A thread for updates and anecdotes related to LHR arrivals
Discussion
Thought i'd start what is intended to be a running thread for people to contribute to and check, so they can advise their taxi companies or relatives about the current (as current as possible) situation in London Heathrow arrivals, customs, baggage reclaim etc.
So, has anyone been through LHR T5 in the past 24 hrs? any feedback please?
Cheers all - happy travels.
So, has anyone been through LHR T5 in the past 24 hrs? any feedback please?
Cheers all - happy travels.
Landed at T2 last weekend - early on Sunday.
The passport queues (for UK/EU/e-gates) were longer than I have ever seen them - they were like the comedy theme-park queues where you shuffle through a zig-zag of ropes and then when you get round the corner there's another sequence of these.
By the time we had got through these to the baggage carousels there were workers chucking the cases off on all sides of it (because no-one had got to it and so it was over-full).
Took nearly an hour and half from touchdown to getting in the taxi.
The passport queues (for UK/EU/e-gates) were longer than I have ever seen them - they were like the comedy theme-park queues where you shuffle through a zig-zag of ropes and then when you get round the corner there's another sequence of these.
By the time we had got through these to the baggage carousels there were workers chucking the cases off on all sides of it (because no-one had got to it and so it was over-full).
Took nearly an hour and half from touchdown to getting in the taxi.
David_M said:
Landed at T2 last weekend - early on Sunday.
The passport queues (for UK/EU/e-gates) were longer than I have ever seen them - they were like the comedy theme-park queues where you shuffle through a zig-zag of ropes and then when you get round the corner there's another sequence of these.
By the time we had got through these to the baggage carousels there were workers chucking the cases off on all sides of it (because no-one had got to it and so it was over-full).
Took nearly an hour and half from touchdown to getting in the taxi.
thank you David. Keep em coming. The passport queues (for UK/EU/e-gates) were longer than I have ever seen them - they were like the comedy theme-park queues where you shuffle through a zig-zag of ropes and then when you get round the corner there's another sequence of these.
By the time we had got through these to the baggage carousels there were workers chucking the cases off on all sides of it (because no-one had got to it and so it was over-full).
Took nearly an hour and half from touchdown to getting in the taxi.
T5 international connections (arriving from the US connecting to an internal UK), zero queue and 3 desks of agents sat waiting for anyone to come up to them. There was a small queue at the e-gates 3-4people deep for each for them.
Very fast.
From deboarding to being back in the departure lounge having transferred from T5-B to T5-A, walked through connections, cleared through arrivals immigration, and reclear security was a total of about 20mins.
Very fast.
From deboarding to being back in the departure lounge having transferred from T5-B to T5-A, walked through connections, cleared through arrivals immigration, and reclear security was a total of about 20mins.
Not LHR but LGW.. I flew in from Lisbon Portugal (where I live) on the 4th March on UK passport.
Expecting long delays on passport control, or at least lengthy queues. No, straight up to many available electronic gates, chose one and went through, never experienced that before. Doubt it will again. This was about 1630.
Returning to Lisbon I had to use the non EU section for the first time, similar again but with someone to check your passport. Showed my residence docs first then my passport. Very quick.
Someone posted on twitter a vid the next day of the same non eu area with a chaotic queue and a more or less empty EU area (electronic).
Maybe I was just lucky
Expecting long delays on passport control, or at least lengthy queues. No, straight up to many available electronic gates, chose one and went through, never experienced that before. Doubt it will again. This was about 1630.
Returning to Lisbon I had to use the non EU section for the first time, similar again but with someone to check your passport. Showed my residence docs first then my passport. Very quick.
Someone posted on twitter a vid the next day of the same non eu area with a chaotic queue and a more or less empty EU area (electronic).
Maybe I was just lucky
T3-KLM
Due to the M25, arrived with around 45 mins until check-in closed, checked in online as I queued to drop my bag, for 50 mins.
Got boarding passes but (along with a bunch of guys heading to Lagos) wasn’t allowed through security as I was too late at that point.
Security said we’d have to go downstairs and speak to our airline.
