Anyone fly British Airways to South Africa lately?

[JES Adventures]

We are headed out in a couple of weeks and booked BA through Heathrow since not traveling with guns and the best rate in Business Class.

I haven’t been through London in nearly 30 years so curious what to expect for airport lounges, shopping, etc as we have a 7 hr layover. Any input would be appreciated.

JES

 

[Altitude sickness]

My input would be to not wear (cowboy) Western Hat or boots or US flag clothing. And wouldn’t flash my US passport in town either.

Don’t flash your passport or speak too much in.
"Little Arabia" or Kensington & Chelsea, Notting Hill, Hammersmith & Fulham, Brent, Ealing, and Knightsbridge

 

[JES Adventures]

Thanks for the input, I have no desire to go into the Cty, just looking for intel on the airport.

JES

My input would be to not wear (cowboy) Western Hat or boots or US flag clothing. And wouldn’t flash my US passport in town either.

Don’t flash your passport or speak too much in.
"Little Arabia" or Kensington & Chelsea, Notting Hill, Hammersmith & Fulham, Brent, Ealing, and Knightsbridge

 

[Altitude sickness]

Oh. Sorry.

 

[Shako Badhan]

I am through LHR pretty regularly including last week. It depends a bit on the terminal. If you’re going through terminal 3 there are a number of lounges but there is almost always waiting lists of about 30 minutes. They can also be far from the gates.

There are some good stores for watches and whatnot can are fun to look at. Lots a duty free if you feel like picking up a bottle of something for your PH.

 

[Sh1kar]

I assume BA you will be in terminal 5. The lounge is OK Quite large, the usual array of drinks, coffee etc etc and reasonable food

The terminal has usual duty free, luxury brands, clothing, shoes, watches etc etc and a few other restaurants. Eg seafood

But you are going to struggle to waste 7 hours there. You could have lunch and walk all the shops in about 3 hours max. Dubai it is not

S

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I flew through Heathrow to Africa in 2019. It was okay. Did not fly British though. Back then South Africa Air was flying out of there .... I think. Take a good book along and you'll do okay. The selection at airport shops is typically girly novels etc. Nonfiction history is more my thing and usually little or nothing on the shelves. Anyway, shopping in airports is akin to prostrate exams. Expect to take it up the ass.

I took the redeye out of Toronto and just slept in the terminal most of ten hour layover. Have never stayed in a terminal lounge ... except once when invited as a guest of an Arabian stranger who I'm pretty sure was a scammer trying to get me to miss my flight. That was in Zurich. Does appear to me lounges are usually a long ways from gates. If I recall correctly, luggage usually can't be checked in till six hours before flights so keep that in mind if applicable.

 

[spike.t]

Just flew joburg to Heathrow row last weekend....but have transitted from usa to joburg via Heathrow terminal 5 with BA quite a few times.....as said quite a few shops in the high luxury end and few watch shops as well.... large duty free perfume, make up etc etc...other ones specialising in whisky....one from memory with vodka...electrical travel stuff...newsagents..snack places....selection of restaurants...and a seafood, caviar, smoked salmon, crab bar type restaurant...as you in business go straight to one of the ba club lounges, there are 2 placed at either ends of the terminal....the joburg flight usually departs from terminal 5c...the 2 satellite terminals B and C are reached by the transit train . We usually camp in the ba lounge for the full time...got WiFi.. not bad selection of different foods..teas..snacks.. etc...with variety of alcohol ..beers..spirits...wines and champagne..plus don't drinks....obviously won't be in there for 8 hours by the time you get there, and then head to the departure gate....

 

[LP67]

Lounges are over crowded , food overpriced and restaurant's packed! , they " keep" you in one terminal like sheep till 1 hr before they show the gate. VERY crowded , not a fan

 

[wesheltonj]

I head through there almost yearly. If you are flying from IAH or DFW you will arrive and depart T5. From AUS it’s usually T3, but sometimes T5. It takes 1 & 1/2 hours to transfer between terminals on a good day.

However with 7 hours, I would leave the airport and head to Windsor and sightsee and lunch there. Uber from one of the 2 Airport hotels and avoid the airport surcharge.

There are two BA business lounges in T5, North and South. One in T3, I think the Amex lounge in T3 is best in that terminal.

Scotch drinker? If so check out “World of Whisky” located in both terminals on your way back.

Any other questions PM me.

 

[Javaman]

Heathrow is large and crowded. Lounges tend to be busy. Sitting there for 7 hours is boring and dumb. We’ve defaulted to leaving our carryons at the paid bag drop store and taking the express train 20 minutes into Paddington Station. We get a cab and go see some museum and have a bite of lunch in town. Quick express train back, grab the carryons and Bob’s your Uncle. YMMV.