Is it better to avoid Heathrow?

[kripp]

Hoping to fly out in August, around the 8th from Heathrow Terminal 3. Not booked yet but seeing all the chaos at Heathrow I'm wondering if it's better to go with any other London airport instead? Heathrow is more convenient BY FAR, but wondering if it's better to change to something else while it's possible.

Anyone flown lately from Terminal 3 or has any insight at all?

You probably won't get a definitive answer, reason being I'm not sure anybody can predict if any of the other London Airports will be any better on any given day.

From what I'm hearing Heathrow T5 generally seems to be sort of OK, similar for T4..OTOH T3 seems to be in the news more often, with long queues for security..

Looking further afield there's a thread running that else where on MN mentions Stansted can be bad ATM, haven't heard much about Gatwick recently, nothing about London City, or "London Luton"....🤔.

I'd say wherever you use you'll have to arrive early (?3 hours for many airports) so maybe Heathrow still comes out on top.

Looking at the ramble I've written I'm not sure that helps, but hope you come up with something that works.

Good Luck

Flown from T2 and T3 recently with no major issues (apart from the luggage drama)

I'd pick LHR over any other airport especially Gatwick

I’ve flown from Heathrow and Gatwick in past couple of months and both were fine. I appreciate we were lucky compared to many people but we didn’t experience the chaos that I’d seen on the news.
I think getting there early helps but it is just luck as to whether your airline is cancelling flights etc.
Good luck and I hope it goes as smoothly as possible.

I've also flown from Gatwick (North T) and Heathrow (T3 and T5) this year. Completely delay free.

Luggage arrived as normal. Two flights were only 1/3 booked.

It's literally the luck of the draw. Which makes it impossible to predict. I feel like my luck must be running out after a total of 9 flights in 6mo with zero delays.

It's a numbers game. Like oysters. One day, one will get ya.

Terminal 3 is the one where the baggage is down so that would put me off. I wouldn't be so worried about security, I have flown 4 times in the last month from Gatwick and also stanstead and literally walked through security - I have however had one flight cancelled from Gatwick and ever flight was delayed (all easyJet)

Gatwick was pretty horrible when I went through about a month ago. Over an hour standing in the check in queue. Much of the delay seemed to be caused by people who weren't prepared for the paperwork/covid requirements of their destination country, and again lack of preparation in the security check queue, so it's probably bad everywhere.

Flew from terminal 3 and 5 recently, no issues and absolutely fine (recently as in this month!).

But my biggest advice is to get AirTags for your luggage. Then you'll always know where it is. I find them very reassuring.

No issues at Heathrow, but it's a bit of luck really. Heathrow is heavily reliant on technology for the baggage, if it malfunctions they are stuffed. Other airports have insufficient staff but it seems to be easing

I went from Gatwick very recently and it's the easiest journey through an airport I've ever had.

I think for any airport at the moment the best advice is to travel hand luggage only if humanly possible as all the queues and drama seem to centre around checking in baggage and collecting it at the other end . That’s what we will be doing ex Heathrow in September

I flew from T3 about 2 weeks ago and back in Sunday. The baggage came out slightly delayed (although there was a lot of unclaimed baggage lying about not a good sign ). The main issue was the security queue going out which took over an hour and was very badly organised.

departing there were Long queues at security as everyone is bringing hand luggage so it’s taking up to an hour to get through - LHR5
we returned on Sunday night, from landing, exiting the plane, clearing immigration and collecting bags took 20/25 mins.
also people arriving 3 hours early are causing issues. If you’re in the security line and your plane is departing within an hour they will pull you to the front

We flew back into terminal 3 late last night with BA (flew out T3 last Monday) it was quiet but the luggage piled up around the terminal!! I was shocked it was piled everywhere , such a security risk. Anybody could walk off with a suitcase they were literally piled up in all available space.

Our flight was only an hour delayed so not bad and the arrivals hall was dead we walked straight through. It was late though and our luggage arrived we didn’t wait long.

We departed last Monday mid morning and it was busy, fast track security had a long line but it moved fairly quickly. Plane was an hour delayed due to late arrival but that was not too bad. Our luggage arrived at our destination fine.

I realise we traveled and returned just before the really crazy time as state schools finished on Friday but it was all fine. The only issue was seeing those suitcases it was disturbing!