Has Heathrow scrapped Fast Track security for oneworld Sapphire cardholders?

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• richie says:

  10 Nov10 November 08:12

  Sorry i totally dissagree . Fast track from heathrow is generally faster . Ok i have seen once or twice when the main security is quiet. But i have no problems once a week using this as a ba silver traveling in economy

• Cheshire Pete says:

  10 Nov10 November 08:19

  BA website seems very clear.

  https://headforpoints.com/hfp/ba-terminal-5-overview/

  Fast Track Security is available for:
  all customers travelling in First, Club World and Club Europe
  British Airways Executive Club Gold and Silver members plus one guest
  oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members plus one guest
  customers with a fully flexible UK Domestic ticket (Business UK)
  Fast Track Boarding is available for:
  all customers travelling in First, Club World and Club Europe
  customers with a fully flexible UK Domestic ticket (Business UK)
  British Airways Executive Club Gold and Silver members
  oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members
  Fast Track Arrivals is available for:
  customers travelling in First, Club World and Club Europe who hold a non-EU passport
  British Airways Executive Club Gold and Silver members who hold a non-EU passport, plus one guest
  oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members

  • guesswho2000 says:

    10 Nov10 November 09:29

    This echoes my experience, as an AA PLT I used FT at LHR T5 three weeks ago (when flying BA).

    This year I’ve also been allowed through FT while travelling on QF & AY. I’ll be flying from LHR on AA in a couple of weeks, so I guess I’ll see if anything has changed.

  • guesswho2000 says:

    10 Nov10 November 09:31

    Also, I was unaware that I could use FT arrivals as a OWS – didn’t appear to be any mention of it at the airport, just mentions that you have to have a non-EU passport?

    • Rob says:

      10 Nov10 November 10:08

      You must have a non-EU passport. Whether a shiny card helps a non-EU passport holder who was travelling in economy I don’t know.

      • JQ says:

        10 Nov10 November 11:23

        If you have an invite (e.g. unused from a previous J/F trip), the shiny card doesn’t matter…

      • Alan says:

        10 Nov10 November 11:31

        Although the terminology is really confusing. There’s fast track immigration for non-EU exiting in London, but then they’ve got some expedited security for connections, one is if to a non-UK flight – this just does a BP check then straight up to Fast Track North security. However if connecting to UK domestic you near to clear immigration at connections. They used to have a Fast Track lane here but BA stopped paying for it so there’s now just one queue for BP check and then immigration. However after that you need your photo taken for biometrics and after *that* you can then either go up the left hand escalator (non Fast Track) or walk round behind the escalators following the tensabarriers to the right hand (Fast Track) security. Of course it’s then anyone’s guess as to how long it’ll take to get through security thanks to LHR security being about the slowest anywhere in the world!

        So it’s simple really… 😛

        • CV3V says:

          10 Nov10 November 15:30

          To echo some of this, my partner has a non EU passport and on recent flight into LHR was given a fast track pass by BA crew (we were in Biz), however the immigration staff refused it the pass and advised that BA were no longer paying for the fast track service, so off to the back of the long long queue. Ended up taking 45 mins just to clear immigration, to then join the fast track security queue (which worked just fine).

          LHR security can be annoying, lots of staff can be on duty but they seem too busy chatting to each other. They need some training off the GLA or EDI staff who have always been very efficient and courteous.

• Owen Rudge says:

  10 Nov10 November 09:31

  I was told there was no fast track for BA Silver at T5 (connecting to a domestic flight) in August, and that it was for Golds only.

  • Rob says:

    10 Nov10 November 10:08

    Yes, well …

• Clive says:

  10 Nov10 November 10:48

  The answer is no. Just went through and security line was long. Fast track machines were not recognising Gold or Silver I was told. No problems as a Silver though through the manual lane

  • Rob says:

    10 Nov10 November 12:38

    BA Silver is not a problem. The issue in other oneworld airlines and their mid tier cards.

• RJSC says:

  10 Nov10 November 12:22

  Two experiences in past month.

