Economist Noah Smith took to Twitter/X to share his awful connection experience at London Heathrow Airport, and suggests his experience is reflective of the UK being a “failing formerly-developed country.” There’s only one problem with his logic…
In this post:
Traveler shares awful Heathrow connection experience
There’s a social media post getting quite a bit of attention where a well known economist/blogger shares his awful experience connecting at Heathrow, while flying from Dublin (DUB) to Paris (CDG) via London (LHR). Let me just share the (lengthy) post in its entirety:
Today, I made the mistake of flying from Dublin to Paris via London’s Heathrow Airport. This was a remarkably stupid move on my part, given that London, and by extension Heathrow, is located in the failing formerly-developed country known as “the UK”.
I almost paid dearly for this oversight.
My layover was 1 hour and 30 minutes. As soon as my flight from Dublin arrived at Terminal 2, I began looking around for my connecting flight to Paris, which was located in Terminal 5. A helpful immigration officer pointed me in the direction of a free train that I could take to Terminal 5. After walking for about 15 minutes through a labyrinthine maze of tunnels, I arrived at this train.
The train required me to get a ticket for the free trip to Terminal 5. After standing in line at a machine, I pressed a button that dispensed this ticket. I then used the ticket to go through a turnstyle. Once on the platform (which was poorly labeled), I discovered — by asking some locals -+ that the trains for Terminal 4 do not actually go to Terminal 5. (This had not been apparent from any signs or other information in the train station.) I would thus have to wait 17 minutes for the dedicated train to Terminal 5.
And so wait I did. About 20 minutes later I arrived at Terminal 5, and discovered that I was in the Departures area. Despite the fact that I was transferring, I would have to go through airport security again. So I waited in line for security, watching other people struggle with the automated boarding pass scanners. Finally I reached the scanners, and when I scanned my boarding pass, it registered an error, and told me to see a British Airways employee. (Sadly, my Aer Lingus flight was operated by British Airways.)
So I went to the British Airways departures counter, and after a while I found the line I was supposed to stand in. I waited 10 minutes in the line, and was finally allowed to see a British Airways employee.
The British Airways employee informed me that I had already missed my flight, since boarding was at 12:15 and it was now 12:17. I argued that boarding would probably last more than two minutes, and that I might still have time to make the flight, whose departure was scheduled for 12:55. She seemed skeptical of this argument, but I finally persuaded her to help me give it a try.
Returning me to the security line, the British Airways woman told me to wait in the line (which would have taken 15 minutes). I begged her to let me jump the queue, and she did, explaining my plight to a South Asian security employee who let me through the rope barrier to the front of the line.
This South Asian man is actually the hero of our story.
When I cut to the front of the security line, a security employee barked at me to get back. The lovely South Asian man then barked at her to let me through, and his confident air of command carried the day. I was let through, and the South Asian man even showed me how to use the security machine so that it would definitely not stop me from entering. He told me to tell his colleagues at the baggage scanner that I was allowed to jump to the front of the queue.
I raced to the baggage scanning line, which looked like it would have taken an additional 20 minutes, and simply ducked under the barriers and cut to the front of the line. I apologized to the employee there and told him my flight was already boarding. He told me that in that case, I had already missed my flight, and it wasn’t even worth continuing. But I told him that his colleague (the aforementioned South Asian man) had instructed me to go through security anyway, and he accepted this and let me through. I had to do an extra scan of my shoes, but made it through OK.
I then ran to my gate, ducking and weaving around various travelers. When I made it to the gate, I found that the flight was still boarding, and they let me through. I then spent 20 minutes standing in line on the jetway.
Naturally, my bag didn’t arrive in Paris.
That sounds really bad, there’s just one problem…
Look, I’ll be the first person to rag on Heathrow, as it’s not exactly my favorite airport in the world, and connecting between terminals can be somewhat annoying. However, as I read this post, something didn’t add up…
If you’re connecting airside at Heathrow, you should follow the signs for flight connections. The purple signs are all over the arrivals area of the terminal, and you’re then put on a bus to get to another terminal.
Instead, it sounds like this guy totally exited the secure area, took the landside train between terminals, and then went through the whole departures experience. That’s simply not necessary.
Now, we all make mistakes, and it sounds like this guy received incorrect information from “a helpful immigration officer,” who (for reasons I can’t make sense of) suggested he should transit landside instead of airside. For example, the below post gave me a good chuckle.
What’s even stranger is the extent to which this guy is doubling down. Okay, the guy shared a terrible experience, and it sounds like this is something he should be able to learn from. If I posted that online and then realized I just failed to follow the signs, I’d say “whoops, I’ll pay better attention next time.”
But this guy is also seemingly not receptive to feedback, which is such a strange internet tactic if you’re going to put yourself out there. Like, when people point out that he could’ve just connected airside, he responds with things like this:
Starting to realize that the reason things don’t work in the UK is cultural. British people respond to reports of dysfunction by spinning fantasies, making excuses, and – most of all – by screeching insults and leveling accusations. No one actually *tries* to make anything work.
And this:
Basically, British people just have zero ability to make anything work right. But they do have the ability to screech at anyone who points this out.
And he’s suggesting that flight connections doesn’t exist for Dublin flights, which is… just not accurate. For example, he says this:
Stories pouring in of similar Heathrow disasters, even as British nationalists desperately screech at me that I’m an idiot for not using an internal transfer system that doesn’t actually work for flights from Dublin
That’s the strangest argument of all, because it’s just patently false. Like, the whole internet is telling him these connections are possible, but he insists that they’re not.
