Excrable Heathrow Airport - still (and probably always)

[tuapekastar]

My last time at LHR was 2010 (I should get out more ), and had a number of entries/exits involving both T3 and T5, and cannot recall any particular delays. Perhaps my timing was just lucky. I did have express entry on my first arrival into T3 which put me in a far shorter queue.

That said, the T3 public departures area (not at individual gates, just the general area past sec/immi) is the biggest zoo I have ever seen at an airport...wall-to-wall people, low ceilings, very claustrophobic. Couldn't find the lounge quick enough (as said up-thread, lucky to have the lounge option).

 

[katiebell]

I thought T3 had been renovated… It is a shambles for evening departures: too many pax traveling on large aircraft on long haul flights all leaving at similar times and not enough capacity for the number of pax over this time. It is much better at other times of day but still not a nice terminal to use. The only advantage is being at Heathrow central for trains and tube. The old T4 was a much nicer experience. T5 is very efficient.

The LHR security staff need to learn about customer service and a bit of common courtesy. They are almost as bad as the American security staff: a little bit of authority creates aggressive attitides and bullying behaviour that I do not experience at most other airports.

 

[erkpod]

I've seen enough here & in the media to know to avoid LHR.

So far, I've caught the Eurostar Paris - London, caught a train from Scotland & flew out of STN.

When I go to London in June, I'm thinking of flying AUH - FRA on EY. After a weekend there, I'm planning on getting an ICE train & Eurostar to London. Same on the way back.

 

[Mal]

Stereotyping, but I have never met a friendly security screener anywhere in the UK. All the airports are similar.. Barking about remove belt, don't do this, don't do that. And of course the experience a few months ago when my bag was sent for secondary and they took forever to actually start searching it. Or the nasty rebuke I got when I walked through a metal detector without the previous person clearing properly. (Shoes off. They now have to be scanned. 'Beep', we need to get intimate with you now)

 

[Dalescott]

Stereotyping, but I have never met a friendly security screener anywhere in the UK. All the airports are similar.. Barking about remove belt, don't do this, don't do that. And of course the experience a few months ago when my bag was sent for secondary and they took forever to actually start searching it. Or the nasty rebuke I got when I walked through a metal detector without the previous person clearing properly. (Shoes off. They now have to be scanned. 'Beep', we need to get intimate with you now)

May I suggest Newcastle, or Glasgow, or even Edinburgh. I all I have found at these Airports is nothing but friendly staff, at all levels. Nothing but cutesy.

 

[katiebell]

Stereotyping, but I have never met a friendly security screener anywhere in the UK. All the airports are similar.. Barking about remove belt, don't do this, don't do that. And of course the experience a few months ago when my bag was sent for secondary and they took forever to actually start searching it. Or the nasty rebuke I got when I walked through a metal detector without the previous person clearing properly. (Shoes off. They now have to be scanned. 'Beep', we need to get intimate with you now)

LGW staff are great; the change occurred when the airport left BAA ownership and management had a chance to make it a better airport (& compete with LHR)

 

[Mal]

Went through T5 on Christmas Day. Staff were actually in a good mood. No doubt penalty pay + less passengers were a large factor in this.

 

[TheBOSman]

Went through T5 on Christmas Day. Staff were actually in a good mood. No doubt penalty pay + less passengers were a large factor in this.

I was through T5 and T3 similarly Christmas Day and can say the same. Fast Track was "only" about 15 deep upon my arrival . The regular line was longer, but as noted it also moves slightly faster. So, even on Christmas Day Fast Track wasn't faster. It was my first visit to LHR, though I have two more at the end of January so I will then be able to "enjoy" the full Heathrow experience .