Frequent users of Heathrow will breathe sigh of relief when Terminal 5 opens for business in spring 2008. London’s premier airport is not suited to handling current levels of traffic, and during the past year it has been subjected to a barrage of criticism.
As Willie Walsh, British Airways chief executive, observed: “The phrase ’Heathrow hassle’ entered the language this summer, with relentless criticism of the state of the airport, from the condition of the toilets to delays in security processing to non-working escalators and travelators and the length of treks from aircraft gate to arrivals hall. T5 is not coming a moment too soon.”
Heathrow’s four existing terminals are designed to handle 45m a year but currently deal with 68m. The £4.3bn new terminal will relieve congestion by syphoning off 30m. BA, whose New York flights will switch from T4 one month after T5 opens on March 27, will be the terminal’s sole occupant.
As for others operating New York flights, Virgin Atlantic and American Airlines will remain at T3. Delta, which will start flying to JFK next April, will use T4. BAA, the Heathrow operator, says it is too early to say whether Air India and Kuwait Airways, which use T3, will stay there.
Lounges and facilities
BA, which currently operates lounges for first and business class customers (plus gold and silver status frequent flyers) at T4, is investing £60m in six at T5 with significantly increased capacity.
Virgin and American, meanwhile, have been upgrading lounges in T3. Virgin’s Clubhouse, which has been expanded, was voted best business class lounge in this year’s annual online survey of passengers by UK market research company Skytrax. Besides a deli, brasserie, cocktail bar, laptop power points and internet wi-fi access, the lounge offers pampering from wet shaves and massages to facials and manicures, has a spa pool, sauna and steam rooms and a games room with a pool table. The airline also operates an arrivals lounge, with showers, a beauty salon and food.
American, which has business and first class departure lounges, has just moved and expanded its arrivals lounge, which is open to customers in both premium cabins but not to upper tier members of its frequent flyer programme.
Heathrow has a wide range range of shops, eateries and bars. Gordon Ramsay will open a restaurant in T5 and other eateries planned include Carluccio’s and Wagamama.
Transport tips
The opening of T5 will mean changes in the way passengers travel to and from the airport on public transport. The Piccadilly Underground line, which takes under an hour will run to T5 as well as existing terminals. Frequent New York-based travellers should pick up London Underground’s Oyster Card, on which payments can be loaded, which touches open automatic barriers and saves time and money.
The Heathrow Express runs from and to London Paddington every 15 minutes. The journey takes 15 minutes to Terminals 1,2 and 3 and 20mins to T4. When T5 opens passengers heading for T4 will need to switch to Heathrow Connect, another, stopping service from Paddington. The Heathrow Express will continue to the new building. Since last spring wi-fi internet access has been available on trains.
Passengers taking taxis should allow £50-£60 and at least 50 minutes for a licensed London cab ride from central London.
It remains to be seen is if T5 will cut travelling time. BA is moving towards 80 per cent of passengers using online check-in or using one of 96 self service kiosks in the new building. “Thanks to the scale of the terminal and the use of technology,” it promises, “ the vast majority of people won’t encounter any queues at check-in.”
Virgin has just launched a new check in “wing” at Heathrow’s T3, which enables its Upper Class and top tier frequent flyer scheme members to use a dedicated security channel.
More information about Heathrow: www.heathrowairport.com
