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British Airways First Wing and Virgin’s Upper Class Wing security closed from Tuesday

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The security channel in the British Airways First Wing at Heathrow Terminal 5 will close from tomorrow, 9th January, for 3-4 months.

There has been no official announcement from the airport or BA that tomorrow is the day (we knew it would happen at some point in January) but it was confirmed to my wife at 5am this morning when she went through.

This shouldn’t be a surprise, of course. The UK Government has mandated that airports must switch to the new ‘keep your stuff in your bags’ / ‘bring all the liquid you want’ security scanners by June.

Although, according to recent press reports, there is no chance of most airports hitting the June target ….

British Airways First Wing security at Terminal 5 to close for four months

It seems that the entire First Wing security area will be remodelled at the same time, which partly explains the time frame. However, with 24/7 working possible and no airside security constraints, it seems long.

There is apparently no requirement to reinforce the floor to cope with the weight of the new machines – something which is proving an issue elsewhere.

The check-in area in the First Wing will remain open for qualifying passengers, primarily British Airways Executive Club Gold members and ticketed First Class passengers.

You will then need to leave the Wing and head to South Security. There is a dedicated lane here for those who would qualify to use the First Wing which looks like this:

Virgin Atlantic is planning a similar closure

The Upper Class Wing is the Virgin Atlantic private check-in area at Heathrow Terminal 3. This area allows you to be dropped off by car directly outside the door.

If you arrive by public transport, you need to check in at Zone A in the main Terminal 3 area but can then take a lift up to the Upper Class Wing private security channel.

We wrote a HfP article here which explains how the Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Wing works.

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Wing security

The private security lane in the Upper Class Wing will also be closed from Tuesday. It will re-open in late February with brand new security scanners. 7-8 weeks does make the 3-4 month closure of BA’s First Wing look a little long.

You can still use the Wing for checking in but will need to go into the main part of the terminal to clear security. However, from 22nd to 28th February the entire Wing will be closed.

Check the Upper Class Wing page of the Virgin Atlantic website for current updates.

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Category

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Comments (67)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Terry says:
    8 Jan8 January 07:04

    Pretty appalling that neither the airlines or the airport have deemed it necessary to post this information. Surely British Airways could have emailed their gold club members – after all they send out enough other marketing bumph.

  • daveinitalia says:
    8 Jan8 January 07:33

    Regular south fast track is better positioned for GGLs and F pax. You get immediate entry to the CCR from there. Since they moved the business check-in to the north (and so most silvers now use north fast track) it’s usually been better for GGL to use the south fast track.

    • Rhys says:
      8 Jan8 January 09:05

      That’s the minority of people using the First Wing, though!

    • Harry T says:
      8 Jan8 January 09:53

      Thank god BA is finally making their most important and well informed passengers feel special 😂

  • Nick says:
    8 Jan8 January 08:01

    As a Gold member, I had an email at lunchtime yesterday from BA saying that the security channel is closed from the 9th January and that alternative security lanes are allocated in South Security Fast Track and also explaining how to get to the First Class lounge after South Security. Suspect this is a fuss about very little

    • Rob says:
      8 Jan8 January 08:42

      No emails for the two Golds in our house and – as no-one added this to the Flyertalk thread on the topic which runs to multiple pages – I suspect virtually no-one else got it either.

    • Rich says:
      8 Jan8 January 09:48

      Are you travelling tomorrow or over the next few days from T5 Nick by any chance?

      Perhaps they’re contacting those directly impacted now in advance of a blanket comms.

      • Harry T says:
        8 Jan8 January 09:56

        I’m literally travelling today and the day after the first wing closes. Have received no info. BA seem far more concerned about sending out promo emails with Gen Z grammar, than actually informing customers about genuine issues relevant to their travel 😂

      • whiskerxx says:
        8 Jan8 January 10:38

        We have received no communication.
        Travelling Wednesday

      • Nick says:
        8 Jan8 January 10:55

        Yes, flying long-haul from LHR on Tuesday. So presumably targeted. BA IT might be getting better!

    • Harry T says:
      8 Jan8 January 09:53

      Two Golds in my household and we have received no information from BA…

    • AL says:
      8 Jan8 January 13:45

      Travelling today and Wednesday, on two different PNRs. One email received (presumably for Wednesday’s departure, but doesn’t reference PNR) about 30mins ago.

