Pete's Eats

Safely installed in one of the new BA lounges at Terminal 5, Heathrow, I can’t make up my mind whether I’ve been lured into a false sense of security or T5 is actually quite amazing. Thought I’d review my experience so far and update as needed as I’m sure more of you will be traveling out of here as time goes on.

Nete drove me up today (note: a bank holiday Monday) and our first contact with T5 was not good. The signage after you exit the motorway is confusing, lacking and mysteriously inconsistent. To find the drop off point took two revolutions of a mini one way system but we finally got on the right ramp and followed the sign’s to my BA drop off point. Well, slight correction, we followed the signs to the BA First Check-in and Valet parking only to find that the signs for the BA bit stopped and we were left at the valet parking station with no warning. Still, I parked up and got my bags out, said goodbyes to my family and made my way into the terminal. That’s when the wow started.

Now, it might be because of the bank holiday, but the terminal was so quiet – there were a lot of people around mind, but it just wasn’t noisy at all. I loved that being the silence freak that I am… Nete was on her way to her folks place so I got here a little early and the BA bag drop said they couldn’t take my bag more than 3 hours ahead of time. The BA first desk made no such complaint when I went there instead (note: I wasn’t traveling First but I have BA Gold status and can use the desks). Now, bearing in mind the T5 baggage fiasco recently, you can look at this in two ways: 1) Leaving my bag with the handlers for 3 hours gives them plenty of time to make sure it gets to the plane or 2) Leaving my bag with the handlers for 3 hours gives them plenty of time to forget it’s there. Right now, I’m going to stay positive go with the first option – I sincerely hope I don’t have to update this when I get to San Francisco – fingers x’d.

Security was very quick – the airline captain in front of me was not however. You’d have thought he might have done this a few times but it didn’t look like it…

The inner airside terminal area is one big shopping mall. Bleh. But there is plenty of seating and some great looking places to eat including Wagamama’s and Itsu. It’s very light and airy too – definitely the best airport terminal I’ve been to I think.

My flight is due to leave from a small satellite terminal and I’m told there is a train to take us there so allow about 30 mins to get to the gate itself.

So, so far, all very good apart from the traffic signage. Very impressive in fact.