In honor of Heathrow Airport’s new Terminal 2 – set to open this week to serve (eventually) 20 million passengers per year – here are two fun souvenirs spotted during my recent visit.
Heathrow Airport
Countdown to opening of Heathrow T2
London’s Heathrow Airport is putting finishing touches on T2 – The Queen’s Terminal – which is set for a soft opening on June 4th with the arrival of the first United Airlines flight.
Her Majesty the Queen will be on hand to cut the ribbon and officially open the terminal on June 23rd and by November all 23 of the Star Alliance airlines, as well as Aer Lingus,Virgin Atlantic Little Red and Germanwings carriers, will be operating out of this building.
As you might imagine, Star Alliance officials are tickled about the project and on Wednesday they led a group of journalists through the terminal. And, as a treat, building architect Luis Vidal, who suggests the building be considered a “destination” rather than a “terminal,” was on hand to share some of his thinking behind the design focused on an improved passenger experience and point out some of his favorite features.
“The building and the roof guide you towards the plane and encompass three defined spaces, the last of which is the idea of the plaza,” said Vidal. There, “the roof seems to vanish as you look up and see what the weather is outside and you are free to rest, read, shop, dine, work – whatever you want to do.”
The last time I passed through the building, just about a month ago, the spaces for the shops, restaurants and amenities were empty. But now inventory is being put on store shelves, severs are being put through their paces in the restaurants and amenities, such as banks of terminals offering free internet, are being installed.
United’s new lounges at Heathrow Terminal 2
I’ve been wanting to get a look inside the new Terminal 2 – The Queen’s Terminal – which is due to open on June 4, 2014 at London’s Heathrow Airport. So I was pleased to be invited by United Airlines to come by for a preview of their two Terminal 2 Lounges.
25 airlines – all the Star Alliance carriers, as well as Aer Lingus, Germanwings and Virgin Atlantic Little Red – will operate out of Terminal 2, which has a main building and a satellite terminal (Terminal 2B).
But to try to make sure the move-in goes smoother than the notoriously glitchy opening of Heathrow Terminal 5, there will be a phased move-in of carriers, with United as the kick-off tenant on June 4th.
On move-in day United will move its 17 daily flights from Terminals 1 and 4 over to Terminal 2 and will have two lounges available for premium customers: A United Global First Lounge for first class passengers and the United Club for those with United Club memberships and those traveling on business class tickets.
Here are some of the photos I snapped during the preview tour:
United Global First Lounge
Egg chairs, couches and vintage photos from the airline’s archives create comfortable work and chat spaces throughout the lounge.
A Big Ben-inspired clock in the tea lounge section is one of the “you’re in London” touches.
This lounge also has a quiet zone with couches and privacy drapes (no snoring, please), private phone booths and a wine room where a la carte meals can be served.
The United Club
Next door, the United Club also offers floor-to-ceiling windows and complimentary food and beverages.
There’s seating here for up to 280 guests, private phone booths and eight shower suites that include a handy valet service that will freshen up and press your outfit while you wash up.
The United Club at Heathrow Terminal 2
A nice feature of the tables in this work area are the pop-up power ports in the tables.
Of course, these lounges aren’t the only cool things in Heathrow’s Terminal 2. Stay tuned for a few more posts and more photos of the shops, restaurants, art and amenities – and notes on some features that are missing.
At Heathrow: Play coordinators for kids
Courtesy Heathrow Airport
Here’s a great airport amenity: “play coordinators” for kids.
At London’s Heathrow Airport there are “Stay & Play” areas with slides, soft climbing structures and separate areas for babies and kids up to age 9.
Parents need to stick around, but there are also helpful “play coordinators” on duty who host craft activities and storytelling sessions and just … play.
Some turkeys at Heathrow Airport
London’s Heathrow Airport is getting ready to welcome Thanksgiving travelers.
Heathrow Airport joins the royal baby watch
Heathrow Airport has jumped into the royal baby watch and created a special t-shirt to mark the occasion that will be handed out to 1,000 passengers in each terminal as soon as the British bundle of joy is born.
