“Heathrow like a Second World War airport”
#16
Join Date: May 2018
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 9
I‘m not sure where Tim lives or is the majority of his time, no doubt quite a large chunk is being based in the UAE. Well if anyone had spent the last 10-20 years in Dubai (not to mention Saudi or Qatar) and witnessed that type of unprecedented infrastructure growth and with insane amounts of funds, then returning to Heathrow every so often would look second rate! The U.K. nor most western countries can match or beat oil state money that can build at that scale and size. Dubai are embarking on a huge project to develop DXB airport even further that will make Heathrow look like Luton!
#17
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: SAN
Programs: Nothing, nowhere!
Posts: 24,270
#18
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,963
Slightly off topic but same theme. We flew into Barcelona last month and thought ..are we in a third world country but then quickly said to ourselves Asia and Mid East airports are in their own league.
Have flown through LHR dozens of times through all terminals more in T3 so I'm with everyone on this thread. The most difficult part of LHR is transfers especially after 10pm and figuring out the right hotel if you have an overnight.
Egate entry has helped and the dreaded security lines and review of liquid items is getting a little better and less onerous.
Have flown through LHR dozens of times through all terminals more in T3 so I'm with everyone on this thread. The most difficult part of LHR is transfers especially after 10pm and figuring out the right hotel if you have an overnight.
Egate entry has helped and the dreaded security lines and review of liquid items is getting a little better and less onerous.
#19
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Posts: 1,855
Came looking for a thread about Heathrow T3. Its…bad, very bad.
We came in through a cramped security queue, into the duty free area. Went left to the lounges. Now the state of lounges is not the airport’s problem directly, but lets just say the gate lice have now moved to the lobby of Priority Pass lounges.
Walking down the hall to the Aspire lounge my wife asked “Are we in LaGuardia?” Its..shabby to say the least. Whatever
Aspire lounge restrooms are closed (...?) so use the public ones in the hall, across from the EK lounge. Its dark, smelly and the floor is nasty.
I had no interest in the food in the lounge, so I figured I’d just grab a cheeseburger or similar on the way to the gate, or some snacks, or something. I was wrong, so very wrong. Leave the lounge, back down the dark, low ceiling hallway. Down a moving walkway. Now down a narrow, sad hallway to my gate. We never passed a restaurant, much less a shop selling snacks or coffees or anything.
Now I am sure we could have backtracked towards where you exit duty free and found something. But the hallways to the gates? Hell no, that place needs to be burned to the ground.
We came in through a cramped security queue, into the duty free area. Went left to the lounges. Now the state of lounges is not the airport’s problem directly, but lets just say the gate lice have now moved to the lobby of Priority Pass lounges.
Walking down the hall to the Aspire lounge my wife asked “Are we in LaGuardia?” Its..shabby to say the least. Whatever
Aspire lounge restrooms are closed (...?) so use the public ones in the hall, across from the EK lounge. Its dark, smelly and the floor is nasty.
I had no interest in the food in the lounge, so I figured I’d just grab a cheeseburger or similar on the way to the gate, or some snacks, or something. I was wrong, so very wrong. Leave the lounge, back down the dark, low ceiling hallway. Down a moving walkway. Now down a narrow, sad hallway to my gate. We never passed a restaurant, much less a shop selling snacks or coffees or anything.
Now I am sure we could have backtracked towards where you exit duty free and found something. But the hallways to the gates? Hell no, that place needs to be burned to the ground.
#20
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Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
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Posts: 4,094
Came looking for a thread about Heathrow T3. Its…bad, very bad.
…….down the dark, low ceiling hallway. Down a moving walkway. Now down a narrow, sad hallway to my gate. We never passed a restaurant, much less a shop selling snacks or coffees or anything.
Now I am sure we could have backtracked towards where you exit duty free and found something. But the hallways to the gates? Hell no, that place needs to be burned to the ground.
…….down the dark, low ceiling hallway. Down a moving walkway. Now down a narrow, sad hallway to my gate. We never passed a restaurant, much less a shop selling snacks or coffees or anything.
Now I am sure we could have backtracked towards where you exit duty free and found something. But the hallways to the gates? Hell no, that place needs to be burned to the ground.
