Two for the Price of One: Heathrow Transit and British Airways Galleries North

Two for the Price of One: Heathrow Transit and British Airways Galleries North

In this epic…

Back in London.

As I would be travelling on a new ticket – I needed to exit the secure area and drop some luggage (because let’s face it – there was no way in hell I was going to carry my luggage all the way to Hamburg and back).

But first – I needed to clear immigration and collect luggage first.

Follow the signs!

Heading off the plane, I was in the comfort of Terminal 5B – meaning I would need to take a shuttle train over to T5A.

With the train ride over in a blink of the eye (and my top tip when arriving on the shuttle train – head to the lifts. Don’t bother with the escalators – they’re too slow), I was confronted with the new immigration entry to the UK.

It seems that the UK Border Agency is hell-bent on making people use the eGates, with heavy use of Biometric ePassports.

Which is fine – when your passport wants to work with them. Mine didn’t – so I have to queue up and be manually cleared.

A few questions later, I was admitted into the United Kingdom – and headed down to baggage claim.

Even with the delays, I still managed to beat my luggage to the belt.

The more things change as they say.

Eventually, my baggage was spat out of the belt (nowhere near the front – so much for “priority” luggage, and I cleared customs.

How many times do we have to laugh at these awards?

With that out-of-the-way, my next task was to re-pack my baggage, as I was going to switch from 2 big bags, a backpack and a sidebag to just the backpack and the sidebag.

This meant some careful re-packing so I would take what I need – mainly clothing to look semi-professional in, and enough photography and computer equipment to keep me in kilter for the next four days.

And some snacks too. Because… snacks. Also, to be honest I didn’t know how much time to myself I would have… or if I would be awake enough go shopping.

That done, I dropped my luggage off, with a rate mumbled that turned out be correct – the best part of £62 for 4 days.

Open your wallet and scream..

Split down for two bags, it works out at £7.75 a day to store a bag. But that hurt knowing I would be coming back to an unwelcome bill of £62 (and an extra £15 if I dared to lose the receipt). .

But it’s a choice of an unwelcome bill, or the unwelcome thought of toting luggage around Hamburg. And I had no intention of dragging round items I didn’t need to.

With that, dropped off, I headed upstairs to collect myself and repack a few more things – and upstairs headed through security.

Welcome to Terminal 5!

Thankfully at about 11am in the morning, security wasn’t too busy – and I was through in a few minutes (even if the security teams were aggressively looking out of liquids stowed in bags that needed to be out. I guess the war against liquids is still a thing in the United Kingdom).

That done, it was time to head to my new home at Heathrow Airport – The Galleries North Lounge

British Airways Galleries North

I was blipped in, and spent the next 5 minutes trying to find a spot. The lounge was packed – to say the least. I was looking for a place with a power outlet and a seat.

I found a seat – no power outlet. Guess that’s the first big difference between Galleries First and Galleries Business – a distinct lack of power outlets.

Eventually, I found a spot… and promptly collapsed for a while without wanting to do anything – even getting a drink, or writing.

I guess that long haul flight took a lot out of me.

Good luck playing “hunt the power outlet”

Alcohol station.

Hot drinks

Water and Wine.

I
Juices and Cold drinks

The desire for nibbles came over me after getting some caffeine in the form of cola down me, I headed for the food station.

Cold items

Hot items

Soup

I went for the Red Thai Curry. It wasn’t too bad at all, and provided a bit substance as I tried to wake up and shake off the sleep – although that was a heading towards a failing challenge.

I was planning a writing session at Heathrow… however, with me not being awake… heck – I barely managed to use some social media and leave the laptop on my lap.

I was pretty fried.

Thankfully, I wasn’t fried enough to note when my plane was due to be departing… so after gathering my junk together – I headed to the exit.

I did make one massive miscalculation however – my flight would be going from A17 – the other end of the terminal to Galleries North. Ho hum. Time to hike the terminal.

The maelstrom below.

A short hike across T5A, and I was nearing Gate A17. At least today – the plane would be going from normal jet-bridge as opposed to the busing hell of A10.

I will after that hike.

There was a short wait for boarding to commence – but good positioning and timing got me near the front of the boarding queue.

With a beep – I was allowed to head aboard the waiting Airbus A319 to Hamburg.

Next: BA974 London Heathrow to Hamburg

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