Checking in - Heathrow Terminal 5
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Checking in - Heathrow Terminal 5
Heathrow Terminal 5 check-in is at the top of the building and accessed by glazed sky bridges from the car park or express lifts from the rail station.
To help cut queues, the terminal has been designed to make full use of self-service and online check-in. You can use any of 96 self-service kiosks.
Traditional staffed check-in desks will also be available at each end of the check-in area.
View and print a Terminal 5 map
How early to arriveYou are advised to check in as early as possible. As a general guide, you should allow:
- Three hours before scheduled departure for long-haul flights
- Two hours before scheduled departure for European flights
- Ninety minutes before scheduled departure for flights within the UK and Ireland
You should check the instructions on your ticket and from your travel agent or booking website. If you are still unsure please check with your airline directly.
The latest time you can check in luggage is 45 minutes before your flight's departure time.
Before you check inTo save time, have your tickets and passport ready, and ensure your hand luggage contains only valuables and items you will need during the journey. You are also limited to the amount of liquids you can take in your hand luggage (see link below). Once your hold luggage is checked in, you can proceed to security control.
It pays to clear security control early and leave yourself time to relax before your flight, enjoy the shops, bars and cafés in the departure lounge, and get to your gate in plenty of time.
Please be aware that to ensure punctuality, you won't be able to pass through security control if your flight is less than 35 minutes from departure.
Important security information
Self-service check-in
Terminal 5 has been designed to help save you time. There are 96 self-service check-in kiosks, offering a quick, easy and safe alternative to traditional check-in desks.
Simply use the computer terminal to choose your seat and print your boarding card, then use the fast bag-drop facility.
Please keep your bags close by and take care of credit cards, passports and other important documents when using the kiosks. Airline staff will be on hand if you need assistance.
* Some passengers and flight destinations are not eligible for self-service check-in. Please confirm if this service is available to you at the time of booking or visit the airline website to find out about service limitations.
Online check-inMany passengers can use online check-in to select seats and print boarding passes at home, in the office, from a hotel or at the airport. All you have to do then is drop your baggage at the fast bag-drop kiosk.
To find out if you can use this service, please check with your airline.
* Please note that passengers who have checked in online still need to arrive in good time for their flight – pay close attention to the times given by your airline for dropping bags, collecting boarding cards and arriving at the gate.
Security controlOnce you've checked in you can go on to security control. There are two security control areas in Terminal 5, both clearly signposted and close to the check-in desks.
Please be aware that heightened security restrictions remain at all UK airports. All passengers are subject to hand luggage restrictions and should allow plenty of time for security checks.
For full details of what you can and can't take on board, including restrictions on carrying liquids, please see our security control page.
For most destinations, anything you buy after security control can be taken on board the aircraft. Staff in store will be able to advise you.
BoardingThere's plenty to do in the departure lounge, whether you want to visit the shops, cafés and bars or just relax ahead of your flight.
Do keep an eye on the monitors listing flight boarding times and gate numbers. Boarding usually begins around 45 minutes before departure.
If your flight leaves from the satellite Terminal 5B, you should take the escalator or lifts to the automated transit system. Trains will reach Terminal 5B in about a minute.
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