The reliable answer is on your own booking: your boarding pass, e-ticket or airline app names the departure terminal, and that is the version that reflects your exact flight. As a cross-check, Heathrow runs four terminals split largely by airline alliance, but there are exceptions in 2026, so never assume from the airline alone. Checked August 2026.
Check your booking first
Heathrow has four passenger terminals (T2, T3, T4 and T5), and they are not next to each other, so arriving at the wrong one costs you a transfer of up to 90 minutes. Before you rely on any general rule, check the source that is specific to your flight:
- Your boarding pass or e-ticket: the departure terminal is printed on it.
- The airline's app or confirmation email: these show the terminal and update if it changes.
- The airline's website: enter your flight number to see the assigned terminal.
- Heathrow's departures board or the Heathrow app: search your flight number on the day for the live terminal.
If two sources disagree, trust the airline for your specific flight, because codeshares and schedule changes can move a flight.
Which airlines use which terminal
As a rough map for 2026, terminals are grouped mainly by alliance:
| Terminal | Broadly used by |
|---|---|
| T2 (The Queen's Terminal) | Star Alliance: Lufthansa, United, Singapore Airlines, Air Canada, Swiss and most Star members |
| T3 | Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Delta, plus oneworld carriers such as American, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Qantas, and some British Airways long-haul |
| T4 | SkyTeam plus several Gulf and Asian carriers: Qatar Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, KLM and Air France |
| T5 | British Airways and Iberia: most BA short-haul and domestic, and much of BA long-haul |
There is no Terminal 1. It closed in 2015, so any old reference to T1 is out of date.
The 2026 British Airways change you need to know
The most important recent exception involves British Airways. BA is still based at T5, but from 29 March 2026 some BA long-haul routes moved from T5 to T3, including services such as Denver, Bermuda and Phoenix. In other words, "BA always flies from T5" is no longer true for every flight.
If you are flying British Airways long-haul, this is exactly the situation where you should check your booking rather than assume T5. A passenger heading to the wrong terminal here would need the free transfer between T5 and T3, which eats into your check-in time. Confirm your terminal on your BA booking or the BA app before you set off.
T4 and T5 are separate, so get it right
T2 and T3 sit together in the Central Terminal Area and are linked by an underground walkway, so a mix-up between those two is recoverable on foot. T4 and T5 are separate satellites that you cannot walk to from the others. If you land at, or are dropped at, the wrong one of those, you need the free inter-terminal bus or the free Heathrow Express segment, and you should allow 60 to 90 minutes. That buffer is why checking the terminal in advance matters so much.
If your terminal still is not clear
Some tickets, especially codeshares where you book with one airline but fly with another, can be confusing. In that case, find the flight number of the aircraft you actually board (the operating carrier), not just the airline you booked with, and check that flight number on the operating airline's site or the Heathrow app. On the day of travel, the Heathrow departures board is the final word.
Once you know your terminal, check how much time to allow with our guide to is 2 hours enough at Heathrow, and see the latest on Heathrow's third runway for how the airport's terminals are changing.
More
More: Overview, Facilities, FAQs.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which terminal my flight leaves from at Heathrow? Check your boarding pass, e-ticket or airline app, which name the departure terminal for your specific flight. On the day, the Heathrow app or departures board shows the live terminal by flight number.
Does British Airways still fly from Terminal 5? Mostly yes, but from 29 March 2026 some BA long-haul routes moved to T3. Always check your BA booking rather than assuming T5.
Which terminal is Star Alliance at Heathrow? T2, The Queen's Terminal, is the Star Alliance base, used by Lufthansa, United, Singapore Airlines, Air Canada, Swiss and most Star members.
Is there a Terminal 1 at Heathrow? No. Terminal 1 closed in 2015. The active terminals are T2, T3, T4 and T5.
What if I go to the wrong terminal at Heathrow? Use the free inter-terminal transfer bus, which runs 24/7, or the free Heathrow Express segment between the central terminals and T5. Allow 60 to 90 minutes, which is why checking in advance is worth it.
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Last verified August 2026 by the Heathrow Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official Heathrow Airport website before you travel.