Major upgrades to London Heathrow Terminal 3 have brought a little extra comfort to the lives of passengers using the mainly long haul and intercontinental flights served by the terminal. It is money well spent.
Terminal 3 handles over 50 airlines and is split into separate Departures and Arrivals buildings. The Departures terminal has electronic signs at the entrances to the street level check-in area indicating the correct entry door for each airline. As you enter the check-in area overhead TV monitors indicate the correct Zone and check-in desk for each flight. There are information desks in both Departures and Arrivals areas.
Long haul flights mean larger aircraft and consequently longer check-in and baggage reclaim times. Several carriers and particularly United and American Airlines operate additional security measures at their check-in desks. This inevitably increases waiting time so allow for it.
Once you have checked-in food, drink and other basic comforts can be found on the upper level Departures area reached by escalators, lifts/elevators and stairs. These facilities have been expanded and now provide additional choice. Shopping outlets are conventional airport issue and the coffee bar at the northern (right hand end) of the terminal can be crowded. There is more room at the left hand catering end which has restaurants and a pub.
There is access to the Short Term car park which is linked to the terminal by a covered footbridge.
The Departures building has a prayer area for all faiths. Mammon is catered for by cash machines and currency exchange bureaux, but there is no escaping the tax man. The UK Customs VAT and commercial export desk is on the check-in level.
The landside Departures level has seating which is barely adequate. Greater comfort is usually available in the Airside Departures lounge, but upgrades to this facility mean a temporary reduction in space. There you can sample the delights of duty free shops including Harrods, Liberty and a clutch of other well known names. Restaurant, bar and bureaux de change facilities are available.
The separate Arrivals building is reasonably well designed and has adequate space. It does get very busy first thing in the morning however, when overnight flights from the Americas and Asia arrive. Patience is required in negotiating the mass of weary passengers who are dumped into the arrivals area in jumbo-sized loads. People meeting flights are encouraged to use the mezzanine floor lounge which has comfortable seats, toilets, phones and TV screens showing flight Arrivals information.
The taxi rank and access to the Heathrow Express and Underground train stations are at the main (northern) exit and there is a dedicated bus station for national and local services, and shuttles to the Long Term and Business car parks.
