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| 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. | |
| 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 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". | |
| 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. | 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 wait | |
| There were some teething problems at the airport on Thursday morning. | There were some teething problems at the airport on Thursday morning. |
| Passengers were experiencing difficulties collecting their bags, and there were reports of delays in luggage being loaded onto planes. | Passengers were experiencing difficulties collecting their bags, and there were reports of delays in luggage being loaded onto planes. |
| Some passengers waited two hours for their bags 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. |
| British Airways confirmed it was experiencing delays on baggage reclaim for incoming flights, blaming staffing issues, in particular problems with "staff familiarisation". | British Airways confirmed it was experiencing delays on baggage reclaim for incoming flights, blaming staffing issues, in particular problems with "staff familiarisation". |
| 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: BA | 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: 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. | BAA which operates the baggage distribution system at Terminal 5 said it had a brief system fault at 0900 GMT which affected three flights. |
| One unlucky passenger was Jenny Uhl, travelling with her friend, Verena Keller. | One unlucky passenger was Jenny Uhl, travelling with her friend, Verena Keller. |
| Ms Uhl said: "The terminal looks nice, but the bag situation is not good." | Ms Uhl said: "The terminal looks nice, but the bag situation is not good." |
| Another passenger, Klaus Hausler, said he had been delayed. | Another passenger, Klaus Hausler, said he had been delayed. |
| "I waited an hour and a half for my bags but could get no information from anyone. It was not good," he said. | "I waited an hour and a half for my bags but could get no information from anyone. It was not good," he said. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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". | 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". |
| 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 Terminal 5, 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 protests | Environmental 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. | 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. |
| BA says the new terminal will not solve runway capacity problems. | BA says the new terminal will not solve runway capacity problems. |
| 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." |
| 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. |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |