Just flew through Heathrow's brand new Terminal 5 for the first time. I couldn't help but compare the experience on my last visit through Terminal 3 at Beijing's National Capital Airport. Built and opened around the same time, and at similar total costs ($4B+), this is a valid comparison. The net is this: T5 is a major improvement over Terminals 4, 3, and god forbid 2 and 1, both in aesthetics and check-in bays - in that it makes a real statement - the British seem to have oh finally caught up. On the other hand though, Terminal 3 is a major revolution, the largest building on earth, and the friendliest staff on top - in that it makes another real statement - the Chinese have reset the bar, and well, well ahead of the line for now. I would take T3 over T5 any day - so best now to go off to tackle the real problem - how to get more business out of China.
