terminal 5 at Heathrow ...
Feb 29th, 2008, 05:15 PM
#1
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terminal 5 at Heathrow ...
www.terminal5.ba.com
this is one of the lines:
"At Terminal 5 we’re putting the joy back into air travel......"
I am jumping for joy already !
this is one of the lines:
"At Terminal 5 we’re putting the joy back into air travel......"
I am jumping for joy already !
Feb 29th, 2008, 11:17 PM
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T5 is what convinced me to fly through Heathrow to Phoenix. I hope it doesn't prove to be a mistake.
I watched a programme on the Beeb last night which showed a trial run of T5. The signage was confusing, gates were hard to find, people went down escalators to the wrong areas and couldn't find their way back up, and the transit zone boards were way to small to read.
Hopefully they have learned from all that and by the time it opens it will be a joyful place to be, whilst waiting for your delayed flight/lost luggage/hoping the strikers go back to work in the next two minutes
I watched a programme on the Beeb last night which showed a trial run of T5. The signage was confusing, gates were hard to find, people went down escalators to the wrong areas and couldn't find their way back up, and the transit zone boards were way to small to read.
Hopefully they have learned from all that and by the time it opens it will be a joyful place to be, whilst waiting for your delayed flight/lost luggage/hoping the strikers go back to work in the next two minutes
Mar 1st, 2008, 12:15 AM
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1/2 the flights at terminal 5 will require taking a bus from the gate to the plane....just what the modern traveller wants! heathrow is a disaster and always will be. all baa cares about is running a shopping mall and not an airport.
Mar 1st, 2008, 01:22 AM
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The bizarre thing about walkinaround's comment is that BAA claim it's inaccurate. They say that ONLY 20% of passengers at T5 will need to be bussed to their planes.
Can you believe it? The operators of the world's premier international airport are actually BOASTING they've designed a terminal that'll be unfit for at least a fifth of its users.
In fairness, all the decisions that led to this insanity predate Ferrovial's acquisition - and might be more BA's fault than BA are currently claiming. As always in the airline industry, everyone blaming each other really only goes to show they're all a bunch of scoundrels.
Can you believe it? The operators of the world's premier international airport are actually BOASTING they've designed a terminal that'll be unfit for at least a fifth of its users.
In fairness, all the decisions that led to this insanity predate Ferrovial's acquisition - and might be more BA's fault than BA are currently claiming. As always in the airline industry, everyone blaming each other really only goes to show they're all a bunch of scoundrels.
Mar 1st, 2008, 01:42 AM
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i agree, even if it is 20% that's pretty poor. the baa spokesman had a weak response which basically indicated that it was not a temporary thing. perhaps you can forgive it in an old terminal that you realise is overused but to design a new terminal this way is very strange.
perhaps it's largely psychological but i would guess that being bussed to the plane would rank very high in passenger surveys of things that are hated. but shopping is king at the airport...not passenger experience.
new munich airport terminals also do this for many flights. the excuse is around schengen and flights originating from london having to be bussed to the passport control area. but munich airport is poorly designed overall, imo, so i think that's more of the problem.
perhaps it's largely psychological but i would guess that being bussed to the plane would rank very high in passenger surveys of things that are hated. but shopping is king at the airport...not passenger experience.
new munich airport terminals also do this for many flights. the excuse is around schengen and flights originating from london having to be bussed to the passport control area. but munich airport is poorly designed overall, imo, so i think that's more of the problem.
Mar 1st, 2008, 09:16 AM
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I wish I had seen the BBC show last night.
Protests against T5 are coming fast and thick here in Maidenhead. The local newspaper published a lengthy article about the impact in this region, along with an interesting sidebar list of promises Heathrow has made and broken to nearby communities over the years.
A short summary of some of the local objections is found here:
http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co....amp;story=5724
Protests against T5 are coming fast and thick here in Maidenhead. The local newspaper published a lengthy article about the impact in this region, along with an interesting sidebar list of promises Heathrow has made and broken to nearby communities over the years.
A short summary of some of the local objections is found here:
http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co....amp;story=5724
Mar 1st, 2008, 10:02 AM
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The Beeb also addressed the extra runway problem and spoke to the villagers who will have to move so their village can become tarmac.
Having grown up in Sunbury at a time that Heathrow was nowhere near as bsuy as it is today I can fully appreciate the concerns of those living around it.
Having grown up in Sunbury at a time that Heathrow was nowhere near as bsuy as it is today I can fully appreciate the concerns of those living around it.
Mar 1st, 2008, 10:32 PM
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"Is 20% because the satellite terminals haven't been built yet?"
There's no "yet". Satellites at T5 are way down Ferrovial's list of priorities, and it currently looks as if they're not going to raise the money for the T1-3 redevelopments they've promised.
Buses at T5 will be part of Heathrow life until someone gets to grip with the real Heathrow issue, which is that London is the world's largest airport market, it's got less airport and runway space than tiddly little villages like Dallas, and we either get a proper airport or see our lead in world commercial services go the way of our wool industry. And to add to the complexity, it has to be admitted that New York and Hong Kong provide better airports through government-controlled operators than we do with operators allegedly accountable to shareholders.
There's no "yet". Satellites at T5 are way down Ferrovial's list of priorities, and it currently looks as if they're not going to raise the money for the T1-3 redevelopments they've promised.
Buses at T5 will be part of Heathrow life until someone gets to grip with the real Heathrow issue, which is that London is the world's largest airport market, it's got less airport and runway space than tiddly little villages like Dallas, and we either get a proper airport or see our lead in world commercial services go the way of our wool industry. And to add to the complexity, it has to be admitted that New York and Hong Kong provide better airports through government-controlled operators than we do with operators allegedly accountable to shareholders.
Mar 2nd, 2008, 12:36 AM
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>>>>>
Is 20% because the satellite terminals haven't been built yet?
>>>>>
in the bbc interview, the baa spokesman TRIED to imply that it would be temporary but it was clear that it will either be permanent or at least last a very long time. it's by design and not part of the opening 'growing pains'.
i agree with flanner's comments. unfortunately, london's momentum as a (the?) world's financial centre is stalling and it's getting less able to compete with emerging financial centres which will syphon off more and more of non-ny business. 'little' things like the crumbling airport, fingerprinting, cost of living/doing business, and the non-dom debacle will continue to threaten london's status.
Is 20% because the satellite terminals haven't been built yet?
>>>>>
in the bbc interview, the baa spokesman TRIED to imply that it would be temporary but it was clear that it will either be permanent or at least last a very long time. it's by design and not part of the opening 'growing pains'.
i agree with flanner's comments. unfortunately, london's momentum as a (the?) world's financial centre is stalling and it's getting less able to compete with emerging financial centres which will syphon off more and more of non-ny business. 'little' things like the crumbling airport, fingerprinting, cost of living/doing business, and the non-dom debacle will continue to threaten london's status.
