Leaving from T4 at Heathrow? Lounges suck, but this tidbit will sweeten your wait
Heathrow (LHR) Terminal 4 is arguably the oldest and least comfortable facility in the entire airport. Already [...]
LHR
Heathrow (LHR) Terminal 4 is arguably the oldest and least comfortable facility in the entire airport.
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Already the fact that it is not on the same subway line as the other terminals forces passengers to take a specific train or make changes once they arrive at the airport to get there.
Many Middle Eastern carriers operate here, such as Qatar Airways, Etihad, and Saudia, but also some low-cost airlines such as Vueling. In addition, Air France and KLM fly us, two options often used by Italian travelers, given also the absence of ITA Airways.
LHR Terminal 4 is confirmed as inferior to the others, also combining the chronic flaws of British airports: slowness and rigidity at security checks. The UK is now the only nation on the old continent that still requires liquids under 100 ml to be separated and placed in a clear plastic bag, a real torment that lengthens the already endless waiting times at checkpoints.
What is View Heathrow
View Heathrow is a mock airplane door that leads to a flight of stairs (or, alternatively, an elevator) and leads to a viewing deck. From here, travelers can observe landings, takeoffs, and aircraft movements on runways Of Europe's busiest airport.
Heathrow is also the airport with the largest number of A380s from different airlines. The only carrier that does not bring its A380, for operational reasons, is Lufthansa. Among the companies still using the giant of the skies, only ANA does not employ it on this route, as it uses it exclusively on the Tokyo-Honolulu route.
The terrace is covered and offers a privileged view of Heathrow's main runway, where landings are nonstop-a true paradise for aviation enthusiasts.
Where the entrance is located
After passing through security, you have to go to the right. The entrance is impossible to miss, being right next to Gate 15.
Pay attention to the signage: at one point you will find gate signs on the Terminal 4 peninsula, but it is on the opposite side.
A former lounge converted into a rooftop terrace
The observation deck offers views of the southern runway, the control tower, and the British Airways Concorde.
This facility was part of an old lounge, then in 2014 after years of disuse it was repurposed, compared to when it was opened there are no longer ipads available for passengers to have an interactive experience as well.
There are maps to help locate the various areas of the airport, which has Four terminals, two parallel runways and is the busiest in Europe.
In conclusion
Given the poor quality of the independent lounges in this terminal and the awesomeness of the planes landing a few meters away, the last time I departed from Terminal 4 I spent almost two hours here.
