12 Hour Layover => British Airways at Heathrow

[thongd4me 69]

We had to get a ticket for my wife to go to Thailand at the last minute because we had to wait

for the Advance Parole to come this Thursday. She will have a 12-hour layover at Heathrow.

Do they have a lounge for people with long layovers, or do they provide any other services

for passengers stuck for less than 24 hours? I think at least they have to provide meals.

Any experience from those going to & from the UK?

Much obliged for any responses

[payxibka 10,045]

Do they have a lounge for people with long layovers, or do they provide any other services

for passengers stuck for less than 24 hours? I think at least they have to provide meals.

Nope, no free services, lounge or free meals while you are in the airport on layover (unless you are a million mile frequent flier member)....

[Justine+David 218]

Heathrow is a nice airport; you should have plenty of restaurants/mini-food places that sell cheap sandwhiches for her to eat at and the most important thing is that not all the rows of chairs have handles so you can actually sleep there! I do this quite often.

The only annoying thing is that you won't know your gate number until about an hour before it takes off.

Edited June 26, 2010 by Justine+David

[Boiler 45,553]

Cheap?

I think she will need a UK Transit Visa. Best to check.

[Fandango 1,439]

http://www.sleepinginairports.net/europe/londonheathrow.htm

[Justine+David 218]

Cheap?

I think she will need a UK Transit Visa. Best to check.

They are high-quality! I've never seen sandwhiches of such good quality in the U.S. at a grocery store at the same price. I looooove the UK sandwhiches you can get there.

Cheap?

I think she will need a UK Transit Visa. Best to check.

They are high-quality! I've never seen sandwhiches of such good quality in the U.S. at a grocery store at the same price. I looooove the UK sandwhiches you can get there.

[sachinky 465]

Oh lord, the countless hours I've spent at Heathrow waiting for my connection to India. Agree with Justine about finding the handle-less chairs and taking a long nap. There's a really nice place at one corner that serves great food. I had a full English breakfast there a couple of times and it was awesome.

OOh, she should totally buy some Toblerone. I heart Toblerone and I always buy a big bar when I'm travelling through UK. The U.S. Toblerone sucks in comparison.

Edited June 26, 2010 by sachinky

[thongd4me 69]

Nope, no free services, lounge or free meals while you are in the airport on layover (unless you are a million mile frequent flier member)....

Thanks - I think you're right unfortunately.

They key is that when we bought the ticket the long layover will be a "planned" delay instead of an unplanned one.

Once when I was delayed in JFK for about 4 hours before my NYC - BKK

flight Thai Airways gave all passengers food vouchers because

they couldn't take off on schedule.

[thongd4me 69]

http://www.sleepingi...donheathrow.htm

Heathrow guide:

Memorable comments left by travellers:

"Probably more comfortable than half of the hotels I slept in." (Jamie Anderson)

"My god ...I would sooner eat my own face than sleep here again. I was contemplating suicide at 3:30AM" (?)

"I fully woke to the janitor guy touching my bum." (jenn)

"i was suddenly bitten by something on my left arm at my elbow. I ignored it and than it bit me in my back.

Now i had enough and i had a look at my arm finally. And there where 3 massive big blotches in dark red.

And i saw a strange looking insect running away into the seat cover. " (?)

"I don't understand why the airport doesn't offer youth hostel-style accommodation in the T123 area - there would certainly be a market for it!" (Milo)

"FLEA INFESTATION causing 400 bites on exposed flesh of lower legs, wrists, hands and rear of neck, occurred at London Heathrow departure terminal 3, 1st floor" (John E Pratt)

"LHR is one of the dirtiest, smelliest, most crowded airports in the world." (?)

"After getting into the arrivals part of the terminal I crawled under the seats with a blanket" - sandrabillingsley

- I'll tell her to bring guns 'n ammo and a flak jacket with "have a nice day" on the back.

[thongd4me 69]

Heathrow is a nice airport; you should have plenty of restaurants/mini-food places that sell cheap sandwhiches for her to eat at and the most important thing is that not all the rows of chairs have handles so you can actually sleep there! I do this quite often.

The only annoying thing is that you won't know your gate number until about an hour before it takes off.

I'll tell her about the sandwiches.

Any of 'em with Wensleydale?

Edited June 26, 2010 by thongd4me

[thongd4me 69]

Oh lord, the countless hours I've spent at Heathrow waiting for my connection to India. Agree with Justine about finding the handle-less chairs and taking a long nap. There's a really nice place at one corner that serves great food. I had a full English breakfast there a couple of times and it was awesome.

OOh, she should totally buy some Toblerone. I heart Toblerone and I always buy a big bar when I'm travelling through UK. The U.S. Toblerone sucks in comparison.

I don't know if there's any logic there but the layover on the way over will be just under 11+ hours while the one on the return trip will be over 2 hours.

[payxibka 10,045]

Thanks - I think you're right unfortunately.

They key is that when we bought the ticket the long layover will be a "planned" delay instead of an unplanned one.

Once when I was delayed in JFK for about 4 hours before my NYC - BKK

flight Thai Airways gave all passengers food vouchers because

they couldn't take off on schedule.

You describe two very different scenarios.... even a 36 hour planned layover gets you nothing... I know....

[English Muffin 59]

If she were going to get anything at all because of the long layover it would be up to the airline to provide it, not the airport. Have you checked with them?

[Old Dominion 26]

Just be sure to have plenty of dollars. Places to eat and internet cafes can take some of the time, and a free lounge (not terribly clean) is also available. Just don't expect much because the place is so crowded and the staff is not too polite.

[Meskal 0]

There actually is a Yotel, sort of an airport hotel where one can stay without ever leaving the airport, same thing they have in Amsterdam airport too. One can rent it by the hour although minimum is 4 hrs. I would totally do this if I was stuck there for 12 hrs...

LINK: http://www.yotel.com/?gclid=CI2I46KBvqICFQ1biAodXWDg6Q

Edited June 26, 2010 by Meskal