Went down to speak to the airline who said they’d sort it and to go back to security.
Security said we’d have to go downstairs and speak to our airline.
Went down to speak to the airline who said they’d sort it and to go back to security.
Security said we’d have to go downstairs and speak to our airline.
Went for a pee as I’d been on the go since 5am.
Went down to speak to the airline who said they’d sort it and to go back to security.
Spoke to the lady at security and got a completely different attitude to the Nigerians, can’t imagine why.
Eventually got allowed through security as the plane had only just landed and was now delayed. (Actually managed to jump the queue which was nice!)
Went straight to the gate and queued got an hour (or rather I let everyone else queue for an hour and I got on last) during which time klm called me to ask me where I was as they thought I hadn’t checked in yet.
Not the best start to a work trip.
Due to the M25, arrived with around 45 mins until check-in closed, checked in online as I queued to drop my bag, for 50 mins.
Got boarding passes but (along with a bunch of guys heading to Lagos) wasn’t allowed through security as I was too late at that point.
Security said we’d have to go downstairs and speak to our airline.
Went down to speak to the airline who said they’d sort it and to go back to security.
Security said we’d have to go downstairs and speak to our airline.
Went down to speak to the airline who said they’d sort it and to go back to security.
Security said we’d have to go downstairs and speak to our airline.
Went for a pee as I’d been on the go since 5am.
Went down to speak to the airline who said they’d sort it and to go back to security.
Spoke to the lady at security and got a completely different attitude to the Nigerians, can’t imagine why.
Eventually got allowed through security as the plane had only just landed and was now delayed. (Actually managed to jump the queue which was nice!)
Went straight to the gate and queued got an hour (or rather I let everyone else queue for an hour and I got on last) during which time klm called me to ask me where I was as they thought I hadn’t checked in yet.
Not the best start to a work trip.
Came into T5 last wednesday lunchtime. Straight through immigration/passport control, no queue at all. Baggage claim was another matter - over an hour from landing to bags being delivered on the carousel, not good enough!
Heading out of T5 was a nightmare, never seen it so busy. Queued for nearly and hour to drop my bag, having checked in on-line. Clearly the self check-in isn't working! Security was longer then pre-covid but no more than 15 minutes. Pre-covid T5 I used to expect to be through bag drop and security in 10 minutes, it was always such a simple, slick process. Not anymore it would seem
Heading out of T5 was a nightmare, never seen it so busy. Queued for nearly and hour to drop my bag, having checked in on-line. Clearly the self check-in isn't working! Security was longer then pre-covid but no more than 15 minutes. Pre-covid T5 I used to expect to be through bag drop and security in 10 minutes, it was always such a simple, slick process. Not anymore it would seem
Snatch1 said:
Came into T5 last wednesday lunchtime. Straight through immigration/passport control, no queue at all. Baggage claim was another matter - over an hour from landing to bags being delivered on the carousel, not good enough!
Heading out of T5 was a nightmare, never seen it so busy. Queued for nearly and hour to drop my bag, having checked in on-line. Clearly the self check-in isn't working! Security was longer then pre-covid but no more than 15 minutes. Pre-covid T5 I used to expect to be through bag drop and security in 10 minutes, it was always such a simple, slick process. Not anymore it would seem
That's a shame. T5 used to be my sole reason for flying with BA. It was like LHR finally had a terminal designed for the amount of traffic it was handling!Heading out of T5 was a nightmare, never seen it so busy. Queued for nearly and hour to drop my bag, having checked in on-line. Clearly the self check-in isn't working! Security was longer then pre-covid but no more than 15 minutes. Pre-covid T5 I used to expect to be through bag drop and security in 10 minutes, it was always such a simple, slick process. Not anymore it would seem
MrBig said:
That's a shame. T5 used to be my sole reason for flying with BA. It was like LHR finally had a terminal designed for the amount of traffic it was handling!
I should say that the Saturday on the way out was the first day of the private school Easter holidays so was busy with families heading off on holiday. In terms the lengthy wait for the baggage reclaim on the Wednesday when we returned, it seems to be an issue with staff shortage Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff