Possible to visit T5 Lounge if departing from T3?

[el_rooto]

Hi all,

Is it possible for me to visit the T5 Galleries lounge if I'm departing from T3? Or is moving between terminals difficult?

 

[Mal]

Impossible AFAIK. BPs are scanned to allow you into a terminal, and you won't get from T3 to T5 with a T3 pass.

 

[Jobu]

Not true. You dont even need a BP to get into T3 when transiting. You can pick one up after security. BPs are scanned for the lounges though. I don't know about T5 but you can leave T3 once you've gone in. It does take a bit of time to transfer between terminals, so I wouldn't bother unless you have several hours to wait (I still wouldn't bother).

 

[Mal]

Not true. You dont even need a BP to get into T3 when transiting. You can pick one up after security. BPs are scanned for the lounges though. I don't know about T5 but you can leave T3 once you've gone in. It does take a bit of time to transfer between terminals, so I wouldn't bother unless you have several hours to wait (I still wouldn't bother).

It does appear that certain transfers at Heathrow don't require a BP (esp. T3-T3), but you won't get airside into the "wrong" terminal from landside.

T5 requires BP scanning before entry past security. It's part of BA's flight/passenger validation policy. As for T3, I can never recall getting past security without having my BP validated by someone.

I can't see an airside (or landside) entry into T5 being possible without a BP for a BA T5 flight - but if anyone has any experience of getting into T5 via landside or airside with a T3 BP....

 

[tyrolean]

You cannot enter T5 without a BP neither form landside nor transitting. They are scanned before security check and they are very strict. You can enter T3 without a BP, but only when transitting. Why do you spend the time at the airport? London has so many nice things to do!!!

If you are keen on the lounges you may try the different OW Lounges in T3.

 

[MrJetset]

You cannot enter T5 without a BP neither form landside nor transitting. They are scanned before security check and they are very strict. You can enter T3 without a BP, but only when transitting. Why do you spend the time at the airport? London has so many nice things to do!!!

If you are keen on the lounges you may try the different OW Lounges in T3.

Nope. Even as a F customer arriving into T5, you cannot access the Concorde Room or GF. The terminal is designed so that pax are sent to terminal transfer or clear immigration/customs then baggage claim then exit. You could do the latter, and visit the arrivals lounge, then go to T3.

 

[casanovawa]

Hmmm, they're a bit uptight are they???

When i was in Chicago flying out for LHR i went and checked my bags in at the international terminal only be told there was only an AC back at the domestic terminal for some reason, so jumped on the monrail/train thing back to the previous stop and was able to make it through security with my BP and get to the AC and enjoy a few drinks and a shower before making it back to the international one to go through all the security codswallop...

Always a bit of a PITA to go to another terminal with risks of misjudging length of time to make it back before flight closes and delays and all at security etc... But still worth it i reckon... BA at LHR must do it a bit differently...

 

[tyrolean]

Always a bit of a PITA to go to another terminal with risks of misjudging length of time to make it back before flight closes and delays and all at security etc... But still worth it i reckon... BA at LHR must do it a bit differently...

Yes. Especially T5 is very different. Even more difficult is to leave the terminal, once you have entered it (especially for smokers, as there is no place to smoke in the whole terminal).

You have to ask at customer service, they check you out and then you can leave again (otherwise you would be refused to re-enter as you are already in).

An other fun thing: Domestic and International Pax mix. They make a photo when you enter the Terminal as a Domestic Pax. When you board they check your photo to make sure that you did not swap the BP with someone else.

 

[NM]

When i was in Chicago flying out for LHR i went and checked my bags in at the international terminal only be told there was only an AC back at the domestic terminal for some reason, so jumped on the monrail/train thing back to the previous stop and was able to make it through security with my BP and get to the AC and enjoy a few drinks and a shower before making it back to the international one to go through all the security codswallop...

Are you certain this was Chicago? You mention AC, which I assume is AA's Admirals Club lounge, which implies you were flying with AA. AA operated from Terminal 3 at ORD and there is no concept of an international or domestic terminal. Both types of flights operate from the same terminal with international and domestic services operating from the same gates. Terminal 3 includes concourses G, H, K and L and you can walk between them all. There are AC lounges at concourse G and at the junction of K and L. The Flagship Lounge is at the end of concourse K. So no need for a monorail ride or in and out of security to move between concourses to get to a lounge. Councourse L is the only one without an AC lounge but you don't use a train/monorail to get from L to the lounge at the junction of K and H. So I am a little confised.

 

[serfty]

...

When i was in Chicago flying out for LHR i went and checked my bags in at the international terminal only be told there was only an AC back at the domestic terminal for some reason ...

Are you certain this was Chicago? You mention AC, which I assume is AA's Admirals Club lounge, which implies you were flying with AA. ...

I got the impression from "international terminal" (being T5) that BA may be the carrier as AA do not fly from T5. In which case, if A/C access was available in T3 then BA Terraces lounge access should have been available at T5.

 

[timmy-t]

Here's a tricky one... I'd be keen to know what you think.

Family (2A and 2Kids) arrive at T5 from Pisa on a BA flight.

I depart later that night on BA to BKK (T3), whist Mrs and the kids go with BA to HKG (T5)

The layover at LHR is ~6 hours.
I am travelling FIRST to BKK
The rest of the family Economy to HKG (don't ask!!)

What are our Lounge options?
I was hoping that as we are all arriving at T5 that I could take them into the Concorde room, see them onto their HKG flight and then head over to T3 for my flight to BKK.

Is this possible?

Thanks for your advice.

 

[simongr]

What class inbound to LHR?

BA are notoriously stingy with guests and kids count as guests.

