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Comments (5)
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Save/ShareBeware of London's Heathrow airport. If you can't avoid using this airport this summer, be sure to allow two hours if you have to change planes in its overcrowded terminals. Passengers at the airport tend to jam together, elbows out, instead of lining up in an orderly manner. The airport's luggage check-in process is also hopelessly outdated--making it slow and unsafe. Lock up your luggage. The locals have nicknamed the airport "Thief row" given the absurdly high number of thefts there. "It's like a fourth-world country," according to this article and this article in USA Today and in this commentary by Tyler Brule in the FT. [Photo: Kaptain Kobold via Flickr.com/Creative Commons]
i flew into and out of heathrow this past may. many travellers weren't prepared for the limit of one carry-on. you are forced to check your extra carry-on that must be checked at the carriers terminal on the otherside of customs. i stood in the customs line listening to many people saying they will or already missed there connections.--Nancy Shuster
We flew in and out of Heathrow coming and going to Athens. We were on BA and changing planes in London. Herded into small spaces for long waits after 11 hour flight. Then had to wait in general area until they posted the gate for our next flight. They only require 30 minutes before flight time for posting, but also advise to allow 45 minutes to get to some gates. I will avoid Heathrow in the future.--Ruthe Small
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I flew out of there at the beginning of June and had no problems. In fact, it was one of my quickest check-ins. It depends on the airline (i.e. budget ones tend to be slower). I always lock my bag, however, even in the US.
Posted By Sharon L Stern on July 9, 2007, 5:11 AM
We flew in and out of Heathrow coming and going to Athens. We were on BA and changing planes in London. Herded into small spaces for long waits after 11 hour flight. Then had to wait in general area until they posted the gate for our next flight. They only require 30 minutes before flight time for posting, but also advise to allow 45 minutes to get to some gates. I will avoid Heathrow in the future.
Posted By Ruthe Small on July 9, 2007, 11:27 AM
i flew into and out of heathrow this past may. many travellers weren't prepared for the limit of one carry-on. you are forced to check your extra carry-on that must be checked at the carriers terminal on the otherside of customs. i stood in the customs line listening to many people saying they will or already missed there connections.
Posted By Nancy Shuster on July 9, 2007, 11:44 AM
I traveled to London, from the US, in late June (prior to the most recent terrorist activity) arriving at Gatewick. It took nearly 1 1/2 hours to clear customs. However when I left London to travel to my next destination, I used Heathrow and it was a breeze. I wouldn't hesitate to use Heathrow in the future.
Posted By Paul on July 11, 2007, 12:49 AM
Does anyone know of a "Travelers Fee" for leaving London to come to United States, this was for tow people mother and child, they wanted proof that they had a total of 1,000 pounds before they could board their flight? This was in case of an emergency? Does anyone know of this "new rule" as they explained to her? If this is true how can this be avoided? THis is more than their flight here and who carries that kind of cash?? Thank you, if anyone can help me with this.
Thank you,
Pedro
Posted By Pedro on June 7, 2008, 8:42 AM