Transiting LHR: several random questions
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
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Transiting LHR: several random questions
I feel like airport transit issues come up often enough that perhaps there should even be a thread for it (but I'll leave that up to the powers that be). Anyways, here are mine:
1. UK APD; is there any way to get it refunded if the inbound and outbound flights are on different tickets? I booked a fare that was about to expire and when I called to modify the return to add a flight into the UK the price was wayyyy more than a o/w on BA.
2. When coming off of an overnight flight, I like to shower and eat. I have three options for this:
-Clear immigration, use AA arrivals lounge, check in again for my BA connection to CDG
-Use FCC and use the BA GF
-Book an earlier connection to CDG and just wait until I land there and get to my hotel rather than spending an extra 90-120min at LHR
This will be my first time doing this in some years (LHR is usually o/d or an overnight connection) and don't quite know which option people prefer. I'll be arriving on AA, so no access to BA CCR.
3. Only sort of AA-related, but on my return I'm flying an intra-Europe in Y into LGW; do they have Fast Track immigration and will they let me use the little AA sleeves they give out on the inbound LHR flights?
1. UK APD; is there any way to get it refunded if the inbound and outbound flights are on different tickets? I booked a fare that was about to expire and when I called to modify the return to add a flight into the UK the price was wayyyy more than a o/w on BA.
2. When coming off of an overnight flight, I like to shower and eat. I have three options for this:
-Clear immigration, use AA arrivals lounge, check in again for my BA connection to CDG
-Use FCC and use the BA GF
-Book an earlier connection to CDG and just wait until I land there and get to my hotel rather than spending an extra 90-120min at LHR
This will be my first time doing this in some years (LHR is usually o/d or an overnight connection) and don't quite know which option people prefer. I'll be arriving on AA, so no access to BA CCR.
3. Only sort of AA-related, but on my return I'm flying an intra-Europe in Y into LGW; do they have Fast Track immigration and will they let me use the little AA sleeves they give out on the inbound LHR flights?
#2
Join Date: May 2005
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1. You can only avoid paying the APD on a single ticket or on separate tickets issued in conjunction (and if they refer to each other).
2. I don't know how much time you have before your connecting BA flight but I'd head over to T5 just to make sure I clear security in time.
2. I don't know how much time you have before your connecting BA flight but I'd head over to T5 just to make sure I clear security in time.
#3
Join Date: Nov 2008
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The BA lounge would definitely be my preference.
#4
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Join Date: Jan 2002
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Just take the earliest flight and get to your destination and have a shower once there would be my recommendation if you were booked on a through ticket
Being on separate tickets, then you have no protection should you miss your onward flight and could be up for paying for another ticket from London to Paris. In this instance I would suggest heading straight to Terminal 5 and using the facilities in the 1st class lounge there. That way you are through security etc and no worries on how much time it will take to clear security from landside in Terminal 5
Dave
Being on separate tickets, then you have no protection should you miss your onward flight and could be up for paying for another ticket from London to Paris. In this instance I would suggest heading straight to Terminal 5 and using the facilities in the 1st class lounge there. That way you are through security etc and no worries on how much time it will take to clear security from landside in Terminal 5
Dave
#5
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: London
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We now know that AA does protect missed connections from OW to AA, and I have not seen any complaints of BA not protecting a missed connection from AA to BA (though I don't recall reports of successful protection either). So BA policy on this is uncertain.
#6
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They may choose to provide protection but it isn't something I would rely on personally; if it is not a fully flexible onward ticket, I would ensure enough time to avoid risk of having to purchase another ticket
#7
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Another vote for the Galleries South lounge complex at T5 for shower and lounge time--I'd suggest not wasting your time going landside. Others have said that they save time going landside, but I personally believe it's a total time vampire as the only free transfer to T5 is via the HEX, which runs every 15 minutes and takes about 4-5 to get there. Sure there are queues at flight connections, but once you get there you're put right into the security queue and into the terminal. Plus, the AA arrivals lounge is a dump compared to the Galleries First lounge at T5, and I find the showers about equal to the ones you'll find at the T5 south complex.
#8
Join Date: Oct 2005
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Here is the thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...rade-much.html
#9
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I was the guy and it is in the letter of the rules... that's why it was successful.
Here is the thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...rade-much.html
Here is the thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...rade-much.html
Cheers.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: London
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I was the guy and it is in the letter of the rules... that's why it was successful.
Here is the thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...rade-much.html
Here is the thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...rade-much.html
It sounds like the OP made the reservations themselves, which means that it would be outside the rules.
I think that the other case I recall reading was where someone made their own reservations.
#11
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I tried to call and have the flight added, like I mentioned, but not only were they having trouble with the add-on, the price for the segment was 5x BA.com's price.
#12
Original Poster
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Just take the earliest flight and get to your destination and have a shower once there would be my recommendation if you were booked on a through ticket
Being on separate tickets, then you have no protection should you miss your onward flight and could be up for paying for another ticket from London to Paris. In this instance I would suggest heading straight to Terminal 5 and using the facilities in the 1st class lounge there. That way you are through security etc and no worries on how much time it will take to clear security from landside in Terminal 5
Dave
Being on separate tickets, then you have no protection should you miss your onward flight and could be up for paying for another ticket from London to Paris. In this instance I would suggest heading straight to Terminal 5 and using the facilities in the 1st class lounge there. That way you are through security etc and no worries on how much time it will take to clear security from landside in Terminal 5
Dave
#13
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Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
The exact rule that applies when you have more than one ticket can be found in HM Revenue and Customs Reference Notice 550 paragraph 4.4:
The connected flights must be detailed on the same ticket or conjunction tickets to qualify for the exemption. Tickets can only be regarded as conjunction tickets if:
[...]
b. where they are in separate booklets:
each refers to the other and states that they are to be read in conjunction, or
there is a summary of the flights constituting the passengers journey including the flights in question.
Although the flights may meet all the other criteria for determining whether two flights are connected, they will only qualify for the exemption if the connection is evidenced on the ticket or a flight summary.
[...]
b. where they are in separate booklets:
each refers to the other and states that they are to be read in conjunction, or
there is a summary of the flights constituting the passengers journey including the flights in question.
Although the flights may meet all the other criteria for determining whether two flights are connected, they will only qualify for the exemption if the connection is evidenced on the ticket or a flight summary.
#14
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: London
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So in order to try and receive this favorable "interpretation" would I need to make the second set of flights through AA? Or could I make it through BA (with my AA #) and then call AA to have them link/reference the two itineraries?
I tried to call and have the flight added, like I mentioned, but not only were they having trouble with the add-on, the price for the segment was 5x BA.com's price.
I tried to call and have the flight added, like I mentioned, but not only were they having trouble with the add-on, the price for the segment was 5x BA.com's price.