Anjuli Bhargava: Heathrow's Terminal 5

OUT OF THE BLUE

On March 27, the ever-expanding Heathrow airport will add another leg to its already gigantic frame when British Airway's Terminal 5 takes off the ground. With Hyderabad and Bangalore's new airports just about getting functional, I have, for the past couple of weeks, been closely following Terminal 5's progress.

The BAA's (the company that manages, among others, Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick in London) website on Terminal 5 is a study in what is possible for those who thrive on planning and leave nothing to chance.

It is extremely informative, tells you how easy it is to get in and out of Terminal 5 and it tells you what to do while you're there. Short of telling you which destination you should head for, there's nothing I could think of that it doesn't tell you.

The ministry of civil aviation, the minister himself, the state government representatives and whoever else considers themselves partly responsible for the two new airports scheduled to open in south India, a visit to the site will be an enlightening experience.

While the "shop, eat, relax and enjoy" section can keep you entertained for quite a while, I have been quite struck by the section "To and From Heathrow Terminal 5". There are few who may not know this, but nonetheless, the site informs you that Heathrow is 15 miles west of Central London. There are three main sections in the "to and from" Terminal 5: by road, to and from London and travel between airports.

If you're in a hurry, for instance, you can catch the non-stop Heathrow Express "" built at a cost of 750 million pounds by BAA "" the quickest way to reach London Paddington, a journey of 21 minutes. The site tells you the fare, depending on where you buy the ticket (online, at station or on the train), so there's no chance of your being had, even on the train. Every train has a quiet zone carriage to allow you to work and the mobile service is available even if the train passes through a tunnel. The underground and trains section goes on to list the other options: Heathrow Connect (a stopping service), the Piccadilly line on the underground "" the most cost-effective option "" and finally, the direct luxury Railair coaches. There's something to suit every budget and the site holds your hand while you choose.

There's an equally detailed section on how to get to Terminal 5 by road. Coaches, local buses, group travel by coach. National Express, a door-to-door coach service, is offering 20 per cent off on the actual fare if you book your journey with them before March 31. There are word-by-word instructions for those arriving by private cars and motorcycles. It may sound absurd to us here (when was the last time you cycled, let alone to the airport?), but the site tells you how to reach Heathrow's new terminal on bicycle via a network of cycle paths and where you can park your bike for free. A bicycle can be left for up to 90 days in the left luggage office, for a price. There are details which tell you which of the public transport allows bikes and under what conditions in case you need to carry it on your flight. Leaving nothing to chance, it even informs you, for instance, that on South West trains, bicycles can be carried free of charge during 9.45 am to 6.30 pm and then after 8.30 pm, without pre-booking.

The section on taxis tells you exactly where to get a taxi and the range that it should cost you. Anything over and above and you know you are being taken for a ride. It informs you that wheelchairs are available with every licensed taxi and that taxis carry assistance dogs (often found with the disabled) free of charge.

The section on parking "" a nightmare at many Indian airports "" is quite delightful. There are great deals on offer, if you are using Terminal 5. There are deals on long-stay parking, business parking, short-stay specials and short-stay weekenders (it must include a Saturday). If you're travelling with luggage and small children, there's even a valet parking service for a charge. All this can be pre-booked online at the website. The earlier you plan and the longer you park, the better are the rates.

To reach Stansted or Gatwick seems like a breeze. There's a section on the site that offers you the journey by coach or by train, gives you the rates and leads you onto websites to book if you so wish. The attention to detail is mind-boggling "" "the Heathrow Express and London Underground trains will stop at the Terminal 5 rail station, directly under the terminal building "" the entrance is near the blue colour-coded pillar in the arrivals concourse".

And if the site didn't make you feel you were already in it and if you love airports just for the sake of airports, don't forget to go through the 20-picture gallery, which shows you how and why Terminal 5 (BAA's tag line for it is : "It's more than a new terminal. It's a new beginning.) is a visually stunning treat, with unique design elements.