  • paul says:
    8 Jan8 January 08:45

    One of main reasons for booking Virgin UC is the convenience of using the Wing.

    We fly out March 8th and would be miffed to suddenly discover the closure – though thankfully we booked Premium for this one way flight so don’t need to worry.

    • babyg_wc says:
      8 Jan8 January 09:18

      whilst its “unique” to be dropped off by car in the Virgin UC/private check-in, the reality is its often quicker to bypass the dedicated single private lane and head to the normal check-in to be honest…

      • Rhys says:
        8 Jan8 January 09:21

        I’ve never found that the case – if anything the reverse, except they don’t let you use the UC Wing if you don’t arrive by car!

        • James C says:
          8 Jan8 January 11:38

          Don’t you just take the lift (located to the right of the main bank of VS desks in T3 up) and walk into UC Wing from there? Not used VS since pre-covid but never had an issue doing that then.

      • Paul says:
        8 Jan8 January 09:29

        The private drop off area is fabulous, I used it on the 26th December. It is however difficult to find and the Barrie’s entry from the road seems to suggest that it is not for public use. I wonder how many people miss it.

        As for private security, the length of the conveyor suggests it can take a long time. Where BA wins is that from security you decant directly into a lounge.

        • Rob says:
          8 Jan8 January 09:50

          Whenever I’ve gone through as a private passenger there has been no queue. I’ve only ever seen it backed up on press trips where you’ve got a pile of media people going through together!

          Biggest issue is the trot from security to the lounge which is where BA First Wing wins out. However, the Upper Class Wing is far cooler in general – someone is there to open your car door and carry your bags etc.

          • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:
            8 Jan8 January 11:56

            Oh come off it. It’s hardly the long march or the Donner Party!

            It’s roughly the same distance between security and the CH as it is from the normal priority lane to the QF/CX lounges.

            And if you make a right turn from the exit from the private channel you don’t have to go through duty free either.

        • paul says:
          8 Jan8 January 12:34

          The UC Wing is available on the Uber App so easy to find – just be sure to tell the Uber driver some fabulous lie as to why you’re “special enough” to use the private entrance.

          For instance, we cruise a lot (67 so far) and whenever it comes up in conversation (we don’t start the conversation) we always say we won £50M on Euromillions PMSL

  • Jordan D says:
    8 Jan8 January 10:49

    Will tell my parents – they went through today and were very pleased, as I told them it might be closed. Minor win.

  • Paul says:
    8 Jan8 January 11:30

    I spoke to the Wings team this morning. They believe the UC wing drive through / check-in will be open however the security channel won’t, and that you’ll need to exit the door by the lift and use the normal priority security channel

    • AL says:
      8 Jan8 January 12:08

      I came here to write this. This is my understanding based on a recent conversation, too.

  • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:
    8 Jan8 January 11:48

    “It will re-open on 20th February with brand new security scanners. 6-7 weeks does make the 3-4 month closure of BA’s First Wing look a little long.“

    That’s a little unfair. As you know BA is doing more to the area than just having HAL install the scanners. Plus BA has 2 scanners to install.

    • Rob says:
      8 Jan8 January 11:52

      On the other hand the BA work isn’t taking place in a narrow corridor with passengers still milling around ….

    • LittleNick says:
      8 Jan8 January 12:40

      I’ve forgotten or missed it, What else is BA doing besides the installation of the scanners to this area then?

      • Stu_N says:
        8 Jan8 January 13:16

        They are also installing a trap door above a pool of sharks to deal with chancers who try to blag access when not entitled to it, I heard….

        • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:
          8 Jan8 January 14:40

          I heard they were installing the Alex Cruz Hi-viz memorial museum.

          Featuring the star item itself as well as the plug that caused the IT meltdown,

  • Lady London says:
    8 Jan8 January 15:07

    How will I cope with not feeling so important anymore if First Wing is clozed?

    • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:
      8 Jan8 January 15:48

      I’m flying next Sunday

      I’ll let you know on Sunday’s chat if I survived.

      Need to find some odd pieces of string/wool or maybe a boot lace to attach the gold bag tags!

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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