Savvy Navigator posted on November 17, 2008 10:46
Despite Savvy Navigator’s best intentions to get to Cape Town via JFK, Madrid and Johannesburg, the weather gods frowned upon him at Washington National (DCA) on Saturday afternoon. He was involuntarily, yet happily, rerouted via London Heathrow on a one-stop itinerary via the brand-spanking new Terminal 5 - BA’s new palatial home base.
While on other trips to South Africa planning gay tours, Savvy Navigator has passed through Heathrow a few times before. The last time was right after the new terminal opened in July, but this is the first time he’s experienced it in fully-operational mode.
Despite its gargantuan size, it’s bright, airy and filled with amenities. There’s the best of UK retail present, as well as other international luxury-goods chains. Like other UK airports, all passengers are kept in the central holding area (of course adjacent to the shopping) until their flights are called. Then it’s a 10-30 minute walk or subway-tram ride to the remote terminals.
Savvy Navigator’s favorite cool thing, however, about this terminal is the BA Gold Galleries lounge (from where this posting is being scribed). Complete with literally dozens of shower suites, to an Elemis/Steiner day spa, to the eggs-and-beans-on-toast-cooked-to-order breakfast offerings in the dining room, or the champagne bar with terrific vintages, this place is cool.
The only uncool thing Savvy Navigator experiences is the air quality in the building. As with many/most Heathrow terminals, the UK-quality air-conditioning does not quite cut it. There’s still a stuffy feel and a high amount of humidity in the air. But, compared to all the other amenities, the benefits clearly outweigh the costs.
And it’s nothing another glass of champers can’t appease….