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Changes to British Airways Club World and Club Europe check-in at Heathrow Terminal 5

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British Airways has announced some (positive) changes to the Club World and Club Europe check-in process at Terminal 5.

From 9th November, check-in for Club passengers will move from Zones G/H to Zones A/B.

Bronze member of the Executive Club will also be able to use this area, as well as Silver members.

Changes to Club World and Club Europe check-in at Heathrow Terminal 5

BA promises that there will be more space in the new area. There are also two practical advantages:

  • it is directly opposite the T5 entrance from the tube, Elizabeth Line and Heathrow Express, saving you the long walk down to the south end of the terminal
  • North security is larger than South, and you also have the separate Fast Track area near the north end of T5 which is often ignored by passengers

If you are a Gold member travelling alone or with only one guest, you will find it easier to continue walking down to the south end to use the First Wing security and check-in area with direct access to the Galleries First lounge.

If you are a Gold with 2+ guests then you can’t access the Galleries First lounge. If you arrive by tube or train, you need to decide whether to use the new Zone A/B area directly in front of you or take the long stroll down to rhe First Wing to check-in and then double-back to South security.


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Comments (102)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • G says:

    I live in Dubai and everyone calls it RAK not Ras.

    • Rob says:

      I know. But RAK is the airport code for Marrakech so we don’t use it.

  • Paul says:

    T5 is always so hot, so sweaty before a long hall flight.
    Even yesterday is was hot.
    South fast track was hammered yesterday at 11am, North lounge was packed and nowhere to sit.
    T5 is not a nice luxury experience unless you can get in the Concorde room.

  • John says:

    When I was silver I never bothered going to the far end.

  • Lee says:

    One day we will have better security.

    Crazy that one needs 4 or 5 trays to get through.

    At least getting in and out of the USA is easy.

    The UK is so far behind.

    • e14 says:

      Yeah sure, shoes on or off …. and you are right the UK is way behind in the attitude given, but unfortunately catching up rapidly

  • Sam says:

    The new Club World CI location makes a lot more sense, it’s located right at the front of the drop off zone, hence no need to have the driver drive all the way to the end of the terminal (hence taking less time to get off the car and more time saved)! This should also create a more even split between North (now used by CW/CE) and South (First/Gold) fast track security. It makes me wonder why wasn’t first wing built at zone A instead? Surely it gives a better justification of Premium passengers have better access to/from the train stations

    • ABS says:

      I think you may find that this may make traffic worse, with everyone trying to stop near door 1.

      Also, given that the Club check in area will now be next to public transport, queues may be worse with people using Club check in, even if not eligible.

      • Sam says:

        The trouble with LHR T5 checkin is the lack of signposts. Unless you fly out of T5 frequent enough, you never really know where the CW/CE/First class check in is, so people will ask to get dropped off at door 1 by default anyway (drivers usually just pull up at the next available space, so it can be further down the lane).

        There are staff stationed at the back of the queue to check boarding passes and passports and they do kick people out of the queue who don’t belong there, so I’m not too worried about it

  • Jack says:

    Personally I think it makes a lot of sense moving it to the north end as it is closer for those who arrive via public transport such as the tube or a bus instead of needing to walk the entire terminal to access it . I think it makes a lot of sense to have it right next to both the fast track security and also very near to the lounge with the option to go to the south lounge without having to go down , back on yourself and up as before

  • Peter says:

    LHR Ter 5 changes are a further BA attempt to degrade the Business/Club World experience compared to what it used to be. Food and cabin service have been slowly cheapened and cut back. Now check in – the new arrangement had a 25 minute long queue to check in at 11am yesterday nov 9 Ie the same as the normal World TrVeller economy queues.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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