LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 11 July 2008 : by Brian Crockford

Customer Rating : 2/5

Terminal 5 - the walk from Immigration to the lounge is a joke - up, along, down, back along the same way, up again and then the lounge split on two levels requiring you to go in and out and in again if you need to take a shower. The signage in the airport is also poor (couldnt find the Departures level after arriving on the Paddington Express) and already the terminal feels crowded even though it didnt seem particularly busy. Completely disjointed and not user friendly.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 8 July 2008 : by Peter Harrison

Customer Rating : 1/5

Terminal 5 - all the BA staff I came across in T5 were professional courteous and helpful - a credit to the company. As for the building - no doubt it is an engineering, construction and logistical triumph - but architecturally it would not come anywhere in a beauty competition. A vast hangar into which has been dropped blocks of shopping units and a security maze - looking very tired already. Apart from getting on or off the plane there are only three things that most passengers really want - a drink, to use the toilet and a seat in a reasonablly quiet environment. Terminal 5 failed miserably on all counts. At every catering outlet (except the outrageously priced Ramsay's Restaurant) long snaking queues waiting to get drinks - I can't comment on the ladies facilities - but the male toilets were a disgrace - not clean and too few cubicles. More queues! A massive space but insufficient seating and certainly no tranquility .Yes the shops are glitzy but I fear the whole place gives a terrible impression to visitors arriving or leaving the UK.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 5 July 2008 : by Guy Senior

Customer Rating : 4/5

Flew out and back from T4 to Boston in late June. Going out, minimal waits at checkin and security and very comfortable BA lounge. Coming back, a 20 minute wait for a bus, the relevant travelator now seems to have been out of service for 9 months and the carpets are worn through to the floor. However, no queues at immigration and my bags were waiting for me - so out within 30 minutes of the bus arriving.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 5 July 2008 : by Bill Harvey

Customer Rating : 1/5

LHR terminal 1 has now started photographing domestic passengers at check-in since they mix with international passengers in the lounge. You are matched with your photo when you leave the lounge at domestic departures. I can see the logic but as usual with BAA the implementation leaves much to be desired if my experience yesterday is typical. Very poor signage and instructions, so most passengers walk right up to the clerk with their boarding pass, then are asked to step back - and back further, and further - to allow a facial photograph. So each interaction takes 60 seconds instead of 10. There were only 5 people working the cameras, with another 5 unused bays. So at 1500 yesterday we had a 15-minute queue to get through. The security scan was also slow, especially since we had one of Heathrow's random "shoes off" days. I dread to think what the queues will be during rush hours. If you asked why this is happening at all, I expect it is because BAA want to give UK passengers more retail opportunities. I for one would rather have the old check-in arrangements which saved me 15 minutes on my journey time.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 30 June 2008 : by D O'Meara

Customer Rating : 5/5

I recently got a connecting flight to LAX through the notorious LHR and arrived in terminal 1, 45 mins before my departure in terminal 3! It took about 10 or 15 mins just to get to terminal 3 from there! It seemed like an impossible task to board our flight! At check in with United, the guy asked us where we were going. We said LA and he looked up at the clock and said "good luck with that mate!” However, the guy then swiftly made a few calls and said "today’s your lucky day!” The guy then printed out our boarding cards and went through our US connections in record time. He then led us all the way through security, skipping the line and into our gate. We were the last people to board. This all took about 15 mins! So with all the horror stories of LHR we had a super experience as economy passengers from a super nice check in person who in my view went above and over his call of duty!

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 30 June 2008 : by A Turek

Customer Rating : 5/5

LHR to ORD return from T3. No problems at all. Going out, through security in two minutes, and left on time; coming back, through IRIS equally easily. Given the bad press Heathrow has had, credit where it is due.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 30 June 2008 : by G McNab

