LHR T5 to T5 international connection <MCT

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Nizar

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Hi everyone,

I booked an award itinerary through AA, all on the same PNR, which consists of

LGA-YYZ on AA in J
(2 hour transit in YYZ)
YYZ-LHR on BA in F
(55min transit in LHR)
LHR-IST on BA in J

When I first made this booking back in September the connection at LHR was 75mins which I was already worried about as the MCT at LHR T5-T5 is 60mins (http://www.heathrowairport.com/heat...tional-connecting-to-terminal-5-international) so I thought that's gonna be tight, but in recent weeks or months, it seems that the LHR-IST flight was moved forward by 20mins resulting in a 55min connection. I was not notified by BA (should I have been?) and just discovered the change in schedule by chance.

So what should I do now ? Should I contact BA ? If I contact them should I request to be put onto the later flight ? At least at this stage there might be seats on that flight ? Or should I just wing it and hope to make the connection knowing that BA will definitely accomodate me if I misconnect ?

If I miss the connection and there are no award seats on the next flight (about six hours later) are BA obliged to book me into a revenue fare ? If all seats are sold out will they book me on another carrier or accommodate me overnight ?

Thanks, any thoughts and comments appreciated
 
The simplest is to call BA and discuss your options with them.

They are unlikely to leave you on the 55m connection, but it's worth sorting in advance than having your F travel ruined by the stress of making the connection.
 
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I think you should call AA if it's an AAdvantage award (unless you've already flown some segments of your itinerary in which case you could call BA directly).
 
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I would be calling someone ... if you don't make it back through security within 35 minutes of the IST flight's scheduled departure they won't let you through at T5.
 
I would be calling someone ... if you don't make it back through security within 35 minutes of the IST flight's scheduled departure they won't let you through. At T5.

Who's fault would that be ?
Would BA reaccomodate me on the next flight if this happened ?
Surely they have an obligation to ?

Serfty as the first two replies were somewhat conflicting and you are one of the gurus on here who should I contact to get this sorted BA or AA ? None of the travel has commenced.
 
I would be calling someone ... if you don't make it back through security within 35 minutes of the IST flight's scheduled departure they won't let you through. At T5.

True! They started that 2 years ago I think? They wouldn't let me catch my LHR-ARN flight because it was leaving in 30 minutes (even though I had fast track and I made that connection in 25 minutes or less in the past...). At the transfer desk they had already rebooked me on a flight 3 hours later.
 
True! They started that 2 years ago I think? They wouldn't let me catch my LHR-ARN flight because it was leaving in 30 minutes (even though I had fast track and I made that connection in 25 minutes or less in the past...). At the transfer desk they had already rebooked me on a flight 3 hours later.

Looks like the transfer desk were on the ball on your occasion hope they are for me lol
 
Looks like the transfer desk were on the ball on your occasion hope they are for me lol

I was connecting from a BA flight which was running late (LAX-LHR), so my guess is that the computer had already decided I wouldn't make it on time...
 
I was connecting from a BA flight which was running late (LAX-LHR), so my guess is that the computer had already decided I wouldn't make it on time...

For those of you who have been through T5 before if my flight from YYZ is on time and considering I'd have a fast track card am I likely to make it through security in time ?

I think I read on FT that a BA staff member would meet me and another other tight connecting pax and whisk them through security and ahead of all queues etc ? Or did I just imagine that I read that somewhere lol ?
 
For those of you who have been through T5 before if my flight from YYZ is on time and considering I'd have a fast track card am I likely to make it through security in time ?

I think I read on FT that a BA staff member would meet me and another other tight connecting pax and whisk them through security and ahead of all queues etc ? Or did I just imagine that I read that somewhere lol ?

I've been met by airline staff a few times to make tight connections when flying J or F, but even that doesn't guarantee you'll make it on time (especially at CDG!), but I think your real issue here is more that at some point your itinerary might become invalid/suspended because of the illegal MCT. So it might be easier to call AA and get on the flight you want right now, than waiting too long and not getting on the next flight because it's full.
 
