are just tooooooooo big for their own good, the variety of destinations notwithstanding.
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Just a question, but is this 35/40 minute cutoff based on the scheduled time of departure listed on your boarding pass, or on an updated time of departure currently shown for the flight? Given the frequency with which planes are delayed, it would seem crazy to cancel your reservation based simply on the originally scheduled departure time. And given how hopelessly optimistic delayed flight departure times are listed, that too would seem quite unfair.
It's a cut-off
SIAll.
It's a cut-off! If you're so tight time on time you're questioning whether it's Sched ETD or actual you're much better off not wasting any more time and going to a Customer Service desk and seeing what they can do for you.
I should think that although sophisticated, it ain't that sophisticated and will rely on the Sched ETD. In fact I've been told that it's actually a 37 minute cut-off but remember you're dealing with 'security' here and they'll have no leeway if your boarding card doesn't swipe green.
S
It's a cut-off! If you're so tight time on time you're questioning whether it's Sched ETD or actual you're much better off not wasting any more time and going to a Customer Service desk and seeing what they can do for you.
I should think that although sophisticated, it ain't that sophisticated and will rely on the Sched ETD. In fact I've been told that it's actually a 37 minute cut-off but remember you're dealing with 'security' here and they'll have no leeway if your boarding card doesn't swipe green.
S
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That's not my point. Sometimes the airline will announce hours ahead that a flight will be departing late (I've received such texts). I may have already printed out my boarding pass at home. Does this cut-off policy mean that unless I still arrive at security 37 mimutes before the originally scheduled departure time I am screwed? If this is the case, what purpose is there in airlines ever telling you there will be a delay?
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I'd imagine that security have some kind of real time database which is checked whenever a boarding card is scanned. If a flight is leaving on time then passengers running late will not be allowed through. If a flight is delayed by an hour or less then it may already be assumed that all passengers would be be airside already and checked in at the normal time. If there is a very long delay which results in the airline keeping check in open for longer (say a delay of around 4 or 5 hours where passengers are informed in advance and advised to turn up later) then security will stay open for longer allowing everyone to get through in reasonable time.
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Sygyzy: no harm, no foul. It's just that given the time variability with which a flight actually does close its door, and given the very long lines at landside check-in desks and with security, I would very much prefer to have the option of sorting out my issues (such as they may evolve) from the airside of the airport and not out by the street. In general, I would think that this would give me more options.
In any event, thanks for the heads-up. I shall not be dawdling landside when I next visit LHR.
In any event, thanks for the heads-up. I shall not be dawdling landside when I next visit LHR.
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Fine except I was travelling hand luggage only. I could understand if they stopped you dropping luggage off 40 mins before a flight.
Edit: This was a response to post 6. How do I quote other posts?
Edit: This was a response to post 6. How do I quote other posts?
Last edited by t1grm; 2nd Aug 2012 at 10:20.
OK, but only a minority of flights actually depart from T5C, there are plenty from the main building which do not even involve the silly train
Having said that I'm not a fan of the -35 minute rule either, but as SKipness 1E rightly said " BA's on time performance was in the toilet at LHR".
Was once on a BA 747 departing Heathrow where on taxi out it was discovered there was a bag mismatch, over to remote stand, nearly 60 minutes to get the GSE back in place to get the bag out.