My flight is SEA to Toulouse in June on BA. I have 2.5 hrs between flights and have the process figured out up to the point were we are in the big shopping area where they have the departure gates posted. I have read that BA doesn't post gates until 30 before the flight departs. Yet...we must be at the gate no later than 20 before the flight. Is it really true that BA does not post gate departures any earlier than 30 minutes before departure?
Anxious for any info on this.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9369 posts
It isn't just BA that doesn't post gates much in advance of the flights. When I was last there, my Virgin Atlantic flight wasn't posted until a short time before the flight. Still, there was plenty of time to gather my stuff and walk to the gate before boarding. I wouldn't be too concerned.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Our experience is that several airlines do not post their gates until a short time befor the flight. We too were in the large shopping area waiting for our United flight home. I can't remember how much time we had once the gate was posted but there were no problems or rushes. We experience another line and passport/ticket check on the way to the gate.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5795 posts
Mary, as others have stated it won't be an issue. They will post the gate with sufficient time for you to walk to the gate. As far as I know, all the airlines do this at LHR. There really is nothing in the gate area of interest so no need to be there early and no need to worry ... you will have enough time to get there.
Posted by
Great Lakes Region, Michigan, USA
81 posts
I just changed planes at Heathrow last month and they posted the gate about a half hour before boarding time. We had plenty of time to get from the large shopping area to our gate. We had to go through a brief security check again at the gate. No bathrooms were in the date area, so if you had to go to the bathroom just before boarding (like many of us did) you have to give a security guard your passport and get hand checked again after returning from the bathroom. I had to go through all of that and still had plenty of time.
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
Yes it is routine. i cant remember any time when they didnt do it this way. My plane always seems to be at the furthest gate, but there is always ample time.