  1. Tried to use Marco polo gold through manual lane, declined. Told that Marco Polo no longer accepted and rules had changed.After much arguing and pointing out oneworld status was allowed through

  2. Tried to use Marco Polo gold through manual lane, declined. Security person said only BA and Amex allowed now. Pulled out Amex Platinum and was waved through.

  Made me wonder if Amex have negotiated new Heathrow fast track deal in lieu of Marco Polo benefit?

  • Rob says:

    10 Nov10 November 12:36

    Someone else also told me that Amex Plat was accepted now. However I can find no back up to support this, it is possibly confusion with the Corporate Platinum Amex which DOES give fast track security at Heathrow.

  • Thomas Olsson says:

    10 Nov10 November 16:12

    I had the exact same experience a week ago – they wouldnt access the Marco Polo card, and told me rules had changed and it was now much “harder” to get through, only Business, gold cards and AMEX Platinum – waved the platinum card (Personal AMEX Platinum) and was let through.

    I contacted AMEX to ask about this, they confirmed the Marco Polo should no longer be allowed for FastTrack (due to some BA changes) but will work for lounges. They could however not confirm the AMEX Platinum should be allowed, only Centurion is officially allowed, and if you have a Platinum Corporate, you can get vouchers.

    So all a bit confusing at the moment – the BA Site as quoted about is quite clear, but not what the people on the gates have in front of them 🙂

• Mark says:

  10 Nov10 November 14:50

  Just came through T5 fast track 10 minutes ago. It clearly states on the signs that fast track is for Emerald Sapphire and above. (as well as all the BA-specific ways to get access)

  Never had a problem, but then I’ve always used the machines, with my boarding card carrying the Sapphire tier from CX on there

  • Thomas says:

    10 Nov10 November 17:04

    Mark – do you normally change back to BA after the flight or do you leave it on your CX card? Can anyone remind me how long you have to change back to the BA card number to get the miles/TP.

    Many thanks
    Thomas

    • Mark says:

      10 Nov10 November 21:48

      Thomas – I used to do that but stopped on account of CX no longer renewing Marco Polo Gold for Amex Plat holders, without meeting a minimum miles/sectors on CX….and using the BA Premium Amex to earn my miles instead.

      A compromise, which for me is worth it as I don’t do any long-haul really, and so BA status beyond Bronze is not a realistic target for me by trying to collect TP etc.

      I’m afraid I don’t know the answer to your query about changing the CX/BA refs post flight, in fact i’d be surprised if you can. I used to change it before I flew.

      • Thomas says:

        11 Nov11 November 10:53

        Mark – many thanks for the feedback, very helpful – same boat here, lots of flights but all Europe and I fly quite a bit with Miles and More carriers, so may reach bronze but unless I do a TP run, anything more will be harder.

        Many thanks
        Thomas

      • Gary says:

        11 Nov11 November 23:42

        Mark, something in your post piqued my interest. I’d never seen anything about maintaining Marco Polo Gold by meeting a minimum miles/sector (unless of course it’s the normal achievement threshold), is there a lower threshold to simply maintain it? I never fly with them and have been switching at the airport to BAEC, but given I too will never actually achieve status with BA, would be fine to use Marco Polo if there was any chance I could maintain status there beyond the 1-year (although randomly extended by 4 months) that came with Amex Platinum…?
        Thanks.

        • Rob says:

          12 Nov12 November 17:41

          Cathay will write to you 6 moths before expiry with a special deal. To be honest I was not overexcited but may work for some.

• CV3V says:

  10 Nov10 November 15:33

  I’ve always used the machines – both at LHR and GLA, with no issues for me and for partner (who doesn’t have status) – which made me always think that anyone could chance it through the automatic barriers.

• florida says:

  10 Nov10 November 15:42

  OT: are you able to “guest” a colleague or significant other through fast track on same terms if OW sapphire and travelling on same connection? Works in EDI but never sure if just too much hassle to deny it 😉

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