Check-in checked out

Britain's biggest airline cuts link to Heathrow

Central London check-in has been abandoned once again by British Airways. Passengers using the airline's main base, and the UK's leading airport, Heathrow, have lost the chance to drop their bags and pick up boarding cards at Paddington station. BA has closed its check-in desks at the Heathrow Express London terminus, meaning that passengers on the fast rail link must haul their baggage to the airport.

The airline's former West London Air Terminal, on Cromwell Road, closed in the 1970s and is now a branch of Sainbury's. By the end of the 20th century, though, British Airways had re-opened facilities for passengers using both the capital's main airports. The airline built a terminal at Victoria for passengers flying out of Gatwick, and installed check-in facilities at Paddington station in west London for customers taking the Heathrow Express.

For a time, BA's passengers travelling from the busiest city in the world for aviation enjoyed the kind of seamless journey that the budget airlines cannot offer. But Gatwick was an early victim of cost-cutting after September 11, 2001; the British Airways terminal at Victoria closed last year.

"The decision followed a decrease in demand, due in large part to us scaling back long-haul operations at Gatwick," said the airline. Now, BA has also abandoned its check-in area at Paddington: "The reality is that, since its launch, the numbers of passengers using the Paddington check-in have not been sufficient to justify the cost incurred in running the service."

A spokesman for the train operator Heathrow Express said the abandonment may be only temporary. "It is unfortunate for BA passengers, but it is only a withdrawal for a year, after which time BA will review their position."

British Airways' decision also affects its partners in the oneworld alliance, including American Airlines, Iberia and Qantas. One likely consequence is that the check-in areas at Heathrow's overburdened terminals will become even more crowded. "BA is heavily promoting a self-service culture for its passengers - offering self-service check-in facilities at LHR," says the airline. "Alternatively, online check-in is also available to all passengers through ba.com."

Passengers on Star Alliance flights - including Air Canada, BMI, Lufthansa and United - can continue to check in at Paddington. But desks that once served the now-defunct Belgian and Swiss airlines, Sabena and Swissair, still carry a sign telling passengers to check in at the airport.