Customer Rating : 4/5

London Heathrow Terminal 5 proved to be much less of a problem than I anticipated. Several of self service tickets machines seemed not to be working but BA staff were on hand to direct to one that was. I can see when the terminal is fully operational it may well get somewhat crowded. With so many people checking-in online now the lines at the Fast Bag Drop Off can be less than fast. I wish the designers of British Airports (the big major ones) would note how successful airports like Singapore Changi have carpet on the floors. T5 is marble, or concrete, and it is heavy on the feet if walking around. The food outlets are like anywhere else but I believe I may have discovered a secret. One through security into the departures area turn right and head towards the BA Executive lounges. Keep going to the very, very end (almost to the glass walls) and if you then turn left you will find a tiny bar/café called Amato. It is slightly isolated from the main retail outlets and is therefore an oasis of peace and quiet. Has comfy chairs and excellent coffee. It will be interesting to see how T5 copes when all the BA flights have moved across. But for now, judging by my own experience, things seem to be working smoothly. Having expected the worst I was very pleasantly surprised.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 28 June 2008 : by Ross Clark

Customer Rating : 4/5

EDI-LHR-EDI. I want to put in a good word for T5, from a domestic point of view. As an arriving passenger, the amount of walking is a lot less than I remember from T1, and the connection through to the Tube and Heathrow Express is much quicker. It has a much more natural 'flow'. Going back to EDI two days later, I got through checkin to past security (and with having a photo taken) in just over ten minutes, and this was at 1730. The two flies in the BAA ointment: when we landed, it took several minutes before we could be connected to the airbridge. The flight was early, but the ground staff were not paying attention. Second, the interminably slow wait for baggage (as there were not that many domestic pax with baggage). This really needs more attention.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 27 June 2008 : by Daniel Taylor

Customer Rating : 4/5

Terminal 5 LHR-AMS-LHR. Great terminal, spacious, airy, bright, etc etc. Check-in simple and quick, security a breeze, shops too expensive but don't really care about them too much. Transit fast and efficient to get to the B gates. Seats quite comfortable within the building. Arrivals is again bright and airy, easy to follow signage and was quickly out. A vast improvement on all other terminals at LHR.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 24 June 2008 : by Erez Har-Tal

Customer Rating : 3/5

T3 to T5 ORD-ZRH. Transfer on bus fine, and at T5 staff was not sure about where I should go to change seat assignments. Not bad though. Security very helpful as I was traveling with a child. Terminal nice and airy with lots of light. They still seem to have problems announcement of the gate information was not available. The gate agent had a lot of problems opening the gate, announcement did not show up. Overall allow at least 2 hours for connection between terminals. Not a bad experience at all

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 20 June 2008 : by Peter Bedson

Customer Rating : 3/5

Terminal 1 is now a (relative) joy as BA have gone - even the legendary security staff seem to feel better and manage the occasional smile. It is obvious that the problem with LHR is that it is simply too full to operate with the current infrastructure - BAA dont help by filling every square inch with shops though. Now if they could just fix the flight connections centre.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 20 June 2008 : by Doug Raynes

Customer Rating : 5/5

Terminal 5 to Amsterdam on 11 June. No problems whatsoever. Splendid, spacious building. BA lounge facilities excellent.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 17 June 2008 : by A Cole

Customer Rating : 4/5

T5 gates are a bit confined, but it feels spacious and modern. Although there are escalators and lifts (as mentioned on here) they are easy to use. Bags made it to the arrivals belt faster than I did, so no waiting. There were BA hosts to direct me. Signage appears to have improved around the arrivals area.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 13 June 2008 : by J Bai

Customer Rating : 3/5

Used T3 to travel to Beijing, the outside of T3 has been modernised, which is making the whole experience chaos. Inside, check in area is still the same. Security check this time was relatively fast, and there are plenty of shops you could visit before departure. The section after security is a lot better than check in area. If they could make the check-in hall larger or brighter, it would be a lot better experience.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 13 June 2008 : by D Damrau

Customer Rating : 2/5

Great apprehension given previous turmoil, but all in order in the nearly empty check-in area (few intercontinental flights are departing from here). Shock was the crowded and confined nature of the Terminal and its Satellite. A huge step down on that point from T4. The Lounges were already crowded (one in the Satellite not yet open), and the Satellite inconceivably linked by small elevators and a baby train (should be fun at peak operation).

