Spotting from the terminal at LHR, possible?

[phkza]

Hi guys,

In a couple of weeks I'll be flying to Brazil through Heathrow. Looks like I've got some time to kill in between flights. Does anyone know if it is at all possible to take decent pictures from any terminal? I guess I'll be in T5 the whole time.

[ehusmann]

T5 has got some big, big windows, although I think they are tilted (and tinted), so you might get some nasty reflextions. But even worse is the fact that T5 is on the far west side of the airport. So if the wind is west, most planes in take off will be pretty high already and landing planes will be turned off the runway before they get to you. Most of what will pass the terminal in front of you will be BA.

Erwin

[phkza]

Better chances at other terminals perhaps?

[Michel]

Terminal 1 has some good views over rwy 09L-27R, but I can't imagine you will depart to Brazil from T1.

[ehusmann]

Are you flying BA?
In that case I think you will arrive and leave from T5. Possibly leave from T4, but I doubt it. And unless you leave the airport all together, you cannot go to another terminal. Staff will check your boarding pass and will not allow you to go to another terminal if your flight leaves from T5.

Erwin

[Mark B.]

When taking pictures from inside Terminal 5, be aware that the police may stop you from doing so. I was at T5 halfway last year and made some pictures from the nice new Terminal, just for fun (No aircraft pics were taken, I basically like only military stuff). All of a sudden some police women showed up, kindly asking me to delete the pictures I made. They admitted that there were no forbidden signs to alert me but that these will be placed in the near future.

No idea if these signs are already there and if the rule is still valid but I think it is better to share my experience..

Mark

[phkza]

I've had some trouble with guards before. Seems like the British are even more paranoia than the Americans. Anyway, I'll just try and see what happens. Being polite is always the best way to get somewhere.

I'm not planning to leave the terminal. If I wanted to I could probably do it, there's no law against it.

[nuckleuz]

I was a month ago at Heathrow for some spotting and I needed some cash. The only cash machine I knew was located in terminal 4. So I walked in with my camera hanging on my neck. The police thought it was kind of strange someone only comes to the terminal for a cash machine. This police officer came for a talk and asked me what I was doing there with my camere. So it is indeed forbidden to take pictures in the terminal.

I believe in terminal 4 there are signs that it is forbidden!

Grt, Erik

[phkza]

Strange. I can imagine they don't want pictures taken with people on it (or other sensitive matters) but from planes? What's the harm? Anyway, thanks for sharing. I'll be careful

[aviodromefriend]

IMO T5 is the most disappointing experience I've ever had while trying to photograph aircraft. From departures you have to deal with three pieces of glass, the one you can reach being quite a gap from the two outer glasswalls. Furthermore between the two outer glass a huge "luxaflex" is present. And the glasspanels were not big enough to see a complete aircraft without obstructions from the terminal's steelconstruction. All in all to me T5 was a lot promising but a big disappointment (well, maybe I was also =censored= off due to that cancelled RIAT ).

[aviodromefriend]

Found this at http://www.heathrowairport.com/portal/p ... 7e120a____:

Filming and photography
Heathrow is the world's busiest international airport and is in great demand as a location for making news programmes, documentaries and films.

With some 68 million passengers a year travelling through the airport, we face unique logistical and security challenges.

All filming, photography and recording at Heathrow requires a permit.

About filming, photography and recording permits
Generally, a request for a permit must be made at least two working days before the required date. Security will remove anyone filming, photographing or recording without this permission.
Commercial filming, photography and recording requests are charged a service fee unless they are related to a current news issue or involve a BAA business partner.
The fee schedule takes into account the number of people involved in the shoot and the time required on our property.
Permission can only be granted if the applicant can demonstrate that they have at least £5 million in public liability insurance.
All permits issued are location- and time-specific.
Applicants wishing to film, photograph or record airline property or staff must first obtain the airline's permission.
Unfortunately, it is not usually possible to allow student filming and photography at Heathrow, although we will consider all requests.

Don't know if this also counts for spotters, but I fear it is... Permits can be requested at the link above.

[streep]

Any other activity than shopping is strickly forbidden at Terminal 5 !

[marcel32us]

Got back last week from a trip to the US, and passed through LHR, T5. On the way to the US I spend several hours in one of the lounge chairs along the big windows with my binoculars, notebook and netbook and nobody cared. Just before boarding I went to the B-gates (if I remember correctly) and took some pics there of departing planes. Nobody caused any problems, but I was only there for a few minutes, so maybe nobody noticed yet.

The only problem is indeed that there's only BA passing by up close at the main building of T5. But other airlines can be spotted in take off. You are discouraged to go to B or C gates until shortly before boarding, and I don't know what security will do if you'd try to spend more time there. C-gates will get you al lot closer to the other terminals with better view of the aircraft that are there.

Just my 2 pennies,
Marcel

[phkza]

My advantage may be that my trip is on 2 tickets, so I have one for AMS-LHR and one for LHR-GRU. So I should be able to walk out of the airport to the famous spotting places. However, I would have to go through security again for my next flight. I'll think of something

[jfaltena]

Are you flying BA?
In that case I think you will arrive and leave from T5. Possibly leave from T4, but I doubt it. And unless you leave the airport all together, you cannot go to another terminal. Staff will check your boarding pass and will not allow you to go to another terminal if your flight leaves from T5.

Spent a whole day spotting at LHR last year with arrival and departure on BA from T5. Encountered no problems whatsoever when we moved to T4 by bus, but we did have a security check upon entering T4, being only with handluggage. Apart from that we had a perfect day till the runway swap at 15.00. I don't know if that trick still works, though.

Although I was at LHR 3 weeks ago for my connecting flight to ATH, I didn't see any signs for No Photography in T5.

Just my Tuppence,
John