LHR to LGW Transfer Time

[Va Bene]

Does anyone have some experience in the time it takes to get through Heathrow customs (in late Sept) then to Gatwick and the best method?
QF29 arrives at 13:30 (if on time) and we were looking at a flight from LGW at 17:40. If this is too risky, we will take one the next morning.
Thanks.

 

[NM]

Note that according to one of the FA's in F on QF29 when I took it at the end of May, QF29 does not get a docking gate about 80% of the time. So most of the time you end up at a remote stand and take a b*s to terminal 4 for processing. Assume this will add up to 30 mins to the process.

The immigration queue in May after arrival on QF29 was not long and I was outside the terminal about 60 mins after landing.

Last time I took a b*s from LHR to LGW (was back in 1999 when it was a free transfer for QF/BA customers), the ride took 90 mins around the M25. Similar b*s services operate today, but you have to pay for it now.

 

[Dave Noble]

The minimum connect time is 3 hours. Off peak , the bus ride from T4 to Gatwick is scheduled at 50 mins and runs every 15 minutes

4 hrs 10 minutes would seem a reasonable connection to me

Dave

 

[Commuter]

Back in May this year, I took a b*s from LHR to LGW, and it was about 90 min as NM said. The traffic was relatively heavy then, although not chockablock.

I found Clearing the immigration was less of a wait than the checked baggage. There was hardly any baggage coming off the flight I was on, even after I got through the immigration (probably about 20 min after pulling up at the gate). I think I waited about 45 min at the carousel to collect mine.

So, it's do-able to catch a flight from LGW 4 hours later (allowing 1 hour prior to departure for check-in), but if you aren't in any hurry, I would play on the safe side and go the next day. It is a bit tight.

 

[Dave Noble]

at that time of the afternoon, I would expect it to be a perfectly ok connection and well over the min and that the bus ride wouldnt be more than an hour

Also, if it is on a single ticketed itinerary, defiantely no reason to worry about it, if you did miss the connection they will put you on the next days flight anyway\

Dave

 

[dot]

Also, if it is on a single ticketed itinerary, defiantely no reason to worry about it, if you did miss the connection they will put you on the next days flight anyway\

Dave

If, however you need to collect a new boarding pass for your LGW flight, the lines there can be VERY long - esp if flying to the USA on a US carrier. If that's what you need to do, I think the time wil be tight, if you will already have your boarding pass then you should be ok.

btw - my worst checkin experience (ever) was AA First class checkin at LGW. The lines for J and Y checkins were horrific - the F agent said the Y line was taking three to three and a half hours! I've also flown BA out of LGW and their checkin was much smoother.

 

[NM]

My 90 mins b*s ride from LHR to LGW was following a QF9 early morning early morning arrival. So was probably leaving LHR around 8:00am, right in the morning peak on the M25.