![Big Grin](https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: SAN
Programs: Nothing, nowhere!
Posts: 24,270
Came looking for a thread about Heathrow T3. Its…bad, very bad.
We came in through a cramped security queue, into the duty free area. Went left to the lounges. Now the state of lounges is not the airport’s problem directly, but lets just say the gate lice have now moved to the lobby of Priority Pass lounges.
Walking down the hall to the Aspire lounge my wife asked “Are we in LaGuardia?” Its..shabby to say the least. Whatever
Aspire lounge restrooms are closed (...?) so use the public ones in the hall, across from the EK lounge. Its dark, smelly and the floor is nasty.
I had no interest in the food in the lounge, so I figured I’d just grab a cheeseburger or similar on the way to the gate, or some snacks, or something. I was wrong, so very wrong. Leave the lounge, back down the dark, low ceiling hallway. Down a moving walkway. Now down a narrow, sad hallway to my gate. We never passed a restaurant, much less a shop selling snacks or coffees or anything.
Now I am sure we could have backtracked towards where you exit duty free and found something. But the hallways to the gates? Hell no, that place needs to be burned to the ground.
We came in through a cramped security queue, into the duty free area. Went left to the lounges. Now the state of lounges is not the airport’s problem directly, but lets just say the gate lice have now moved to the lobby of Priority Pass lounges.
Walking down the hall to the Aspire lounge my wife asked “Are we in LaGuardia?” Its..shabby to say the least. Whatever
Aspire lounge restrooms are closed (...?) so use the public ones in the hall, across from the EK lounge. Its dark, smelly and the floor is nasty.
I had no interest in the food in the lounge, so I figured I’d just grab a cheeseburger or similar on the way to the gate, or some snacks, or something. I was wrong, so very wrong. Leave the lounge, back down the dark, low ceiling hallway. Down a moving walkway. Now down a narrow, sad hallway to my gate. We never passed a restaurant, much less a shop selling snacks or coffees or anything.
Now I am sure we could have backtracked towards where you exit duty free and found something. But the hallways to the gates? Hell no, that place needs to be burned to the ground.
#22
Join Date: May 2005
Location: London, England, United Kingdom
Programs: Marriott (Lifetime Titantium), whatever other programs as benefits make sense.
Posts: 1,954
#23
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: SAN
Programs: Nothing, nowhere!
Posts: 24,270
The plan is to tear down terminal 3, leaving 2 (Heathrow East) and 5 (Heathrow West) as toasters. Though this was based on the 3rd runway, so don't know as that is in perpetual limbo whether the demolition of T3 is still in the cards.
#25
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,963
#26
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: SAN
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#27
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,702
If you look at the good Mid East and Asian airports, there's often very good chance the governments are the airport owners (either a major shareholder or completely)
#28
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,637
I use T3 often, a few times T5. T3 is easy when traveling with no luggage. Up the escalator from the underground mole tunnels or whatever Heathrow calls them, walk in the front doors, up the escalator to fast track and then over to the AA club before my AA departure to the USA. The only thing I find very annoying is I have to wade through the people sitting down between exiting security and getting to the club.
T5 sucks. Getting from the galleries club (whatever that one is with the horse) over to my departing flight via 83 escalators and then a train that takes forever is painful.
T5 sucks. Getting from the galleries club (whatever that one is with the horse) over to my departing flight via 83 escalators and then a train that takes forever is painful.
#29
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,649
I use T3 often, a few times T5. T3 is easy when traveling with no luggage. Up the escalator from the underground mole tunnels or whatever Heathrow calls them, walk in the front doors, up the escalator to fast track and then over to the AA club before my AA departure to the USA. The only thing I find very annoying is I have to wade through the people sitting down between exiting security and getting to the club.
T5 sucks. Getting from the galleries club (whatever that one is with the horse) over to my departing flight via 83 escalators and then a train that takes forever is painful.
T5 sucks. Getting from the galleries club (whatever that one is with the horse) over to my departing flight via 83 escalators and then a train that takes forever is painful.
#30
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,393
As a regular LHR visitor I'm surprised you're not aware of the tunnels you can walk from 5A to get to 5B and 5C