Airbazar From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 6884 posts, RR: 7 Posted (3 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 1889 times:
I have yet to see one. I'm flying via LHR in about a week.
Arriving at LHR at night (8:40pm) on AA (T3) and departing the next morning (8am) from T1. Then on the return I arrive back at LHR to T1 around 1pm, and depart from T3 on AA at around 6pm.
Do all A380 operators currently operate out of T3? Where are the A380 gates at T3? Is any passenger at T3 allowed to just walk over to the holding area for an A380 departing flight and can one see the plane from there? Any other suggestions?
Rutankrd From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 1998 posts, RR: 5 Reply 1, posted (3 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 1836 times:
Right with your arrival on the day AA flight you want to hope for a 27 Left landing and to have a seat on the starboard side then you will be able to glimpse the evening Singapore on one of the 301 to 307 stands on pier 6 whilst taxing in (Your AA flight will likely park on pier 7 stands 316/317/319 or 321 on the western side as it night stops)
If you take a look at Heathrow on Google Earth and zoom in you will see a Singapore A388 parked on 301 . The 3 stands to the left thats 303 /305 and 307 are the other A388 stands used.
You will also see a collection of AA on Pier 7 just to the west.
Your morning departure from T1 will limit your chances of seeing the morning Singapore or Qantas (Operates on five days a week) again unless 27L used for your departure and again a starboard seat picked.
This time of year its still gloomy at 8am (If its been clear night likely foggy as well)
Your afternoon transit will give you glimpse of EK001 again if 27L used for landing.
Very best opportunity would be to hop on tube to Hatton Cross for an hour and walk towards T4 and the famous Myrtle Avenue area (about 1/4 mile) the you will surely see The A388 parked in the distance.
I would add that you should not rely on being able to see much from the lounge areas around gates 301-307 in T3, and certainly not on your arrival (you will have no access to the departure areas as an arriving passenger).
The best thing is to check the airport plan to familiarise yourself with the layout and the location of those stands, and then just keep track of where you are as your aircraft taxi to/from the runways, in case you pass by the appropriate part of T3.
What I can say is that, if the prevailing winds next week are westerly, then your evening arrival will be on 27R which is bad news; likewise your 8am departure will also be on 27R due to the runway rotation procedure. Better hope for easterlies, then you'll be departing from 09R, and will get a good view of any A.380's present from the port-side windows as you take off.
You don't say how long it is before your return trip, but if it is before Mon 21st, then your 1pm arrival will be on 27L, which would be good news, and your 6pm departure also on 27L (the runways switch at 3pm). For the week beginning 21st, both will be on 27R. Again, if we have easterlies, then you will land on 09L and depart from 09R - this does not change at 3pm, due to noise restrictions.
Airbazar From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 6884 posts, RR: 7 Reply 3, posted (3 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 1677 times:
Thank you for all the suggestions. They are much appreciated. I will keep all in mind.
I am fairly familiar with LHR but haven't been there in almost 3 years.
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 6884 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 1998 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