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 11 June 2008 : by G Clay

Customer Rating : 2/5

Out from T4 - okay but nothing special. Back into T5 and it does not work well. Signs are poor and nothing about having to take a shuttle train for all the formalities - nearest toilets to the arrival gate were small and not well designed. We walked for ages and the arrivals seemed sterile.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 7 June 2008 : by Kingsley Utande

Customer Rating : 3/5

Flew through LHR a couple of weeks ago from ABV and was pleasantly surprised, especially after discounting the drabness of Terminal 4. Took me approximately 15 mins from touch down, to passport control and baggage claim. There were none of the horrendous crowds Heathrow is notorious for. On departure, it was the same experience too - got to the airport and after dropping off my luggage, was through security and at the gate in less than 10 mins. On the whole a pleasant experience that would probably reduce my addiction to Amsterdam Schiphol.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 4 June 2008 : by M Gordon

Customer Rating : 2/5

At T4 arriving Business Class passengers can only use the Fast Track if they are non-EU residents. This means my partner who is from outside the EU can clear immigration, collect his bag, purchase a train ticket to central London and wait on the Heathrow Express platform for sometimes up to 10 minutes in the time it takes me (a mere citizen of this country) to get through. We do this journey regularly for business (unfortunately) and it always seems wrong and unfair.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 28 May 2008 : by Bill Atkins

Customer Rating : 3/5

Second T4 to T5 experience - every bit as depressing as T4 to T1 in the old days, Long lines for transfer bus, long ride in overheated bus, not too bad getting into T5, but poorly designed and ill- conceived operationally - can see clearly where the backlogs will be when all flights are in there and potential disaster in case of serious delays backing up flights. Gate areas much too small - already the black cord lines are being used to keep passengers from chaos - thought we had seen the end of these. Not enough escalators, for instance from security down to departure area, which is on a different level from the airbridges - have to go down an escalator to board - whole thing seems a bit hit-and-miss. Will try to avoid until the move has been completed - maybe it will eventually be ok.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 23 May 2008 : by S Mathers

Customer Rating : 4/5

I have now had 2 terminal 5 experiences - to and from EDI and arriving from HKG - both times it was smooth. No complaints at the moment, baggage retrieved swiftly, loved the lounge. However I am dreading the arrival of other flights.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 23 May 2008 : by Ken Hosking

Customer Rating : 3/5

Terminal 1 departure and arrival. So far as time and efficiency go, Terminal 1 is for international travel a blessing compared with Terminal 3. On departure it took only 15 minutes from drop-off to business lounge, and on arrival 45 from touch-down to car park. However, that 45 included taking over 10 minutes to get the gang-way thing aligned with the plane doors, followed by a long walk to the gloomy baggage reclaim hall through a shabby corridor, dimly-lit, with scruffy walls and floor criss-crossed with that black-and-yellow tape. BAA should be ashamed.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 21 May 2008 : by G Jardin

Customer Rating : 4/5

LHR-GVA-LHR. I was dreading travelling through T5 en route to Geneva. In the event it was quite a very pleasurable experience. No delays at all and my bag made it with me. Although it still has the shopping mall ambience it is also pleasantly spacious. But I wonder how T5 will operate at full capacity.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 21 May 2008 : by J Leung

Customer Rating : 3/5

A tour of T1, 3 (arrival & departure), T2 (transit) and T5 (arrival) of Heathrow in this May showed BAA tries its effort to improve Heathrow. T1 is small but cozy. T2's air condition is out of order, and it is so small and so hot! Unbearable! T3's renovation should been completed and the newly added Yo! sushi shop is welcome. T5 is quite like Hong Kong but the shops are too few.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 16 May 2008 : by B Pereira

Customer Rating : 3/5

I must have had a great experience at Terminal 5 - amazed with the promptness, courtesy, the friendliness of staff. BAA is all about shopping and is basically one the very few airports where once you have checked in, and passed border control feels like you are in a shopping complex rather than an airport.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 16 May 2008 : by S Bradley

Customer Rating : 3/5

Just survived Terminal 5 carrying maximum cabin luggage allowed. We had a long walk from our Lax flight along slippery tiles, train and then 7 escalators, one of which was steep. After an eleven hour flight, you expect something easier!

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT review : 11 May 2008 : by Michael Paul

Customer Rating : 4/5

What an oasis of calm Terminal 1 now is - at least it was when I checked at 11am with BA. Strolled through BA check in area, staff were relaxed. The departure lounge was just as subdued and I sat at a very quiet Bridge bar enjoying a pint in peace and quiet. Flew back into Terminal 2. Landed, whizzed through the Iris passport control and after a 3 minute wait, my case was trundling around the belt. From plane to bus in about 15 minutes.