I think there are plenty of valid criticisms of Heathrow, and it’s definitely not my favorite airport in the world, but there’s only one person “spinning fantasies” and “making excuses” here, and it’s the traveler. I’m sorry he received incorrect information (which he only needed in the first place because he seemingly didn’t follow the “flight connections” signage), but it seems a bit rich to draw larger conclusions about the state of the UK based on that…
Bottom line
An economist had a bad experience connecting at Heathrow, with the issue seemingly stemming from him exiting the terminal and going landside, rather than following the airside signs for flight connections.
Okay, people making minor mistakes while connecting isn’t typically much of a story, but he draws this back to the UK being a “failing formerly-developed country.” And when confronted about how flight connections are possible on flights from Dublin, he just claims that’s not true… even though it is? The internet is a really strange place sometimes, if you ask me.
What do you make of this Heathrow saga?
Also you don't need to buy a ticket between terminals on the underground or trains which appears to be what he did. On the underground you just tap your card to go through the gates, but don't get charged.
Economists are famously bad at reading the signs…
Obviously Mr. Smith has no one to blame but himself for the mishap in his flight connection, especially for not following the signs. But having said that, it's hard not to see a similarity in the trends of what you see in Heathrow reflected in many aspects of Britain these days. Overpriced, inefficient, and unreliable.
Some examples include:
1. expensive drop off fees for even just 10 minutes. And don't get me started...
Obviously Mr. Smith has no one to blame but himself for the mishap in his flight connection, especially for not following the signs. But having said that, it's hard not to see a similarity in the trends of what you see in Heathrow reflected in many aspects of Britain these days. Overpriced, inefficient, and unreliable.
Some examples include:
1. expensive drop off fees for even just 10 minutes. And don't get me started on the Air Passenger Duty increase and the new ETA for visiting UK
2. abysmal structure and travel times between the terminals
3. unreasonably anal security rules (especially for liquids, although they have now gotten rid of that with the delayed implementation of the new scanners)
4. hit and miss consistency in transportation with constant cancellations and delays being common. The only places well connected are West and Central London. Other than that, forget it.
5. Prone to IT and other outages, as exemplified with their e-gates and the fire that wiped out electricity earlier this year
6. The only solution they can come up with is a 3rd runway that will pass on more costs to passengers and airlines
7. No VAT free shopping
8. Rude staff
I could go on, but you get my point. Making a positive first impression of a country begins at a point of arrival. And Heathrow fails miserably at this. I thought only Americans were capable of rip-offs and being cheapskates in return (not that it still isn't there in the US). Until I came to Broken Britain of today.
the idea of going to Paris via London from Dublin is quite the dumbest thing ive ever heard of. and then his post. wow, the lack of self awareness of people is so....bad
Firstly, why in god's name fly from Dublin to Paris via London? It makes no time sense, no cost sense, no any sense.
Secondly, if you can't read signs in airports, and don't know the difference between landside and airside, why fly?
Thirdly, why would you put your own name on a post that just doesn't make you out to be a bit dopey, it actually QED's it?
A very sad commentary Ben and others. It is time to open our eyes to the new failing UK.
Yes it had one great reputation, things worked, they made sense, they had plenty of people in govt and jobs making things work.
They had the most governmentally employeed work force in the world.
As crazy as his story may sound, and he may have put in some colour, these kinds of things...
A very sad commentary Ben and others. It is time to open our eyes to the new failing UK.
Yes it had one great reputation, things worked, they made sense, they had plenty of people in govt and jobs making things work.
They had the most governmentally employeed work force in the world.
As crazy as his story may sound, and he may have put in some colour, these kinds of things happen every day in Heathrow.
Two weeks ago we too the Elizabeth line (the newest line and fast) from downtown to Heathrow, early evening Friday about 4:30pm.
One of us knows the way to go. I do not. And I must agree with the economist about the lack of good signage or any signage.
We get off the Elizabeth line at Heathrow, its a pretty long walk, the moving walkways to the terminals are shut off and cordoned. Several hundred meters later, we arrive and the elevators to the terminal and that is backed up with hundreds of people, as the escalator has also been shut off.
Want to see angry people with luggage trying to squeeze into the few elevators.
It was a fiasco. No ground agents, no police, nothing. THATS the REAL Heathrow.
It was once a very logical working airport. It no longer can claim that title. I wish the UK wasn't failing, but it is. Sorrowful.
Why does this merit a blog post?
A long while ago I followed sign from t 5 and some how landed out on a road without any immigration check, I back tracked and completed my entry as required by the law, found it very strange at that time
I hate Heathrow with a passion and will do anything within my powers to never connect through it. If I had to- I’d try to ensure I have more than 90 mins.
This guy though sounds like an absolute jerk. The language used, blaming everybody else and not accepting the fact that he shouldn’t have gone out of the terminal - just sounds like a jerk.
He flew from Dublin to Paris via Heathrow why? To save €15? Always take the nonstop, bro.
I’m from the UK, and Heathrow is what happens when a spreadsheet gains sentience and hates you. Even if you take the wrong train, Dubai or Doha would have three people waiting with dates, cold towels, and a golf buggy named Hospitality. They’d apologise for the signage being too small, personally escort you to the gate, and hand you a cappuccino mid-ride.
