London Heathrow Terminal 5

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

• Check in online 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.
• Once at the airport, head straight to the Self Service Bag Drop area in Zones C and D to check in your bags.

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.

The following dedicated check-in desks are available:

If you have baggage to check in, you can go to a Self-Service Bag Drop machine at London Heathrow Terminal 5 or London Gatwick.

Alternatively, you can go to a Bag Drop desk, which are open at the following times:

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 hand baggage allowance

Check your checked baggage allowance

From your doorstep to your destination

Let AirPortr pick up your bags from your London location and check them in for your flight with the AirPortr + Bag Check-In service, exclusive to British Airways customers.

Available for the wider London area and flights departing from Heathrow and Gatwick, except flights within the UK.

More about AirPortr + Bag Check-In

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, including Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kiev, 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 or Customer Service desk.
• If you're only travelling with hand baggage:
  Once you have checked in, please go to a passport and visa check desk before going through security. You can find these in the following zones:

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

Fast Track security lanes are available to:

• customers travelling in First, Club World or Club Europe (plus one guest)
• Executive Club Gold and Silver Members (plus one guest)
• oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members (plus one guest)

You can use a dedicated entrance to the left of North Security that offers a more seamless security process and leads directly in to the North Fast Track security lanes.

If you are travelling to a UK or Republic of Ireland destination, a digital photograph of you will be taken at airport security. When boarding the flight, the photograph will be checked. Once checks are complete, all photographs will be deleted.

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. If you use the British Airways app you will receive gate notifications directly on your mobile.

A, B or C gates?

Terminal 5 is made up of three buildings: Terminal 5A, Terminal 5B and Terminal 5C. Please check if your flight departs from the main terminal (A gates), B gates or C gates.

It takes approximately 20 minutes to get to B gates or C gates so please always ensure your flight is displayed on the screens before leaving the main terminal. Then follow the signs to the transit train or use the moving walkway that offers easy escalator or lift access. The journey time is the same for either option.

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.

There are lots of things to do at the airport before your flight departs. Whether it’s Duty Free shopping, relaxing in the lounges, picking up last minute essentials, keeping the children entertained or catching up on emails using the free wi-fi, you can certainly make the most of your time.

Experience London Heathrow airport

Terminal 5 has five elegant departures lounges located in Terminal 5A and Terminal 5B. If your flight departs from Terminal 5C, please use the lounges in Terminal 5A or 5B, ensuring you leave the lounge at least 40 minutes before your departure time so you don't miss your flight.

If you are travelling in First or Club World, or you are an Executive Club Gold Member flying long haul you can relax before your flight with a complimentary treatment at the Elemis Travel Spa.

You can find the Elemis Travel Spa next to the departures lounges in Terminal 5A South and 5B. it is open from 07:00 to 21:00.

More about the Elemis Travel Spa

If you have an EU passport with a chip in it you can use the automatic ePassport gates.

Fast Track Immigration is available from 05:15 to 22:30 for the following non-EU passport holders:

• customers travelling in First, Club World or Club Europe (plus one guest)
• Executive Club Gold and Silver Members (plus one guest)
• oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members (plus one guest)

Cabin crew will provide you with an invitation that allows you to use the Fast Track lane.

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.

If you're travelling in First or Club World, or are an Executive Club Gold Member travelling on a long haul flight, please feel free to visit the Galleries Arrivals Lounge.

It is situated on the first floor of the main terminal building (Terminal 5A) and can be accessed using the green lift. Here you can freshen up with an invigorating power shower, help yourself to delicious food and drink or prepare for work. The lounge is open from 05:00 to 14:00. Capacity restrictions apply so you won't be able to bring guests into the Arrivals lounge.

While the valet service presses your suit, enjoy a complimentary treatment at the Elemis Travel Spa and leave looking as good as you feel. The Elemis Travel Spa is open from 06:00 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. This is compared to 42 minutes in a taxi and 51 minutes on the Piccadilly Underground line.

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.

In the Business First class carriages you can enjoy complimentary newspapers and magazines, more leg room, wider seats, a personal table and on-board TV.

Executive Club Members can also collect 10 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 Terminal 5 from towns and cities throughout the UK, making getting to the airport hassle-free.

• It's 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

London Heathrow airport 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

Taxi ranks are sign-posted once you are in the Arrivals hall or you can pre-book privately run minicabs (please always check they are licensed first).

Terminal 5 is on the Western Perimeter Road and has its own separate access road, reached from junction 14 of the M25 (if you're coming from the M4, exit at junction 4b and follow the M25 south to junction 14). The postcode for satellite navigation is TW6 2GA.

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' 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.
• Earn 250 Avios when you pre-book valet parking.
• Secure and convenient.

Find out more about parking and book

Find out more about valet parking and book