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Original poster

T5 Heathrow flight at 0730, what time to check in?!

22 replies

ronconcoke · 08/08/2022 10:42

Hi, we (me, DH and 2 DC) are flying BA short haul this Wednesday, flight leaves T5 at 0730. We have a taxi booked for 5am which should get us there around 5.30-40am. I keep reading that you need to be at the airport 3 hours ahead, but on the other hand not too early...and also that BA bag drop only opens 2 hours ahead. Has anyone travelled that early in recent days and are we heading for disaster or will arriving at the terminal at around 5.40 be ok?! We will also need to have some kind of breakfast once through - have also read that Pret/Starbucks etc get ridiculously busy! TIA!

OP posts:
ReviewingTheSituation · 08/08/2022 10:45

Even pre the panic of this summer I'd have said that was cutting it too fine! I know traffic delays are unlikely etc, but if the taxi is 5 mins late, you're delayed by 5-10 mins, all of a sudden you've only got 1.5hrs.

If it was me, I'd be aiming to arrive 2.5hrs before. Neither T5 nor BA have demonstrated a reputation for efficiency this summer, so I wouldn't be chancing it.

CallmeAngelina · 08/08/2022 10:47

We'll be at Heathrow (T3) on Wednesday morning too, for a transatlantic flight.
We are aiming for AT LEAST three hours early - maybe more.

Abraxan · 08/08/2022 10:52

BA and other airlines have been advising 3 hours for long and short haul flights where you have luggage to drop off. So, 4:30am for a 7:30am flight.

Don't aim for much earlier though as that can make matters worse too.

If you don't have luggage to check in then you can cut the time down a fair bit.

gogohmm · 08/08/2022 10:58

I would suggest aiming for 3 hours, then you have leeway if there's traffic, taxi is late etc

milkysmum · 08/08/2022 10:58

As others say, even pre pandemic that would be cutting it fine, and if you need to get breakfast, definitely so! Change the taxi time to 4am if i was you.

LooksLikeImStuckHere · 08/08/2022 11:04

We’ve just flown from T5. BA don’t let you check in more than 2 hours before departure. We recently had a flight at 6.20 and arrived just after 4am. We had a small wait and then checked in.
As you are a little bit later, I’d aim to arrive at 5 so that you are nearer to the front of the queue when check in opens.

GrandSlamFinalee · 08/08/2022 12:56

I'd get there for 5.15am. You probably won't have time for a sit-down breakfast, but the shops are open and you can pick up some sandwiches or fruits for sure.

SouthWestChief · 08/08/2022 13:00

Look on BA flyertalk got updates but current reports for lhr t5 are good

www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club-446/

plinkypots · 08/08/2022 13:01

That's too fine. I'd aim to be there by 5:15.

SouthWestChief · 08/08/2022 13:03

LooksLikeImStuckHere · 08/08/2022 11:04

We’ve just flown from T5. BA don’t let you check in more than 2 hours before departure. We recently had a flight at 6.20 and arrived just after 4am. We had a small wait and then checked in.
As you are a little bit later, I’d aim to arrive at 5 so that you are nearer to the front of the queue when check in opens.

That doesn’t make sense
you check in 24 hours before and then bag drop unless you need documents checking (you can upload those to BA in advance to avoid this or VeriFLY) so no need to wait for a specific check in desk to open

it is 3 hours before usually

Sharrowgirl · 08/08/2022 13:18

I think three hours is so excessive! What is that time actually FOR? We flew from Gatwick last week and were through check-in and security within 20mins of being dropped off by our taxi.

LooksLikeImStuckHere · 08/08/2022 13:30

Ok, so bag drop is what I meant but regardless, BA specifically stated that they don’t open for bag drop until 2 hours before the flight. This was repeated for my friend on 04/08 at around lunch time. She got there 3 hours before but couldn’t drop her bags until 2 hours before.

Original poster
ronconcoke · 08/08/2022 15:01

Yep sorry I meant bag drop, not check-in, which I'll do tomorrow online.

So looks like a compromise of getting to the airport by 5.15am may be the best thing to do. I just don't see the point of getting there 3 hours before if you can't drop bags till 2 hours before, and DH definitely won't agree to that! 😂

OP posts:
Abraxan · 08/08/2022 15:03

Sharrowgirl · 08/08/2022 13:18

I think three hours is so excessive! What is that time actually FOR? We flew from Gatwick last week and were through check-in and security within 20mins of being dropped off by our taxi.

Heathrow has been posting about delays all summer, hence the idea of dropping bags early.

We travelled from Manchester recently and bag drop queue was over an hour and the security queue was over 45 minutes.

When we went from there in February it was even worse - in the end we had to get someone's attention to let us skip the security queue as it was less than 30 minutes til we flew!

Both these times were more stressful than when we flew from Heathrow in May where we went 3 hours early and there were no real delays - both queues about half an hour each - and had time to sit down with something to eat and drink before the flight.

Sharrowgirl · 08/08/2022 15:23

I just don't see the point of getting there 3 hours before if you can't drop bags till 2 hours before

My point exactly! You get there for when they open check in/bag drop. Any earlier is an absolute waste of time.

PirateAha · 08/08/2022 17:06

I flew BA from T5 on 4/8 (last Thursday). Our flight was at 1pm but bag drop opened at 5:30am! If you go on to the manage my booking section of the ba website (I use the app) there is a 'timeline' function that tells you what time bag drop opens.

PirateAha · 08/08/2022 17:08

PirateAha · 08/08/2022 17:06

I flew BA from T5 on 4/8 (last Thursday). Our flight was at 1pm but bag drop opened at 5:30am! If you go on to the manage my booking section of the ba website (I use the app) there is a 'timeline' function that tells you what time bag drop opens.

Ok just glanced at their website and looks like that was because we were travelling Club Europe and so could bag drop anytime but for economy bag drop opens 3hrs before www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/airport-information/london-heathrow-airport/heathrow-t5

Itscoldouthere · 08/08/2022 17:51

3 hours ahead has been pretty standard all through Covid.
However I had a recent 7.30am flight out of Heathrow T5 and the luggage belts do not open till 5.30am, so you can not drop your bag until then so not much point in being there super early. There is of course a big rush at 5.30am when the belts open, and also the shops etc on the other side are all closed till 6am.

LaFlottes · 08/08/2022 19:37

We flew on an 8.20 flight from T5 last Thursday. We did the twilight bag drop the night before… would this be an option for peace of mind?

To be honest though it was quiet when we got there and I don’t think we would have had to wait long for bag drop. Security queues were short too.

SouthWestChief · 08/08/2022 20:39

Twilight bag drop for flights before 1pm is great
Airportr also pick up from any London address or hotel and take your bags and you see them at your destination

Redwinemaestro · 10/08/2022 10:13

CallmeAngelina · 08/08/2022 10:47

We'll be at Heathrow (T3) on Wednesday morning too, for a transatlantic flight.
We are aiming for AT LEAST three hours early - maybe more.

How was T3 queue? I'm travelling next Thursday 9 am departure. Thanks

TizerorFizz · 10/08/2022 12:42

Timing all depends upon when your bag drop
opens. If it’s not open, why add to the toms of people milling about? Get there when you can actually drop bags. If it’s 4 hours before, that’s ok. If it’s 3, what can you do whilst you wait? Not much! Other than get in the way.

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