In Britain, they’d block the doors, call security, and announce you’ve “breached a...
I’m from the UK, and Heathrow is what happens when a spreadsheet gains sentience and hates you. Even if you take the wrong train, Dubai or Doha would have three people waiting with dates, cold towels, and a golf buggy named Hospitality. They’d apologise for the signage being too small, personally escort you to the gate, and hand you a cappuccino mid-ride.
In Britain, they’d block the doors, call security, and announce you’ve “breached a sterile zone.” A Hounslow officer would appear from the mist clutching a clipboard, the police would ticket your taxi for emotional damage, and a staff member would remind you, with pleasure, that “policy is policy.”
Dubai fixes mistakes before you realise you’ve made them. Doha offers grace under pressure. Britain offers a laminated pamphlet on Personal Responsibility and a broken escalator.
I know it first-hand: we don’t travel here — we endure. Heathrow isn’t an airport. It’s a Ministry of Queueing, powered by sighs and instant coffee.
Heathrow does suck, but is hardly unique in the suckage.
I'd love to see him attempt a connection at CDG (I haven't had real trouble with it, but that airport is a bit "unique", and not as well-signed as LHR).
I'm sure he'd LOVE an inter-terminal connection at JFK also.
Many in the comments have raised the point: Dublin to UK is a unique case, and it's not enough to have made "similar connections in UK" and assume that it applies, unless you've specifically connected after coming off a Dublin-UK flight at Heathrow.
I appreciate Mr. Smith taking the time to identify one security employee as not just Asian, but South Asian. This is a key detail, I'm sure. But I was disappointed that he didn't mention the nationality or ethnicity of the other characters in his story. I assume this would be just as critical to his narrative. For this to all make sense, we need to know what nationality was the helpful immigration officer? What about...
I appreciate Mr. Smith taking the time to identify one security employee as not just Asian, but South Asian. This is a key detail, I'm sure. But I was disappointed that he didn't mention the nationality or ethnicity of the other characters in his story. I assume this would be just as critical to his narrative. For this to all make sense, we need to know what nationality was the helpful immigration officer? What about the locals that he asked about the train? Or the British Airways employee, or the barking security employee, and the other employee at the baggage scanning line?
I blocked that guy 8 years ago.
Heathrow could be much better but that doesnt mean its responsible for passengers seemingly being a bit dim.
Tho if he thinks the UK is a formely developed country, I cant imagine what he thinks of a sizable portion of the US lol
He is not an economist, he is a prolific blogger that thinks because he published his tweets in Japanese makes him a blogger and like a friend pointed out: "Noah Smith failing to navigate Heathrow and then concluding the UK is a failing society is like a tiny microcosm of the self-righteous manbaby aesthetic that powers the American political right."
I’ve made similar connections frequently. I agree that following signs is easy enough and made most of the issues easy to avoid. The only problem I see is the 1.5 hr connection. I’ve had T5 to T5 Fast Track connections that barely made in this time frame due to malfunctioning scanners and newbies or pax requiring assistance in the queues. I no longer accept less than a 2 hr connection for T5 to T5 connections...
I’ve made similar connections frequently. I agree that following signs is easy enough and made most of the issues easy to avoid. The only problem I see is the 1.5 hr connection. I’ve had T5 to T5 Fast Track connections that barely made in this time frame due to malfunctioning scanners and newbies or pax requiring assistance in the queues. I no longer accept less than a 2 hr connection for T5 to T5 connections and 3 hrs for connections between terminals (longer, if first leg has a chronically late arrival history).
Is OMAAT correct in its assessment of being able to connect airside from LHR T2 to T5 on a flight from Dublin to Paris? Ireland to/from UK flights have special status, whereby flights are treated as domestic without the need for passports and customs (I think part of the Good Friday (peace) Agreement in 1998 for seamless Northern/Republic of Ireland travel) and therefore Ireland flights arrive in a different part of T2 to international flights....
Is OMAAT correct in its assessment of being able to connect airside from LHR T2 to T5 on a flight from Dublin to Paris? Ireland to/from UK flights have special status, whereby flights are treated as domestic without the need for passports and customs (I think part of the Good Friday (peace) Agreement in 1998 for seamless Northern/Republic of Ireland travel) and therefore Ireland flights arrive in a different part of T2 to international flights. It is a very short walk to go landside after arrival. I am not sure if ‘Flight Connections Airside’ is available to Ireland arriving passengers but I could be wrong. Also, because of the short walk, it could be easy to miss any such signs and be landside before you know it.
It is possible and signage is up before you pass through the automatic double doors. Granted the sign isn’t massive but it is bright purple
Lack of passport is nothing to do with passport checks - goes much further to the 1920s.
I took a flight DUB-LHR on the evening of 10 November with EI to T2 and here's what you see.
When you come off the plane there are two doors. One is locked and would take you into immigration. The other is unlocked and you go down what Heathrow call the "CTA Corridor" - there are two sets...
Lack of passport is nothing to do with passport checks - goes much further to the 1920s.
I took a flight DUB-LHR on the evening of 10 November with EI to T2 and here's what you see.
When you come off the plane there are two doors. One is locked and would take you into immigration. The other is unlocked and you go down what Heathrow call the "CTA Corridor" - there are two sets of signs - purple signs will lead you towards transfers to other terminals airside. The yellow signs take you down to arrivals to the international baggage claim. You then go thru customs and arrive landside. Noah I think had US brain and seemed to be unaware that you transfer international-international (Ireland - UK is still international, but no immigration) airside.
