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High Functioning, High End and High Stress: What it is like to change planes at London Heathrow’s Terminal 5.

I recently had the pleasure of flying from Los Angeles to Athens for a 12 day Mediterranean cruise. We flew British Airways. Anyone who flies British Airways from the US to point in Europe knows you change planes at London Heathrow’s Terminal 5. 

Though a seasoned traveler I had never passed through Heathrow on my way to another European destination. While everything went fine I would have appreciated a heads up on what to expect … .so if you’re traveling through Heathrow soon, or just a travel enthusiast this article is for you. 

Terminal 5 is a huge facility and the main hub for all of British Airways’ flight operations. It carries with it all of the glamor, excitement, chaos and unpredictability of international travel. I had a 4 hour layover before my flight to Athens and my inbound flight was on schedule so fortunately making my connection was not an issue. 

Terminal 5 is not a single structure. It is actually a collection of three different buildings:

  • The “A Gates”: This is the main terminal building with the most places to eat and shop as well as security (more on security later). It is the largest of the three. Most of the flights that are going to cities in Europe (Rome, Athens, Prague etc) depart from the A gates. All of these flights use smaller planes like the A320s as the flights are all less than four hours.

 

  • The “B Gates”: A second slightly smaller building next to the A gates and a quick underground train ride away. It is used primarily for long haul flights. Larger planes like the 777, 787 and A350 depart from the B gates.

 

  • The “C Gates”: The third and smallest building, furthest from the A gates but the next stop on the train after the B gates and still a very short ride. It is exclusively used for long haul departures. All flights that use the A380, in addition to 777s, 787s and A350s, depart from the C gates. 

High Functioning

British Airways Terminal 5 processes 90,000 to 100,000 passengers per day. That is almost 75% of the average daily volume of Heathrow as a whole and over a third of the volume of Atlanta’s Hartsfield airport, the busiest airport in the world. 

While the proportion of passengers moving through Terminal 5 on a given day that are connecting to another flight is not available I have to believe it is well over half. 

“All of this requires a lot of people—most of whom are not confident about where they are going—to move quickly and efficiently from one flight to another, along with ensuring that all their baggage is transferred between flights.” Kudos to British Airways as neither myself nor anybody in my party lost any bags going to or from Athens. 

Despite having no knowledge of where to go, once we got off the plane the airport is set up in such a way that the natural flow directs you to where you need to go even if you don’t know ahead of time (more on this later). Also, there are airport representatives stationed along the way to answer questions which is very helpful and reassuring. 

High End

If you have time between flights as we did there are plenty of places to spend a lot of money. We are talking very high end shops, such as Gucci, Hermes, Burberry, Chanel, Dior, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Paul Smith and more. Anglophiles will appreciate Fortnum and Mason, a quintessentially British institution best described as an ultra-luxurious grocery store. You can even arrange for a personal shopping assistant to help you maximize the time. 

Don’t worry about missing these luxury stores, as they’re located along the path to British Airways’ Club World First Class and Business Class lounges.

Speaking of lounges, we had the chance to enjoy the Club World Business Class Lounge, which was pleasant. The food was decent, and despite the lounge being busy, we were able to find seating on both the outbound and return legs of our journey.

All of this is located in Terminal A. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll need to manage your time carefully to ensure you reach your gate on time for boarding. If your flight departs from the B or C gates, you’ll need to take a short underground train. It’s a straightforward process, but if it’s your first time navigating the airport, budget at least 30 minutes to walk to the train, ride it, and get to your gate. Also, note that British Airways doesn’t post gate information until 60–90 minutes before departure, so it’s important to keep an eye on the monitors.

Terminal B, though smaller than Terminal A also has a Club World Lounge but very little beyond that. Terminal C, being the smallest, has only a Starbucks, a few shops, and no lounges.

If you have a long layover, spending most of your time in Terminal A is your best bet.

 

 

High Stress

The most unique feature of changing planes at Heathrow is that, even if you’ve already gone through security at your departure airport, you must pass through security again before boarding your connecting flight.

This can be stressful, especially if your connection is tight or you’re unsure where to go. Upon disembarking, you’ll choose between immigration (if Heathrow is your final destination) or the connecting flights route. Following the connecting flights path leads you through a series of corridors to security, which can feel confusing and hectic if you’re not expecting it.

The first step before security is discarding all bottled water—even if it was provided on your previous flight. I mention this because, having never changed planes at Heathrow, it took us  a minute to figure out what this particular station was and why we needed to get rid of the bottles of water that British Airways gave us. 

The next part of the process involves passing through a facial recognition checkpoint. At first, we weren’t entirely sure whether we were supposed to go through this checkpoint, as there weren’t clear instructions. It wasn’t until we got closer and saw others passing through that we realized this was part of the procedure. Additionally, we didn’t immediately realize that facial recognition technology was being used—it simply scans your face, opens the gate, and you proceed. For first-timers, knowing this in advance can help avoid confusion and save time.

Then you proceed through a winding queue to security screening, which can be a lengthy process depending on the volume of travelers. On our return trip, every single bag in our line was pulled for additional checks, making the process slow and stressful. One passenger with a tight connection missed their flight which led to some drama. Following that, a separate individual had a  heated confrontation with Heathrow staff. While tensions spiralled quickly, the situation was eventually de-escalated. 

My bag was flagged for carrying a full-sized tube of toothpaste—a reminder of Heathrow’s strict security policies. The entire process felt as though it was being conducted with heightened vigilance, as if they had received credible information about a present threat. While thorough, it’s helpful to be prepared and allow extra time for the process.

In the end, we had a 5-hour layover on this leg, so we had no trouble making our connection. However, our second time through Terminal 5 security on the return leg was more stressful than the first, which leads me to believe it wasn’t just me.

The Takeaway:


Give yourself ample connection time—at least three hours—and be prepared for the possibility of extra scrutiny. Patience is key to navigating the process.

Final Thoughts:

Despite its challenges, Terminal 5 captures the excitement of international travel. The blend of cultures, the scale of operations, and the high-energy atmosphere make it a fascinating experience. For me, the thrill of exploring new destinations far outweighs any occasional frustrations.

If you’re connecting through London Heathrow’s Terminal 5, here are my top tips:

  • Give Yourself Time: Aim for a minimum three-hour layover to account for delays and security checks.
  • Stay Calm: The process is designed to keep things moving efficiently and safely. Adjust your expectations, and you’ll handle the experience much better.
  • Enjoy the Experience: If time permits, take advantage of the terminal’s amenities.

 

Safe travels, and may your Heathrow experience be as smooth and enjoyable as possible!

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