London Heathrow: Passenger Reviews, Q&A, and Travel Advice

[Aviador]

@LJL Very good question and I don't know the answer. What I would do is go through with him in the non EU channel rather than the other way around. At least it doesn't look like he's trying to seek in and you can just explain you wanted to stay together.

 

[LJL]

@LJL Very good question and I don't know the answer. What I would do is go through with him in the non EU channel rather than the other way around. At least it doesn't look like he's trying to seek in and you can just explain you wanted to stay together.

Great idea, thanks! We travel often together and separately but this is the first time to the UK together and I just thought about this. I have a feeling that if I'm not with him and he gets asked questions about where we're going, he will have no idea what to say 🤣

Is the non EU line any faster than the EU one? (feeling hopeful)

 

[Aviador]

Great idea, thanks! We travel often together and separately but this is the first time to the UK together and I just thought about this. I have a feeling that if I'm not with him and he gets asked questions about where we're going, he will have no idea what to say 🤣

Is the non EU line any faster than the EU one? (feeling hopeful)

No usually as more checks are carried out but you shouldn't experience significantly longer delays.

 

[KARFA]

The non-EU line definitely won't be faster than the EU one. You can try going in the EU line together and that should work. However, the one thing you would be able to use and your husband can't use are the e-passport gates - there isn't much wait for them usually - so you would have to use the manned EU line desks if you are going together.

 

[jonathon2]

unfortunately a flight from chicago got cancelled yesterday so my friend was moved to a different one today. i was supposed to meet them in morocco.



so my question is: if he lands in terminal 2 on a United flight, can he walk to another gate in terminal 2 easily to fly again? he only has carryon baggage. Are there any passport controls etc? it would be a very tight turnaround, maybe 45 mins.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

unfortunately a flight from chicago got cancelled yesterday so my friend was moved to a different one today. i was supposed to meet them in morocco.



so my question is: if he lands in terminal 2 on a United flight, can he walk to another gate in terminal 2 easily to fly again? he only has carryon baggage. Are there any passport controls etc? it would be a very tight turnaround, maybe 45 mins.

He’d have to go through flight conmections. I’ve not been through t2 to transfer but As long as the flights on time i’m sure it should be possible.

You can’t walk from one gate to the next if that’s what you’re asking.

 

[KARFA]

unfortunately a flight from chicago got cancelled yesterday so my friend was moved to a different one today. i was supposed to meet them in morocco.

so my question is: if he lands in terminal 2 on a United flight, can he walk to another gate in terminal 2 easily to fly again? he only has carryon baggage. Are there any passport controls etc? it would be a very tight turnaround, maybe 45 mins.

I assume these are two separate bookings and therefore there is no protection for this connection?

At T2 as with most UK airports arriving passengers and departing passengers are segregated. In order to get from the arriving plane to the gate for the departing flight you have to go via flight connection (follow the purple signs for flight connections T2) where he will have to go through security. The United flight is likely to park up at the satellite T2B and the flight connections centre is in the main T2 building which is a decent walk. After that if the onward flight is back at a T2B gate it’s a long walk back.

I have to say this is pretty much set up to fail. Bear in mind he doesn’t have 45 minutes as he has to be at the gate before it closes so he probably has 30-35 minutes. It is vaguely possible if he is early arriving or on time but any delay will mean a missing the flight and he will have to buy a new ticket there and then. Tbh I would be looking at booking a later onward flight.

Where is he flying to? Morocco? If his onward flight is royal air moroc they go from T4.

 

[Sawyer38]

Hi I am flying from Manchester to Heathrow and then from Heathrow to Miami, we are scheduled to land at Heathrow Terminal 5 at 8:15 and the flight to Miami leaves at 10:40 from terminal 3. It’s the first time I have ever flew from London and the first time I’ve ever done a transfer, both flights are with BA.

can someone please explain what happens about security, suitcases and getting from one terminal to the other I am really worried as there are 5 kids with us and I want to be prepared for as much as I can.

Thank you you for any help you can give.

 

[jfy1999]

I haven't travelled from Heathrow myself but the information on this page might be helpful.

https://www.heathrow.com/airport-guide/getting-around-heathrow/travel-between-terminals

 

[Sawyer38]

Thank you I will look at that now really appreciate it

 

[KARFA]

You will arrive in to one of the domestic arrival gates at the north end of the main T5 building. Follow the purple signs for "Flight connections T2/3/4" - basically go left at the top of the airbridge. If you arrive on a remote stand you will be bused to domestic arrivals, when you enter go up one level for connections, don't go past the glass gates as that's the route for arrivals.

There will be a Heathrow employee part way down to check your bp just to ensure you are going in the right direction. Abour another 100m after that on the left there are some escalators down signed for T2/3/4. Just join the queue down there for the T3 airside bus - they are usually every few minutes. There will be some AA agents down there who deal with AA passengers but you can obviously ignore them if you are on BA flights.

When you get to T3 follow the signs for "Flight connections T3". You will go through security and then you can walk to the airside departures area and wait for your flight.

From stepping off the MAN flight to getting to the airside departures area in T3 should take around 40-50 minutes. If you have checked bags then as long as both flights are on the same booking the agent at MAN should check them through and you won't need to see them at LHR - they will automatically be transferred across to T3 and on to the MIA flight.

 

[Sawyer38]

Thank you so much Karfa I really appreciate your help really puts my mind at ease I’m the type of person that hates to ‘see what happens’ I like to know exactly where to go and what to do so I’m prepared. Thanks again

 

[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./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.