LHR Terminal 3 gates 2 types?

from reading a TR earler and from past experiance i am curious as to why the departure gates are very tidy and seem to be more classy when you turn left in the feparture lounge than when you turn right where they are just normal gates.
can anyone shed some light on this mystery?

[mitchja]

I guess because the departure gates on the left are much newer, as they have only been opened within the last year.

Regards

Yes, the gates were designed to cater for the A380 AFAIK. You can even see the 380 wheel markings:D

VS.

These gates aren't new as such but the wing was renovated (and extended I believe). We used one of these gates 2 years ago mid renovation and it was a real mess and we were told at the time this was due to preparations for the 380 (as mentioned above).

Paul

Yes that pier is all shiny and new - and in typical LHR style, nothing works properly and the BAA have made some real cock ups with the layout.

But it's better than gates 13 - 22. Urghhh.....

I'm sure it will all be ready for EK when they operate 5 A380's a day into LHR!!!!!

I departed from the new gates on the VS400 on the 7th of December. The buggy driver informed us that amongst numerous problems with the new/refurbished gates one of the biggest problems is with the new air bridges designed to service the upper deck of the 380.
Apparently they donÕt reach high enough to make contact with the aircraft.

Cheers Wayne

Originally posted by jerseyboy
I departed from the new gates on the VS400 on the 7th of December. The buggy driver informed us that amongst numerous problems with the new/refurbished gates one of the biggest problems is with the new air bridges designed to service the upper deck of the 380.
Apparently they donÕt reach high enough to make contact with the aircraft.

Cheers Wayne

I worked on the pier 5 & 6 refurbished gates and the new arrivals level and as for as I know all our test went well with all the jet bridges and everything else on the project hence the reason the handover was accepted by BAA.

Apparently they donÕt reach high enough to make contact with the aircraft.

Cheers Wayne
[/quote]

I worked on the pier 5 & 6 refurbished gates and the new arrivals level and as for as I know all our test went well with all the jet bridges and everything else on the project hence the reason the handover was accepted by BAA.
[/quote]

Thanks for that Mavrick. So I was lied to by a Virgin Atlantic employee then. Naughty naughty naughty. I thought it sounded a bit odd to accept a completion of works when it was supposedly not fit for purpose.

Cheers Wayne

Do the upper deck jet-bridges start from higher up or from the same level with an increased gradient?

VS.

That pier seems to be the VS pier at the moment. When i went to MIA in November, i was expecting gate 32 area, so we took a walk up there and there was no sign of a VS plane. Then when we were called to gate 5 VS metal was on all the stands along that pier! Same when we came back too.

When i went to MIA in November, i was expecting gate 32 area, so we took a walk up there and there was no sign of a VS plane. Then when we were called to gate 5 VS metal was on all the stands along that pier! Same when we came back too.

Bit of a walk, eh?;) My last VS flight (in Oct) was from one of the new stands, although IIRC we arrived at somewhere 30+ I think.

VS.

I have never personally seen the jet bridges up to the upper doors of the A380, and have no doubt it will reach OK as that was what it was designed for. However in good old BAA fashion, the jettys regularly don't work at all, the air-conditioning system for use on the aircraft, in the 3 times it has actually worked was totally useless in the summer heat, and as to the ground power....