How long does it take to clear security at T5 on a Friday lunchtime?

Just trying to work out if I can squeeze in a half day at work.

Any hints, tips and facts gratefully received.

Ta!

Dont Risk it, all it takes is some man to keep buzzing off through security checks and that he cant find the metal and youre screweded

just go to one of the lounges and use their wi-fi to get some work done.

Or better still just hit the bar….

Well, I’ve just booked my flights.

I need to have cleared security by 12:45

The 11:55 from Paddington gets in at 12:16, giving me 30 minutes to drop my bag and clear security.

If I get to Monument station at 11:15, I’ll have 15 enormous minutes contingency, over the travel time.

7:30 start, half day, tick.

What can possibly go wrong?

Industrial action?

Jumper?

Leaves on the line?

Lady giving birth at Gloucester Road?

20mins flat unless it’s a bank holiday/half term or such nonsense and if you’re really late, smile sweetly and ask to use the fast track.

Just make sure you stand behind people with laptop cases as they’re normally the quickest through. I’ve become quite accustomed to picking my queue based on the volume of old people or families in front.

Half an hour should be fine, but it depends on queues at the bag drop too.

I got involved in a traffic jam on the way over the T5 from Bristol – meant I arrived at the parking 1 hour before flight to LA.

Got to the desk and begged, I was already checked in on line and had boarding pass which saved my bacon. Just had to get them to take my hold luggage. Got taken straight through security, avoiding all the queues and onto the plane, they shut the door behind me and I got some seriously dirty looks from the rest of the passengers!

I’d get there early and sit in a bar/coffee shop and do your work there, that day did not do my blood pressure any good at all!

You want ‘cutting it fine’?

Pre September 11th 2001, I once arrived at Heathrow 25 mins before my ‘plane was due to leave. The incredibly helpful BA staff checked me in through Business check in, then a bloke helped me run with all my luggage (din’t have time to go through baggage handling) to the gate. I then had to go down onto the apron and give my luggage to the baggage handlers to load in the hold (they’d started to lower the platform thingy), then run back up the stairs to the gate and along the concertina onto the ‘plane. The engines were proper revving up. They slammed the door shut just as I was aboard, then seconds later we were moving. Apparently, another 30 seconds or so and they would’ve missed their slot and the whole ‘plane would then have bin delayed possibly for some hours. 🙂

That would never happen now.

Business or First? BA Gold Card holder? All of these can cut down your check in time.

T5 is ace, IMO.

T5 is ace! I love the lounges.

that’s not late

I arrived for a flight once after a long delay on the M25 (in the end we were taken off the M25 up one of those police crossings) about 10 mins after the flight departure time, and still got on it. The desks had shut and we had to go to the Air Egypt office where the very unhelpful check in lady simply refused to even consider it. Shortly after i arrived there. totally resigned that I’d missed the flight and trying to get on the same one the next day, a young girl arrived in tears, as her dad had been taken critically ill in Cairo and she needed to get back. After much pleading the woman rang the gate to confirm that all were aboard and doors shut, only to be told there was a technical fault and all the passengers had been diembarked again.

She still made us run with luggage all the way to the gate just so we could sit in the gate lounge sweating profusely for another 90 mins.

To answer the OP – T5 is pretty good in my limited experience.

Just make sure you stand behind people with laptop cases as they’re normally the quickest through. I’ve become quite accustomed to picking my queue based on the volume of old people or families in front

oh so true.
I have to fly to Rome a lot & always do everything possible to avoid queues with the Japanese tourists for the same reason.

Pre September 11th 2001, I once arrived at Heathrow 25 mins before my plane was due to leave.

I’ve done 15 mins at Sao Paulo and that was post 9-11. We got held up because everyone was leaving for the carnival in Rio. We arrived at the airport with all the BA check ins closed but they took us into one of the offices and took our cases and sent us off to get on the plane. Sat down and pulled back and we were on our way on time. Luggage arrived as well which was a bonus

Nice stories! I shan’t gamble on getting there 10 mins after departure, though!

CFH, nothing fancy. Cheapy ski weekend, BA cheaper than Easyjet, as per usual.

Looks like I should be fine. I’ll keep my eye on travel delays and leave earlier if it looks like I need to.

Cheers all!

Steak and Ale/stilton pie with mash and gravey whilst you wait for the plane, from the lounge downstairs…..top tip! 🙂

NOne of those stories are late.

I got quite stoned before flying to Australia when I was a backpacker.
I was at Heathrow, boarding pass in hand a good two hours to spare, then about 35 minutes before boarding I decided to head to the plane, but somehow during my inebriated state I had lost my boarding pass.

I bought a new ticket, then cancelled it as my boarding pass was found. I ran to the plane with a helpful security man who told me as I ran on that I was minutes away from having my baggage taken off.

Top it all off I got strip searched at Syndey airport but that is another story altogether

5 minutes! Tube and train were fine. Loosened my laces waiting for bag drop, then barely had to break my stride before putting my bag in a tray and jacket and boots in the next one.

I’m sat in a bar right next to my gate. I’ve had time for a couple of pints and a few medium length phone calls. (Certainly no braying,though. Work, so very discrete)

Very impressed!

Next question: What secluded, out of the way, N facing couloirs for powder funtimes near Chamonix? Have skins, will travel.

Use the security gates on the right. They are normally much quieter than the default one you pretty much walk up to out of the lift/stairs.

30 mins should be fine through security, but do bear in mind 1 minute late and they won’t let you through. But to be honest, as long as you get through the first bit before the security scanners you’ll be fine.

And ideally drop a bag off for the hold. They’ll hang on for you if you’ve a bag in the hold, if you’re travelling lihgt they have no quarms about shutting up shop if you turn up late.

I got driven under the airport at Heathrow once to a connecting flight. My flight from LA was late, so I figured they would put me in the next one up to Edinburgh.

Nope, I’m exiting the plane with 10 mins to spare, and there is a nice lady holding a sign with my name on. “come this way please miss” and I go down some stairs, into a wee fiesta or something, she drives like a madwoman through all the under airport gubbins, then up some other stairs and onto a domestic flight. And they got my baggage on too somehow ! To this day I have no idea why, had been travelling for 30 hours at this point so cared even less.

(although now I think about it that might be the same trip I got loads of grief off US immigration so maybe BA wanted shot of me soonest)