Sadly, the answer appears to be no, if you’re starting your journey at Heathrow Terminal 3.
When I got to Heathrow Terminal 3’s pre-security assistance desk, they told me that the airport was not built with a way for normal economy passengers to access the gates without going through duty free, short of having access to the premium cabin/elite passenger security checkpoints.
When I pressed on the subject, they said the best they can do is provide a handler to walk with the person through the shop and guide them through it so they can go through it blind.
On the other hand, if you’re connecting in Terminal 3, there is a way to avoid a mandatory shopping area. Once you’ve completed security, simply follow the sign for "Express Connection": the sign says it’s only for passengers on a specific list of flights departing within 60 minutes, but anyone can use that path. This will take you past even the central waiting area to the gates, but you can walk back there if you have time to spare.
Credit:stackoverflow.com‘
4 Mar, 2024
5 Mar, 2024