British Airways not happy with BAA

Today's Observer claims that, while BAA has been making sure that Terminal 5 has lots of expensive shops and Gordon Ramsay cooking pork chops, they've forgotten the airporty bit:

In documents seen by Channel 4's Dispatches programme, BA states: 'Only 34 of the 61 gates in T5 will enjoy pier service when T5 opens ... This is the lowest share of pier-served stands at any terminal at Heathrow. Two to two-and-a-half million BA passengers per annum will not enjoy pier service. That will require, at Heathrow's newest terminal, a coaching operation for BA that will transport more than the entire passenger load of all but a handful of the other airlines at Heathrow.'

BA also attacks the lack of aircraft parking stands, saying: 'On a typical day, BA will have to tow 13 aircraft several miles from one end of Heathrow to the other, then back again, at significant cost to BA. BA is also having to build the parking stands for these aircraft at its own expense of £30m to £35m. No other airline will have to move any aircraft away from the terminal in which it operates.'

BA complains that, because of cost-cutting by BAA, Terminal 5 will not be big enough for all its Heathrow flights. Around 8 per cent of flights will have to depart from Terminal 3, already the most overcrowded terminal at Heathrow, adding significantly to its load.

It's a compelling argument against trusting BAA with anything, much less a third runway.

Heathrow Terminal 5: Selling sofas while you miss your plane

Ominous reports from Terminal 5 at Heathrow, which is apparently crammed with shops, but nothing you could possibly actually need when flying:

“I want to be the first airport to sell a sofa,” said [Nick] Ziebland, ["retail strategy director" of BAA] dodging shopfitters at the Paul Smith store, which is waiting for doors from a French chateau.

There are practical shops alongside the luxury brands, but fewer than passengers might expect. “We’re not going to have a Primark . . . not everyday socks and underwear,” said Mr Ziebland

Who really wants to buy a sofa when waiting for a plane? Perhaps this is just a sign that BAA are expecting to port to T5 the long delays and discomfort which has made Heathrow a symbol of shame at the nation's gateway: you'll wait so long, you'll need to buy your own sofa to get comfortable.

It certainly seems so, to judge by the FT:

Even with the shops shut, trials have shown some passengers missing their flight; this is not representative and will be fixed, stresses BAA.

There is also going to be no capacity increase from the gleaming Richard Rogers-designed Terminal 5: as soon as it opens, other areas will be closed for much-needed refurbishment.

Maybe you should think about a one-seater rather than a sofa, to make sure there's room for you.