Having made a mistake he now blames his mistake on the UK. Landside transit is usually a bad idea at most airports, doubly so if you have to change terminals.
Heathrow is a complicated airport, but the signage is generally pretty clear.
I'm afraid Noah loves trolling the UK.
…explaining my plight to a South Asian security employee…..This South Asian man is actually the hero of the story….The lovely South Asian man then barked at her….
This says it all, doesn’t it?
Sounds like the typical experience of anyone who isn't a frequent flyer.
LHR is definitely an awful airport to connect in.
Of course, many insecure readers have to show their own superiority by belittling the non-frequent flyer, especially one who is educated in an area that has nothing to do with travel (Einstein would not fare well in this comment section, as he was notorious for getting lost - apparently even in his own city)
Sounds like he confused US international transit with UK international transit.
Just echoing what someone else said: when I read the bit about the "friendly" immigration officer at Heathrow, I knew straight away this fairytale was complete and utter bollocks. Decades of travel in and out of that airport is my proof.
Literally hate this airport; had a few similar, if not worse, experiences with transfers and double security. They are inefficient, slow, lacking common sense with their rules, and are rude and unpleasant at the security checks, almost purposely, to the point, that I prefer to pay more for a ticket in order just to avoid this airport. Never more flying through this airport.
No need for Ryanair to Beauvais. Just this afternoon-evening, there are 12 flights from Dublin to Orly. I didn't even check for Roissy...
Flying while being 'murican
Plenty of complaints you can lob at LHR for transit experiences, but they might have the largest / most blatant signage of any international airport I transit through - especially in Terminal 2...
I transferred in Heathrow last month, SEA - LHR - VIE, chose the ticket which gave me a 3+ hour layover just in case, and then ... did some basic online research to make sure I was going to transfer correctly given Heathrow's reputation. ("Airside" is a new word to me.) Lo and behold, you follow the purple signs, the ones that direct people to connecting flights.
I did spend hours sipping on a...
I transferred in Heathrow last month, SEA - LHR - VIE, chose the ticket which gave me a 3+ hour layover just in case, and then ... did some basic online research to make sure I was going to transfer correctly given Heathrow's reputation. ("Airside" is a new word to me.) Lo and behold, you follow the purple signs, the ones that direct people to connecting flights.
I did spend hours sipping on a Cafe Nero and having a lovely chat with the gentleman at the Fortnum & Mason stand, and definitely lucked out in that the security lines were short. But my daughter spent time in the Netherlands, and her panicked texts from Schiphol were enough to make me reconsider AMS. No complaints for a $500 BA ticket to see a dear friend, although I pine for a good connection through Copenhagen (for some reason that airport calms me, maybe it's the natural light and no funneling you into a maze of shops).
Wow, what a self-centered post.
Nobody cares.
I recently traveled from IAD-BDS via LHR on BA which did not require a terminal transfer. BUT, it did require re-clearing security unfortunately and that seems to be true for ALL flights except for UK domestic flights through LHR. It was a near disaster on the outbound because of the security screening process. They permit liquids more than 100ml but with close inspection.
There was one person in front of us who had 3...
I recently traveled from IAD-BDS via LHR on BA which did not require a terminal transfer. BUT, it did require re-clearing security unfortunately and that seems to be true for ALL flights except for UK domestic flights through LHR. It was a near disaster on the outbound because of the security screening process. They permit liquids more than 100ml but with close inspection.
There was one person in front of us who had 3 enormous liquor bottles and the screener was re-sealing each one individually with surgical precision while others stood around not doing anything but watching. Finally a different screener stepped in to review our bags (we had a toddler and plenty of creams/liquids unfortunately, rookie move I know). but they took 20+ mins with the screener coming and going out of the screening area while the explosives tester was running. It was ridiculous and made zero sense watching it happen, frankly. Despite pleas about our flight in final boarding stages, they barely moved along and told us to calm down (never helpful).
Finally got done and raced to the elevator to go downstairs to the bus gates and two women got in in front of us and blocked us from getting out of the elevator b/c they didn't mean to go downstairs and insanely rude about getting out of the way of our stroller. Our flight was one a day, so missing it meant a lost day.
2 hours connection time should be required at LHR. It was beyond nerve wracking and while we made a couple mistakes, the re-screening at LHR is required and painful with zero to minimal sense of efficiency. Only slightly less painful screening on way back through from NAP-LHR-IAD. More attention but nearly same amount of time.
What you described is the exact reason you should never connect through LHR. Never!! It makes absolutely zero sense to have to go through security on an incoming international flight when connecting to another international one. I usually fly to BDS and other smaller airports in Italy during the summer season and if I cannot fly to FCO I usually fly to AMS from the US. Both FCO and AMS require no security once you...
What you described is the exact reason you should never connect through LHR. Never!! It makes absolutely zero sense to have to go through security on an incoming international flight when connecting to another international one. I usually fly to BDS and other smaller airports in Italy during the summer season and if I cannot fly to FCO I usually fly to AMS from the US. Both FCO and AMS require no security once you land from the US and are connecting to another EU flight and you do not have to change terminals. You simply walk out of your flight into the terminal and walk through customs and straight to your next gate.
You meant he exact same set up America has?
Where did I say that? In America it is stupid as you leave the international plane and has to go through security immediately. That is why I never connect anywhere in the US coming from abroad. I always position myself to take a direct flight from Europe to my home airport.
