London Heathrow Terminal 3

The quickest way to check in is online, 24 hours before your flight departs.

• Check in online at Manage My Booking and print your boarding pass.
• Use the British Airways app to check in and download your boarding pass to your mobile device.

When you need to check in at the airport on the day of departure:

• If you are travelling in a group of more than nine people, please use a check-in kiosk or go to a check-in desk.
• If your child is travelling alone, or with you but on a separate booking, please go to a check-in desk.

Check the information screens to find out which check-in zone you can use for your flight. Check in opens at 04:30.

There are dedicated check-in desks available if you are:

• Travelling in First, Club World or Club Europe
• Executive Club Gold, Silver and Bronze Members
• oneworld® Emerald, Sapphire and Ruby Members

If you have baggage to check in, print your baggage tags at a check-in kiosk (even if you have already checked in), attach them to your bags and drop your bags at a Bag Drop desk. These desks are open at the below times on the day of departure.

Overnight Bag Drop is available if you are travelling on a flight departing before 10:00. You can check in your bags between 16:00 – 21:30 the day before.

You can drop off bags for others travelling with you, but they must be on the same booking and you must bring their passports and all travel documents, including health tests, required for the journey.

Once your baggage has been checked in, we won't be able to retrieve it, so make sure you have everything you need before you check in.

If you are travelling with hand baggage only and you have already checked in, please go straight through security and to the gate. If your hand baggage exceeds your allowance, you may need to check it in, and charges may apply.

Opening times

• First, Club World, Club Europe and Executive Club Gold, Silver and Bronze Members: From 05:00 on the day of departure.
• World Traveller Plus, World Traveller and Euro Traveller: From 3 hours before your flight departure, but not before the earliest opening time of 05:00.

Have your baggage collected from your doorstep, securely transported to the airport, and checked-in for your flight, allowing you to travel to the airport luggage-free and head straight to security when you get there. Available for flights departing from Heathrow, Gatwick, Geneva, Zurich and Vienna.

If you're travelling on an intercontinental flight, we need to check your passport and visa before you go through security.

• Baggage to check in: Your passport and visa will be checked at a Bag Drop desk.
• Hand baggage only: Once you have checked in, please go to a passport and visa check desk in Zone D before going through security.

You must enter airport Security at least 35 minutes before your flight departs.

Fast Track security is available:

• When travelling in First, Club World or Club Europe (plus one guest)
• Executive Club Gold and Silver Members (plus one guest). (If you're travelling in economy, please ensure that you present your boarding pass to the Heathrow airport security staff near the automatic gates.)
• oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members (plus one guest)

Gate information at Heathrow airport becomes available shortly before the flight opens. After you clear security, please check the information screens at regular intervals and find out how long it will take you to get to the gate. 

If you use the British Airways app, you will receive gate notifications directly on your mobile.

You need to be at the gate no later than 20 minutes before the flight departs. If we have your contact details, we will try to contact you when it is about to close, but we can't delay the aircraft's departure to wait for late passengers.

You will notice a group number on your boarding pass, which shows your boarding priority. Please be ready to board the aircraft when your group is called.

If you want to take advantage of pre-boarding or priority boarding, please arrive at the gate early.

Pre-boarding is available when you are:

• Travelling with small children
• Requiring disability or mobility assistance

Priority boarding is available when you are:

• Travelling in First, Club World, Club Europe or World Traveller Plus
• Executive Club Gold, Silver and Bronze Members
• oneworld Emerald, Sapphire and Ruby members

If you arrive after your priority group has been called, you can use the priority lane to board at your leisure.

Terminal 3 offers a range of family services and facilities, including dedicated play areas in the free Family Lounge, which is open daily from 06:00 to 21:00. Find it by following the signs for Lounge A. 

Customers connecting through Terminal 3 have access to a larger facility, which will reduce connection times between Terminals. Service desks to support customers are located both pre and post security.

Access to the lounges is based on your travel class and/or frequent flyer membership status. There are two British Airways lounges in Heathrow Terminal 3.

Lounge eligibility

• Galleries First Lounge (Zone F), open 05:00 – 22:00:
  When travelling in First, Executive Club Gold Members (plus one guest) and oneworld Emerald members (plus one guest)
• Galleries Club Lounge (Zone F), open 05:00 – 22:00:
  When travelling in First, Club World or Club Europe, Executive Club Gold and Silver Members (plus one guest) and oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members (plus one guest)

For a faster journey through the airport, you can use the eGates if you are over the age of 12 and are travelling with an eligible biometric passport from one of the following countries: UK, EU, EEA countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) and Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United States of America or if a member of the UK Registered Traveller scheme.

If you are coming to the UK for a specific reason, such as short-term study, certain types of work or those travelling with children, you will need to see an officer on arrival.

After Passport Control, follow the yellow signs for 'Arrivals/Baggage Reclaim' and look for your flight on the information screens to see which carousel your bags will arrive on.

Once you have your baggage, you may need to pass through Customs. 

You can use the American Airlines Arrivals Lounge if you are:

• Travelling in First or Club World on a British Airways flight
• Executive Club Gold Members arriving on a British Airways long-haul flight
• Travelling in First or Business class on an American Airlines flight
• American Airlines Concierge Key card holders arriving on a long-haul American Airlines flight

To find the lounge, exit to the right after the customs hall, then take the stairs or lift next to the restaurant to Level 2. The lounge is open daily from 05:00 to 14:00.

Heathrow Express is the fastest way between Central London and Heathrow Airport, taking just 15 minutes from Terminal 3 and 21 minutes from Terminal 5.

Customers enjoy an excellent on-board experience with complimentary 4G Wi-Fi, a power socket at your seat, dedicated luggage space and easy access.

Children aged 15 and under travel for free on Heathrow Express, making it a family friendly way to get to and from Heathrow from Central London.

Customers holding Business and First tickets can use the Fast Track on departures from any London Heathrow terminal.

Executive Club Members can also collect 5 Avios for every £1 spent on tickets exclusively booked via ba.com.

National Express operates a network of services each day to and from London Heathrow airport. Unlike other coach operators, National Express will take you to the heart of Terminal 5 from towns and cities throughout the UK, making getting to the airport hassle free.

Heathrow to Gatwick coach services run 80 times a day and the journey takes up to an hour.

Book your return tickets now to ensure a great fare or book an open ticket for more flexibility.

London Heathrow airport is on the Piccadilly underground line, which takes you into central London in around 50 minutes. Trains run every few minutes, but not 24 hours.

The Elizabeth underground line operates six trains per hour from Terminal 3, offering direct services to Shenfield and Abbey Wood.

There are often improvement works taking place, especially at weekends, so always check the service before you travel.

There are several shuttle buses that run between local hotels and London Heathrow terminals. Please check which shuttle bus you need to take for your hotel.

Taxi ranks are signposted once you are in the Arrivals hall, or you can pre-book privately run minicabs.

If you are coming to the airport by car, exit the M4 (junction 4) or M25 (junction 15) and follow the signs for 'Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 and 3'. The postcode for satellite navigation is TW6 1QG.

If you are meeting someone from an arriving flight, you must use the Short Stay Car Park. If you are bringing someone to the airport, follow the signs for 'Departures' to drop them off.

Make your journey easier with our parking partners. Leave your car at a nearby car park with quick transfers, drop it off right outside the terminal with valet parking, or combine an overnight stay with parking and transfers at an airport hotel.

Plus, collect 5 Avios per £1 spent when you pre-book car parking.