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Movie Set Travel / London Travel / Dustin Hoffman / Emma Thompson / London Heathrow / → All Tags

'Last Chance Harvey's' Tour of London

"Last Chance Harvey", otherwise known as "Before Sunrise" for Baby Boomers, opens in theaters nationwide today. The movie is about Harvey (Dustin Hoffman), a jingle writer in London for his estranged daughter's wedding while back home his career is falling apart. He meets Kate (Emma Thompson), who works in Heathrow Airport surveying passengers about their flight, in an airport bar and the two quickly get wrapped up in a not so typical romance. Here’s a guide to Kate and Harvey's London.

Where to Stay:
The wedding scene in "Last Chance Harvey" was filmed in the Grosvenor House Hotel's ballroom. The hotel was built in 1929, but recently re-opened after thorough renovations. It is the quintessential British hotel combining the past with modern updates. The Marriott-family hotel is frequented by royalty, celebrities and business leaders looking for luxury while staying in London.

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London Heathrow / Airports / T5 at LHR / London Travel / → All Tags

Third Runway At Heathrow Approved But Not Accepted

Looks like our most hated airport, the chaos they call London Heathrow, may get a third runway. British Airways CEO Willie Walsh has been agitating for this for years, but not everybody's on his side.

The British government has just approved the third runway proposal, but there are still a few obstacles before planes will be landing there. To start, the new runway (plus another terminal for it) would be ready, at the earliest, in 2015, and more likely 2020 or later.

On top of that, it's not even certain that the third runway will be allowed. With an election due before mid-2010, some are speculating that anti-runway campaigners might be able to delay construction long enough for the political leadership to change in the UK. And if the Conservative Party wins, they might scrap the whole idea.

So the third runway at Heathrow sounds like a story that won't go away any time soon. Perhaps it'll become farcical enough that we'll see music videos and online games about it, just like the disastrous opening of Heathrow's Terminal 5. That'd be fun.

Related Stories:
· British Govt OKs 3rd Runway for Heathrow [AP]
· We're So Not Alone In Hating Heathrow [Jaunted]
· US Airways Joining the Heathrow Scrum [Jaunted]

[Photo: Liberal Democrats]

Airport Photo Shoots / Celeb Travel / Robert Pattinson / Twilight Travel / London Heathrow / → All Tags

Vampire Wants To Suck (Away) Your Overheard Bin Space

You mean he's not naturally sparkly? Robert Pattinson arrived at London Heathrow yesterday for the holidays. (He's British, don't'cha know.)

We're not quite sure what airline he flew from Los Angeles to London but British Airways does have three flights daily from LAX. Fortunately, Edward Cullen Pattinson had the foresight not to send his guitar through the problematic BA baggage system.

And that guitar isn't just for show: Pattinson recorded and wrote his own song for the "Twilight" soundtrack, straight from his fingers to the ears of tweens everywhere. But who doesn't cringe while seeing the guy with the oversize carry-on in line ahead of you?

We've definitely done the instrument thing on board, so make us feel better and tell us what your biggest carry-on sin was. Stinky food? Accidentally dislodged someone else's stuff? You shall be forgiven.

Related Stories:
· Can You Pack Just One Carry-on? [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Celebrity-Gossip.net]

Airport Hell / Airports / London Heathrow / T5 at LHR / → All Tags

We're So Not Alone In Hating Heathrow

You couldn't accuse us of being big fans of London's Heathrow airport. If the ridiculous drama of the opening of T5 wasn't enough to put us off, delays and lost baggage are another Heathrow specialty.

And guess what: The world agrees. A recent survey found that frequent travelers voted London Heathrow as the worst airport in the entire world. CGD in Paris is the second worst, while Hong Kong's main airport came in first at the right end.

Personally, we've only had horrific experiences at Heathrow, from fainting in passport control lines to nearly missing planes because of overzealous security checks. With the British government slapping on extra fees for us to fly out of London, we're thinking a Heathrow boycott is definitely in order. Sorry, Brits. Nothing personal.

Related Stories:
· Heathrow Named Worst Airport in World [CheapFlights]
· World's (Previously) Worst Airport [Jaunted]
· London Heathrow coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: James Cridland]

T5 at LHR / British Airways / London Heathrow / LHR / Airports / Buildings / → All Tags

First-Person Airport Review: So Is T5 Really That Bad?

The opening of T5 at London Heathrow was so outrageously botched, sometimes "shambolic" didn't seem good enough to describe it. But in the months since, have things changed? And, more importantly, can you fly there and hope to see your checked bags ever again?

NewYorkology blogger Amy Langfield transited the terminal three times during a recent European trip, and described one experience in T5 as "flawless." Really?!

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Celeb Travel / Airport Photo Shoots / Victoria Beckham / LHR / London Heathrow / Cruz Beckham / Romeo Beckham / → All Tags

Airport Photo Shoot: Makes 'Em Easier to Spot

A common luggage trick is to attach a brightly colored belt or tag to your generic checked bag. But did you know the trick also works on kids? No way are Cruz and Romeo Beckham going to be able to evade mom Victoria while they're both sporting those yellow polos. Well, the bodyguard behind them probably helps too...

Beckham told a reporter she turned down a role in the "Sex and the City" movie because it was being filmed during rehearsals for her Spice Girls world tour. Now that the tour is over, Posh is focusing on her dvb fashion line as well as sporting the designs of "Project Runway" winner Christian Siriano all over creation. Sources close to the family say Cruz and Romeo find fashion "yucky."

