London Heathrow Terminal 3

The quickest way to check in is online, 24 hours before your flight departs:

• Check in at Manage My Booking and print your boarding pass.
• Use the British Airways app to check in and download your boarding pass to your mobile device.

When you need to check in at the airport on the day of departure:

• If you are travelling in a group of more than nine people, please use a check-in kiosk or go to a check-in desk.
• If your child is travelling alone, or with you but on a separate booking, please go to a check-in desk.

Check-in closes 60 minutes before long haul flights depart, and 45 minutes before short haul flights depart. Please allow enough time, e.g. in case there are any queues. Have a look at the information screens to find out which check-in zone you can use for your flight.

Dedicated check-in desks are available to:

• customers travelling in First, Club World or Club Europe
• Executive Club Gold, Silver and Bronze Members
• oneworld^® Emerald, Sapphire and Ruby members

If you have baggage to check in, print your baggage tags at a check-in kiosk (even if you have already checked in), attach them to your bags and drop your bags at a Bag Drop desk.

The Bag Drop desks are open at the following times:

Overnight Bag Drop is available if you are travelling on a flight departing before 10:00. You can check in your bags between 16:00 – 22:00 the day before.

You can drop off bags for others travelling with you, but they must be on the same booking and you must bring their passports and all travel documents, including health tests, required for the journey.

Once your baggage has been checked in, we won't be able to retrieve it so make sure you have everything you need before you check in.

If you are travelling with hand baggage only and have already checked in, you can go straight through security to the gate. If your hand baggage exceeds your allowance, you may need to check it in and charges may apply.

Check your baggage allowance

Doorstep baggage pick-up and check-in

Have your baggage collected from your doorstep, securely transported to the airport, and checked-in for your flight, allowing you to travel to the airport luggage-free and head straight to security when you get there. Available for flights departing from Heathrow, Gatwick, Geneva, Zurich and Vienna.

Find out more about Airportr

Like many airlines, we are unable to accept cash payments at many of the airports we operate from, including London Heathrow.

If you're unable to pay with a credit or debit card, you can buy a Travelex Money Card at the airport and use this instead. Remember not to throw this card away (even if it is empty) until your travel is complete. If we need to refund any costs, we will be returning these to your original form of payment.

If you're travelling on an intercontinental flight, we need to check your passport and visa before you go through security.

• If you have baggage to check in:
  Your passport and visa will be checked at a Bag Drop desk.
• If you're only travelling with hand baggage:
  Once you have checked in, please go to the passport and visa check desk in Zone D before going through security.

You must enter airport security at least 35 minutes before your flight departs.

Fast Track Security is available to:

• customers travelling in First, Club World or Club Europe (plus one guest)
• Executive Club Gold and Silver Members (plus one guest) - if you're travelling in economy, please ensure that you present your boarding pass to the Heathrow airport security staff near the automatic gates
• oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members (plus one guest)

Gate information at Heathrow airport becomes available shortly before the flight opens. After you clear security, please check the information screens at regular intervals and find out how long it will take you to get to the gate.

You need to be at the gate no later than 20 minutes before the flight departs. If we have your contact details, we will try to contact you when it is about to close but we can't delay the aircraft's departure to wait for late passengers.

You will notice a ‘Group’ number on your boarding pass which shows your boarding priority. Please be ready to board the aircraft when your group is called.

Find out your group for boarding

If you want to take advantage of pre-boarding or priority boarding, please arrive at the gate early.

Pre-boarding is available to:

• families with small children
• customers requiring disability or mobility assistance

Priority boarding is available to:

• customers travelling in First, Club World, Club Europe or World Traveller Plus
• Executive Club Gold, Silver and Bronze Members
• oneworld Emerald, Sapphire and Ruby members

If you arrive after your priority group has been called, you can use the priority lane to board at your leisure.

Terminal 3 offers a range of family services and facilities, including dedicated play areas in the free Family Lounge, which is open daily from 06:00 to 21:00. You can find it by following the signs for Lounge A. Customers connecting through Terminal 3 now have access to a brand new larger facility which will reduce connection times between Terminals. Service desks to support customers are located both pre and post security.

Access to the lounges is based on your travel class and/or frequent flyer membership status. There are two British Airways lounges in Heathrow Terminal 3.

Customers from all countries will no longer require landing cards on arrival into the UK. For a faster journey through the airport customers* can use the eGates if they are travelling with an eligible biometric passport from one of the following countries: UK, EU, EEA countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) and Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United States of America or if a member of the UK Registered Traveller scheme.

A small number of customers coming to the UK for a specific reason such as short term study, certain types of work or those travelling with children will need to see an officer on arrival.

*Must be 12 years and over.

For more information visit gov.uk/border-force/fastertravel or gov.uk/registered-traveller

After passport control, follow the yellow signs for 'Arrivals/Baggage reclaim' and look for your flight on the information screens to see which carousel your bags will arrive on.

Once you have your baggage, you may need to pass through customs. You can find more information on allowances and restrictions on the GOV.UK website.

The American Airlines Arrivals Lounge is open to:

• customers travelling in First or Club World,
• Executive Club Gold Members arriving on a British Airways long haul flight, and
• customers travelling in first or business class on an American Airlines operated flight.

To find the lounge, exit to the right after the customs hall, then take the stairs or lift next to the restaurant to Level 2. The lounge is open daily from 05:00 to 14:00.

Heathrow Express

Heathrow Express is the fastest way between Central London and Heathrow Airport, taking just 15 minutes from Terminal 3 and 21 minutes from Terminal 5. 

Customers enjoy an excellent on board experience with complimentary 4G Wi-Fi, a power socket at your seat, dedicated luggage space and easy access.

Children aged 15 and under travel for free on Heathrow Express, making it a family friendly way to get to and from Heathrow from Central London.

Customers holding Business First tickets can use the Fast Track on departures from any London Heathrow terminal.

Executive Club Members can also collect 5 Avios for every £1 spent on tickets exclusively booked via ba.com.

Coaches

National Express operates a network of services each day to and from London Heathrow airport. Unlike other coach operators, National Express will take you to the heart of Heathrow from towns and cities throughout the UK, making getting to the airport hassle-free.

• It is a safe, fast and reliable way to travel.
• Heathrow to Gatwick coach services run 80 times a day, and the journey takes up to an hour.
• Book your return tickets now to ensure a great fare or book an open ticket for more flexibility.

Find out more about National Express

London Underground

Heathrow is on the Piccadilly underground line, which takes you into central London in around 50 minutes. Trains run every few minutes, but not 24 hours and there are constant improvement works taking place, especially at the weekend, so always check the service before you travel.

Plan your journey with London Underground

Hotel shuttle buses

There are a number of shuttle buses that run between local hotels and London Heathrow terminals. Please check which shuttle bus you need to take with the hotel you are staying at.

Taxi

Taxis (black cabs) are available at the airport or you can pre-book privately run minicabs (please always check they are licensed first).

If you are coming to the airport by car, exit the M4 (junction 4) or M25 (junction 15) and follow the signs for 'Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 and 3'. The postcode for satellite navigation is TW6 1QG.

If you are meeting someone from an arriving flight you must use the Short Stay Car Park. If you are bringing someone to the airport follow the signs for 'Departures' and use the outside lane to drop them off.

Make your journey easier with our parking partners. Leave your car at a nearby car park with quick transfers, drop it off right outside the terminal with valet parking, or combine an overnight stay with parking and transfers at an airport hotel.

•Earn 5 Avios per £1 spent when you pre-book car parking

•Secure and convenient

Find out more about parking and book