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Hi all
Just like to get opinions on this. Have a 2 hour layover at LHR (domestic to short haul) – I am guessing my departing Club Europe flight will be A gate so let’s assume that for now.
Is it worth the walk to T5B do you think with a 2 hour layover. This is a 730-930 layover so just quick brekkie, brew and a cheeky bubbly. Friday of that helps..
I’m thinking probably not, but thoughts welcome! And if the answer is yes, how much before departure time do we need to leave B lounge to get to an A departure (via foot tunnel?)
Thanks
Yes, I would and it depends how quickly you walk.
Train to B is ok and you don’t have to navigate the multiple escalators or lifts up to the lounge.
Walk back is 15 mins at the most, 10 if you’re quick. You’d get 90 mins in the loungeI would check the occupancy rates of the lounges at the time, then make your choice. You can do so via this on your phone via this link:
https://ba-uk-occupancy.livereachmedia.com/Strangely, when we went through Heathrow on the 3rd, B lounge was ~80% capacity, and the rest all <20%.
So worth checking before trekking…I tend to head back from B to A about 50 mins before departure time, just to be safe. B is always calmer. Don’t forget to ask for champagne rather than self-pour Prosecco 😉
Remember to read Robs article on this and to walk back to 5a. You don’t want to be on the tram for the return as it will not end well for you.
Though I’d leave closer to 45 mins than 30 mins before departure just to be on the safe side.
I would check the occupancy rates of the lounges at the time, then make your choice. You can do so via this on your phone via this link:
https://ba-uk-occupancy.livereachmedia.com/Strangely, when we went through Heathrow on the 3rd, B lounge was ~80% capacity, and the rest all <20%.
So worth checking before trekking…Great link, could be useful, thank you
Thanks all! The ideal would be a B gate departure but think that’s fairly unlikely.
I’ll favour the B lounge based on feedback reveived but will make a call based on occupancy and inbound arrival from MAN. The 6am always seems to leave late from MAN though this might be slightly skewed due to recent weather here.
I would check the occupancy rates of the lounges at the time, then make your choice. You can do so via this on your phone via this link:
https://ba-uk-occupancy.livereachmedia.com/Strangely, when we went through Heathrow on the 3rd, B lounge was ~80% capacity, and the rest all <20%.
So worth checking before trekking…Great link, could be useful, thank you
Yes, that’s a completely USELESS link (sorry OP).It said 5B was 80% full and then it was empty. 5B seems a good choice and there are travelators each way
5B seems a good choice and there are travelators each way
not on the way back!
As @executiveclubber says, travelators only A-B-C not C-B-A and that’s assuming they work!
An old post but I think it’s still correct?
I would check the occupancy rates of the lounges at the time, then make your choice. You can do so via this on your phone via this link:
https://ba-uk-occupancy.livereachmedia.com/Strangely, when we went through Heathrow on the 3rd, B lounge was ~80% capacity, and the rest all <20%.
So worth checking before trekking…Great link, could be useful, thank you
Yes, that’s a completely USELESS link (sorry OP).It said 5B was 80% full and then it was empty. 5B seems a good choice and there are travelators each way
If you find you have a travelator both ways (back to 5A) you have made difficult navigational error and you have managed to get into the other “arrivals” tunnel. You will end up at connections/passport control and not at the departure gates.
You should walk back to 5A down the same tunnel, so you can only use the travelators when going from 5A to 5B (and on to 5C).
When travelling for Christmas on 20th December I checked the occupancy via the above link and it showed equally busy at T5B and T5A South. The north needs to be avoided at all costs. So, I stayed at 5A South. It turned out that departure was from the B gates so I was at the B lounge within 10 mins for a quick drink before boarding. And.. 5B lounge was EMPTY. They deliberately overstate the occupancy at 5B in my view to discourage people from going there. The -4 tunnel used to be empty, now you are rarely walking alone.
Oops – my bad (as the young people say). Yes travelators only one way. It makes sense was @Gosia44 says – discourage 5A pax from making the trek because it increases the likelihood they will arrive back late. So set it at the same occupancy level as the other lounges???
Could this be the first lounge conspiracy theory of 2025??? 😂 Maybe the US have hidden aliens in Area 52 (2 being the second letter of the alphabet – 5B). Has anyone asked if they can phone home???
I only ever walk the tunnel when departing and arriving. I saw a story that a train malfunctioned and opened doors on both sides and all the passengers were sent back to T5A security.
On a related point, am I right in saying if one lands at T5B and has a connection also from T5B, one has to still follow the hordes to T5A to do transfer security?
Not always. There is a transfer security facility in 5B but it’s not always open.
You should walk back to 5A down the same tunnel, so you can only use the travelators when going from 5A to 5B (and on to 5C).
Last time whilst walking back from B to A I successfully thumbed a lift from a passing people mover cart.
Driver was amused to pick up a hitch-hiker 🙂This past year the lounge ladies have been actively diverting people to the B lounge, so the secret is well and truly out now. I don’t think I’d bother personally, unless I couldn’t actually get a seat in the T5 lounges!
Also – the gate keepers usually know where your flight will (probably) be departing from, so it’s worth popping to the lounge entrance anyway and asking before you make a decision.
@BWS, when we returned from MEX last month we landed at C, transferred to A for passport control and very long security queue full of angry Americans with non-compliant liquids, to find that our connection from MAN was departing from – B! Had 5 minutes in the B lounge for a drink of water and trip to the loo!
Last time whilst walking back from B to A I successfully thumbed a lift from a passing people mover cart.
Driver was amused to pick up a hitch-hiker 🙂Hijacking in an airport??? Is that sensible?? 😂
Definitely trying that – or getting a Trunki to re-create Michael J Fox in “Back to the Future”
This past year the lounge ladies have been actively diverting people to the B lounge, so the secret is well and truly out now. I don’t think I’d bother personally, unless I couldn’t actually get a seat in the T5 lounges!
Also – the gate keepers usually know where your flight will (probably) be departing from, so it’s worth popping to the lounge entrance anyway and asking before you make a decision.
@BWS, when we returned from MEX last month we landed at C, transferred to A for passport control and very long security queue full of angry Americans with non-compliant liquids, to find that our connection from MAN was departing from – B! Had 5 minutes in the B lounge for a drink of water and trip to the loo!
T5A transfer security pre-9am is apalling. And of course forget fast track being consistently open. I’ve obviously been treated by the serene experiences of morning connections in DUB and ZRH
We just done the b gates lounge this week for a change and I’ve got to say the quality of the food on offer wasn’t good. We were there early evening, main lounge had jumbo fish fingers, b lounge had normal fish fingers that had sat out so long the underside could hammer a nail in. The lounge was much quieter than the occupancy checker stated though so plenty of seating options. The OA was keen to try the whispering angel fizz on offer so she was happy. I would imagine the breakfast offerings would be hard to mess up though. We went there via the transit train and walked back. Took no more than 10mins at our normal pace. Still way quicker than taking the train and having to clear security again. If you want some peace and quiet then this is the lounge.
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