BA news • June 2015
Six things you might not know about T5
Heathrow Terminal 5 has been voted the World’s Best Airport Terminal by travellers in the annual Skytrax Awards. To celebrate, The Club explores some lesser-known facts about the terminal
It’s a record breaker
T5 is the UK’s largest freestanding building at 396 metres long, 176 metres wide and 40 metres tall. From the Arrivals level at T5A, the building goes down as deep as it is high.
An adventure for your bags
The individual luggage containers of T5’s integrated baggage system (above) glide around on electromagnets, carrying suitcases at up to 30mph in the tunnel connecting the buildings. The terminal has 11 miles of baggage conveyor belt. Late-running bags are sent on a fast-track conveyor.
Hidden pampering
At Be Relax in satellite building T5B you can enjoy wellbeing treatments, including massages and aromatherapy – or a buff and polish at National Shoeshine near Accessorize. Need a wardrobe overhaul? Heathrow offers a complimentary personal shopper service. When time allows, they can even transfer you between terminals if there’s a store you want to visit.
Lounge benefits
Time to spare before your flight? Special events take place in BA’s First Class lounge (pictured above). This summer sees gin cocktail-making sessions, plus tutored tasting sessions of rosés from Lord Bamford’s estate (of JCB and Daylesford Organic fame).
Stress-less parking
T5’s innovative Car Finder system exists for when you can't remember where you've parked. Enter your registration number at the kiosk and the location will pop up. For a more hi-tech route to the airport, try a driverless pod. Operating between the T5 Thistle London Heathrow and the airport, the space-age pods will whizz you there in five minutes.
Where to go for the best views
For runway panoramas and plane spotting, there are great views from almost everywhere within the terminal. However, if you want a really great view, head to Gordon Ramsay Plane Food and Wagamama to dine while watching all the tarmac activity.
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