LHR Transit (T3 to T5) - Seperate OW Tickets

[jboy90]

Hi everyone

I'm after your thoughts and suggestions on my situation. Later this year, I'll be flying from Aus to LHR arriving LHR on CX255 (QF reward - J), and then onto Reykjavik on BA800 (BA revenue - Y).

CX255 is scheduled to arrive at 6:20 am at T3 (and seems to be fairly on time based on the flight stats I've looked at), and BA800 is scheduled to depart at 11:20 am at T5. Given the one world changes, I now have to recheck bags at LHR.

1) I'm considering asking CX to move me to the earlier CX251 when I check in from Aus. I'm not expecting them to be flexible, but has anyone ever had any success with CX when on a QFF award flight?
2) What do you estimate the time from landing to getting through immigration and customs at T3 given I'll be in J? I've read mixed reviews about the fast track immigration line v normal immigration line...
3) When I last flew to LHR on QF they didn't provide arrival immigration forms inflight. Is this the same with CX (or did I just not get an arrival card onboard for some reason)?
4) In terms of terminal transfers, considering taking the heathrow express from T3 to T5 unless anyone knows a quicker way?
5) As far I've looked, there's no (paid or unpaid) bag re-tag service at LHR for transit passengers?
6) How likely do you think I am to make the transfer (I think it's 'easily' do able, but I'll still be stressing either way ). 5 hours seems enough even for LHR.

Sorry for all the questions - looking forward to responses. Thanks so much

 

[defurax]

My short answer is 5 hours is enough. No point stressing too much about it, worst case scenario you buy another BA flight or a very cheap LCC ticket to KEF and try and claim something from your travel insurance.

 

[anat0l]

1) I'm considering asking CX to move me to the earlier CX251 when I check in from Aus. I'm not expecting them to be flexible, but has anyone ever had any success with CX when on a QFF award flight?

No data from me (i.e. never tried it). I wouldn't rate your chances, but you can try.

2) What do you estimate the time from landing to getting through immigration and customs at T3 given I'll be in J? I've read mixed reviews about the fast track immigration line v normal immigration line...

At about 0620 in the morning, with a plethora of other flights arriving at around the same time... I mean, it could take all up about 1 hour to get out to landside.

The bottleneck will be the passport control. Normally fast track should "work" (it doesn't mean you will breeze through, but technically you should be going faster), but I've also seen it how fast track only has 2 officers doing the line whilst standard has 10 or 12 or some BS arrangement like that.

After the UK border, the rest is rather immaterial in terms of timing, unless you get benched at customs (even then, they don't tend to take up a lot of time).

Given that you have four hours to make it to T5 after landing, you should be fine. I'd panic a bit more if the CX flight starts getting delayed (not that will affect your arrival flow time, but basically it cuts down your transit time).

3) When I last flew to LHR on QF they didn't provide arrival immigration forms inflight. Is this the same with CX (or did I just not get an arrival card onboard for some reason)?

They should be handed out on board. I don't know why QF didn't give them to you last time, unless you were asleep when they went around with them.

Of course, you can also pickup the forms at passport control on arriving in LHR.

4) In terms of terminal transfers, considering taking the heathrow express from T3 to T5 unless anyone knows a quicker way?

In the old days, Flight Connections with their buses would have been faster. Now with the need to claim bags and recheck, HEX would be the easiest way.

5) As far I've looked, there's no (paid or unpaid) bag re-tag service at LHR for transit passengers?

No. (Not that I know what that is or if one even existed)

6) How likely do you think I am to make the transfer (I think it's 'easily' do able, but I'll still be stressing either way ). 5 hours seems enough even for LHR.

I'll put money on that you will be perfectly fine. Delays at HKG will start to push if they become significant. I'd say you could still make the connection even if you were cut down to 3 hours transit, or even 2.5 hours (the latter will be really pushing it, however).

 

[OATEK]

Hi everyone

I'm after your thoughts and suggestions on my situation. Later this year, I'll be flying from Aus to LHR arriving LHR on CX255 (QF reward - J), and then onto Reykjavik on BA800 (BA revenue - Y).

CX255 is scheduled to arrive at 6:20 am at T3 (and seems to be fairly on time based on the flight stats I've looked at), and BA800 is scheduled to depart at 11:20 am at T5. Given the one world changes, I now have to recheck bags at LHR.

1) I'm considering asking CX to move me to the earlier CX251 when I check in from Aus. I'm not expecting them to be flexible, but has anyone ever had any success with CX when on a QFF award flight?
2) What do you estimate the time from landing to getting through immigration and customs at T3 given I'll be in J? I've read mixed reviews about the fast track immigration line v normal immigration line...
3) When I last flew to LHR on QF they didn't provide arrival immigration forms inflight. Is this the same with CX (or did I just not get an arrival card onboard for some reason)?
4) In terms of terminal transfers, considering taking the heathrow express from T3 to T5 unless anyone knows a quicker way?
5) As far I've looked, there's no (paid or unpaid) bag re-tag service at LHR for transit passengers?
6) How likely do you think I am to make the transfer (I think it's 'easily' do able, but I'll still be stressing either way ). 5 hours seems enough even for LHR.

Sorry for all the questions - looking forward to responses. Thanks so much

I flew CX recently and they handed out immigration cards as we departed HKG, so if you don't see them ask for one.

Between 2 & 3 hours is a comfortable transfer time between T3 & T5, so you shouldn't worry as defurax said.

T5 is a confusing terminal for a first timer, as they have the main terminal and two satellites linked by train. Worth looking at the online info for T5, and working out where you flight will leave from as soon as practicable helps avoid a last minute rush.

 

[jboy90]

Thank you all for your assistance

I'll be sure to plan my transit at LHR carefully. I've been to T5 a few times but only transit - never checked in at T5 however. My plan is to do online checking for BA800 in the lounge at HKG so I can do right to the bag drop at T5 when I arrive.

If my flight from HKG is delayed, I'll be praying for a delay over 4 hours so I'm eligible for the EU261 compensation of 600euro which should more than cover a last minute ticket through to KEF later that day!

 

[anat0l]

If my flight from HKG is delayed, I'll be praying for a delay over 4 hours so I'm eligible for the EU261 compensation of 600euro which should more than cover a last minute ticket through to KEF later that day!

You mean a delay of four hours or greater on your BA flight?

If your CX flight is delayed, you will be entitled to no compensation under EU 261.

 

[jboy90]

You mean a delay of four hours or greater on your BA flight?

If your CX flight is delayed, you will be entitled to no compensation under EU 261.

Yes, my apologies, you're correct. Hopefully everything works out fine (sounds like it should)!