Minimum connection time LHR after QF9 to BA flights

[Notyourbag]

Keen to hear feedback on anyone who's flown QF9/QF1 and then a BA flight from T5 all on the same ticket.

Am flying into FCO with BA in June and Qantas allowed a 1 Hr 25 Min connection. Is this doable (pending QF9 is on time?)

 

[henrus]

Keen to hear feedback on anyone who's flown QF9/QF1 and then a BA flight from T5 all on the same ticket.

I've done the opposite BA to QF1, in my case I planned a longer 4 hours on one trip and a whole day in London on the other. QF9 is 50/50 early or late, at the end of the day single ticket means you'll be rebooked but at busier times that may not mean the next BA flight.

 

[ChrisMars]

Same here. I would be confortable with 90 min but to help the decision I would look at the flight frequency of the BA flight. At the end of the day, on the same ticket you will be rebooked to the next available flight.

 

[madrooster]

Am flying into FCO with BA in June and Qantas allowed a 1 Hr 25 Min connection. Is this doable (pending QF9 is on time?)

QF1/9 to BA has a MCT of 1h30m. You are below MCT. You ideally want 3h to do that connection - T5 transfers can be quite backed up at that time of morning.

 

[Notyourbag]

QF1/9 to BA has a MCT of 1h30m. You are below MCT. You ideally want 3h to do that connection - T5 transfers can be quite backed up at that time of morning.

If it's below MCT why was it ticketed? Is this a usual occurrence?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If it's below MCT why was it ticketed? Is this a usual occurrence?

If it’s ticketed I would take it. There are multiple daily flights to FCO. They’ll accommodate you on the next one.

 

[Lynda2475]

I had 2.45 hr connection from QF1 to a BA flight to EDI last year and only just made it.

QF1 was 35ish minutes late, I was through immigration in a minute after the bus transfer but the killer was no priority screening when changing terminals, I had to beg to queue jump when it got to within 15 mins of departure and then run to the gate got there just as boarding started, no tme to stop for a bathroom break. And my luggage did not make it.

Admittedly transfering to an EU flight you dont have to enter the UK, but Id be seeing if you can get on a later FCO flight.

 

[madrooster]

If it's below MCT why was it ticketed? Is this a usual occurrence?

Was the BA flight departing from T3 at any point? The QF to T3 MCT is 1h, but QF to T5 MCT is 1h30m.

If it’s ticketed I would take it. There are multiple daily flights to FCO. They’ll accommodate you on the next one.

Unwise advice - it only takes delays/one flight cancellation and the next several flights will be full. These issues are ideally sorted before day of travel.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Unwise advice - it only takes delays/one flight cancellation and the next several flights will be full. These issues are ideally sorted before day of travel.

I guess it depends on your risk appetite!

Picking a random date in may I see departures to rome at 630, 820, 1015.

If I've got an hour and 25 mins to make the 630, not sure I'd want to add another two hours on to that unless I had to!

But given the current and historic delays to the QF1 there's no guarantee you'll make the next flight either... And puts you in exactly the same position regarding one cancellation filling up subsequent flights.

 

[madrooster]

But given the current and historic delays to the QF1 there's no guarantee you'll make the next flight either... And puts you in exactly the same position regarding one cancellation filling up subsequent flights.

For QF1 pax I usually put pax on the 10:15am departure, all on the same PNR. 90% of the time it works out perfectly.

QF9 is a lot better in reliability so I usually use the 8:20am for QF9 pax and again it's generally fine. This is assuming it's all on one PNR, irrespective of award or commercial or a mix of.

 

[ChrisMars]

Is OP traveling solo, with partner, with kids? This factor the risk appetite, and likelyhood to get one or more seat in the next flight in case delay. For this itinery, traveling solo, I wouldn bother calling to get a longer connection and take the risk.

 

[clifford]

For this itinery, traveling solo, I wouldn bother calling to get a longer connection and take the risk.

