Connect time at Heathrow (regulations, reservations, airline, airport)

[k374]

Anyone here flown through Heathrow recently? How was your experience? How much time did it take you to connect??

I am arriving in T5 and have to collect my bag, get through passport control/immigration, then catch some trains to Terminal 1, check-in my bag for my onward flight, go through security again and then head to my gate. I have 3hrs 10 mins between flights. Do you think this is tight??

[maf763]

Three hours should be plenty, provided of course that your first flight isn't more than an hour and a half late. Then it would start getting interesting.

[wastina]

If it's not being covered in US news, pull up CNN's international website. As of yesterday, BA was issuing blanket apologies for the embarrassments of T5, and they had 280,000 bags backlogged. Depending on how soon you're travelling, T5 may/not still be a nightmare.

[k374]

I am travelling in about 7 weeks, thank god not now

I was just freaking out because I was happy that I had over 3 hrs between flights so I wouldn't have to rush but now some people are telling me that it is too little. I can't imagine it takes 3 hrs to go pick your bags, go out of one terminal and into the next terminal in the same airport.

[wastina]

I think 3 hours will be a realistic transfer time seven weeks from now. BA can't stand another 7 weeks of bad press, so all/most should be ironed out by the time you travel.

[k374]

well, I bought another ticket, it was only $100 for the LHR-AMS segment so I decided it was worth it for the extra insurance, this one departs from T5 itself and is also on British Airways, the connection time is 2hrs 25min. In case I can book my bags through from LAX-LHR-AMS I should be able to just connect in T5 through security and not change terminals or go through customs.

The wildcard is whether British Airways will check my bags through for an onward flight on BA (LHR-AMS) but a different ticket. I called them thrice and all 3 reps gave me different information. The 1st one said as long as it's BA-BA I should be just fine, I can check my bags all the way through..I just have to show them the other ticket at LAX. The other said it's not possible on separate tickets. The 3rd said it depends on whether LAX airport accepts the bags and not the airline which I find hard to believe!

I found this on the BA website which leads me to believe the first rep was right. BA-BA should be fine...

British Airways' Speedbird Club: Separate Tickets Policy

I will be taking a printout just in case.

[allforcats]

Another thought: if you can take one regulation-sized suitcase as carry-on luggage, you'll entirely avoid both any T5 baggage handling madness AND waiting anywhere for any length of time to pick up a bag!

[bobmulk]

I flew through Heathrow Christmas of '06 on my way to Italy. I thought the whole airport was a nightmare. Of course, this was right after the airport had been fogged in for three days. When I finally got there, tens of thousands of people were trying to get to their destinations. It was a madhouse.

Three hours should be plenty of time. Right now they're having trouble with their baggage system in the new concourse. Hopefully by the time you leave it will be corrected.