DublinSpotter From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2011, 108 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 3 months 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 3428 times:
Hi!
I have a few questions and was wondering if you guys could help me out! I will be traveling to LHR for my birthday with my mum (who isn't an aviation fan) and she has told me that we can look round the airport but not leave the airport. So I need as much information as I can get about the terminal and the airport. I know the basics like LHR is the busiest airport in the world! Although we don't know much about the layout of the Airport
1. I have looked up photos from in side the terminal but their is none can you show my any sites or photos that show the inside of terminal 1.
2. Is their any good areas inside the terminal i.e. like any huge windows or viewing areas.
3. Is their any nice restaurants?
4. As i will be traveling on EI from BFS will I be on one of there A320's or A319's if they are in service by then (April) (I know its a long shot!)
5. Are the security friendly enough to let you take photos from inside the terminal at the aircraft passing.
6. Is it possible to go to terminal 5 and have a look around their free of charge (is the train free etc)
I know its a lot of information i need but that is about the height of it! And i need to know!
CaptainKramer From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2012, 156 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (1 year 3 months 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 3338 times:
Hi DublinSpotter,
You can travel on the Heathrow Express for free between terminals 1 and 5. Unless you are flying out of terminal 5, you wont get good views of the apron, you need to pass customs and imigration for that, but in the check in area, top floor on the left and right sides are views of runway 9R (right) and 9L (left) depending on prevailing winds you will either get takeoffs on 9R or landings on 9L or takeoffs on 27R. On your return from terminal 5 make sure you get off at terminal 1, because after a stop of a few minutes it will continue it's journey to London Paddington and that ain't free, a round trip will cost £36.00!
There is a restaurant The Tin Goose in terminal 1 that have views looking out onto the apron, as do Cafe Nero and Costa Coffee. I personally don't know how good the views of aircraft are though.
There is also a dedicated website Heathrow.com, that may answer any other questions you or your mum might still have.
Hope that helps, have a happy "spotting" birthday!
pilotalltheway From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2008, 247 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (1 year 3 months 5 days ago) and read 3328 times:
Hi there,
Quoting CaptainKramer (Reply 1): There is a restaurant The Tin Goose in terminal 1 that have views looking out onto the apron, as do Cafe Nero and Costa Coffee. I personally don't know how good the views of aircraft are though.
Costa Coffee does have good views of one of the aprons - served by both BMI, Lufthansa and ocassionally Air New Zealand. Furthermore, with a long enough zoom you can see touchdowns on 27R. If you walk a bit further to the west (when in Costa) and walk down a long pier (towards the northern runway), you will find another area with a massive window (a long one too) over looking taxiing aircraft and 27R.
Quoting CaptainKramer (Reply 1): top floor on the left and right sides are views of runway 9R (right) and 9L (left) depending on prevailing winds you will either get takeoffs on 9R or landings on 9L or takeoffs on 27R.
Yes, there's a Costa Coffee (I believe) on the far left, at the top of the terminal. Here you can see a few gates (just BA 319/320s) and if 09s are in use, you'll see 09L landings coming past nicely. Furthermore, your Mum can stay and have a coffee there and you can pop outside by literally just walking out of the exit on that floor and walking to the end closest to the northern runway and get some better shots there, without the glass.
Quoting pilotalltheway (Reply 2): pop outside by literally just walking out of the exit on that floor and walking to the end closest to the northern runway and get some better shots there, without the glass.
Is that like a viewing area? Is the glass in the terminal very bad for photography?
Ychocky From Canada, joined Jul 2009, 164 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (1 year 3 months 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 3079 times:
Quoting Dublinspotter (Reply 3):
Is their specific times to when they use the runways? If their is, would you guys know what these times are at?
Heathrow experiences westerly winds normally meaning 27L/R operations. A runway change occurs at 1500. The order of the runway usage changes week to week. For example today LHR opened with arrivals on 27L and switched at 1500 to 27R. Departures began on 27R and then switched to 27L. Schedules can be found online (somewhere).
If winds are easterly, Runway 09L is used for Arrivals and 09R for departures.
Quoting Dublinspotter (Reply 3): Is that like a viewing area? Is the glass in the terminal very bad for photography?
I've had no issues at either end of the departures level outside of T5. There are smoking areas at both ends so it might not be enjoyable if bothered by cigarette smoke. Inside the windows may be dirty, and light may cause glare off the glass.
Is it possible to see 27L/R and 9L/R from terminal one? But as you say they usually use the 27L/R is it possible to see them both at the same time anywhere in the terminal?
Should I bring any other lenses with me other than my 70-300mm?
Quoting Ychocky (Reply 4): Inside the windows may be dirty, and light may cause glare off the glass.
pilotalltheway From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2008, 247 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (1 year 3 months 4 hours ago) and read 2999 times:
You can really expect most airport windows to be dirty, it's just a negative of shooting from inside.
