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Connecting within T5
As it's my usual starting point, I've never transited through LHR. Now I need to do a straight in and out, all at T5, Boston-LHR-Bergen (which, I am now aware, is Norway).
The time between changes would be 1:45 which seems like enough to me, barring disaster (which I accept is always the caveat).
What are the logistics of transiting international-international at T5, assuming it'd be two different PNRs? Any way to avoid passport control?
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I think I'll take the chance. The thing I'm leaving in Boston can't finish sooner, while the thing I'm heading for in Norway can wait. Hopefully security may be less of a nightmare come April. I'm pretty nimble on my feet up the escalators, too.
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I did a transit at T5 for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I had a 95 minute connection which made me slightly nervous given all the horror stories I read on here.
But - at 6:30 one Monday evening I followed the signs for flight connections and it couldn't have been easier or quicker. I was literally the only one in the security check area and whisked through with plenty of time to hit the lounge.
Just make sure your baggage gets checked all the way through and you should be fine.
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Yes, through baggage will be key, but I'm optimistic BA can manage that even though it'll be 2 PNRs, and I'll keep enough in hand baggage in case my cases are less fleet of foot than I
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dubbin
What are the logistics of transiting international-international at T5, assuming it'd be two different PNRs? Any way to avoid passport control?
Slightly more detailed version:
- Purple signs to Flight Connections. However, you will probably arrive in T5B or T5C. It is just possible that your Bergen connection is in T5B (10% chance?), so just before you go down the escalator or lifts (faster) to the transits have a check at the standalone TV screen placed in the central area by the lifts/escalators to see if you can go through the Flight Connection centre in T5B. Follow those signs rather than the main Flight Connection signs for T5A.
- You arrive in T5A, head northwards, along from the UK Border. On the right hand side if you have fast track.
- Turn left into the Flight Connection area, bear rightwards if you have Fast Track, otherwise it is straight on.
- Boarding Pass and passport check by BA
- Conformance check by BAA
- Customs (ie you walk past a telephone)
- Security pre-check
- Escalator up to North Security
- Main security check
- Then you are airside and can go to the lounge, left for North Galleries Club, right if CCR, downwards for South Galleries Club and Flounge.
It really helps to have your boarding card already printed for Bergen, but if not there is a desk for collecting them on the right of main T5A Flight Connections, and at the front of T5B Flight Connections. The reason I say that is that if there are massive irrops the T5A desks get overwhelmed rebooking passengers, whereas your needs will only take a few seconds.
I'd be entirely comfortable with 1 hr 45 and 2 PNRs, something I do regularly.
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Thanks for that amazingly comprehensive answer, CWS. I had no idea T5B had its own connection hub - good to know. I'll definitely have my boarding pass printed, wrapped up in a printout of this thread!
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Just read about Yahillwe's troubles ... sounds like connecting is a nightmare at the moment.
How long does it generally take (at 6am, for a GCH), and is there any fast-track for pax with short connections?
6 am should be fairly quiet.
GCHs get a fast track flight connections (go to the far right hand side of the flight connections). This will lead you to fast track security as well, but here comes a bit of a snag.
However, I'm pretty convinced that non-fast track security lanes have a lesser chance of receiving a manual bag search, based on my last 10 occasions of going through LHR T5 security. Manual bag search can cause a delay of up to 30 min based on my observation, increasing the chance of misconnect enormously, although in your case you should be fine even with that, as long as your inbound is on time.
Remember to check the "Time Critical Connections" screen or other flight information displays particularly if you land at T5B or C, because you may be able to save yourself going back to T5A and then back out to B or C by going through security at B or C.
I recently had 105 minutes ORD-LHR-AMS, travelling CW, at about 7 AM in LHR with enough time to get a shower and a nice breakfast in the T5 (B?) lounge
As others have said, the biggest problem could be security, though unless your incoming flight is really late you should have no problem.
Of course the current security incompetence makes a bit of a nonsense of conformance, but that's another problem.
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Flight connections is usually fine-especially with fast track.
The mess, and slow bit, is having to reclear security, and that is a total joke at the moment.
