London Heathrow Airport - LHR

London Heathrow Airport Address

Phone Number: 0870 0000 123

Website

London Heathrow Airport is considered to be the world's busiest international airport. The terminals, however, are older and in need of renovation. The new Terminal 5 will be opening in March 2008 and other terminals will be updated as well. By the year 2012, the entire airport will have been modernized and updated to ensure that the facilities are clean, functional for today's electronic age, environmentally friendly, and have efficient and effective security areas. Effective July 1st 2007, passengers should be aware that new passport scanners have been introduced. As these scanners are new, there may be additional delays for all arrivals as the staff and passengers get accustomed to the change.

Serving more than 90 airlines and traveling to close to 200 different areas, London Heathrow Airport has four terminals and two runways. Close to 70 million passengers pass through LHR every year explaining why this is considered the busiest international airport. Passengers will find that commuting from London into Heathrow is very easy to do thanks to Heathrow Express, an efficient train system that takes no more than 15 minutes to reach the heart of London.

Effective July 1, 2007, England's "Smoke-Free" law came into play. The law states all "enclosed spaces" are now smoke-free zones. This includes all interior areas within the airport including all restaurants, lounges, and bars. The only exception will be for a few designated areas found in front of the main terminal.

Directions

While it is easiest to take the rail service Heathrow Express from London's Paddington Station directly into the airport (round trip tickets start at $29 for adults and $14.20 for children), those driving into London Heathrow Airport will need to know the terminal. Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3 are close in proximity, but Terminal 4 is located further to the south.

For Terminal 4, drivers are best off taking the M25 to the A3113. At the rotary, head to Stanwell and South Perimeter Road. Follow the signs to Terminal 4 from this point. Those heading to the other terminals should take the M25 to the M4. From M4, turn offs that will work are the A3044 or A437 follow signs leading to the A4. Follow the A4 (Bath Road) to Longford (North Perimeter Road) and follow the signs to each terminal. Passengers driving to the airport are well advised to drive slowly, especially into the rental car area. If the landscapers have been lax trimming branches, the shrubbery can quickly cover the signs making it hard to spot the right turn off unless the driver is paying very close attention.

Terminal 1

Terminal 1 is broken down into four floors/sections-Ground, first, mezzanine, and second. The ground floor houses arrivals and baggage claim. Anyone can be in the arrivals/waiting area, but baggage claim is for passengers only. First floor houses baggage claim, check-in, gates 2 through 56. There are many passenger waiting lounges on the first floor. All flights heading to other areas in the United Kingdom or Ireland fly out of the western side of this terminal. In fact, most of the flights from Terminal 1 are heading to or coming from other destinations in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Some of the restaurants are located on the Mezzanine level where the general public can wait for incoming flights. The second floor is for all arrivals and the general public is not allowed on the second floor.

Airlines that fly from Terminal One include Aer Lingus, Asiana Airlines, BMI, British Airways, Cyprus Airways, ElAl Airlines, FinnAir, GB Airways, Iceland Air, LOT, South African Airways, and Transaero Airlines.

Terminal 2

Airlines that fly from Terminal 2 include Aeroflot, Air Algerie, Air Astana, Air France, Air Seychelles, Air Transat, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, Azerbaijan Airlines, Bellview Airlines, China Eastern, ClickAir, Croatia Airlines, CSA Czech Airlines, Hemus Air, Iberia, JAT Airways, Libyan Airlines, Lufthansa, Luxair, Olympic Airways, Pulkovo, Royal Air Maroc, Swiss International Airlines, Sudan Airways, Syrianair, TAP Air Portugal, Tarom, Tunis Air, Ukraine International Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways, and Yemenia Yemen Airways. The majority of the flights served by Terminal 2 are to other destinations in Europe.

Terminal 2 is rectangular in shape and is fairly easy to navigate. Check-in counters are all found on the ground floor. The first floor is for departures and arrivals and there are some public areas where family and friends can see their loved ones off or await their return. Gates 2 through 19 are found in Terminal 2. The second floor holds the passport control area and some VIP lounges.

Terminal 3

Long-distance destinations are the main purpose for Terminal 3. Terminal 3 serves Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air Jamaica, Air Mauritius, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, British Airways, Caribbean Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eva Air, Gulf Air, Iran Air, Japan Airlines, Jet Airways, Kibris Turkish Airlines, Korean Air, Kuwait Airways, Malaysia Airlines System, MEA Middle East Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, SAS, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International, Turkmenistan Airlines, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic Airways.

With gates 8 through 42 located in the departure area on the first floor, this is one of the larger terminals for flights. Phones, restrooms, eating areas, and other amenities are found throughout Terminal 3's first floor so that passengers have plenty to do while waiting for flights. The second floor houses additional passenger lounges. Finally, the ground floor houses baggage claim and three different check-in areas.

Terminal 4

Terminal 4 is located farther south than the other terminals. The ground floor and mezzanine of this building houses baggage claim, passport control, and check-in. The public are allowed in all areas before passport control. After this, only passengers are allowed to head to the other floors. The first floor also has check-in, many facilities including currency exchange, stores, and restaurants. Families can pay a small fee and access KLM's Holideck Lounge where children will enjoy the free snacks, beverages, toys, and games. Gates 1 through 23 are found in Terminal 4.

Airlines serving Terminal 4 include Air Malta, BMED, British Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Qantas, Sri Lankan Airlines, and TAM. These flights generally serve European destinations, though a few long flights also fly from this terminal.

Terminal Maps

Terminal Maps