Arriving at Terminal 3, I did not have to go through an immigration check and stayed airside, taking the transfer bus to Terminal 5. Upon arrival at 5, we ascended an escalator to a higher level to the “Ready To Fly” area, where they check to be sure connecting passengers have boarding passes for their next flight (sometimes the originating airport counter cannot generate boarding passes for all of the segments), and also check the hand luggage to be sure it meets UK specs.

Alas, my 22″ rolling carry-on did not meet UK rules, which include the handles and wheels in the length measurement. I was offered a free zippered tote in BA colours, was asked to remove all essentials that I needed for the flight, and then was whisked to a BA desk where the 22″ carry-on bag was checked….this became my third checked piece of luggage, which was no extra charge (if I arrived at the California airport with a third bag to check, they’d want an extra $100).

The BA employee also checked to be sure my other two bags had reached London (they had) and she reissued my boarding pass, because the one from California used scanning technology and they use a magnetic stripe system at LHR (at least in 10/2008). They were firm but fair, and efficient. It was my own fault for not knowing the UK rules for luggage, which apply even to those only transiting London.

At this point, I had a very favourable view of the terminal. The second security check was quick and efficient. But upon exiting security and entering the departures area, the overall impression I had was “this is a shopping mall masquerading as an airport terminal!”

Luxury stores (Harrods, Prada, etc) everywhere, and so large that the corridors are rather narrow. Travellers often had to walk single file to allow others to pass. Bathrooms were poorly marked, had only six toilet stalls each, and always there was a queue snaking out the door into the lobby. I could understand if this was Terminal 1 or 2, fifty years old and being used beyond its intended service life, but not acceptable in a brand new terminal. Well, it’s hard to build adequate WCs when so much floor space is devoted to luxury retailers.

There were horded of green-jacketed airport guides roaming the floors, and for good reason: nothing is easy to locate, given the shopping mall layout and ambiance. The escalators are nearly hidden next to stores, bathrooms are hard to find, and gates in the main “A” building are sandwiched between stores and food vendors. My gate A8 was sandwiched between Starbucks and a retail store, with the yellow A8 sign somewhat hard to locate. The B gates, which I did not visit, must be easily visually to navigate, because all of the vendors are in the A building. But woe onto the hapless traveler trying to find a gate in the main A building.

It was hard even to find an empty chair to sit down. My solution was to buy a coffee at Starbucks, in a sense renting a table and chair for an hour (I had a three hour layover). For those not willing or able to spend money on coffee, or for those with small kids or babies, Good Lord it would be horrible. I’m certain the experience is more pleasant for those with lounge access, but that doesn’t change the fact that the terminal is not a comfortable place to wait if you are in transit and have no lounge perks. And heaven help the hapless person waiting half an hour to use a restroom in a brand new airport.

Message to Praveen: you won’t have to clear immigration or customs at LHR if your final destination is USA. 65 minutes should be plenty of time for a transfer if you are arriving and departing Terminal 5, assuming that you arrive on time from India. The trains connecting the A and B wings run underground and are quick and efficient. American Airlines initially required a three hour connection between Terminals 3 and 5 for its passengers using free mileage tickets, and a minimum of two hours for paying passengers, but I believe the time has been reduced to one hour for paying passengers and two hours for free passengers. In my case, I made the connection from Terminal 3 to my gate at Terminal 5 in under an hour.

I need some info with this new terminal 5. I am trying to buy tickets for my wife and newborn (4 months old) from India to USA. Layover in London is only about an Hour (65 minutes). In atlanta airport distance between gates is only a few feet inside a terminal. I looked at the map of T5 and its huge with 3 different buildings, railway between gates, bus escalator and all sorts of things. I am more or less convinced that the mother and baby would definetly not be able to make it through security and all the before mentioned things in 45 minutes ( you have to be at the gate 20 mins prior to dep).

Does anybody here differ with me? Do you think they can make it in an hour? BTW it is HYD->LHR->ATL.Arrival at LHR at 13:00 and dep at 14:05. Both Arrival and Dep from T5.

Thanks,

Praveen

I had heard a great deal about this terminal, and all I want is to be able to get to the lounge and aircraft as quick as possible. The lounge I finally found was a huge disappointment, suitcases everywhere, dirty glasses left around and a total lack of atmosphere compared to the Virgin Atlantic lounge in Terminal 3. There were other lounges, I think – a North lounge and a South lounge, but this is of no use if you do not know how the location of these lounges relates to your departure gate. Terminal 4 used to have a security Fast Track – apparently there is one at Terminal 5, but I was told just to get into line 9 and that was it. Perhaps line 9 was the Fast Track – but I don’t think so.

However, let’s not even include the lounges and fast track in my chagrin. I had to take two escalators down, then get on a train, then get two escalators up, then the next escalator was not working, then yet another escalator down to the aircraft. I thought the whole point of Terminal 5 was to make getting from check-in to aircraft as quick and easy as possible – it isn’t. It is back to Virgin for me.