Yes, I would agree, but it all depends on how flexible you are and whether you could tolerate a delay of up to a day in reaching your destination.

 

[Notyourbag]

Is OP traveling solo, with partner, with kids? This factor the risk appetite, and likelyhood to get one or more seat in the next flight in case delay. For this itinery, traveling solo, I wouldn bother calling to get a longer connection and take the risk.

Travelling with partner, no kids. Both in our 30's and can do a dash through the terminal if we need to.

I'm flying on QF9 which looks like it has a better strike rate than QF1 on arrival times.

I might call QFF and see if they can shift the BA flight to 8.20am for some extra peace of mind. We are quite time sensitive as we have a wedding in Tuscany the next day

 

[jrfsp]

I had 2.45 hr connection from QF1 to a BA flight to EDI last year and only just made it.

QF1 was 35ish minutes late, I was through immigration in a minute after the bus transfer but the killer was no priority screening when changing terminals, I had to beg to queue jump when it got to within 15 mins of departure and then run to the gate got there just as boarding started, no tme to stop for a bathroom break. And my luggage did not make it.

Admittedly transfering to an EU flight you dont have to enter the UK, but Id be seeing if you can get on a later FCO flight.

If transferring TO T5, i always transfer landside, much quicker if you use egates and have access to the First Wing. If youre bags are tagged through or HBO you can do it in less than 30 mins straight into the lounge.

 

[Lynda2475]

If transferring TO T5, i always transfer landside, much quicker if you use egates and have access to the First Wing. If youre bags are tagged through or HBO you can do it in less than 30 mins straight into the lounge.

You have to go landside if entering the UK.

I was first off QF1 and power walked to the airside bus, waiting no more than 2 minutes and was at T5 and through self serve passport control within 10 mins from leaving QF1.

But once landside it was a complete dogs breakfast, no orderly queue to get into the terminal, no priority entry operating despite flying J and having status. The staff were learning how to use the new scanners and I had to beg to queue jump after waiting 45mins and moving about 2 meters.

It was different when departing T5 2 weeks later at 5am priority check-in and waived through. But after 8am it is nothing short of chaotic.

But the OP doesn't need to enter the UK as connecting to FCO so would by-pass this chaos. But still seems tight to me.

 

[Notyourbag]

You have to go landside if entering the UK.

I was first off QF1 and power walked to the airside bus, waiting no more than 2 minutes and was at T5 and through self serve passport control within 10 mins from leaving QF1.

But once landside it was a complete dogs breakfast, no orderly queue to get into the terminal, no priority entry operating despite flying J and having status. The staff were learning how to use the new scanners and I had to beg to queue jump after waiting 45mins and moving about 2 meters.

It was different when departing T5 2 weeks later at 5am priority check-in and waived through. But after 8am it is nothing short of chaotic.

If transferring between terminals why doesn't it spit you airside (since you're not entering the UK as a transit passenger).

 

[Lynda2475]

If transferring between terminals why doesn't it spit you airside (since you're not entering the UK as a transit passenger).

It does.

But I was entering the UK, as my connecting flight was to Scotland which is part of the UK i.e. a domestic connection. In that case you cant stay airside, have to enter and then re-clear security which is a pain.

 

[justinbrett]

It does.

But I was entering the UK, as my connecting flight was to Scotland which is part of the UK i.e. a domestic connection. In that case you cant stay airside, have to enter and then re-clear security which is a pain.

T5-T5 for this is a lot easier, in my experience anyway.

 

[Cognac]

I did QF-BA (QF9) in January, it was pretty smooth. The terminal wasn't super busy on arrival so it was fairly quick to get the transfer bus and then get through at the other side.

 

[Notyourbag]

I did QF-BA (QF9) in January, it was pretty smooth. The terminal wasn't super busy on arrival so it was fairly quick to get the transfer bus and then get through at the other side.

Cognac - do you remember how long it took?