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Original poster

Heathrow help

23 replies

user134276 · 23/05/2024 19:41

Hi all,

We haven't flown for over 10 years, but this weekend we are taking our two DS to Europe for half term. We ar

Our flight is at 7am. We are flying with British Airways from Heathrow and have several bags to check in. Our two boys are 6/8 and both autistic. They are generally really good and manage well but they find queuing tricky and they find busy places overwhelming. I'm trying therefore to be as prepared as possible.

We are staying overnight at the airport and have parking booked for the morning of our flight. We booked the meet and greet parking so we can walk straight to the terminal.

I've had an email from BA asking me to check in online... Do I need to do this? We have bags so surely we still need to go to the desk thing?

Bearing all this in mind, how early do we need to be at the airport? I'd like time for breakfast but not too long.

I'd like to arrive at the airport at 4:45am which gives us just over 2hrs. Is that going to be enough? I really want to get up and ther as late as possible to maximize sleep the night before. None of us do we are tired 🤣🤣. Could we get away with arriving at 5:15?

Sorry if these questions are stupid but I just feel like it's been so long since I've flown that I don't know what to do. I've never checked in online for example.

OP posts:
Zonder · 23/05/2024 19:42

Check in online and then you just take your bags to the desk. If the flight is at 7 I would arrive no later than 5. Hopefully you can all sleep on the plane.

WindowViper · 23/05/2024 19:45

Do check in online. You can go straight to drop your bags, rather than faffing about checking in on a machine (you don’t check in with a person any more!).

You’ll have plenty of time. Heathrow is really efficient.

Ive never done it, but I’ve been told their disability assistance is really good. Worth looking up what they can help you with!

BusyCM · 23/05/2024 19:45

Drop your bags off the night before!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Flying Holidays
Andywarholswig · 23/05/2024 19:50

BA are very helpful if you need additional assistance. You will be able to use the fast track if you have a sunflower lanyard

Original poster
user134276 · 23/05/2024 19:55

My husband is reluctant to get a sunflower lanyard as our kids are high functioning. He is insistent we shouldn't abuse it as the kids can wait fine provided it's not ridiculous. We don't have any sunflower lanyards, do they have them at Heathrow? Maybe I'll put my foot down as it will be stressful enough keeping them level.

Didn't think about dropping bags the night before, that's a great call. Didn't know I could do that! We have specifically picked Heathrow and BA in th hope that it will be quite efficient and organized

OP posts:
thedendrochronologist · 23/05/2024 19:56

T5 is amazing and they have a dedicated section for families. With check in staffed check in desks zone E. they have pack for kids too.

If you can, go the night before and check most of the bags. It all flight can do this so so check before hand

Original poster
user134276 · 23/05/2024 20:02

We are t2 or 3 I think. Does that affect anything?

OP posts:
cherryassam · 23/05/2024 20:15

I would suggest going for the assistance - it is not abusing it if you think there would be a benefit for how you all handle the situation. You can request assistance from BA for both the flight and they should be able to arrange assistance at the airport too.

Definitely drop off your bags the night before if you can - from the BA website there is night before bag drop here:

  • London Heathrow Terminal 3: Daily between 16:00-21:00 for flights departing the next day before 10:00
  • London Heathrow Terminal 5: Daily between 16:00-22:00 for flights departing the next day before 10:00

And this is what you need to do it:

To drop off your bag:

  • You can use any available bag drop desk.
  • You’ll need your passport and all travel documents required for the journey.
  • You’ll need to show your boarding pass for your flight.
If you drop off bags for others travelling with you on the same booking, you’ll also need to show their passports and travel documents.
cherryassam · 23/05/2024 20:19

There are play areas in all the terminals at Heathrow, I think.

maw1681 · 23/05/2024 20:52

It might be worth booking airport lounge access too so it's a quieter environment for your boys. Also fast track security is not that expensive and it beats the longer queues

PuttingDownRoots · 23/05/2024 21:00

DH flew through terminal 3 last week at a similar time (with 10 children!) and mentioned it was quite quiet.

Original poster
user134276 · 23/05/2024 21:02

Oh a lounge is a GREAT idea. Have just looked and they have complimentary food too so that saves us the price of breakfast.

How do we fast track security? Is that done with the lanyards?

OP posts:
Original poster
user134276 · 23/05/2024 21:03

@PuttingDownRoots it's half term next week 😬😬 but still good that it's not manic off peak!

OP posts:
maw1681 · 23/05/2024 21:32

@user134276 you should be able to book fast track on the airport's website. Not sure how it works with the lanyards though, you might just be entitled to it anyway if you have them

Octavia64 · 23/05/2024 21:36

You can buy sunflower lanyards on Amazon.

Buy them and have them in reserve.

Early morning at Heathrow can be busy. How much do they not like queueing? Passenger Assisstance is free and if you book it they'll whisk you through either a crew entrance or jump the queue.

KenAdams · 23/05/2024 21:37

You can get lanyards at the assistance desk. Have you noted your assistance request with BA?

Original poster
user134276 · 23/05/2024 21:39

No I haven't said anything to BA. I am going to though. I didn't really realise we could!

Queuing one of them finds hard because it involves being close to lots of other people. The other has Dyspraxia as well as autism and finds it's really hard to stand relative still for long periods of time.

OP posts:
mitogoshi · 23/05/2024 21:43

Terminal 2 is great, terminal 3 is bigger and older. Seriously don't worry about, just arrive around 5am to give you lots of time. Have you booked seats? If not it's essential to check in asap when booking opens to maximise chance of being seated together. Make sure your luggage fits the hand luggage dimensions.

If you haven't already downloaded the ba app, they will likely issue you with paper boarding passes at the bag drop but I can't emphasise enough do check in online!

mitogoshi · 23/05/2024 21:44

Oh and i personally haven't queued at Heathrow anyway

Octavia64 · 23/05/2024 21:45

This is exactly the kind of thing passenger assistance is intended for.

Contact BA and get it booked (it's free) and then no need to worry about queues.

Original poster
user134276 · 23/05/2024 21:59

Thank you everyone. I am going to call them tomorrow ❤️❤️ I feel much better about asking for assistance now. I have always shied away from using it because the boys are very 'manageable' but we do have to work hard to keep it that way.

OP posts:
LIZS · 23/05/2024 22:01

Have you already received seats? Checking in online will allocate them to you, and you can try to stay together whereas it is more random at the airport as others will have checked already. You can use self service bag drop rather than queue for check in desks.

Original poster
user134276 · 23/05/2024 22:14

It looks like we have already got seats, but to be honest once we are on the plane, so long as either DH or I is by each child, it'll be absolutely fine.

OP posts:
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