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T5 check-in reopens after glitch T5 check-in reopens after glitch
(about 1 hour later)
Check-in desks at Heathrow Terminal 5 have reopened following problems with luggage conveyor belts that caused major disruption.Check-in desks at Heathrow Terminal 5 have reopened following problems with luggage conveyor belts that caused major disruption.
Thousands of passengers were delayed, with some saying they had to queue for hours. Others had to rebook or board flights without their luggage.Thousands of passengers were delayed, with some saying they had to queue for hours. Others had to rebook or board flights without their luggage.
Airport operator BAA blamed a mechanical failure. Airport operator BAA blamed a mechanical failure which was resolved.
British Airways has apologised for the inconvenience and said it hoped its customers could fly on Sunday night. But one passenger told the BBC that some travellers were preparing to spend the night at the airport.
BAA stressed flights had continued to run to schedule and said earlier delays of more than two hours were not related to the fault. British Airways apologised for the inconvenience and said it hoped its customers could fly on Sunday night.
BA added that no flights had been cancelled as a result of the problem. It added that no flights had been cancelled as a result of the problem, and said it was doing everything it could to minimise disruption.
British Airways warned there would be delays but said it was doing everything it could to minimise disruption.
Some travellers said they had difficult and expensive journeys ahead.Some travellers said they had difficult and expensive journeys ahead.
One told the BBC that about 100 people were preparing to spend the night sleeping on the airport floor.
I was told that BA would not send on the luggage if I took my flight so I had to miss it MickTerminal 5 passengerI was told that BA would not send on the luggage if I took my flight so I had to miss it MickTerminal 5 passenger
Nial O'Connor, from London, was due to fly from T5 to Marseilles on Sunday. Rob Mortimer missed his Sunday flight to New York because of check-in delays and said he would spend the night at the airport waiting for his rescheduled flight on Monday morning.
He had been due to start a new job there, and was relieved that his new employers accepted he would not be there on time.
Nial O'Connor, from London, was due to fly from T5 to Marseille on Sunday.
However, after his luggage went missing, he rebooked his flight with BA and was given one flying out of Gatwick on Monday.However, after his luggage went missing, he rebooked his flight with BA and was given one flying out of Gatwick on Monday.
He said the change of plan has cost him an extra £80 to rebook the flight, £130 on a taxi and more on a hotel.He said the change of plan has cost him an extra £80 to rebook the flight, £130 on a taxi and more on a hotel.
Mr O'Connor has been told his luggage will be flown out to Marseilles separately. Mr O'Connor was told his luggage would be flown out to Marseille separately.
He told the BBC he was very angry and had found BA very unhelpful. He told the BBC he was very angry and had found BA unhelpful.
Honeymoon couplesHoneymoon couples
Barry Goldstone, who was due to fly to Denver with BA on Sunday afternoon, described the scene at the terminal as "absolute chaos".Barry Goldstone, who was due to fly to Denver with BA on Sunday afternoon, described the scene at the terminal as "absolute chaos".
"They [BA] don't seem to have any continuity plan if anything goes wrong, and unfortunately they don't seem to have any consistency of information either.""They [BA] don't seem to have any continuity plan if anything goes wrong, and unfortunately they don't seem to have any consistency of information either."
Some queued for hours before being told they were in the "wrong" queue
Mick, from Dublin, Ireland, told the BBC: "I waited in the queue to check in bags for the full three hours prior to my flight leaving.Mick, from Dublin, Ireland, told the BBC: "I waited in the queue to check in bags for the full three hours prior to my flight leaving.
"The queue moved maybe two people in that time. I was told that BA would not send on the luggage if I took my flight so I had to miss it."The queue moved maybe two people in that time. I was told that BA would not send on the luggage if I took my flight so I had to miss it.
"There were couples going on their honeymoon crying and younger girls crying too.""There were couples going on their honeymoon crying and younger girls crying too."
One baggage handler said at one stage there had been more than 1,000 pieces of luggage piled up, and described the situation as "absolute chaos".One baggage handler said at one stage there had been more than 1,000 pieces of luggage piled up, and described the situation as "absolute chaos".
'Obvious inconvenience'
A BAA spokeswoman said: "We are working hard with our colleagues at British Airways to help passengers to continue their journeys.A BAA spokeswoman said: "We are working hard with our colleagues at British Airways to help passengers to continue their journeys.
"We hope that passengers wishing to depart tonight will be able to do so and we are sorry for the obvious inconvenience to travellers and British Airways.""We hope that passengers wishing to depart tonight will be able to do so and we are sorry for the obvious inconvenience to travellers and British Airways."
A BA spokesman said: "As a result of the problem some passengers have been unable to check in bags. Check-in has now reopened but there will be some delays.A BA spokesman said: "As a result of the problem some passengers have been unable to check in bags. Check-in has now reopened but there will be some delays.
"We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience. We are doing everything we can to minimise disruption.""We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience. We are doing everything we can to minimise disruption."
The terminal was hit by problems when it opened in March 2008, with flights cancelled and thousands of bags lost.The terminal was hit by problems when it opened in March 2008, with flights cancelled and thousands of bags lost.
Are you at Heathrow Terminal 5? Do you know someone who has been held up at the airport? Let us know what is happening near you.Are you at Heathrow Terminal 5? Do you know someone who has been held up at the airport? Let us know what is happening near you.
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