The 35 minute "Conformance" (as it's called) started when T5 began operations.

Not arguing with that, but my personal experience is that the "Conformance" might not have been fully enforced at every occasion in the past. I clearly remember going through security 25 minutes before scheduled departure.
But I think it's a smart system to stop people from running around and being too stressed.:)
 
I've been met by airline staff a few times to make tight connections when flying J or F, but even that doesn't guarantee you'll make it on time (especially at CDG!), but I think your real issue here is more that at some point your itinerary might become invalid/suspended because of the illegal MCT. So it might be easier to call AA and get on the flight you want right now, than waiting too long and not getting on the next flight because it's full.

What I'm more afraid of is if I call now and there's no availability on the later flight that day to IST then they have to cancel my ticket and I'm left with nothing
 
Not arguing with that, but my personal experience is that the "Conformance" might not have been fully enforced at every occasion in the past. I clearly remember going through security 25 minutes before scheduled departure.
But I think it's a smart system to stop people from running around and being too stressed.:)
Reading the BA FT forum, this has been enforced by Computer systems based ona BP scan which which has caused all sorts of angst.

It's the "Computer Says No" situation - some officials are more adherent than others.
 
Guys it's all good I found out it was a change in schedule. So currently the flight from YYZ is scheduled to land at LHR at 9:35am as it departs YYZ later. The flight to IST leaves at 10:30am.

However from March 28th onwards the schedule reverts back to what I was originally ticketed which is the flight from YYZ landing at LHR at 9:15am and then my flight to IST departing at 10:30am.

So all good seems that I still have that 75min connection time. So I should be ok then ? 75min I still see it as tight but much more doable ?

Is it still advisable for me to take action now or just hope that the incoming flight is on time and if it's late hope that the BA staff or the computer systems make it a hassle free process for me ?
 
Guys it's all good I found out it was a change in schedule. So currently the flight from YYZ is scheduled to land at LHR at 9:35am as it departs YYZ later. The flight to IST leaves at 10:30am.

However from March 28th onwards the schedule reverts back to what I was originally ticketed which is the flight from YYZ landing at LHR at 9:15am and then my flight to IST departing at 10:30am.

So all good seems that I still have that 75min connection time. So I should be ok then ? 75min I still see it as tight but much more doable ?

Is it still advisable for me to take action now or just hope that the incoming flight is on time and if it's late hope that the BA staff or the computer systems make it a hassle free process for me ?

The MCT II T5-T5 is 60 minutes, so you even have a margin.

Now that your connection is legal you have nothing to worry about, BA will put you in J on another flight if you miss your flight (without caring about award availability).
 
Reading the BA FT forum, this has been enforced by Computer systems based ona BP scan which which has caused all sorts of angst.

It's the "Computer Says No" situation - some officials are more adherent than others.

Ok, on the specific incident I remember we were travelling as a small "delegation", maybe BA couldn't be bothered trying to rebook us all on later flights. As I said, I actually do like the system to be enforced, if you know you are within 35 minutes of departure you just don't care and walk at a leisurely pace!:)
 
I've been met by airline staff a few times to make tight connections when flying J or F, but even that doesn't guarantee you'll make it on time (especially at CDG!), but I think your real issue here is more that at some point your itinerary might become invalid/suspended because of the illegal MCT. So it might be easier to call AA and get on the flight you want right now, than waiting too long and not getting on the next flight because it's full.
I have recently done a T5 to T5 connection (26th Jan). In the words of a Concorde Lounge hostess T5 security are a law unto themselves. Even when they escort pax through security there is no guarantee that the security people will be any faster or more friendly. I would have say that on our transit they were rude and officious.
 
I have recently done a T5 to T5 connection (26th Jan). In the words of a Concorde Lounge hostess T5 security are a law unto themselves. Even when they escort pax through security there is no guarantee that the security people will be any faster or more friendly. I would have say that on our transit they were rude and officious.

Speaking of Concorde Lounge hostesses do you think there's any chance I could grab a quick bite to eat in the CCR with my 75min connection ?
Or am I being too optimistic :mrgreen:
 
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