Related Stories:
· Victoria Beckham Parties At That Hot LA Club "DMV" [Jaunted]
· Sports Travel: Another Season, Another Chance To See David Beckham [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: JustJared]

British Airways / T5 at LHR / London Heathrow / LHR / Fashion / Security / Airport Security / → All Tags

Trouble at T5: Tainted by "Transformers" Tee Transgression

There are plenty of offensive things one can wear on a plane--a too-short skirt, for example, or a political message for the President. Add Optimus Prime to that list: A British IT consultant was not allowed to board his British Airways flight because of his "Transformers" T-shirt.

Brad Jayakody has a cool enough job that on a business trip to Dusseldorf, he was allowed to dress down for the plane. But after one of his colleagues was searched, he was pulled aside and told his shirt was inappropriate.

So a silk-screened gun is the same as a real gun now? We've just got to be more careful with our T-shirt selection. But the real person in danger? Shia LaBeouf. After all, he's a known associate of Mr. Prime.

Related Stories:
· Heathrow Security Tackles Transformers T-shirt Threat [The Register]
· Willie Says T5's Working Well [Jaunted]
· Shia LaBeouf's Cold-Plane Defense [Jaunted]

[Photos: The Sun, Recycled Teenager]

Celeb Travel / Baggage Hell / Naomi Campbell / British Airways / London Heathrow / LHR / Bad Behavior Travel / → All Tags

Travel Tips: Why You Shouldn't Flip out at the Airport

Remember last month when always-infuriated supermodel Naomi Campbell supposedly flew off the handle at London Heathrow? We do!

She's now been officially charged in London with assaulting a policeman, disorderly conduct and "using threatening behavior and abusive words to cabin crew." Her trial starts June 20, and she's facing a maximum sentence of six months in jail plus a five-figure fee if convicted on all counts.

Let this be a lesson to you, frustrated fliers: No matter how bad Terminal 5 may suck, it's probably better than a half-year "holiday" in a British prison.

Related Stories:
· Naomi Campbell Charged with Assault [WWD]
· Supermodels Go Through Baggage Hell, Too [Jaunted]
· Bad Behavior Travel: Crabby Campbell Continues to Carouse [Jaunted]

[Photo: AFP]

T5 at LHR / British Airways / London Heathrow / LHR / Airports / Willie Walsh / → All Tags

Willie Says T5's Working Well

British Airways boss Willie Walsh must be smiling this week because he's going around telling anyone who'll listen that the disaster that was the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow is now "working well."

So well, in fact, that BA is now finally going to move the rest of their flights over there--yep, the flights they were going to move back in April. On June 5, eight destinations from Terminal 4 will move to T5, including flights to New York's JFK. The rest will be moved over in the next couple of months.

Willie probably wasn't smiling when the news came out over the weekend that "a small number" of incoming foreign passengers in the early days of T5 were dropped off at the wrong doors and let into Britain without showing their passports. They probably just turned around and flew home in disgust after their their luggage never showed up.

Related Stories:
· British Airways To Begin Shifting Long Haul Flights [IHT]
· T5 Foreign Passengers Unchecked [BBC]
· Terminal 5 coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: terminal5insider]

HOWTO / Public Transportation / London Heathrow / Train Travel / LHR / Tony Blair / → All Tags

HOWTO: Ride the Heathrow Express for Free

We've always thought that the fares from central London out to Heathrow were a bit steep, and apparently we're not alone. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair also didn't bother buying a ticket when he was heading to Heathrow to catch a flight to the US this week.

The usual fare for a first class train ticket to Heathrow is £24.50 ($49), but neither Blair nor his aide bought one before the trip. When inspectors discovered them, one of the policemen protecting Blair offered to pay for a ticket, but the inspector just told them to forget it.

So if you think the Heathrow Express prices are too high, there is a simple way to avoid them--just rule the country for a few years and nobody will make you pay. Apparently if you earn something like $4 million a year, nobody expects you have to have such a "cheap" train ticket.

Related Stories:
· Former PM Caught Without Ticket [AFP]
· London Heathrow Coverage [Jaunted]
· Tony Blair's Jet in Near-Accident [Jaunted]

[Photo: jaimelondonboy]

T5 at LHR / British Airways / London Heathrow / LHR / Airports / Videos / → All Tags

Terminal 5: Now In Music Video

They made an online game about our suffering in Heathrow's problematic Terminal 5, so it was just a matter of time before the song came out too.

This video from Roguetune whines about Terminal 5 in a way that a whole lot of travelers can understand, except for special people like Kate Moss, that is. The chorus goes on with endless variations of a line like this:

I went down to get my bags, but I'm in Greece and my bags are still in Terminal 5.

As well as funny lyrics, you'll get a nice tour the trendy new Terminal 5 building, inside and out, and an entertaining cast of extra characters. Unfortunately, although this song might make you laugh, it won't change much for those still wondering which Italian warehouse their carefully packed bags have ended up in.

Related Stories:
· Baggage Trouble: Making A Game of Your T5 Suffering [Jaunted]
· Special People Get Their T5 Baggage [Jaunted]

Bad Behavior Travel / Travel Hell / Naomi Campbell / British Airways / London Heathrow / → All Tags

Bad Behavior Travel: Crabby Campbell Continues to Carouse

Naomi Campbell certainly chose an, uh, original response to her arrest at London Heathrow after allegedly hitting and kicking flight attendants: She wants a boycott of British Airways, the airline she was flying at the time of her arrest.

One might think a boycott would be unnecessary after an act that supposedly got her banned from BA, but Campbell wants the world to know "There was a complete disrespect for the passengers" on her scheduled flight to Rio de Janeiro.

The airline would not confirm or deny the ban, but the supermodel claimed BA officials later begged her to fly with them again--but she haughtily refused. Plausible pissed-off passenger or crazy concocted crap? You decide.

Related Stories:
· Supermodels Go Through Baggage Hell, Too [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Travel Hell coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Hollywood Grind]