Big mess at Heathrow Terminal 5.
On seeing Niagara Falls, Oscar Wilde proclaimed it “the second major disappointment of American married life.” These days, the biggest disappointment in every travelers life is Terminal 5 at Heathrow.
By end of day Saturday, British Airways had cancelled nearly 250 flights, affecting 14,000 passengers. Flights departed with no baggage whatsoever. Planes sat on the tarmac for hours. Baggage handlers couldn’t keep up with the new, automated system. And parking was no where to be found.
Now, BA faces fines of up to £5,000 per passenger for violating European regulations regarding delayed travel compensation. And the challenge of matching 15,000 lost bags with owners.
The airport is hoping things will stabilize early next week. Travelers flying through Terminal 5 before Monday at 10AM can rebook their flights free of charge. Our advice: avoid it if you can.