Heathrow Terminal transfer

[Rossco]

Hello, We are landing into Heathrow terminal 5 and our connecting flight has now changed schedule giving us just 1 hour 35 minutes to make the connecting flight leaving from terminal 4. Can anyone confirm if this will be enough time to travel between the two terminals?

Many thanks

 

[Scottie Dog]

I'm sorry that I can't help you with that one, however welcome to F4A.

Hopefully dogsbody else will be able to help you.

 

[Coathanger16]

Welcome to the forum @Rossco

BA recommend a minimum connection time of 1 hour 30 minutes on their website for transfers between terminals or 1 hour when staying in the same terminal.

https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/airport-information/flight-connections

If you can't find what you're looking for on F4A, Flyertalk is usually pretty good:

https://www.***Links to other forums are not permitted***/forum/british-airways-executive-club-446/

 

[KARFA]

Hi @Rossco

Can I ask, is this BA to Qatar by any chance? Did you book with BA or someone else? And it is a domestic flight you are on with BA?

Is this all one booking or two separate bookings?

The minimum connection time between T5 and T4 is 1 hr 45 mins so I suspect you connection was more than this when you booked, but is now less than this due to your change? You may have to look at fixing this if it is now under the minimum connection time, but if you can give some details on the above I can help advise and give some information on the connection process.

 

[Rossco]

Hi @Rossco

Can I ask, is this BA to Qatar by any chance? Did you book with BA or someone else? And it is a domestic flight you are on with BA?

Is this all one booking or two separate bookings?

The minimum connection time between T5 and T4 is 1 hr 45 mins so I suspect you connection was more than this when you booked, but is now less than this due to your change? You may have to look at fixing this if it is now under the minimum connection time, but if you can give some details on the above I can help advise and give some information on the connection process.

Yes you are exactly correct. We are flying from Edinburgh to Singapore, with stops at Heathrow and Doha. This was all purchased as part of a package deal through TravelUp (one booking). Originally we had a 1 hour and 50 minute gap at Heathrow, but we found out (not through TravelUp) that the flight from LHR to Doha had been changed to leave 15 minutes earlier, cutting the time down to 1 hour 35 mins. We've read elsewhere that the minimum connection time was supposed to be 1 hour 45 minutes as you say, hence our concerns that we won't have enough time.

The reason we found out about the change is because the mother in law decided to come with us after we had booked. We booked her on the same flights but through a different company. When the flight change happened, that different company contacted the mother in law and suggested a change to the flight schedule, however we have not received any notification from TravelUp.

We've spoken to TravelUp but they didn't seem to be concerned about the time change. The mother in law is quite elderly and we have a 6 year old with us also, so this just increases the concern that time will be tight.

Also seen some information on Heathrow website regarding using trains or buses to get between the terminal. Having never been to Heathrow, I'm just trying to find out if I should trust TravelUp when they say that there shouldn't be anything to worry about.

Many thanks for all the help.

 

[Scottie Dog]

Another question for you - are your bookings all on one ticket? If you're on "split tickets" then in theory your bags might only be checked to Heathrow and you'll need to reclaim them before heading over to T4.
Hopefully somebody else can confirm if this is still the rule and it's over 8 years since I retired from corporate travel

 

[Rossco]

Another question for you - are your bookings all on one ticket? If you're on "split tickets" then in theory your bags might only be checked to Heathrow and you'll need to reclaim them before heading over to T4.
Hopefully somebody else can confirm if this is still the rule and it's over 8 years since I retired from corporate travel

It was booked as a package deal from Edinburgh to Singapore, with the connecting flights organised by the travel company so I'm hoping that we will only need to check luggage in at Edinburgh and collect in Singapore. Certainly, the booking with TravelUp is only one booking number so hopefully we won't need to collect at Heathrow. If we do then I don't fancy our chances to make the Doha flight, even if we did have the original 1 hour 50 mins gap

 

[KARFA]

Hi

Thanks for the replies. So yes that does sound like you are on one booking and therefore when you go to the BA check in desks at EDI they will check your bags on to the DOH flight. When you get to LHR you won't have to see your bags again.

