CJB wrote:
As might be expected from the bankrupt wholly Spanish-owned BAA its
train services were cashing in big-time on the disruption to the
Piccadilly Line this weekend. In the past All Zone Travel Cards have
been accepted on both HEX and CONnect. However in an admirable
demonstration of 'rip-off' Britiain, and at the expense of its long
suffering airline passengers, BAA and its two Paddington / Heathrow
train 'services' were not accepting any Travel Cards this weekend.
Instead BAA was charging the usual full-price rip-off fares it
normally does for its tatty and worn trains into outer London. And HEX
staff were seen today (Sunday) at T5 ensuring that passengers do
indeed pay the exorbitant £18 (whatever) SINGLE fare into West London.
Indeed they were stationed at every TfL ticket machine deterring
passengers from even thinking of going by tube/bus/tube into Central
London. CJB.

Other people have made the valid point about BAA owning/funding Heathrow
Express: All good points, which I'd associate myself with.

However, if I where part of the authorities making decisions about BAA's
future expansion plans I think I'd be using this as a bargaining chip...
Something along the lines of "you can have your sixth terminal but as
part of the deal, you must improve and reduce the cost of public
transport to the airport, including accepting travelcards and Oyster
cards on the Connect."

Even without such a deal, how difficult would it be to accept Oyster on
Heathrow Connect with surcharge added when someone touches in or out at
Heathrow?