BAA Pulls Its Finger Out: T5 Security South to Be Redesigned

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Viewing 15 posts - 31 through 45 (of 46 total)

  • FlightDoctor
    Participant

    I fly to Manchester at least twice a week and made the difficult decision (as a BA Gold Card holder) to switch to BMI last year. The queues at security were a major driver – I typically spend 5-10 mins in T1 “normal” security vs. 15-30mins in T5 “fast track”. This is a shame as I prefer the BA lounges and in-flight service but I do not wish to have to leave the house 30 mins early just to fly BA.
    The other driver for the switch is business parking – the Park 1 facility with its fleet of “always-there” minivans is far superior to T5’s Business Parking facility, where it is typical to wait 15-20 mins for a bus on return to LHR.


    Gin&Tonic
    Participant

    I agree T1 is a much better option for domestic flights, I am based in Man and travel at least 2 x per week domestic. T5 security process just seems to confuse most leisure travellers which causes the delay.
    T1 very straight forward and even with more airlines coming in is still the best.
    When I transit T5 to or from Man its always best to avoid flight connections and just exit and return, despite the T5 security its still faster than the transit option.


    CMoir12
    Participant

    If you don’t have status with bmi ask them to match your BAEC Gold status – they should give you BMI Gold which will give you fast track at T1 and lounge access to the Star Alliance or bmi No 1 lounge.


    David
    Participant

    Another day at T5 (yesterday) trying to use Fast Track security and another day of seeing BAA simply flood the Fast Track que with ‘regular’ passangers as soon as the ‘regular’ que becomes longer.

    What a frustration and as I have witnessed this everytime I have gone through since the opening of T5 I can only guess that BA is not pushing the issue with BAA and BAA, well, could care less…


    ConstantFlyer1
    Participant

    I’m fortunate not to have been caught up in many security queues at T5. How? I’ve changed planes elsewhere whenever possible. I was pleased to find that, with a little research, I was nearly always able to route other than through LHR, often saving money and time in the process. And certainly saving plenty of hassle. Give it a go if you can.


    MarkCymru
    Participant

    I remember BA explaining and business class check in would not be required because T5 would be so fast. This is the sort of complacency that drives away passengers.

    I’m glad they’ve finally woken up to the disaster that is transit security and the frequent problems with security from landside. They denied that either existed for the first 18 months. But have they offered any practical help? Wouldn’t BAA allow a couple of BA employees to patrol and speed up the Fast Track lane and to help passengers with the ridiculous baskets? BAA allows bossy BA employees to escort Premier cardholders to the front of the queue so the precedent exists. The cost would be low and the customer satisfaction would increase enormously.

    I think, though, that BA would rather pursue vendettas with its landlord and its unions than find solutions that work for passengers.


    JordanD
    Participant

    Well, having viewed T5 Security last Friday, the experience was excellent. Travelling out in Euro Traveller (economy to everyone else bar VK), and with only a Blue card to hand, I had to make do with the non-Fast Track lane in Security North. Plenty of counters open, the Fast Track lane being vigorously enforced and all said & done through security in a matter of minutes, including time for laptop packing/unpacking.

    Wandered down to Security South and see that they’ve moved IRIS & Tax Reclaim down a corridor and are using the area they previous inhabited for an extra machine for Security checking there.

    Two machine related side points: I did notice that in Security North there are a variety of bag scanning machines in use – both the “fully automated” type and then the older belt machines which require manual repositioning of the trays. Further, Budapest’s Terminal 2B (formally a BAA property) also uses the new style machines.


    Travellator
    Participant

    T1 – the BMi channel was truly woeful yesterday Thursday at about 10 am.

    Only 2 channels open – my daughter was there about 1 hour ahead of her flight and only just made it.

    There is NO excuse for this we are all paying for it after all !


    VintageKrug
    Participant

    Looks like South Security will have a more permanent section for additional lanes ready prior to the Olympics; this should also be able to take transit passengers.

    Strong hints also of a direct route from F check in to the Concorde Room in the offing….


    HedgeFundFlyer
    Participant

    A direct route from F check in to the Concorde Room? Now you are talking……


    VintageKrug
    Participant

    I should point out the direct F channel is only a strongly supported rumour at this stage, but I know it’s what BA wanted all along but was stopped by BAA from doing so.


    HedgeFundFlyer
    Participant

    It makes such a difference at JFK!


    JamesBAgold
    Participant

    I sat next to a BA customer service employee in CW on one of my flights back from Delhi in March and he also mentioned to me the internal BA plans (as opposed to BAA plans) to upgrade the entire First check-in experience.

    In addition to providing a direct channel from the First check-in area to the Concorde Room he also said that BA wanted to add a dedicated First drop-off and entrance to T5 a la ” Virgin Upper Class Wing” at T3 – unfortunately he did not personally know how this would be developed given the design constraints of the T5 departures access road.


    RichHI1
    Participant

    Would it make more sense if LHR was organized like some US airports where Airlines effectively run their own terminals at hubs, redesigning check in, lounge facilites, shops, food outlets and gates? BAA seems solely motivated by retail which does not seem aligned to airline or passenger needs.


    TravelFan
    Participant

    This idea of a more separate F experience in the terminal is very interesting. I have always found that this is one of the most substantial minuses of the BA first class experience compared to several competitors. VK – can you say something about how likely it is that this will materialise based on your impression from the rumours and the source…?

Viewing 15 posts - 31 through 45 (of 46 total)
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