Heathrow T5 and fear of heights

[Vagabond]

Booked an international flight leaving from Heathrow terminal 5 next year, and looking at pics/info about it, it looks like an absolute nightmare to anyone with a fear of heights!!

Is it as bad as it looks? apparently you have to go to the 5th floor to book in (standard cattle class), and there are a lot of walkways and glass elevators. May have to turn around and go home

Anyone travelled from T5? what's it like for the wusses amongst us?

[bigandclever]

You'll be getting on a fking plane, they go quite high you know.

[ALawson]

The main elevator from departures down to the track transit train between T5A and T5B is the longest escalator in the UK.

When it was installed a few of us said that some people may feel unconfortable going down it!

[Mc Lovin]

Grow a pair, or wear a face mask and cry like a girl untill you get onto the plane

[john_p]

If you can't cope with 5th floor heights how do you expect to travel in a plane 6 miles up?

[singlecoil]

john_p said:

If you can't cope with 5th floor heights how do you expect to travel in a plane 6 miles up?

It's not the same. I have no problem in a plane (or balloon or a glider) but a high building is just somehow different, and scary.

[jagman21]

The drop off point by car/taxi is on the top/departures level so no glass lifts/escalators to take, but it is quite high so use closest lane to the building (if u can). However if you come by public transport, ie tube/coach/heathrow express, they are all on the ground floor, so you will have to use a lift,stair or escalators.

Theres no way round the gate though its mainly glass and but there is a lift (for wheel chair access usually, and it isnt glass) next will be a jetty (bridge)at goes to the plane this is glass walled and can not be avoided, unfortunatly.

hope that helps.

PS you do realise that the planes go quite high too?

[Vagabond]

I do realise planes go quite high, but im confortable on planes, its not rational but that's how it is.

It's building/walkways with open railings and balconies that bother me, if its 5 floors up with a sheer drop that you could fall over a rail down, or someting like that, thats what screws me up.

[jagman21]

oh yeah forgot about B, if its short haul itll usually be from A, so u dont have to get the lift/escalator down to transit

[GCH]

Its really no different from the sort of heights/view you would get in a large shopping mall- I mean, thats basically what it is (except with a runway and some planes attached as an afterthought)

Yes it is rather high in some places - and you get a great view from the concorde room and F lounge at the south end.

btw- That escalator from T5A down to the transit scares the crap out of me also, and I don;t really have a fear of heights- so I take the elevator.

Edited by GCH on Wednesday 1st October 15:01

[Scamper]

just use the elevators where you can as they are quicker than using the escalators as you have to use 2 or 3 to get up/down to where you need to be.....plus there are normally a load of retards who cant move over to the right to let faster travellers through....

[S3_Graham]

i flew out last thursday for T5A and didnt even think about it being high... there are no sections open to the air... only thing i could imagine you having trouble with would be the jettee but then thats glass walled AND railed in.

[shadowninja]

What's an elevator?

[Vagabond]

Some positive comments so far, if the heights arent really notceable I may be okay, its just railings and open areas (like a great big atrium) that get to me.

I just wish someone could invent a cure, like a tablet to take before going 5 floors up in a giant glass building, and why the hell dont BA think that not everyone likes heights and views, in fact, I know loads of people who, althou arent as terrified as I am of heights, prefer to avoid them, it is quite common.

Guess I have to give it a go, would lose a couple hundred I guess if I cancelled the tickets now, anyone who has been know how high the departure lounge you sit ion for an hour or so is, and how exposed to heights?

[rich1231]

Vagabond said:

Some positive comments so far, if the heights arent really notceable I may be okay, its just railings and open areas (like a great big atrium) that get to me.

I just wish someone could invent a cure, like a tablet to take before going 5 floors up in a giant glass building, and why the hell dont BA think that not everyone likes heights and views, in fact, I know loads of people who, althou arent as terrified as I am of heights, prefer to avoid them, it is quite common.

Guess I have to give it a go, would lose a couple hundred I guess if I cancelled the tickets now, anyone who has been know how high the departure lounge you sit ion for an hour or so is, and how exposed to heights?

WTF are you on about?

What sort of cretin has a problem with heights and is more concerned about the airport than the flight. You need help, and with all due respect I'd suggest the first port of call would be a vasectomy.

[GCH]

Vagabond said:

anyone who has been know how high the departure lounge you sit ion for an hour or so is, and how exposed to heights?

Not at all exposed, and about the height of a 1st or 2nd floor room in a house.

[MikeyT]

rich1231 said:

Vagabond said:

Some positive comments so far, if the heights arent really notceable I may be okay, its just railings and open areas (like a great big atrium) that get to me.

I just wish someone could invent a cure, like a tablet to take before going 5 floors up in a giant glass building, and why the hell dont BA think that not everyone likes heights and views, in fact, I know loads of people who, althou arent as terrified as I am of heights, prefer to avoid them, it is quite common.

Guess I have to give it a go, would lose a couple hundred I guess if I cancelled the tickets now, anyone who has been know how high the departure lounge you sit ion for an hour or so is, and how exposed to heights?

WTF are you on about?

What sort of cretin has a problem with heights and is more concerned about the airport than the flight. You need help, and with all due respect I'd suggest the first port of call would be a vasectomy.

Why don't you ever try and HELP people instead of being a fking obnoxious moron all the time?

[Vagabond]

rich1231 said:

WTF are you on about?

What sort of cretin has a problem with heights and is more concerned about the airport than the flight. You need help, and with all due respect I'd suggest the first port of call would be a vasectomy.

Rich, I dont expect everyone (or many people for that matter) to understand an irrational fear of heights.

On a plane im quite comfortable, as explained, its balconies and open drops that bother me, wish it wasnt that way but it is and Ive tried a lot of things to overcome it, thou may try your suggestion of a vasectomy, is that what worked for you?

Edited by Vagabond on Thursday 2nd October 15:11

[rhinochopig]

If you're scared of heights, may I prescribe a dose of this.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=69NtkkwSl4s

As seen on Jack Osbourne last night; you can now do the Goldeneye bungie jump off the Verzasca Dam for "fun".

[BigLepton]

Vagabond said:

It's building/walkways with open railings and balconies that bother me, if its 5 floors up with a sheer drop that you could fall over a rail down, or someting like that, thats what screws me up.

Assuming you are around 6 feet tall, could you just not stay at least 6 feet away from the railings? This would absolutely, categorically ensure you could not possibly fall over them, however clumsy you are.