Minimum time for stopover at Heathrow

[delsbells]

Hi,

I am planning a trip at the end of the year. I have to change planes at Heathrow. According to the one-world planner the time between flights is 90 minutes and this is too short for a Heathrow stopover. One plane in theory arrives at Terminal 5 at 11.00am and the next flight leaves Terminal 4 at 12.30pm? Would this be cutting it too fine? I am trying to get from Athens to Hong Kong but have to backtrack through Heathrow? Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

DB

 

[Evan]

I would not be comfortable with that. LHR can be a zoo ! and the bus trip alone takes 15-20 mins from memory. I never remember how long since i am usually feeling pretty average and looking for a shower when i transit.
I guess it could be done though, but the airlines wont protect you if you miss connect.
E

 

[NM]

Yes, I think that is too short for the T5->T4 transit. And if it is less than the defined Minimum Connection Time (MCT) then the airlines involved do not have to protect you if you don't make the connection.

Personally, I would be looking for 2 hr minimum and more like 2.5+ hrs.

 

[Commuter]

Ugh, I would recommend not to do it if it's under 2.5 hours, especially if you can't check your baggage through (which can be the case). It has taken me over 90 min from getting off the aircraft at T5 to reaching the check-in desk at T4 including going through immigration and picking up my baggage at T5 (which was a bit slow coming out despite a priority tag). I do quite frequent LHR connections and I would really not like to do it under 2.5 hours. You also need to remember that BA's OTP at LHR is not very good, so you may have even less than 90 min to connect to your onward flight.

If they can't check your bags through for whatever reason (including not knowing how to handle OneWorld flight connections - I find it happens at some European airports), it means you end up having to go through immigration and bag collection which could well take quite some time, and then catch a landside transport and change at T1,2,3 station.

If it's T5 to T5 I'd do it on 90min but not T5 to any other terminal - but T4 is especially bad if you can't use the airside bus due to bag not being checked through.

Also, BA's minimum connection time from T5 to another LHR terminal is 2 hours I think, according to the boardung pass holder I got from them.

 

[sng1971]

I agree with everyone else - not worth the risk.

In August I had to do a T4 to T5 connection and had 3.5 hours. As my bags couldn't be booked through to Zurich, I had to clear customs at T4 (after waiting an hour for my bags), transfer accross to T5, then recheck for my Zurich flights.

I literally walked into the BA lounge when they called my flight.

If you can check your bags through, and not have to change terminals, 90 mins would probably be enough.

 

[Starship]

Hi,

Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

DB

My advice is avoid Heathrow. Have not had the pleasure of T5, but agree that any Terminal change can be just that - Terminal! (Just caught a flight from T2 - sprinting to the gate, after a tfr from T4, then spent 3 days in Vienna waiting for my luggage - which caught up with me in HK 2 days later - the night before I was flying back to Australia ).

My suggestion [not knowing who you are flying] is to fly Athens / Frankfurt / HK. FRA is so much easier than LHR - and i recall i have flown QF FRA to HK [and Cathay does it too - as well as Lufthansa if you are flying Star Alliance].

In fact, if you want connections in Europe, Star Alliance using Lufthansa is cheaper / more effective on a RTW (purely because of the cost of an individual Lufthansa leg is v expensive if purchased separately, but they have some of the better connections).

 

[Tortuga]

Anyone here familiar with the minimum time for transit between arrival in LAX International Terminal B; and departure from LAX domestic? The flight arrives at approximately 7:30am at LAX. What would be the minimum departure time that you would be happy to take on a domestic flight departing LAX. Keeping in mind luggage would have to be transferred?

 

[browski]

I am trying to get from Athens to Hong Kong but have to backtrack through Heathrow? Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

DB

If it were me , I would avoid the backtracking to London altogether.

Instead I would do either:

1. ATH-DXB on EK 106 3.50pm-10.05pm (4.15 hours flight)
Then DXB-HKG on CX738 1.15am-12.20pm (7 hours)
All up, total travel time is 14.5 hours. I know EK is not One World.

or

2. ATH-AMM on RJ132 4.10pm-6.15pm
Then AMM-BKK on RJ 180 12.55am - 2.25pm
Then BKK-HKG on CX 712 4.25pm-8.00pm
Total travel time is 21 hours, but at least all on One World. 6 hours at Amman airport might be a tad boring but at least your luggage will have an infinitely better chance than via a LHR transit. If you depart Athens on a Saturday it can all be done on Royal Jordanian in an hour less time (20 hours). Same plane from AMM-BKK-HKG

or (a slight back track)

3. ATH-FCO on AZ717 6.55am-8.10am
Then FCO-HKG on CX292 12.25pm-6.50am
Total Travel Time is 18 hours. It can be done quicker if you choose ATH-FCO using Air One but at least Alitalia is "QFF earning" even though not One World Partner.

 

[NM]

Anyone here familiar with the minimum time for transit between arrival in LAX International Terminal B; and departure from LAX domestic? The flight arrives at approximately 7:30am at LAX. What would be the minimum departure time that you would be happy to take on a domestic flight departing LAX. Keeping in mind luggage would have to be transferred?

Assuming the connection is from QF to AA and on the same itinerary, I would be aiming for about 2.5 hours to be comfortable. However, it would depend on where my domestic flight was destined and how many alternates there are that day in case I was delayed and missed the flight.

 

[serfty]

Anyone here familiar with the minimum time for transit between arrival in LAX International Terminal B; and departure from LAX domestic? The flight arrives at approximately 7:30am at LAX. What would be the minimum departure time that you would be happy to take on a domestic flight departing LAX. Keeping in mind luggage would have to be transferred?

While the "luggage being transferred" involves lugging it no more than 30 metres; I would still allow at least two hours, preferably 3 or more.

After C&I at LAX you end up land side and still have to go back through security to get to your domestic flight's gate.

 

[Starship]

Assuming the connection is from QF to AA and on the same itinerary, I would be aiming for about 2.5 hours to be comfortable. However, it would depend on where my domestic flight was destined and how many alternates there are that day in case I was delayed and missed the flight.

I agree NM. Arrived at Bradley on QF 93 (approx 7.30) and transferring to an AA Sacramento flight for 9.15 - and missed it with slow passport control and then 'rescanning' for domestic TSA security. I would allow at least 2.5 hours.

Made the decision then to either - fly direct to SFO, or if via LAX - hire a car and drive up (enjoying the scenery), as it is easier and faster than waiting for the late PM flight to Sacramento. And while the traffic up to Valencia via the San Bernadino valley is the hardest part of the journey - prefer 7 hours in the car rather than sitting around LAX. And i arrive about the same time, if not earlier.