Heathrow Airport Live Departures
Heathrow Airport Check-in and Departures Information
There are three ways to check in for departures at Heathrow Airport: online, at your airline’s check-in counter, or using the self-service kiosks.
Many airlines offer online check-in services up to 24 hours before departure. For further details, consult your airline’s website. With your boarding pass in hand and no checked baggage, you can proceed directly to security upon arrival at the airport and show your passport at the boarding gate. If you have bags to drop, you must head to the airline check-in desks or self-service bag drop counters (only in Terminal 5) before passing through security.
Self-service check-in kiosks are also available in all of London Heathrow’s departure terminals. Allowing you to check in, print your boarding pass, and then proceed to the bag drop area. And if you’re departing from Terminal 5, you can even use the self-service bag drop counters.
Finally, you can simply go to your airline’s designated check-in and bag drop areas, clearly marked on screens in the departures area. Here, you will present your passport and travel documents.
Heathrow Airport Terminal 2 Departures
Check-in is located on Level 5.
The main departures lounge and boarding gates are located on Level 4.
Satellite Terminal 2B houses extra boarding gates (easily accessible via tunnel).
Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 Departures
Check-in is located on the Ground Level.
Security and the departures lounge are located on Level 1.
Heathrow Airport Terminal 4 Departures
Check-in and departures are on Level 2.
Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 Departures
Check-in and departures are on Level 3.
The main departures lounge and boarding gates are on Level 2.
Satellite Terminals 5B and 5C host extra boarding gates (easily accessible via walkways and shuttles).
When to arrive at Heathrow Airport?
Heathrow Airport recommends getting to the airport 3 hours before international flights or 2 ahead of European or Domestic flights. Keep in mind that during peak season or rush hour (10:00-13:00 and 17:00-20:00), you may need to arrive earlier in consideration of the queues.
What’s next?
After checking in and dropping off your luggage, get your boarding pass out and head through the electronic gates before security. Make sure you double-check what you can and can’t take in your hand luggage before getting to the airport and that you’ve packed all your 100ml liquids into one transparent, resealable plastic bag. You can find plastic bags at the airport right before security if you forget to bring one.
When you get to the security scanner, place your liquids, laptops or tablets, or other large electronic items in the boxes and walk through when you see a green light. You can then pick up your items from the conveyor belt on the other side and walk towards Heathrow Airport’s departures lounge.
*Security waiting times are usually less than 15 minutes but can be over 45 minutes in peak season or rush hour. Fast-track services are available through certain airlines for those who want to skip the queues.
What to do in Departures at Heathrow Airport?
All Heathrow Airport departures terminals are well-equipped, offering all the amenities, facilities and services the modern traveller may need. All departure areas including satellite terminals provide seating areas, charging points, information points, help buttons, currency exchange and cash services, multi-faith prayer rooms, and vending machines.
Aside from a plethora of airline and VIP lounges, you can also enjoy spa services, viewpoints, and a vast selection of duty-free stores, fashion and retail shops, restaurants, bars and cafes.
Don’t forget that if you’re shopping duty-free in Heathrow Airport Departures, you should check the tax-free allowance for the country you’re travelling to. If you exceed the allowance, you may have to pay a fine.
FAQs
How do I know which terminal I’m departing from at Heathrow Airport?
You can check your boarding pass or the monitors in Heathrow Airport’s departures areas to find out which gate you’re boarding from. If you have an e-boarding pass, it usually states which terminal you’re departing from.