Precisely .
@Santastico ... Once I transited through FRA to LHR . That was also seamless . You are precisely correct to never transit through heathrow, (unless on two flights through T5) .
I agree in hindsight it was a mistake to go through LHR, for a variety of reasons - 6pm flight with a toddler was probably #1 but reclearing LHR security was a tie at #1. We should have gone through MUC but I was nervous about Air Dolomiti as the connector to BDS and prices on Swiss via Zurich were ridiculous. I didn't really want to deal w/FCO but guess it could have been okay....
I agree in hindsight it was a mistake to go through LHR, for a variety of reasons - 6pm flight with a toddler was probably #1 but reclearing LHR security was a tie at #1. We should have gone through MUC but I was nervous about Air Dolomiti as the connector to BDS and prices on Swiss via Zurich were ridiculous. I didn't really want to deal w/FCO but guess it could have been okay.
I was also scarred on the return by NAP airport, no security issues (didn't blink at liquids) but oversized luggage took forever (self-serve, 5-7 mins per person) and long lines initially worried me but Italy's love for little ones came through for us - family lines!!!!
I'm excited that UA will have a seasonal BRI flight next year via EWR even though reclearing security there won't be fun, but with CLEAR/TSAPre should be somewhat better than LHR, right?!? :)
As I mentioned on my previous post, I have a rule for flights to Europe that is to only fly non-stop from my home airport in the US to an EU airport. Why? If flight to Europe is canceled for some reason, I just drive back home. If flight to Europe is ok, I know I will get to Europe and once in Europe it is super easy to find alternatives which sometimes can include...
As I mentioned on my previous post, I have a rule for flights to Europe that is to only fly non-stop from my home airport in the US to an EU airport. Why? If flight to Europe is canceled for some reason, I just drive back home. If flight to Europe is ok, I know I will get to Europe and once in Europe it is super easy to find alternatives which sometimes can include trains. On the way back is the same, if flight is cancelled, I spend another night in Europe which is not bad vs staying at JFK, EWR, ORD. No thanks. As for flying into smaller airports in Italy, I do it every year. AMS has direct flights to many places in Italy, sometimes not the major airlines but you can get there. In my opinion, nothing beats FCO or MXP if you are then taking another flight within Italy.
Who connects at LHR on a fight from Dublin to Paris? He deserved it. You cannot pay me enough to connect through LHR. Never! Now, if he was a bit smarter he should have just requested a wheelchair as almost every passenger coming from India does. One person gets into the wheelchair, family of 25 follow and they all get preference on immigration, customs, etc... and then suddenly the person on the wheelchair walks when out in the terminal. Easy-peasy!
It made sense once upon a time, when BA status was functionally segment-based...
I don’t use X but I am curious if anybody asked Noah why he did not fly nonstop from DUB-CDG? There are numerous daily flights. Or if there was a cheaper option via LHR, why not use BA for the DUB-LHR segment which would have been more seamless for even the most experienced Heathrow connector? It just seems like he made life very hard on himself to begin with even if he had not gone down the path he did at LHR.
Why didn’t he fly Dublin-Paris direct? Is he a frequent flyer? If he is he should know how to transfer
an idiot american (!) is whining about another country???
Noah Smith has long been a bigoted reactionary grifter, can't say I'm surprised that the idea of navigating an airport befudddles his two brain cells as they each fight for third place. Textbook case of twitter-poisoning.
It’s just so funny to me. He first MUST praise the immigration officer, so we know who’s paying the guy’s bills.
Then he goes on to tell a story about white male privilege. He bullied airport workers into letting him cut lines and bend rules to make up for his own mistake. Then he blamed everyone else for his mistake and how “hard” he had to work to fix his mistake.
Finally, he celebrated a...
It’s just so funny to me. He first MUST praise the immigration officer, so we know who’s paying the guy’s bills.
Then he goes on to tell a story about white male privilege. He bullied airport workers into letting him cut lines and bend rules to make up for his own mistake. Then he blamed everyone else for his mistake and how “hard” he had to work to fix his mistake.
Finally, he celebrated a specifically “South Asian” airport employee so that later, when Elon Musk quotes him about how the UK is finished because they let in too many brown people, Noah has some cover.
These people are stupid. And transparent. And negative. And I don’t think they deserve our respect.
Bring back bullying.
I did exactly this once at Dublin airport connecting US to UK. I missed all the signage for connections, went through the automated passport gates (I assumed at some point I'd have to anyway so why not at that point?), kept walking through several pairs of doors and then found myself at a bus stop for services to Dublin city centre not a gate for a service to Manchester. But the reason was because I'd...
I did exactly this once at Dublin airport connecting US to UK. I missed all the signage for connections, went through the automated passport gates (I assumed at some point I'd have to anyway so why not at that point?), kept walking through several pairs of doors and then found myself at a bus stop for services to Dublin city centre not a gate for a service to Manchester. But the reason was because I'd taken a sleeping pill stupidly late into a transatlantic flight and was in a daze in Dublin. It was easily corrected and I didn't *checks notes* blame an entire nation for my own dumb error.
Sounds like he connected at JFK not Heathrow
In his defense, from EI flights arriving at T2, there is a single, quite small gateway to connections about 15m before you arrive in the baggage hall (which is the far prominent way).
Don't forget also there's no immigration check on arrival, so not paying attention quickly brings you airside at T2 specifically from Irish flights.
