Cutting it fine Heathrow T5

mgdavid

Alan_Bowen wrote: »

...... better still check in on line 24 hours before departure, print your boarding pass,......

agree - came back to add that but you beat me to it :-)

pleasedelete

T5 has BA conformance times. You have to go through each part (entry, security.boarding gate by a specific time) If you miss any you get off loaded even if you are at the gate in time.

google ba conformance and look for the most up to date flyertalk thread for advice and times.

martindow

Thank you for your comments.

BA have confirmed that check in 45 minutes before departure for this plane. We're going to print boarding cards in advance but will have bags to drop off.

I'm still in two minds which bus to get.

Alan_Bowen

We all have different comfort levels of risk we are prepared to deal with. You are clearly still worried, so take the earlier bus. Be aware that check in, bag drops and machines will not start working until 0500 so you may have a few minutes to wait before you can drop your bags and then you will have two hours to spend money in the shopping centre, sorry I mean airport terminal!

InsideInsurance

If you were hand luggage only I'd have said the later bus is most likely OK but if you are checking in hold luggage then I'd play it safe and get the earlier bus.

You need to factor in the time to get from T5a to which subterminal the flight is leaving from. I've had times when the subway broke down and getting people down the lifts to the walkway between them was a real pain (just as it is if you want to go from T5b or T5c back to T5a)

duchy

What is the plan B if you miss the plane ?

With bags to check I'd go for the earlier bus and reward myself with a cooked breakfast at the terminal. If it was hand baggage only it would be less of a risk but with bag queues I wouldn't risk it.

marsman802

My wife travels to LHR T5 early doors very often and at first used to leave very early for fear of missing flights.

However she soon realised that actually there's little point as everything runs smoothly and now arrives roughly the same time before flights that you have put.

THE DIFFERENCE IS SHE IS HAND LUGGAGE ONLY.

I don't think you would have an issue as it'll be pretty easy to fly through T5 at that time but what difference does an hour make to you? Just sleep on the coach from Reading :-)

planenut

If you miss the coach, or that one breaks down, you have no fall back. If the earlier one breaks down or you miss it, there is the second one. I would suggest to aim to catch the earlier coach.
Good luck.

martindow

I think I'll do as most suggest and get the 4 o'clock bus.

I know that although a few weeks away I am considering the later bus, as the time approaches it would make for a stressful morning.

It has been very helpful to receive your ideas and your experiences at T5 - thanks again everyone.

zaax

Don't risk it. BA conformance looks pritty dire