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Baggage problems hit T5 opening Baggage problems hit T5 opening
(30 minutes later)
Heathrow's new £4.3bn Terminal 5 - used for British Airways flights - has opened, but many passengers faced problems with their baggage. The opening of Heathrow's new £4.3bn Terminal 5 - used for British Airways flights - has been hit by technical difficulties with passenger baggage.
A BBC reporter on a flight to Paris said no passenger bags had arrived. Luggage belonging to travellers landing in the UK also failed to arrive. A BBC reporter on a flight to Paris said no bags were put on the plane. Luggage belonging to travellers landing in the UK also failed to arrive.
A BA Hong Kong flight was the first to land at the new terminal. The 0620 GMT for Paris was the first departure.A BA Hong Kong flight was the first to land at the new terminal. The 0620 GMT for Paris was the first departure.
BA blamed glitches with bags on problems with "staff familiarisation".BA blamed glitches with bags on problems with "staff familiarisation".
Meanwhile, anti-airport expansion groups earlier held a "flash mob" protest.
Hundreds of protesters - wearing Stop Airport Expansion T-shirts and opposed to plans for a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow - carried out a peaceful protest.
Two-hour waitTwo-hour wait
There were some teething problems at the airport on Thursday morning. Both passengers departing from and arriving at the new terminal suffered delays retrieving their bags.
Passengers were experiencing difficulties collecting their bags, and there were reports of delays in luggage being loaded onto planes. Some waited two hours for luggage from a Frankfurt flight that landed at around 0830 GMT.
Some passengers waited two hours for their bags from a Frankfurt flight that landed at around 0830 GMT. And in Paris, BBC reporter Peter Grant said no bags had made it on to his morning flight from Heathrow.
British Airways confirmed it was experiencing delays on baggage reclaim for incoming flights, blaming staffing issues, in particular problems with "staff familiarisation". Danish businessman Henrik Moeller, who travelled from Hamburg and landed at T5 at 0745 GMT, said he was not reunited with his bags until 0900 GMT.
"I have read about this new bag system and how it was supposed to be so much better. It's obvious there have been teething problems."
BA TERMINAL CHANGES 27 March: Domestic and most European flights move from Terminal 1 to T527 March: Long-haul flights from Terminal 1 move to T527 March: Miami service moves from Terminal 3 to T530 March: Algiers moves from Gatwick to T530 April: All Terminal 4 long-haul go to T5 (except Singapore, Bangkok and Sydney)17 Sept: Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Nice and Helsinki move from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3Early 2009: Singapore, Bangkok and Sydney move from Terminal 4 to Terminal 3 Source: BABA TERMINAL CHANGES 27 March: Domestic and most European flights move from Terminal 1 to T527 March: Long-haul flights from Terminal 1 move to T527 March: Miami service moves from Terminal 3 to T530 March: Algiers moves from Gatwick to T530 April: All Terminal 4 long-haul go to T5 (except Singapore, Bangkok and Sydney)17 Sept: Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Nice and Helsinki move from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3Early 2009: Singapore, Bangkok and Sydney move from Terminal 4 to Terminal 3 Source: BA
BAA which operates the baggage distribution system at Terminal 5 said it had a brief system fault at 0900 GMT which affected three flights. Anja Kaut, arriving from Munich with her husband Matthew and 10-year-old daughter, Charlotte, also had to wait about an hour for their luggage.
One unlucky passenger was Jenny Uhl, travelling with her friend, Verena Keller. "We were told there was a technical defect," said Mrs Kaut.
Ms Uhl said: "The terminal looks nice, but the bag situation is not good." BAA, which operates the baggage distribution system at T5, said it had a brief system fault at 0900 GMT which had affected three flights.
Another passenger, Klaus Hausler, said he had been delayed. There were also complaints from passengers about confusing road signs, problems when paying at a car park, and broken down escalator.
"I waited an hour and a half for my bags but could get no information from anyone. It was not good," he said. In a statement, BA said it had experienced a "few minor problems", which were "not unexpected following one of the most complex and largest airport moves in history".
There were also complaints about confusing road signs for T5, problems for some people attempting to pay at a car park, and an escalator that had broken down. Problems included car parking provision, delays in staff security screening and staff familiarisation and "some baggage performance issues", the statement said.
But other passengers praised the terminal and both BA and BAA have warned passengers it will take time for such a huge project to "bed down". "These issues are being resolved. Overall, customers have given us a very positive reaction to Terminal 5, which we know will be a resounding success," it added.
Some passengers praised the terminal and both BA and BAA had warned travellers it would take time for such a huge project to "bed down".
BA chief executive Willie Walsh said "I'm absolutely delighted with the way things have gone so far. I think it's great."BA chief executive Willie Walsh said "I'm absolutely delighted with the way things have gone so far. I think it's great."
Until Wednesday, BA services were spread across three of Heathrow's terminals.Until Wednesday, BA services were spread across three of Heathrow's terminals.
The airline had to embark on a major exercise overnight to move aircraft and handling equipment to the new terminal.The airline had to embark on a major exercise overnight to move aircraft and handling equipment to the new terminal.
Initially, BA will operate domestic and European services from Terminal 5, as well as long-haul flights that currently operate from Terminal 1. Initially, BA will operate domestic and European services from T5, as well as long-haul flights that currently operate from Terminal 1.
Meanwhile, BAA has had to drop controversial plans to fingerprint domestic passengers after the information commissioner expressed concerns about the move.Meanwhile, BAA has had to drop controversial plans to fingerprint domestic passengers after the information commissioner expressed concerns about the move.
The airport operator said fingerprinting was needed for border security. Instead it will take photographs while the proposal is discussed with the commissioner's office.The airport operator said fingerprinting was needed for border security. Instead it will take photographs while the proposal is discussed with the commissioner's office.
Environmental protestsEnvironmental protests
BAA says the opening of Terminal 5 will not see any more flights operating to and from Heathrow but environmental groups say more noise, pollution and stress will result. Earlier, anti-airport expansion groups held a protest at the new terminal.
BA says the new terminal will not solve runway capacity problems. Hundreds of protesters - wearing Stop Airport Expansion T-shirts and opposed to plans for a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow - carried out a peaceful protest.
Among the protesters at the airport were Hazel, 71, and Jock Cooper, 72, who have lived in Old Windsor - under the flight path - for 45 years.Among the protesters at the airport were Hazel, 71, and Jock Cooper, 72, who have lived in Old Windsor - under the flight path - for 45 years.
"It's a stupid idea to sign an agreement in Bali saying we want to save the planet and then we read there was going to be a third runway," said Mrs Cooper."It's a stupid idea to sign an agreement in Bali saying we want to save the planet and then we read there was going to be a third runway," said Mrs Cooper.
"The area, skies and planet won't take it.""The area, skies and planet won't take it."
BAA says the opening of T5 will not see any more flights operating to and from Heathrow, but environmental groups say more noise, pollution and stress will result.
Once BA has completed the move to T5, BAA plans to start moving other carriers to Terminals 1, 3 and 4.Once BA has completed the move to T5, BAA plans to start moving other carriers to Terminals 1, 3 and 4.
Terminal 2 will then be demolished, to pave the way for a new facility - Heathrow East - which BAA hopes will be ready in time for the London Olympics in 2012.Terminal 2 will then be demolished, to pave the way for a new facility - Heathrow East - which BAA hopes will be ready in time for the London Olympics in 2012.
Have you been through terminal 5 today? What was it like? Do you work there? Tell us about the new terminal at Heathrow airport.Have you been through terminal 5 today? What was it like? Do you work there? Tell us about the new terminal at Heathrow airport.
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