Heathrow Connection Times SYD-LHR-DUB

[jamesatfish]

G'day all,

I'm just trying to book some flights for my in-laws who are flying SYD-LHR on a BA flight and then want to continue onto Dublin with Aer Lingus, and I'm wondering if anyone has done this recently and can advise on the suitable connection times to allow.

The last time I made this connection Aer Lingus were still part of OneWorld and my luggage was checked through to Dublin, but as that's no longer the case we will be booking two separate tickets and hence I assume they'll have to collect their luggage at the BA terminal and somehow re-check their luggage onto the Aer Lingus flight.

Does anyone know roughly how long to allow in order to clear customs, transfer to T1 (assuming Aer Lingus still uses T1) and re-check luggage for that flight?

Is it possible to check the luggage at T5 (and therefore take advantage of the T5 arrivals lounge before transferring over to T1) or does it all need to be done at T1?

Thanks all for any help you can offer.

 

[serfty]

If the front up at SYD with both tickets they should at least try to check their luggage through. The BA agent might or might not do it.

In any case I would allow a minumum of 3 hours at LHR to connect; possibly even 4.

Note the T5 Arrivals lounge has luggage storage.

 

[Dave Noble]

If the onward flight out of LHR is on EI then they will not check it through from SYD . BA policy is to only check through, if on a separate booking, if continuing onwards on a OW flight

You will need to collect the bags at T5 and make your way across to T1 in order to check in for the DUB flight.

I would suggest allowing at least 2 to 3 hours

If they have booked it as a single through itinerary , then BA will of course check the luggage through to DUB and they can just use the airside transfer

Dave

 

[jamesatfish]

Thanks Dave & Serfty,

The tickets will be booked separately (SYD-LHR on QF points and LHR-DUB cash) so I don't think joining the two bookings will work. I'll just allow 4 hours in LHR for the transfers and it looks like they'll have to get their own bags from T5 to T1.

Thanks again.

 

[Dave Noble]

Thanks Dave & Serfty,

The tickets will be booked separately (SYD-LHR on QF points and LHR-DUB cash) so I don't think joining the two bookings will work. I'll just allow 4 hours in LHR for the transfers and it looks like they'll have to get their own bags from T5 to T1.

Thanks again.

Joining the bookings does nothing more than provide visibility of the other booking; under the BA policy they will indeed have to collect the bags and make their own way

Given that Aer Lingus is a Qantas Partner for awards, couldn't you book the award all the way to DUB ; the poins costs might be a bit more, but will provide a protected , simpler journey

Dave

 

[jamesatfish]

Joining the bookings does nothing more than provide visibility of the other booking; under the BA policy they will indeed have to collect the bags and make their own way

Given that Aer Lingus is a Qantas Partner for awards, couldn't you book the award all the way to DUB ; the poins costs might be a bit more, but will provide a protected , simpler journey

I didn't book the LHR-DUB trip on points because I didn't look closely enough in the first instance to realise they were available.

I was booking online and searching SYD-DUB didn't return any flights around the dates we wanted, so I snagged two available F seats SYD-LHR and, after getting advice here about the connection times, booked the LHR-DUB legs just now with cash.

Of course I've just gone and searched LHR-DUB separately in the Qantas Points booking website after seeing your post and found plenty of flights available...

Given the LHR-DUB-LHR flights are non-refundable, I think the in-laws will just be stuck with the luggage carting and transfer times.

Thanks again for your advice.