 

[timmy-t]

I'm ticketed as FIRST all the way from PISA to BKK as it's a points ticket (service to LHR is in J as no F exists)

I thought I had read somewhere that young kids dont count (they will be 3 and 6).

 

[Princess Fiona]

BA are very strict with guest allocations, children above 2 years of age are counted as a guest. You can of course ask but I would be prepared for the ( probably inevitable) refusal.

 

[timmy-t]

[h=2]Families[/h]Qantas Lounges welcome you when travelling together with your family. In addition to your normal guest allowance you may also bring up to two children, between ages 4 and 17, into lounges operated by Qantas. Children aged 3 years or under are not counted as guests for the purpose of determining the number of guests of the member. If you are travelling with more than two children, the Qantas lounge manager will try to accommodate them, subject to reviewing the space available in the lounge.
Note :
[h=3]Qantas Lounges[/h]

• Children of Qantas Club members aged 18 years and over are counted as a guest of a member if they don't have their own membership.
• The service of alcohol to anyone under the age of 18 years (21 years for USA) is not permitted.
• Children under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by an adult when visiting any lounge, except in the United States of America, where all persons under the age of 21 years must be accompanied by a person aged 21 years or older.

[h=3]BA and oneworld lounges[/h]When entering a British Airways or oneworld lounge, children over 12 years of age are counted as a guest and access is limited accordingly. This is with the exception of the oneworld Los Angeles Tom Bradley Lounge where Qantas Club members may be accompanied by two children up to 18 years of age in addition to their counted guests.
[h=3]Associated lounges[/h]Associated lounges are in ports that Qantas flies to but where it does not operate its own lounge. Our associated lounges are operated by, or on behalf of, other airlines and the child policy varies according to the lounge policy of the particular lounge.
[h=3]Child Access Guide[/h][TABLE="class: basic"]
[TR]
[TH] [/TH]
[TH]Child Age[/TH]
[TH]Number of Children[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Qantas owned and operated lounge [/TD]
[TD]4 to 17 years[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: alt"]
[TD]American Airlines owned lounge[/TD]
[TD]Under 18 years[/TD]
[TD]1 (within North America) 2 (outside of North America)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]British Airways owned lounge[/TD]
[TD]Under 12 years[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[Princess Fiona]

[h=2]Families[/h]Qantas Lounges welcome you when travelling together with your family. In addition to your normal guest allowance you may also bring up to two children, between ages 4 and 17, into lounges operated by Qantas. Children aged 3 years or under are not counted as guests for the purpose of determining the number of guests of the member. If you are travelling with more than two children, the Qantas lounge manager will try to accommodate them, subject to reviewing the space available in the lounge.
Note :
[h=3]Qantas Lounges[/h]

• Children of Qantas Club members aged 18 years and over are counted as a guest of a member if they don't have their own membership.
• The service of alcohol to anyone under the age of 18 years (21 years for USA) is not permitted.
• Children under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by an adult when visiting any lounge, except in the United States of America, where all persons under the age of 21 years must be accompanied by a person aged 21 years or older.

[h=3]BA and oneworld lounges[/h]When entering a British Airways or oneworld lounge, children over 12 years of age are counted as a guest and access is limited accordingly. This is with the exception of the oneworld Los Angeles Tom Bradley Lounge where Qantas Club members may be accompanied by two children up to 18 years of age in addition to their counted guests.
[h=3]Associated lounges[/h]Associated lounges are in ports that Qantas flies to but where it does not operate its own lounge. Our associated lounges are operated by, or on behalf of, other airlines and the child policy varies according to the lounge policy of the particular lounge.
[h=3]Child Access Guide[/h][TABLE="class: basic"]
[TR]
[TH] [/TH]
[TH]Child Age[/TH]
[TH]Number of Children[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Qantas owned and operated lounge [/TD]
[TD]4 to 17 years[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: alt"]
[TD]American Airlines owned lounge[/TD]
[TD]Under 18 years[/TD]
[TD]1 (within North America) 2 (outside of North America)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]British Airways owned lounge[/TD]
[TD]Under 12 years[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

This is the Qantas policy, BA don't adhere to it. There is no "Family access" policy for BA Lounges.
Speaking from personal experience here having become acquainted with the T5 terminal chairs after arriving with a 6 and 8 year old from SYD, as I said by all means ask and you may be allowed and good luck

 

[MrJetset]

As a First pax, you are entitled to one guest in The Concord Room, who must be traveling on the same flight. Your chances of bringing your family in are zero.

 

[ajw373]

As a First pax, you are entitled to one guest in The Concord Room, who must be traveling on the same flight. Your chances of bringing your family in are zero.

Would have thought as his flight leaves from T3 he would have had to transfer from T5 to T3 and would not be able to access the Concord Room at T5.

 

[tyrolean]

No way to use a lounge together in T3:

You will arrive in T5.
You will have the option to clear Immigration and go landside or take the airside Transfer to T3.
Your family can take the direct way to flight connection in T5 - you cannot as you need a T5 BP to enter the Terminal.

The BA Arrivals Lounge is not an option (as you need a Longhaul Flight to enter it).

If you have a lot of time, you could all transfer to T3 and use the BA Lounge there.
If your wife has no status you will probably not allowed to use the kid as a guest.
They have to make their way back to T5 (airside transfer or immigration and HEX), which is quite a hassle.
So not worth it, especially with a very high chance (about 90%) to be rejected!

Better think about a nice way to spend a few hours in London. How about spending some time in a restaurant?
I would hire a small and cheap car and do a little trip to maybe Windsor Castle?

 

[drewbles]

The BA Arrivals Lounge is not an option (as you need a Longhaul Flight to enter it).

Or Club World. I arrived on SIN-LHR flight into T3 on BA in J and went to the Arrivals lounge in T5. Was warmly welcomed (and I was op-up'd on the leg to J so it was even better).