London Heathrow Airport

Our first visit to Heathrow Terminal 5. Departed and arrived within 12 days this month. Departure no queues used fast bag drop no issues no queues at Security (about 9.30am on a Sunday) Used BA exec lounge good range of snacks and drinks available also free wi-fi. On our arrival back into Heathrow we had to disembark by stairs and into buses how sad that London is only place this seems to happen! Then went in Border Control and the room was absolutely packed (about 2045hrs on Thursday) having said that the queue we were in moved quite quickly and we soon got to our luggage retrieval area to find out suitcases some of the first out - we were out of the airport on our Hoppa bus 30 mins after landing so whilst not perfect we were pleased with that.

Heathrow has had something of a major transformation over the past few years. 5 years ago you could expect long queues art check-in longer queues at security more long queues at immigration and extensive waits for your baggage - if it turned up at all. The terminals were drab and outdated - threadbare grey carpets cheap red plastic old fashioned information screens. In my experience this isn't the picture anymore. Check-in is mainly down to the airlines but certainly for BA the queuing has all but gone for United - not so much. Security never seems to take more than 5 to 10 minutes - same for immigration. As for baggage the last couple of times - it's beat me to the carousel and the time before that it was only a few minutes. The terminals themselves have been updated and Terminals 1 and 4 are now bright clean and airy. Terminal 3 is brighter but still feels a bit cramped. Terminal 5 which is new is excellent. I'm sure people still occasionally still have bad experiences and I've never changed flights there. But for me Heathrow is no longer somewhere I try to avoid.

I've never really needed to use Heathrow with Emirates flying from my local airport of Newcastle. From what I could remember Heathrow was always a bit of a nightmare very dull no real light - but I have to say T5 is fantastic plenty of space - nice toilets hardly any queuing great views of the runways. All round a pleasure.

Terminal 5 to Manchester on a Saturday afternoon. No queue at boarding pass check and security quite friendly even when camera couldn't take my picture for the domestic security procedures. After a few minutes a less helpful colleague took the photo and I passed into security area - 15 mins in the queue but gate was close by and seated onboard with doors closed before departure time.

Second time through T5 this time for a European flight and it is still a breeze. Had breakfast at Plane Food expensive but excellent. Departed from A gates plenty of room. On return bags on carousel as usual.

Taking a group thru terminal 4 today. It was so easy. It is so nice to be able to find your way around with all the signage. I found this building to be clean neat and easy to get around with a large group of travelers. Can't wait for all skyteam members to be moved to this terminal. Checking in was very fast. Employees where friendly and very helpful.

Arrival at T4. Flight landed 20.25. A long wait (nearly 30 minutes) to cross the runway to reach the stand at T4. On stand at 21.00 - but baggage not on the carousel until 22.15. A dismal performance.

Used both T3 and T5. Flight connections worked as it should and I was pleasantly surprised thinking it would be harder than it was. T3 I don't particularly like with it's lack of daylight however it can't be helped. Gate area was freezing cold which was disappointing. T5 I really like apart from the flight connections area. Being shouted at by staff who obviously don't like working there herding you up the escalator to security. When you reach the top of the escalator it is crowded and you have to force your way off the escalator. This area is really badly designed and lets the terminal down. Plenty to keep you occupied even on a long connections like mine of 5 hours. Impressed with T5 so-so about T3.

Terminal 3 arrivals pretty awful Departures pretty good. Everything about the arrivals level looked old immigration hall is a mess. The queue was quite long for non UK/EU citizens - more empty desks than occupied ones arrivals hall wasn't much better. Departing from Terminal 3 was a pleasant experience. SIA uses check-in area A which is much more open than other check-in areas. Departures lounge had a good range of shops and cafes perfectly pleasant waiting here - a great improvement on the last time I had been through T3 ten years ago.

Have used T3 for four decades during which improvements have generally not made things better. The Duty Free area is way too large and the prices not at all that competitive: area should be halved for more comfort and seating places. Distances to the gates are unacceptable. A miserable places for arrivals; departures is much better but still not good.