Salvation is at hand for all those passengers struggling to find their way around or locate their favorite retail or food outlet at London’s Heathrow Airport. Yesterday, UK flag carrier British Airways announced it was trialing a new digital tool to support them traveling through Heathrow’s Terminal 3 and Terminal 5 this summer.
An interactive map will guide you there
The tool is an interactive map downloaded to a smartphone or personal device which gives passengers clear directions and information on the airport layout. Passengers can click on the interactive map to find information on areas of interest, including location, opening times, etc. It is also a quick and easy way to locate bathrooms, exits, gates and anything else in the terminals.
Photo: British Airways
The trial began last month and is available to all customers traveling through London Heathrow (LHR) and easily accessed via QR codes on digital screens or at wayfinding.maps.ba.com. Links have been sent to all passengers traveling into LHR and connecting from destinations including New York JFK, Dubai, Mexico City, Atlanta, Dallas Fort Worth and Houston.
Those connecting between flights can input the details of their inbound and connecting flights and receive step-by-step instructions (with an animated map) on how to get from the arrival gate through flight connections to their departure gate.
BA’s chief customer officer Calum Laming said the aim is to make traveling through the airport as easy as possible, and the airline is excited to be trialing the new wayfinding tool this summer.
“The interactive map is simple to use, allowing our customers to easily locate their departure gates and discover nearby restaurants and shops for some last-minute duty-free shopping, and for those customers who are eligible, our lounges. Of course, our fantastic colleagues will still be on hand to help as well.”
Some tips for stress-free travel this summer
With a booming summer approaching, British Airways is preparing as best it can to make the airport process as stress-free as possible.
To do that, the airline suggests:
- Customers download the BA app to select seats, order special meals, check flight status, check in online and download their boarding pass.
- Keep all essential items, such as travel documents, electronic devices, valuables and medications in hand baggage and be aware of allowances.
- For airports with 100ml restrictions, including Heathrow and Gatwick, separate liquids before arriving at the airport and have them ready in a clear bag before security screening.
- Customers requiring assistance need to contact the BA accessibility team ahead of travel. Info is at Disability Assistance on the BA website.
- Customers should arrive at the airport three hours before a long-haul flight and two hours before short-haul flights.
In the BA app, the airline has also rolled out digital baggage receipts that allow passengers to generate a digital bag receipt in addition to the physical copy printed at the airport. At London Heathrow customers can also now receive notifications when their bag has reached the arrivals hall and from which carousel they can collect their bag.
There is plenty of potential for things to go wrong this summer, so hats off to BA for doing what they can to keep the airport process flowing smoothly. Now it’s up to passengers to do their part to avoid hold-ups at critical touchpoints, like bag drop and security screening.
Are you traveling through Heathrow this summer? Let us know how it goes in the comments.
British Airways invited Simple Flying to experience cabin crew training first hand. Photo: Tom Boon – Simple Flying British Airways
- IATA/ICAO Code:
- BA/BAW
- Airline Type:
- Full Service Carrier
- Hub(s):
- London Heathrow Airport, London Gatwick Airport
- Year Founded:
- 1974
- Alliance:
- oneworld
- Airline Group:
- IAG
- CEO:
- Sean Doyle
- Country:
- United Kingdom