In terms of the connection, it is now under the minimum connection time for a T5 to T4 connection. When time changes happen to a flight they don't always take in to account other flights on the booking, so your EDI-LHR has changed but it won't automatically change anything and notice it is now under the minimum connection time. The danger is at some point the system will pick up on this and cancel your other flight or rebook you on something else. You do need to sort this out before you travel, and I guess the easiest option will be to change to an earlier EDI-LHR flight. As you booked with a travel agent you will have to deal with them unfortunately. However, your change to an earlier EDI flight will be free. Mention to them explicitly that due to the time change you are now under the MCT for the connection and therefore they must rebook you.

In terms of the actual mechanics of the connection, this should be fairly straightforward. You will arrive in to the domestic gates at the north end of T5A. When you step off the jetbridge turn left and follow the purple signs for "Flight Connections T2,3,4" At some point when you walk along a Heathrow airport person will just ask to see your bp just to check you are heading in the correct direction. Once past that keep walking along and around 100m down you will see signs showing you to to go down an escalator on the left for connections to T234. Go down there and get the airside bus to T4. Once at T4 you will go through connection security and once that is done you will be in the airside departures area. From stepping off the plan the process should take around 35-50 minutes.

It's possible you will arrive on a remote stand and be bussed but you will be bussed to the ground floor around the same part of T5A, so just go upstairs when you enter the building (don't go out through the glass doors) and follow the same as above.

The trains thing would only be if on arrival you existed landside and then went across to T4, which you could do but I wouldn't recommend in your case.

Hope this helps.

 

[Rossco]

Hi

Thanks for the replies. So yes that does sound like you are on one booking and therefore when you go to the BA check in desks at EDI they will check your bags on to the DOH flight. When you get to LHR you won't have to see your bags again.

In terms of the connection, it is now under the minimum connection time for a T5 to T4 connection. When time changes happen to a flight they don't always take in to account other flights on the booking, so your EDI-LHR has changed but it won't automatically change anything and notice it is now under the minimum connection time. The danger is at some point the system will pick up on this and cancel your other flight or rebook you on something else. You do need to sort this out before you travel, and I guess the easiest option will be to change to an earlier EDI-LHR flight. As you booked with a travel agent you will have to deal with them unfortunately. However, your change to an earlier EDI flight will be free. Mention to them explicitly that due to the time change you are now under the MCT for the connection and therefore they must rebook you.

In terms of the actual mechanics of the connection, this should be fairly straightforward. You will arrive in to the domestic gates at the north end of T5A. When you step off the jetbridge turn left and follow the purple signs for "Flight Connections T2,3,4" At some point when you walk along a Heathrow airport person will just ask to see your bp just to check you are heading in the correct direction. Once past that keep walking along and around 100m down you will see signs showing you to to go down an escalator on the left for connections to T234. Go down there and get the airside bus to T4. Once at T4 you will go through connection security and once that is done you will be in the airside departures area. From stepping off the plan the process should take around 35-50 minutes.

It's possible you will arrive on a remote stand and be bussed but you will be bussed to the ground floor around the same part of T5A, so just go upstairs when you enter the building (don't go out through the glass doors) and follow the same as above.

The trains thing would only be if on arrival you existed landside and then went across to T4, which you could do but I wouldn't recommend in your case.

Hope this helps.

This is extremely helpful and really appreciated. You all have been more helpful than any of the travel companies we've spoken to. I also contacted Heathrow through the website but it was a fairly standard response I got (they recommended using the Heathrow Express and the underground).

Once again, many thanks for all the help.

 

[Scottie Dog]

I'm sure I speak on behalf of the team when I say that were glad you've received thehelp you need.
If you get time, as you're travelling to post your experience, in here, I'm sure it will be much appreciated.

Scottie Dog

 

[Rossco]

I'm sure I speak on behalf of the team when I say that were glad you've received thehelp you need.
If you get time, as you're travelling to post your experience, in here, I'm sure it will be much appreciated.

Scottie Dog

Yep, absolutely I will do that. Just drafted the email to TravelUp

Once again, many thanks for the help.

 

[Rossco]

Just wanted to give a massive thank you again to everyone. Going by the advice provided here, we contacted the travel agent and they have now changed our flight schedule where we are now flying direct from EDI to DOH, so as it turns out there will be no stop over at LHR.

Once again, many thanks for all the help.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

A much simpler journey for you. You can now get on the plane and relax, without having to worry about a frantic dash across LHR. I'm guessing that you are flying with Qatar airways, a first rate airline. As such, you should get excellent in flight service, along with a plentiful selection of movies/TV shows and great food. Have a great trip.