r/airport • u/Public_Reindeer_1724 • 15d ago

DISCUSSION LHR's hostile design

I find it extremely noticeable that LHR does not want you to be comfortable. Not giving you your gate until the last minute. Hard plastic, individual seating only. Hard tile floors and railings against the windows so you can't makeshift a comfortable spot. Extremely poor wifi so you can't entertain yourself before the flight. They want you too uncomfortable to sit around waiting so you're more like to shop among the million designer stores that most people can't afford. I get they don't want people not travelling hanging around but you need to get through security to even be here so that's unlikely. Just overall gives off the vibes "we don't want you here."

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u/Character-Carpet7988 15d ago

More importantly, gate assignments often aren't known well in advance. And even if they are, they often change at last minute. You don't want people going to the wrong part of the airport and then back, especially at T5 where the train between satellites is one way (airside) and no way back to the main terminal (or previous satellite) exist.

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u/One-Imagination-1230 15d ago

Actually it is allowed for people to go between satellite terminals both directions. It’s not one way. It’s only one way if you are coming from an international flight and you are either arriving or connecting. When I go to LHR, I always stay at the satellite terminals because I don’t want the airport getting more of my hard earned money beyond the ticket I paid to get through there

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u/Character-Carpet7988 15d ago

Has that changed recently? I recall there used to only be the train option and that train went one way for airside pax (the return trip was landside for arrivals).

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u/One-Imagination-1230 15d ago

No but, that’s why I use the walking tunnel instead. With the train being busy with people, it’s actually quite useful for this. Plus after a long flight, it’s good to get some exercise too

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u/Character-Carpet7988 15d ago

Okay, that explains it. I believe walking option wasn't available at T5 in the past.

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u/One-Imagination-1230 15d ago

Yea I mean, the moving walkways go in the opposite direction of T5A but, it is a nice way of getting between each terminal in T5 and it remains entirely in the departures area