Gift boxes of Twining’s Tea and Walkers shortbread biscuits will be handed out with the t-shirts in the ground level arrivals area of each terminal and additional gift boxes with the tea and biscuits will be given to departing passengers as well.
Nice souvenir! Let us know if you nab one.
Ping-pong with Serena Williams at Heathrow Airport
Fancy a spot of ping-pong at the airport with tennis superstar Serena Williams?
That’s what some passengers at Heathrow Airport were treated to on Tuesday morning.
Williams had just arrived from JFK on an overnight Delta Air Lines flight on her way to Wimbledon and, as a bit of a warm-up, made time to play table tennis with some other travelers.
Serena Williams challenges Delta travelers at Heathrow to an impromptu game of table tennis. The tennis icon flew from New York’s JFK to London where she will compete at the All England Club.
You may not see Serena Williams there, but you can also play ping-pong at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee.
(Photos courtesy Delta Air Lines)
Heathrow’s T2 – fit for the queen
What goes around…
As part of the renovation of Heathrow Terminal 2 the terminal is getting a new name in honor Queen Elizabeth II: Terminal 2: The Queen’s Terminal.
Which only makes sense, because when terminal opens next year, on June 4, 2014 – it will be close to sixty years after the Queen opened the original Terminal 2.
Free Wi-Fi at Heathrow Airport
Someday there will be complimentary Wi-Fi at all airports.
We’re moving in that direction, but some pretty major airports still charge for that service.
Heathrow Airport has been one of them. But that will change – somewhat – when the airport’s contract with Boingo expires on May 31, 2013 and a new one, with Arqiva, goes live on Saturday, June 1.
Under the new service, everyone will get 45 minutes of free Wi-Fi at Heathrow once every calendar day. Members of the free Heathrow Rewards program will get 90 minutes of free Wi-Fi. A Heathrow Airport spokesperson said passengers will not be permitted to log on to the free service from the same device more than once per calendar day.
After your time is up, the fees will be about $1.50 for one hour and about $7.50 for three hours. A 24 hour pass will be about $13.60, by today’s exchange rates.
Look for more information about the new Wi-Fi service on the Heathrow Airport website beginning June 1.
Free flowers at Heathrow Airport
London’s Heathrow Airport & the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) have put together some lovely traditional English gardens to welcome passengers and will be handing out free seed packets to travelers so they can start their own gardens.
The terminal approach areas outside Terminals 3, 4 and 5 have been transformed into a living art installation by Tony Smith, winner of three Royal Horticultural Society best in show awards and gold at RHS Chelsea, RHS Hampton Court, RHS Tatton Park and Gardeners’ World Live Flower Shows.
The special gardens will be blooming through May 25 and are in honor of England’s National Gardening Week (April 15 – 21) and the Chelsea Flower Show (May 21 – 25).
Inside the airport, over 170 volunteers wearing Wellington boots and gardening aprons will be welcoming arriving passengers, dispensing gardening advice and handing out 20,000 packets of seeds.
Airport restaurants will also have special flower-themed menu items, such as native lobster with elderflower foam, pea shoots and violets from Gordon Ramsay’s Plane Food and spring salads with edible flowers from “rhubarb”.
Worried about leaving your plants alone when you travel? Experts at the Royal Horticultural Society say most houseplants will tolerate being alone and untended to for a few days, but if you’ll be away for more than a week:
*Move houseplants and outdoor containers to a sheltered, shady site outdoors to stop them drying out as quickly.
*Re-pot pot-bound plants. If they’re too crammed in, they will dry out quickly. Choose containers with integral reservoirs and incorporate water absorbent gel into the compost.
*Give plants a good soak before leaving them, but don’t leave them standing in water as this can lead to them suffering from over watering.
*Ask neighbors or friends if they can check whether the pots need watering while you’re away. If you can, give them a quick tour before leaving to explain what is likely to need attention and what isn’t.
*Consider installing an automatic watering system (available at garden centers and DIY shops) for patio pots and greenhouses.