Photos: British Airways' new London Heathrow T5 First Wing
By David Flynn, April 6 2017
Here's your first look at the new British Airways First Wing at London Heathrow T5, which opened on Wednesday April 5, 2017 to provide a long-awaited fast track for top-tier BA and Oneworld flyers.
It's located at the far right end of BA's Terminal 5, behind a can't-miss-it curved fluted wall made up of hundreds of individual pale gold-coloured steel scallops some there metres high.
Behind this impressive structure lies the familiar BA First check-in area...
... albeit with leather banquette seating.
Check-in proceeds as usual...
... and then you turn right to proceed through a dedicated security zone...
... where three gates feed into two First Wing-only security lanes, and from there into a winding corridor...
... that exits straight into BA's Galleries First Lounge and Concorde Room lounges.
It's a very fancy fast-track, shaped by London's Universal Design Studio with what BA describes as "the best of British talent and craftmanship" – taking its cues from the British Airways First cabin and incorporating oak marquetry – for "a sophisticated and contemporary design, using the finest of materials to start your journey in style."
The First Wing will be exclusive to British Airways first class travellers and passengers with Oneworld Emerald status, such as British Airways Executive Club Gold and Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum cardholders, plus their guests.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Sep 2012
Total posts 236
Looks great and a long overdue response to Virgin Atlantic's offering in T3.
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 12
Very nice, and overdue at T5, even the current 'fast track' channel is still clogged around peak periods so this will be a big improvement.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2432
Indeed - often there's nothing fast at all about the T5 'fast track' lane - it's just less slow than the main queue!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Aug 2012
Total posts 73
Will this assist transferring passengers or only those checking in at LHR?
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 580
Only those checking in.
25 Mar 2017
Total posts 4
I've flown First before on a connecting flight and each time have never been given the option to go fast track security. Usually herded into the q by an official and can take at least half an hour to get into lounge. 😢
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge
01 Sep 2011
Total posts 416
about darn time
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
21 Aug 2013
Total posts 138
If I were Willie Walsh (*shudder*) the first thing I would have thought when looking at all the pre-vis in the planning stages would have been, "Everything else is close to perfect, but the check-in area makes our most important customers STAND, whilst our staff sit". It is indeed a small, ridiculous thing to concern oneself with, but with many airlines (think EY with their First Class check-in at their home hub and LH with their own godamned First Class TERMINAL in their home port), this should surely have been addressed? Why should their First customers not have chairs, maybe a little carpet and a tad more privacy at that point, rather than being herded into an area that looks not at all dissimilar to Economy?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 467
So where is outwards immigration done - is that all via the scanner gates in the final pic?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2560
No, it's around the corner from those gates, in an area where photography is not permitted: you go through those gates in the pic, then you get to the 'immigration zone', and after coming through that you're into the corridor leading to the lounges.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
12 Jan 2017
Total posts 23
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2560
25 Mar 2017
Total posts 4
I'm travelling from JFK to LHR then onto a connecting flight to Glasgow later. Is it possible or even allowed to leave LHR and go landside instead of following the "connections" route and then re enter LHR and check in via the new First Wing at T5? I won't have luggage as this will be forwarded onto my Glasgow flight from JFK. I'd rather avoid the connections security fiasco if possible.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
I'm curious. Did BA have to compensate BAA, owners of LHR airport, for the loss of traffic through the maze of shops?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 May 2012
Total posts 178
Hi all, maybe not the best place but flying BA F from jfk to London. Was wondering has anyone had experience with checking in early say 4 hours before the advertised flight. Have one of the last departing flights and figured I’d hangout at the Concorde lounge and have diner etc and maybe a massage. Tx for any help
25 Mar 2017
Total posts 4
LoveToFly...I alweays go early and use the facilities in the concorde LOunge if either leaving form T5 on First or returning into T5 from a First class flight....you can use the Concorde lounge if you are arriving and have a connecting flight, in my case back to Glasgow..access allowed if you've jusr came off a first class journey. I've spent 6 hours once in the lounges on both outward and return journeys at JFK and London. Book a treatment, get breakfast lunch and or dinner....champagne, cocktails whatever your tipple. You pay a small fortune so make the most of it. Enjoy.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 May 2012
Total posts 178
Super thanks for that. Il definitely go early now. Thanks
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 May 2012
Total posts 178
Thanks again Lainey16 for the insight and comment. Planned my evening around this.
25 Mar 2017
Total posts 4
LoveToFly... you're welcome. Make sure you book your Elemis free treatment....Enjoy 😀
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