Heathrow Carnage, so worried about flight next week!

[JolieJ]

I'm flying home to Canada finally after 3 years to see family, with DH and DS 7 (SN) and DS 2.5 (hyperactive toddler) and I'm genuinely scared after reading about the chaos at Heathrow especially today!

Flying BA from Terminal 5 mid week and I was thinking that it would be okay but it doesn't seem to be, people are having to Que hours to check in, security and then flights are all getting delayed and bags going missing.

How can people do this? I wish I had any other option but I desperately miss my family and want to see them after so long

2 x DD departed LHR T5 and T3 in the last week with no issues. Both allowed an extra hour for security but didn't need it.

Have a wonderful visit!

I'm literally just back from Canada on Saturday. We flew Glasgow- Heathrow then Heathrow-vancouver and the only hold up we had was an hour delay coming home from vancouver to Heathrow. All luggage made it both ways plus a buggy. It was busy but I didn't find it at all chaotic. Hope this puts your mind at ease as I was worried it would be carnage too but it really wasn't.

Also wanted to add we were also BA in terminal 5.

BA is also offering many travelers the the option to change flights/get an evoucher so there may not be the crowds you’re expecting.

We’ve just flown in and out of t3. It was fine although in arrivals there was luggage piled high. I’d definitely buy some air tags to pop in your suitcase so you can locate luggage easily if lost.

If I was flying over the summer hols this year I'd be taking cabin luggage only .

I'm currently sat in a US airport waiting to fly back to T5 having flown out on Friday. It was slower than usual through security, but nothing terrible and check in was fine. We were over an hour leaving, and I have to say that my US/uK flights three weeks ago were all late and tonight's is scheduled to be an hour late. But my luggage has been fine. Will let you know how arrivals is in the morning

Recently through Heathrow. Check-in took much longer than planned with fewer gate agents (not helped by the half of the people seemed not to have checked in online; my own check-in took about two minutes) but security was really efficient. From walking in the door to getting through the other side of security took a little over an hour.

I got there very early and then had a delightful time in the lounge.

Carnage is the right word for what I experienced a few days ago. Still don’t have my bags. Do carry on only if you possibly can and be ready to be flexible.

Pack loads of spare stuff in your hand luggages as you might need it you get caught up in the carnage. I've travelled from T2 and T5 in the last 6 weeks and it's been fine and so has DH just last week but I always pack spare clothes especially in ds's hand luggage just in case something happens, carnage or no carnage.

Just allow more time, take snacks, empty water bottles so you can fill after security, and as much as you can cram into your carry on bags, essentials for a few days just incase your luggage is delayed. Perhaps small gifts for the kids, colouring book, pens, note book, to give them something to do, if you are delayed. Travelling with young kids, just carry on isn’t an option I know. It will probably be fine, but worth it just incase for peace of mind. Good luck and enjoy your trip, I hope it goes smoothly for you. MSM do tend to hype things up so hopefully things are not as bad as reported.

This thread is really helpful. I'm flying out of Heathrow in a couple of weeks and have been a bit concerned. Maybe it won't be as bad as I anticipate.

It's no where near as bad as the press is making out. Do what you can to help yourself by checking in online, having documents ready at the relevant points, using bag drop, twilight check in if relevent, having few or no liquids at security etc. I was through security in 10 minutes max in may half term.

I flew out of Heathrow last week and it was one of the quickest check in/security gate experiences I’ve had, I was braced for a nightmare.

Just allow yourself plenty of time, not much you can do about the rest.

I flew to Slovenia from T5 at 10am yesterday. BA made our bag drop time 2 hours before departure rather than the stated 3 but I expect for long haul they wouldn’t do that. Security was quick.
Some of our group on the 9am Tuesday flight took an hour to get through security.
It didn’t look like chaos at any point.

Can you get away with just taking cabin baggage if you are seeing family

I wish I could but we're going for 6 weeks and with 2 young children it's just not feasible. But I have made sure to pack essentials into a carry on

@JolieJ
We flew BA to Canada recently and if was fine. Just got back. There were not great queues. We got there over 3 hours early. T5 was fine. Your flight is school holidays and I would expect more delays then. There have been flights cancelled but we didn’t see any long haul cancelled. We left 3 hours late but that wasn’t awful!

A friend is a taxi driver, he's up & down there all the bloody time. Some of his clients flights have been cancelled in advance & there have been some delays/some last minute cancellations, but the vast majority have been just fine. One young girl text him to say it was utter carnage & they'd be there ages, she was standing outside within 30 minutes if the wheels touching down. Some people are drama lamas!!

oTOH there have been some dreadful experiences & I don't want to minimise how horrific they have been for some people.

but the chances are hugely favourable that you'll be just fine.

also pack your hold baggage carefully put a mix of everyone's stuff in each case, then if one goes missing it's only a little of everyone's, not all of one persons. Or whatever ratio works for your family. (Ie DC with SEN might find new clothes more challenging & you/your toddler might not care, so have all of SEN DC clothes shared around)

have a fabulous time. I love Canada!!

I just dropped my daughter off on Monday for long haul. T3.
just get there very early. It was a mess tbh. We got there 4 hrs before departure. 2 hr queue for check in. 2.5 to get through security.
then another 2 hrs on the runway. Finally got to destination but without luggage.
I’d say get there early, bring stuff for the kids to do while you’re queuing and take all necessary stuff in hand bags. You do get there, but it can be a bit painful.
upside is massive relief once you’re on the plane.

Please update with how you get on @JolieJ, we're making the same journey with BA at the end of next week with a 3&1 year old!
I'm feeling the same as you!

Update from yesterday, flight was 1 hr 30 late taking off, 30 mins late getting in. I was on the bus on my way to my car clutching a coffee just about an hour after landing, with my luggage, so very normal for Heathrow even pre covid.

We’ve just arrived into Heathrow Terminal 3 from the US. Flight was fine, bit of a queue at security and one of our bags had been taken off the belt along with others. Flew 10 days ago and check in wasn’t too bad, security took a while but was overall fine.

I’m wondering if T5 is just a bit better than other terminals at Heathrow? As flights have been pulled in advance, they should be able to cope now. They are training more staff and this should help.

DD went through LHR last Saturday- she said it was total chaos. 1 hour 45 to get through security and the flight was delayed by an hour. Her and boyfriend decided not to check luggage and took cabin bags. The rest of BF family checked luggage and it all got left at the airport because a conveyor belt broke. Never turned up either and they have spent the week in new clothes they bought only the minimum of which will be reimbursed. BA are a total shambles. I will never ever use them as even 10 years ago every flight was delayed. People gripe about Ryan air but I have to say we have used them loads in the last 5 years and they have never cancelled a flight or been hugely delayed.