Once you spot the corridor to connections though, there's no need for the landside/airside world tour he took.
Do you mean "landside"?
Oh, and for Americans, that's 15 metres, not 15 minutes!
The dumb airline employees kept telling him it was too late to board his flight, then low and behold, there's a 20 min wait on the jet bridge, and they're ALL wrong! I'm not surprised one bit. I'd be super pissed after that whole experience at that mess of an airport too! I'm glad he posted about it and called them out on it. To all the haters who want to try to shame the victim: shame on you! And get a life! Losers and miserable haters!
Look it’s Noah
Can't speak to this guy but if I had $10 for every "educated elite" that turned out to be a clueless moron I could easily retire today.
I swear that some of them couldn't find their way out of a Macy's dressing room.
True, I couldn't figure it out, so I just decided to live here.
It's gotten kinda dark and quiet since Macy's shut down this store, though.
Plus, arriving from Dublin you arrive domestic and don't even see a "friendly Immigration Officer", so his story doesn't add up from the get-go
I read this blog a lot and agree with much of Ben's takes (although he tends to be way too liberal), but here I think Ben is just plain wrong and missing the traveler's point. He was given wrong information by an airport employee, the signs are crap, the design of the airport is definitely a maze (and crap), and he's right on point about the UK being a country in steep decline. Honestly, I'm...
I read this blog a lot and agree with much of Ben's takes (although he tends to be way too liberal), but here I think Ben is just plain wrong and missing the traveler's point. He was given wrong information by an airport employee, the signs are crap, the design of the airport is definitely a maze (and crap), and he's right on point about the UK being a country in steep decline. Honestly, I'm not sure why Ben is trying to put all the blame on the traveler (except maybe after his Cairo airport complaints, he doesn't want to also get banned from the now-authoritarian UK because of some internet posts)!
The signs are not crap: they are purple, unlike any other signs giving directions; they clearly state "Flight Connections" ; they are referenced when landing at Heathrow by cabin crew working the arriving flight into LHR; and they are ubiquitous. It's hilarious that people are willing to also die on this sword just to try and make a ideological argument - it's not only patently obvious, it's also a glaring false equivalence that shows intellectual...
The signs are not crap: they are purple, unlike any other signs giving directions; they clearly state "Flight Connections" ; they are referenced when landing at Heathrow by cabin crew working the arriving flight into LHR; and they are ubiquitous. It's hilarious that people are willing to also die on this sword just to try and make a ideological argument - it's not only patently obvious, it's also a glaring false equivalence that shows intellectual disingenuousness; a signal that your point is not one of authentic engagement, but rather of political pettiness that has nothing to do with the actual thing you are complaining about.
@Sam this response sounds more like you have an ideological hill to die on and you're willing to take a post about some guy getting confused at the airport and extrapolating that to having a ridiculous take about an entire nation. "The now-authoritarian UK" - what absolute and utter nonsense.
So if thousands of people are able to use and follow the signage for successful connections everyday, who or what exactly are the idiots? The purple signs? The successful people able to transfer properly? Or yourself and the OP for getting lost and being unable to follow basic directions? I wouldn’t stand to close to a burnt out light bulb if I were you, it may blind you.
Actually, it might be true – Dublin arrivals have a separate entry point that bypass UK Border Force (it counts as a Common Travel Area flight, where the departures experience is the same, but you arrive as a domestic flight in the UK). I've never landed in Heathrow on a domestic flight, though when I land from Ireland or elsewhere in the UK to STN, LGW, etc. they all bring me into the arrivals hall...
Actually, it might be true – Dublin arrivals have a separate entry point that bypass UK Border Force (it counts as a Common Travel Area flight, where the departures experience is the same, but you arrive as a domestic flight in the UK). I've never landed in Heathrow on a domestic flight, though when I land from Ireland or elsewhere in the UK to STN, LGW, etc. they all bring me into the arrivals hall through a completely different exit.
I can't confirm, but it's plausible that the guy might've skipped any chance to connect airside whatsoever.
I promise there is still a Flight Connections option for all passengers arriving on domestic and Irish flights :)
He sounds like an idiot and blames everyone but himself. I travel to /via LHR frequently and it’s east. The trains are well signposted. Sounds like he went to the Piccadilly line platform when he should have gone to the Elizabeth line. It’s clear.
Noah Smith has been a moron on a variety of issues for a long time.
Missing clear signage in an airport…..a lot of unnecessary stress.
Getting yourself in stress and then jumping queues….. a very impolite behavior
Putting this all on the internet…… priceless
Before the introduction of ETA fees, I would almost always exit the airport and take the Tube when connecting through different terminals at LHR. Certainly more pleasent and often quicker than being cramped in those buses. Plus I would get a few minutes to enjoy a fag.
Having successfully followed the purple signs…..still the indicators of a failed empire.
Why was this idiot connecting from T2 to T5? Who in their right mind buys a connecting ticket EI=>BA for a 489 mile flight??? And why does anyone bother reading anything written by someone who obviously lacks any common sense? This story is proof positive that university degree does not equal actual intelligence or correlate in any way to competence in daily life.
I like Noah Smith and even pay for his substack, but I do find that he chooses weird vendettas a lot (against Chicago - where I live - and the UK - where I spend a lot of time - for instance)
"Old man yells at cloud."
He's not even old, just a bit of a weirdo and self-proclaimed expert on absolutely everything...