From Terminal One you can see the Northern Runway, therefore 27R landings and takeoffs and also 09L landings. It's best to get to the end of the pier in T1 that I told you about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Me8fodAfNs (around 1:00) - If you look here, just before the shot changes to the AC 330 takeoff from the BMI shot, you can see a glass window paned building behind the aircraft; this is the spot I'm talking about.
Quoting Dublinspotter (Reply 5): Should I bring any other lenses with me other than my 70-300mm?
You may want a shorter lens too, I would advise it.
Quoting Ychocky (Reply 4): Heathrow experiences westerly winds normally meaning 27L/R operations. A runway change occurs at 1500. The order of the runway usage changes week to week. For example today LHR opened with arrivals on 27L and switched at 1500 to 27R. Departures began on 27R and then switched to 27L. Schedules can be found online (somewhere).
If winds are easterly, Runway 09L is used for Arrivals and 09R for departures.
Dublinspotter From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2011, 108 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (1 year 2 months 4 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 2967 times:
Hi,
Quoting pilotalltheway (Reply 6): You may want a shorter lens too, I would advise it.
Oh right thanks Would you know what type of lense i should bring for a cabin shots of my EI flights? I was thinking of my 18-35mm lens... Would that be good enough?
Quoting pilotalltheway (Reply 6): you can see a glass window paned building behind the aircraft; this is the spot I'm talking about.
And again that is alot clearer! But can I easily go through to their or do I need to be on a flight to get in to that area?
I am down on Monday 2nd April, it is part of my birthday present I arrive at 08:30 and leave at 15:15 in the afternoon (In Northern Ireland we will be on our Easter holidays, Perfect time to come to Heathrow
Dublinspotter From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2011, 108 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (1 year 2 months 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 2893 times:
Hi
Thanks for getting back to me!
Could you give me any tips on cabin or terminal shots?
Quoting pilotalltheway (Reply 8): t's after security, yes. But once you're airside, you can go down there - doesn't matter what flight you're on (although it is the BMI area)
Thanks mate, really helps! Is the terminal big, it is possible to walk from EI gates to the BD gates easily, right?
Quoting pilotalltheway (Reply 8): Happy Birthday in advance, you should get some good shots!
Dublinspotter From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2011, 108 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (1 year 2 months 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 2892 times:
Would any of you guys know if I will be on one of the new EI A319's? Would be cool to be one of the first to photograph the planes. The flight says A320, could it change to an A319?
pilotalltheway From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2008, 247 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (1 year 2 months 4 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 2821 times:
Quoting Dublinspotter (Reply 9): Could you give me any tips on cabin or terminal shots?
No, not really as such mate. I just know that the windows at LHR are pretty dirty! With cabin shots, getting the right exposure is key, try to avoid photographing the outside of the cabin if possible, really.
Quoting Dublinspotter (Reply 9): it is possible to walk from EI gates to the BD gates easily, right?
Yup, especially if you have as much time on your hands as you do!
Quoting Dublinspotter (Reply 10): Would any of you guys know if I will be on one of the new EI A319's?
Dublinspotter From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2011, 108 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (1 year 2 months 3 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 2709 times:
Would be cool though! I have checked all the EI flights and I will be seeing one at BFS! So I will take pics and post to my Flickr account!
I would like to verify, the security will be okay with me taking pics at the terminal and the planes and are EI staff okay with pics and videos of there planes?
Dublinspotter From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2011, 108 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (1 year 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 2385 times:
Hi
We were wondering at LHR will I be able to see one of the Biman 773 or DC-10 (that's if they use them still on the service to London) or any Kuwait Airways aircraft, Qf 744 Iranair or TAM? please notify me on any other specials, also will MH A380 be in service by then?
We will be flying out on the 2nd April (Monday) and arriving at Heathrow at 08:30 and leave at 15:00 later that day
pilotalltheway From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2008, 247 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (1 year 2 months 3 weeks ago) and read 2288 times:
Quoting Dublinspotter (Reply 12): I would like to verify, the security will be okay with me taking pics at the terminal and the planes and are EI staff okay with pics and videos of there planes?
I've always been fine at Heathrow and haven't heard of anyone else with problems. EI should be fine with pics and videos of their aircraft, otherwise there wouldn't be any on this site!
About the movements, it's hard to be sure at the moment.
Again - make the most of it at LHR, don't worry about getting in trouble, you're doing nothing wrong.
Dublinspotter From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2011, 108 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (1 year 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 2148 times:
Hi
Thanks very much for all help
Quoting pilotalltheway (Reply 14): Again - make the most of it at LHR, don't worry about getting in trouble, you're doing nothing wrong.
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Would you know what type of lense i should bring for a cabin shots of my EI flights? I was thinking of my 18-35mm lens... Would that be good enough?
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