North Terminal vs. South Terminal

I'm flying Virgin to LGW on Dec. 14th, and I have never been to the South Terminal. What are the differences between it and the North Terminal if any? Also, is T4 at Heathrow better than the other terminals at Heathrow? I've only been to T3.

I don't have much personal knowledge on either point (it's several years since I last used Gatwick and I think I've only flown into LHR T4 once) but I'd recommend the British Airports Authority website, http://www.baa.com. There's a lot of info there about facilities in the various terminals at both airports.

quote:Originally posted by stylo4444
What are the differences between it (South Terminal) and the North Terminal if any? Also, is T4 at Heathrow better than the other terminals at Heathrow? I've only been to T3.

North Terminal is newer and probably better laid out with a clearer seperation of landside arrivals and departures. Most of my experience of South Termininal was on charter flights and it can be having at weekends - whereas North Terminal is more scheduled airlines - BA goes from here. The first time I flew VS from Gatwick I assumed (wrongly) that it was Nort Terminal and had to take the shuttle train between the two. If you're arriving by train South Terminal is handier.
At Heathrow - well personally I've never liked T4 - it's small and has a cramped feel and you often end up not getting parked at a gate. Also because of proximity to housing you often have to wait to be towed to gate when arriving early. The only good thing going for it is the fact that the size generally means less of a walk to/from the gate if you get one. I prefer T3 but maybe that's because I worked there one summer many moons ago. Okat it can be busy and crowded at times but I find the shopping area more interesting and generally more cosmopolitan - plus my favorite airline goes from here and I'm normally on the way to the clubhouse when I pass through.

Phil (Buffy)

[buns]

Stylo

The South Terminal (as others have said)is the oldest of the two and tends to be the more crowded.

Chances are that you will Gate at the sattelite (which is between North & South Terminals) and whilst this is usally connected by monorail to the South Terminal (where you go through customs and collect baggage etc) recent posts suggest that because of building works you will be bussed to the terminal.

not sure what flight you will be on, but many VS flights hit the South Terminal early in the morning, together with other carriers coming in from the US and West Indies, so expect it to be busy.

hope this helps

buns

To echo previous comments the South can be busier, particularly before about 11am. Having said that both North and South at LGW have one thing over Heathrow....light! Both terminals have a fairly logical progression in one direction from check-in, through security and into departure lounges which have some windows.

I think the thing I dislike most about LHR is that loss of your sense of direction as you travel through another twisting corridor without any daylight to end up in one of the bars (ye olde shakespeare tavern, it's been there since 1682, honest guv) without any natural light.

Neither airport is exactly pleasant but I think LGW beats LHR by quite a long way in providing the least unpleasant environment.

VSlof