QF09 Arr 0540, BA304 Dep 0725

[ricee007]

Howdy,

Looking at hopefully flying in on QF9 arriving at hopefully 0540 in September.... then would hope to catch the BA flight leaving from a completely different terminal at 0725.

This is above minimum connection times... but, is it likely to be enough?

Are BA ever sympathetic to missing connections? (see, eg, missed a QF flight because my Jet* flight, on a different PNR, was late... and QF just chucked me on the next available).

I haven't worked it out if it would be best for me to purchase:
A Flexible
A cheap £92 flight that I want
Risk it, and buy a ticket when I get to the airport (or, perhaps, the day before if I know I"ll get on the plane)...

But, if that just isn't enough time, then I won't bother with the 92GBP

This would be a T3 to T5 change over.

 

[Boris spatsky]

I would think that it is highly likely that you would miss your connection, based on heightened security at Heathrow for olympics and paralympics. Even normally, that could be tight. Which terminal is the departure from?

 

[moa999]

Presumably a T3 to T5 transfer.

The bus on this route is quick (a relatively direct route using a tunnel).
Should be enough time, particularly at that early hour, when Flight Connections shouldnt be too busy (given QF9 is one of the first arrivals).

Can you book on same PNR?

 

[ozmille]

Changes that QF9 are on time are pretty slim as well. I have done the 5:40 arrival (which was late and got in at 6) and a connection to BRU at 6:50. That was in J and all on the one ticket though so I would have been protected in case of further delay...

 

[ricee007]

Presumably a T3 to T5 transfer.

The bus on this route is quick (a relatively direct route using a tunnel).
Should be enough time, particularly at that early hour, when Flight Connections shouldnt be too busy (given QF9 is one of the first arrivals).

Can you book on same PNR?

Thanks.

Can't book on PNR, as one will be a standby ticket and one will be a paid ticket

I'm worried that given it's so early there won't be many immigration counters open... so, the fact that not many planes are coming in will be offset by the lack of staff....\

Boris, when I get there, it'll be after the olympics (September), if that helps?

ozmile, yea, I'm worried about QF9 being late.... even 20 minutes late would be a pain in the cough as that only leaves 85 minutes..... to deplane (potentially economy A380), pick up bags, go through immigration, transfer terminals, check in, check baggage....

I'm open to more opinions.

It's quite a tough decision, and I'm not sure which option is best
Buy cheapest ticket for the flight out of LHR that I hope to get
Book a flexi ticket for the flight out of LHR that I hope to get, at 2.5 times the prices
Buy a fare on the day from the airport (though, would increase time needed.... and probably expensive) - BUT, i MAY know that I'll make my standby flight the night before, and then buy the ticket online.

 

[JohnPhelan]

I would be taking a later flight ex-LHR. QF9 is very often late. Add the terminal transfer and no, I wouldn't risk it.

If the BA flight is on the same PNR as the QF flight, then BA will move you to a later flight if your QF incoming is late. If it's on a different PNR, then it's your problem, not theirs.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Paralympics runs until 9 September. My UK friends tell me that the security measures will continue at Heathrow until at least mid September.

 

[ricee007]

Paralympics runs until 9 September. My UK friends tell me that the security measures will continue at Heathrow until at least mid September.

Dang, leaning towards not booking it

But, I do have a British passport (and an AU passport), and I am hoping to sit in business class.....

Sigh, decisions, decisions, decisions.

 

[greenfish]

So did you give up on buying a J return and asking for a refund of the return segment?

 

[greenfish]

Why not buy a non flexi for later in the day, and just ask nicely to transfer to the earlier flight if you do make it on time? Worst case, you save money, best case, you save some money and make the flight you want...

 

[whatmeworry]

I think just the fact that one of your tickets is standby, makes nearly impossible to book a early cheapie ticket now.

IMO your are better off booking a later flight, seeing that your journey is not on one PNR.

Its very stressful when you have to book separate tickets and hope the travel gods are on your side.

 

[JohnK]

I'm open to more opinions.

It's quite a tough decision, and I'm not sure which option is best

If in doubt book a later flight. I would leave at least 3 hours for the connection.

 

[whatmeworry]

There are over a dozen flights to CDG on that day. Like JohnK said, 3 hours is probably the minimum.

 

[TheInsider]

Also you do not have to re-check your baggage in, QF can tag it though (if its a OW carrier).

 

[ricee007]

Also you do not have to re-check your baggage in, QF can tag it though (if its a OW carrier).

Unfortunately, I almost certainly can't.

whatmeworry, unfortunately, we only have the *one* day in Paris, and the family I am travelling with (and I, mind you) wish to go to Versaille.... so, I'd love to catch the plane departing at 0725 in the morning, if it was at all possible. Which really makes it a pain in the butt to book a later flight, and expect BA to be nice and let me go earlier.

So, not sure if I should:
rely on their niceness and book an earlier flight, hope to catch it, if not, rely on generosity to rebook to a later flight.... or, rely on their niceness, book a later flight, and hope to catch the earlier flight.

Of course, this is all mute if I don't get my original QF9 flight in the first place (because of going standby).

greenfish, the consensus in that thread, and the two friends that I asked, seemed to be that they would make me pay the £500 if I tried to cancel (so, only refund like £40 of the £270). So, one way would cost £500 v a £100 economy ticket... The flexible business at £270 would be a bargain that I Would jump on, if I knew I could get the return leg refunded.

 

[Simo]

Book a flight that you know will get and see if they can put you on the earlier flight or pay a small difference if they insist.

2 hours could be tight in SYD sometimes if you have to rebook to your next flight but I have not been to LHR