He is a dumbarse. He could have connected airside via the bus as anyone would have done and millions do- following the signs.
You can't connect from Dublin flights as they are treated as domestic flights to the UK. There is no international transfer option. If it were a BA to BA connection in T 5 there is some special provisions to allow the transfer but not if you are trying to transfer T2 to T5.
Simply not true! I frequently travel DUB-LHR-CLT and you can connect from T5-T3 (or any other terminal) airside. Flights from DUB arrive as domestic flights and don’t clear immigration but that has nothing to do with the Flight Connections centers which thousands of DOMESTIC British passengers flying in from MAN, NCL, EDI, and GLA also use every single day. You think they all schlep through terminals landslide??? Are you sure you are not this Noah...
Simply not true! I frequently travel DUB-LHR-CLT and you can connect from T5-T3 (or any other terminal) airside. Flights from DUB arrive as domestic flights and don’t clear immigration but that has nothing to do with the Flight Connections centers which thousands of DOMESTIC British passengers flying in from MAN, NCL, EDI, and GLA also use every single day. You think they all schlep through terminals landslide??? Are you sure you are not this Noah guy posting with the same false information? The penchant for presenting lies as truth in 2025 is disconcerting!
T5 has the facilities to encourage transfers from Dublin. In T2 pax are directed toward the arrival hall after deplaning. So no, it isn't obvious.
Darn if only there was an Irish or French airline that flew direct from Dublin to Paris CDG so they could avoid having a layover in Heathrow. Surely that doesn't exist and they don't have half a dozen direct flights a day either. Surely an economist would know the benefit of booking a direct flight for such a short distance.
Air France, Transavia, Aer Lingus and Ryanair must all have pulled their flights that day.
Just for this afternoon and evening, there are 12 flights from Dublin to Orly. Didn't even check for Roissy.
If you are a connecting passenger at LHR you have already been screened at your originating airport. This is the only airport that is so strict regarding connecting passengers. I always know to abide by the 3-1-1 rule at LHR yet my bag usually gets pulled at T5. The queue to check already-screened bags is usually 15-20 minutes. I feel bad for these employees whose sole occupation at LHR is to screen already screened passengers. No wonder they are so surly...
Everyone working at Heathrow is surly. Much nicer staff at Gatwick, Bristol or Birmingham.
Entirely possible. I don’t know if that’s the case here or not, but I’ve done a similar connection (from Jersey, as Henning points out), only to enter the terminal next to the big purple “Flight Connections” sign. However, the fire doors were closed with a rope in front and an airport employee directing everyone the other way toward arrivals… and then you’re landside.
I'm afraid flights from Dublin are a special case due to the special UK-Ireland-border procedures. If you fly with BA from Dublin to Heathrow Terminal 5 you always end up at gate A22 or A23. Then when you leave the plane there are employees waiting for you. If your journey ends in London you can go directly to baggage retrieval. if you have a connecting boarding pass you can go to the standard arrival area...
I'm afraid flights from Dublin are a special case due to the special UK-Ireland-border procedures. If you fly with BA from Dublin to Heathrow Terminal 5 you always end up at gate A22 or A23. Then when you leave the plane there are employees waiting for you. If your journey ends in London you can go directly to baggage retrieval. if you have a connecting boarding pass you can go to the standard arrival area and then continue to flight connections. But this only applies to Terminal 5. I think in Terminal 2 with Aer Lingus arrivals you always and up at baggage retrieval. This is due to Ireland (and Jersey) arrivals in UK don't get passport checked.
Nope. T2 has a route to the transfers just like T5.
Ben, you're right, LHR is a not always 'fun,' but, yeah, Noah totally messed up on the 'airside flight connections,' regardless of whom he blames (agents at airports, himself, the entire UK, etc.)
Generally, don't book a 1.5 hour connection on separate tickets at LHR. C'mon.
And, when I stub my toe, I don't claim it as 'proof' something is a "failing formerly-developed country." Perhaps his hyperbole was merely in-jest...
But, this guy is a quasi-public figure, so maybe this 'outburst' is all just part of the 'attention' economy... otherwise, he probably should've just kept his personal mistakes to himself.
Who flies from Dublin to Paris via London in the first place? Both Aer Lingus and Air France have direct flights.
This is scaring me. I have a transit in Heathrow next month on two different reservations so will have to transfer the way he did lol.
Not necessarily. If your connecting flight is on a large carrier at LHR you can just stop at a transfer desk and get your boarding pass there. If you’re unable to check-in prior to LHR and flying out on like Royal Air Brunei, sure, but even then it’s not actually that bad.
Thanks! Two different airlines though, different networks, Just dramatically cheaper this way. It is okay though, we have a 6 hour layover, but thank you so much for the suggestion!
you only need to exit the terminal if your airline doesn't let you check bags through to final destination. Even then it's not a huge issue. Clear immigration and head to the (very clearly signposted) Underground or rail platforms. Choose one or the other- the Underground may be slightly more frequent but is less pleasant. Tap your contactless card straight on the reader (you will not be charged) and get a train which will usually...
you only need to exit the terminal if your airline doesn't let you check bags through to final destination. Even then it's not a huge issue. Clear immigration and head to the (very clearly signposted) Underground or rail platforms. Choose one or the other- the Underground may be slightly more frequent but is less pleasant. Tap your contactless card straight on the reader (you will not be charged) and get a train which will usually not be more than 5-10 mins wait. The destination of the train will be clearly displayed on the screen. Basically at T2/3 do not get a train to T4 if you are going to T5.
