TRIP REPORT: Polishing Silver – A Heathrow Transit across Terminals and the Galleries North Lounge

A Heathrow Transit across Terminals and the Galleries North Lounge
Polishing Silver

Did you bet on how long it would take me to get from the 777 at Terminal 3 to a seat in the lounge at Terminal 5?

It’s time to find out how long I took, and what lunch looks like at the British Airways Galleries North as I transit Heathrow Airport. 

In this Tier Point-laden adventure

• All I ask is for one decent airfare. Just ONE. Anyone? 
• Off to Birmingham Airport
• FR669 Birmingham to Dublin Airport with Ryanair
• Welcome to Dublin, Premier Inn – Dublin Airport
• Early Morning Dublin Airport and US Preclearance, 51st and Green Lounge
• AA723 Dublin to Philadelphia – Flagship Business Class
• A Rocky Interlude – Exploring Philadelphia
• Return to PHL and the Philadelphia American Airlines Admirals Club
• AA2663 Philadelphia to San Francisco – US Domestic First
• A new terminal and The Crowne Plaza, Burlingame
• The Intercontinental San Francisco (and trying the new BART trains)
• Asian Eats around San Francisco
• A challenge unto myself: Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge
• Ferrying around the bay with Golden Gate Ferry
• Of Dragons and Lions – Celebrations in San Francisco Chinatown
• Back to SFO, American Airlines Admirals Club
• AA164 San Francisco to New York JFK – Transcontinental Business Class
• A snow-laden pit stop at JFK and the American Airlines/British Airways Greenwich Lounge
• AA104 New York JFK to London Heathrow – Flagship Business Class
• Transiting across Heathrow Terminals and the British Airways Galleries North 
• BA836 London Heathrow to Dublin Airport – Club Europe
• A Two Hour Dublin Turnaround featuring the Dublin Airport Lounge
• BA4469 Dublin to London City Airport – Club Europe by BA CityFlyer
• To the trains… and on the cheap
• Points in the bag

A Heathrow Transit

Getting off the American Airlines aircraft at Heathrow, I had to focus my mind on where I was going. If I had gone on full autopilot, I would have headed to the UK Border and towards home. Except my baggage would have been in Dublin… which would have been less than convenient.

The resting Boeing 777

We can debate the ethics of segment dropping (or Skiplaggings as the youth call it), but as British Airways tends to look dimly on it, it is easier to fly the last segments of a trip, and then double back to get where I need to be in the United Kingdom

So, even with a reasonable night’s sleep, I had to focus on the route, heading to the Flight Connections Centre.

As the aircraft had docked at one of the far satellites at Heathrow Terminal 3, it was going to be a bit of a walk. I could deal with that after the past few days.

Eventually, I made it to the sign for flight connections – well… almost passed it. It seems they mess with the location each time at terminal 3.

I headed downstairs and thankfully, there was a short wait for a bus that would shuttle me over to Terminal 5.

Those aren’t unreasonable waiting times. It also helps there’s almost no one waiting 

The journey took around 10 minutes to make, as the bus ducked and dived through the innards of the airport, and as it took tunnels to British Airways fortress.

Time on target… 

Spot a double-decker aircraft. 

Living the Dreamliner. 

Iberia Airbus A320

Arriving at Terminal 5, it was time to face the escalators and head for the transit and security area.

Let’s a go. 

Again, you don’t know how much I had to switch off the autopilot to not head to the main UK Border. 

Blue skies at Terminal 5

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Everything is a journey.

If you’re connecting at Heathrow T5, you will either connect as an international passenger, or you will immigrate into the UK and Ireland here, if you’re taking a UK Domestic flight or a flight to the Republic of Ireland. It’s a matter of finding the right queue at this point.

Walk this way

Filter for UK and Ireland – no priority handling here.

The UK Border for connecting passengers.

There was a short queue (thankfully).

Eventually, I was called forward, and my passport was examined. There was a bit of a delay as the agent tried to read the chip in it, but eventually, I was let through.

With that, I found my way to Fast Track security and headed upstairs.

We’re going up, up, up ooh…

Whilst the installation of CT-style scanners continues slowly at Heathrow (although if reports are to be believed, they’ll miss the deadline of having them installed in time for Summer 2024), I managed to find a scanner a Heathrow T5 in the fast track lane – as such, security scans were quick through the terminal.

Cleaning the security area, I had a choice – do I head to the North Lounge or the South Lounge? Lounge roulette is a thing, as gates can change at Heathrow Terminal 5.

I chose the North Lounge, thinking that as this was near enough a domestic flight, it would depart from the A1-9 range of gates.

Boy, was that a mistake.

British Airways Galleries North.

Arriving around 11ish, I blipped into the lounge and found a seat.

For those keeping track and playing “How long did it take me to connect at Heathrow, it took 45 minutes from the airplane door to the lounge seat, crossing terminals at Heathrow.

That’s not bad running at all for a terminal-to-terminal connection.

And I wasn’t running.

I’ve done more than a few stops through this lounge recently, but like a lot of the Heathrow Terminal 5 lounges BA operate – capacity remains tight.

I eventually found a seat on the mezzanine, which is quite pleasant when there is a bit of sunlight. Well, it might help me wake up. That was a plan. I’m not saying it’s a good plan, but it was one.

around the feeding troughs

Intgo the lounge

The bar

Hunger now dominated my thoughts, so it was time to graze on the buffet that BA put out. At this time of day, breakfast had been long since been put away, and instead, it was lunchtime.

Wraps, sandwiches and rolls. And cake.

Salads

More salads 

Dress yourself 

Curry and Rice

Pie and Fishcakes

Lemons

Bean salads

My body clock didn’t know anything at this point, so lunch was good enough at this point. Thankfully the options were reasonable, with a bunch of different options – both hot and cold.

As for a beverage… I stuck with cola and water – I was not in the mood to hit the bubbles at this point.

Believe it or not, I do have some control. Not a lot, but some.

Bubbles 

Overheading people, it seems some people had made their way to the North Lounge by mistake, rather than heading to the usual South Lounge. I guess this can be put down to the fact that British Airways have modified their entrances, with Club passengers now handled at check-in zones A and B, whilst the First Wing is still in the zone at the other end of the terminal. And they just went into the first lounge they could find.

Oh well. It pays to look when travelling.

Whilst the North lounge is nothing special, it can be a good place to go from, depending on which gate you’re assigned.

And you’re always playing a gambling game at Heathrow Terminal 5, as you can switch ends of the terminal quickly. And for me, I played it wrong, with the Dublin flight announced to go from Gate A23

Realising I was at the end of the terminal, I swore and started to gather my trash for the next part of the journey, as I would be departing from the opposite side of the terminal.

Crossing the terminal 

Down we go. 

Talk about betting it on black, and it came up on red. Or green. Actually, green. At Heathrow, the house always wins.

You enjoy taunting me, don’t you? 

South side.

Thankfully, boarding was in full swing by the time I arrived at the gate, so I lined up along with the masses to be cleared to board the A320neo

Eventually, I made my way to the head of the queue and was blipped through.

It was time to get the final 40 Tier Points for this trip.

Next:

BA836 London Heathrow to Dublin, Club Europe. Two Prawns? Why, you spoil me, Ambassador.

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