Thread: London Heathrow question

Hi

I think many of you fly through Heathrow occasionally. I will fly with the wife next year to the Philippines and for the second time we will pass through Heathrow.

The first time was many years ago, before the Euro. With a stopover time of several hours we wanted to get some snack and something to drink. But it was impossible. None of the places accepted VISA, also no luck with DM. Of course passing through in transit we did not have any british Pound with us. I admit we did not try the most expensive restaurants for a glass of water.

What can I expect this time? Has it changed or is it still as bad?

We foking hate book burners in the UK, I suggest you stock up on sausage and cabbage before you leave the mother land.

Top man Davey boy

However its nearly xmas so yes there are many Mc d's + Pizza sluts that will Visa your coin away

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

However its nearly xmas so yes there are many Mc d's + Pizza sluts that will Visa your coin away

Good to hear. Back last time Mc D did not accept Visa.

Originally Posted by daveboy

sausage and cabbage

You suggest barter? I may bring an issue of "Mein Kampf" in mint condition. Do you think any takers?

Yeah, no worries pal.

It's not like the dark old days, we're now all modern, diverse and inclusive.

Even to dirty Gerry's.

I find many threads, of late, interesting in the fact that a continuous reference to fast-food chains is looked upon with reverence.

^What you reckon then RS, it's all a big conspiracy of subliminal marketing by the fast food conglomerates hoping to gain a foothold in those elusive SE Asian markets?

Must admit, I wouldn't mind a greasy BK burger right about now...

Google the lounges in there Takeovers, you can buy into some.. i think around 20 to 30 pounds, which is easily recouped

Originally Posted by Takeovers

.

What can I expect this time? Has it changed or is it still as bad?

Things have got a lot worse, I'm sorry to tell you. You will find that the transit area is being rebuilt, and as such you are all confined to tin huts. Due to an EU ruling they are not allowed to put heaters in them though, so it might be a bit nippy, especially as due to another EU rule they are not allowed windows. To compensate, there is free water and snacks. On the down side, it is all frozen due to the no heater / no windows ruling.
Now I am not sure if this applies to you, but there is no EU ruling saying that you are not allowed to exchange a small quantity of money in to GBP to buy water, so rather than whinging like a bitch about "ohh no visa card allowed" you think that last time you were there you were too stupid to take 50 DM and change is into quid, and that this time you can take a 10 euro note to the exchange and do this as well . Hell, you might even have enough for another water or two on the way back.

Merry Christmas

Is there one nice airport in the UK?
Manchester is an absolute Joke.

How is it that developing nations can have fantastic airports and all of ours are shi*te?

Originally Posted by ShrewedPunter

How is it that developing nations can have fantastic airports and all of ours are shi*te?

Depends on whether the incoming are tourists or immigrants

We have a constant steady stream of people swarming in for "a better life", and the odd British tourist going outbound.

heathrow airport is a miserable place to either enter or leave the country from.

staffed by gormless drones, mostly ethnic in origin, and full to bursting point with alien travellers and their families you could be excused for thinking you were in an overpopulated third world state, which is what britain is fast becoming.

manchester airport, on the other hand, is a haven of peace and tranquility, underused, efficient and most importantly, ringing with the welcoming sounds of northern accents.

Business class and above and you don't have to worry about how shit LHR is - I was out in about 20 minutes last trip I was there including collecting luggage. Makes up for lack of a smoking room there.

Get in the UK Passport Queue from a Emirates/Etihad flight and you'd be mistaken you're in some queue in Karachi or New Delhi.

Last time it was filled with those horrible looking old bastards wearing the Darth Vader outfits.
They lack any common courtesy or manners you'd expect in the west - queue pushing, speaking loudly across people

All speaking fluent Urdu to each other. I was thinking.. how on earth are these cunts a net contributer to the UK?
How did they get here?
How did they get British passports?

What the FUCK????!!

Last time it was filled with those horrible looking old bastards wearing the Darth Vader outfits.
They lack any common courteous or manners you'd expect in the west, Queue pushing, speaking loudly across people.All speaking fluent Urdu to each other. I was thinking.. how on earth are these cunts a net contributer to the UK?
How did they get here?

and thats just the immigration officers.

Originally Posted by taxexile

Last time it was filled with those horrible looking old bastards wearing the Darth Vader outfits.
They lack any common courteous or manners you'd expect in the west, Queue pushing, speaking loudly across people.All speaking fluent Urdu to each other. I was thinking.. how on earth are these cunts a net contributer to the UK?
How did they get here?

and thats just the immigration officers.

The ironic thing.. look to my left to the "Foreign Passport Holders" queue and see all the Europeans, Aussies, Americans and other English Speakers / Westerners

This country is like the twilight zone

Insist on going transit through Prestwick.

Tarten bitter and a great range of single malts.

Originally Posted by taxexile

and most importantly, ringing with the welcoming sounds of northern accents.

Ugh. Getting a headache at the mere thought of it. Anyway watched that Granada TV over here. It's like like Channel 3 but with gormless Manc Chav scumbags on every programme.

Originally Posted by Takeovers

Good to hear. Back last time Mc D did not accept Visa.

They'll accept your coin mate no worries ( not that I use the shithole ) but the wife likes a Big Mac every now and again ( but thats another story )


Surely you can stick your Visa card in the hole in the wall and draw some coin anyway ??

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

Surely you can stick your Visa card in the hole in the wall and draw some coin anyway ??

Last time there was no slot in the wall. The money changer it was just to get a bottle of water. And change left, I never needed.

Paying straight with VISA is a lot more convenient.

The ATMs pay out in many different currencies.
I understand Heathrow is the busiest airport in the world, i think they do a pretty good job, all things considered.

Originally Posted by Takeovers

I think many of you fly through Heathrow occasionally. I will fly with the wife next year to the Philippines and for the second time we will pass through Heathrow.

It will depend on which airline you are using inbound and outbound. I would imagine outbound will be terminal 3 (inter-continental flights) and you should be able to use Visa at most of the facilities there. If not, then obtaining UK Sterling via the ATM using Maestro or other debit card (but not Visa) should not be too expensive.

Inbound, I imagine you will be using Air Berlin or Lufthansa. I am not sure if they have changed terminals now, after T5 opened (they were promised) If not and it is T2 then the same crappy facilities you witnessed last time still apply. BA fly in to T5 and this is far better than the media reported when it opened. I like T5 for everything...except transit to the other terminals. It's quite a trek from T5 to T3 so be prepared.

Food at all the terminals is overly expensive but you will find that, if you have to eat, T3 is the best for payment by card.

Hope it helps and have a safe journey...