Thanks James!!
Ah yes, the classic economist mistake — connecting through Heathrow instead of embracing the spiritual enlightenment that is a Ryanair direct from Dublin to Paris Beauvais (also known as “Paris,” according to Ryanair cartography).
Had you chosen O’Leary’s Sky Chariot, you’d have learned the true principles of efficiency:
Check-in fee: €50 lesson on “transaction costs.”
Seat selection: a crash course in market segmentation.
Airport 90 minutes from Paris: a practical seminar on geographical elasticity of...
Ah yes, the classic economist mistake — connecting through Heathrow instead of embracing the spiritual enlightenment that is a Ryanair direct from Dublin to Paris Beauvais (also known as “Paris,” according to Ryanair cartography).
Had you chosen O’Leary’s Sky Chariot, you’d have learned the true principles of efficiency:
Check-in fee: €50 lesson on “transaction costs.”
Seat selection: a crash course in market segmentation.
Airport 90 minutes from Paris: a practical seminar on geographical elasticity of demand.
Trumpet fanfare landing: behavioral economics in action — variable reward reinforcement.
You wouldn’t just arrive in Paris (eventually). You’d arrive educated, spiritually humbled, and €60 lighter — the Ryanair MBA.
Michael O’Leary doesn’t just fly you somewhere.
He teaches you what “Paris” and “check-in” really mean.
Quality LEo, bravo!
You follow the purple signs “flight connections” and transfer by bus air side. You still have to go through security, but you are already in the departure area. I did it myself in June - T5 to T2 (AA to OS). Worked perfectly fine.
Unfortunately not the case for a flight transfer from Dublin, as the UK and Dublin are in a mini-Schengen relationship, so arrivals are treated as arriving on a domestic flight and there is. no transfer opportunity. In this case Noah is right and Ben is wrong.
@Andrew,
I seem to recall that on landing in April this year, the BA FA made an announcement to follow the signs for flight connections. We did and took a bus airside for our connecting flight to the USA. It was not that difficult.
BA has special facilities in T5 to facilitate Dublin transfers. Nothing in T2.
Ben is absolutely wrong. There is one and only one bus from airside T2 to airside T5. The only way to board that bus is from outside UK border control. A T2 arriving DUB passenger is not outside UK border control. He exits the plane directly into the UK. The only mistake was by Noah was to not use Heathrow Express to transfer terminals.
Sorry mate. Irish national living in London and coming off a flight most months. There is a route from all Irish flights into the transit stream - despite the Common Travel Area special requirements. You’re just wrong.
Booking a flight from Dublin to Paris via London, and not even on a BA flight... on an Aer Lingus flight that lands in T2 where he'd need to change... tells us all we need to know, really!
For all those saying "what if he wanted Avios"... you can earn Avios on Aer Lingus, who fly several times a day to Paris directly!
They even tell you during final taxi on any flight landing from Dublin: "If you are transferring to another flight at another Terminal, follow the purple signs for Flight Connections." Silly person.
As an economist, he should note that the UK's post-war real GDP growth has been roughly the same as the US and developed countries as a whole. This is a case of an inexperienced traveler having a bad experience. I'd guess that he picked the connecting flight over a non-stop flight based on cost . . . without weighing the value of convenience as well as his time.
Ah yes... Mr Smith the expert on everything... His analysis of the Japanese economy is about as bad as his grasp of UK airport transit processes.
This seems to be a familiar pattern in his musings
Also the comment about only learning from someone else that the train to T4 doesn't go to T5. They make constant announcements: "This train is for Terminal 4 only. Passengers for Terminal 5 should remain on the platform"
That's probably who he heard it from, the voice from the sky
His tale stuck me as fishy right from the start. And he is supposed to be intelligent?
I can't see how an airside connection from Ireland at Heathrow can actually work. It's a long time since I did it but you used not be able to stay airside due to the Common Travel Area arrangements between the UK and Ireland. Technically you don't need a passport to fly between the UK and Ireland (although Ryanair insist on one) - Aer Lingus are happy enough with a driver's licence. Because of this passengers...
I can't see how an airside connection from Ireland at Heathrow can actually work. It's a long time since I did it but you used not be able to stay airside due to the Common Travel Area arrangements between the UK and Ireland. Technically you don't need a passport to fly between the UK and Ireland (although Ryanair insist on one) - Aer Lingus are happy enough with a driver's licence. Because of this passengers from Ireland are treated as domestic passengers and so have to go through security for a passport check when transferring.
It's years since I've done this so maybe it's changed. Anyway, it's entirely nutty to try to transfer at Heathow getting from Dublin to Paris.
I have connected at LHR from DUB to go to the US. I transferred from T2 to T5 (because I was coming in on Aer Lingus, and flying out on British Airways). I just took the transfer coaches by following the signs for Flight Connections to the other terminals. This was before the pandemic, so some things may have changed. But I certainly didn't require any additional passport checks (there was security screening for connections,...
I have connected at LHR from DUB to go to the US. I transferred from T2 to T5 (because I was coming in on Aer Lingus, and flying out on British Airways). I just took the transfer coaches by following the signs for Flight Connections to the other terminals. This was before the pandemic, so some things may have changed. But I certainly didn't require any additional passport checks (there was security screening for connections, but that's required in Britain regardless)