Ziz

Flying DUB-LHR-YYZ. The DUB-LHR sector departs at 13:00. Now deciding on the positioning flight from Heathrow. The two choices are:

BA832 arrives in DUB at 8:05
BA828 arrives in DUB at 10:55

I'd prefer to take the later flight both because the fare bucket is N and will get me the 10 TPs I need to be silver before my return (I'd like to be able to select a seat asap for free) and also because I've got a 1.5 hour bus journey to the airport, meaning a c. 4am wake up.

Is the 828 cutting it too close? There is one other flight after it that could work in the event that 828 is cancelled.

Also, will probably have a bag with me depending on whether they let me check it in for LHR-YYZ while I'm at Heathrow the first time.

Markie

You should be fine with the later flight as long as it runs to time. With a fair wind you can do the whole arrive, immigrate, customs, fast track, plane in about 20 minutes. If you don't have Fast Track at Dublin then you should still be OK as the regular security line can run to 30 minutes or so if a busy day.

JimEddie

If you are taking checked luggage on the positioning flight then personally I would leave as long a gap as possible to allow for delays, etc. Whilst this gives a longer layover in DUB it reduces the chances of you ending up doing a back-to-back flight where you wouldn't have time to collect your bag, check in again & get onto the flight.

Foltan

If you want to avoid dealing with the bag then you could always leave it in left luggage at T5 and then check it in once you've done the DUB turnaround - obviously this is assuming they've refused to let you check it in in advance, which they may or may not do. Also you'd need the requisite time at LHR for this as well.

Otherwise yes obviously 2 hours is more than enough time, but you can never be totally guaranteed when it comes to delays etc. That's the funny quirk of an HBO B2B because it shouldn't really matter if your flight is an hour or so late!

Markie

Very good point - I fear I assumed that, like me, everyone takes carry on!

JimEddie

I usually do, but that's largely because I try to do the positioning flight and the first leg back to LHR on one day and then start the "proper" journey the next day (with a night at home inbetween)

tgoldsmith

I completed same day staging on BA828 last week with little issue, although I was still slightly nervous of delays causing run-on problems until I was airside in DUB. It seems that 828 will invariably leave at least 30 minutes late from LHR but the actual travel time is around 55 minutes so generally only arrives a couple of minutes late most of the time.

However, my experience was made easier by being able to check in my TATL luggage at LHR (from 5am), which you can do with Gold or Silver status. You might be able to get away with that or maybe consider leaving your cases in left luggage for a tenner a bag if you have a decent enough amount of connection time back in Heathrow.

FWIW the transfer lane was open for me in DUB so without luggage I advise a quick run through to landside via immigration (e-passport) then back through. If you are having to take luggage, I'd advise the earlier flight.

Ziz

Will LHR let me check the bags at say 8:45am for a 1pm flight travelling CW but with only bronze status?

corporate-wage-slave

In theory yes, and definitely yes if it was the first flight on the trip. However if it is the second flight on the ticket, after DUB, then reports vary. Sometimes they will, sometimes not. So you best have a Plan B ready for a no decision (e.g. using the left luggage in Arrivals and rechecking again; or taking everything to DUB and rechecking there) or go hand baggage only.

nux

You've already asked this question in your previous thread and said it was "all booked" here?

Yes you should be able to as advised in your previous thread here.

Fruitcake

Sometimes it's good to get a second opinion.

Ziz

Thanks all for the advice. Just a newbie with some first time jitters!

Ziz

Sorry for another dumb question. But since it seems I will be able to drop bags at LHR before positioning to DUB (or using left baggage) I think a back to back would be the safest choice. Can I just confirm that BA834 and BA835 are back to backs?

corporate-wage-slave

Yes they are. There are several ways to find out, ba.com gives some hints but on destinations like DUB there is scope for mistakes there. So what you can do is go to flightradar24.com, search for BA834, click on a recent aircraft that served that route (making a mental note of the date), the aircraft history comes up and then see if BA835 is the next service on its history. Generally - but not always - you are looking for consecutive numbers, with the lower number being out of London. You will notice that on the current schedule that particular service has a relatively generous turnaround time too.

If you consider yourself risk adverse, not so fast on your feet, or maybe you don't have a European passport, then also consider an overnight. That's almost infallible since there is usually some mechanism of getting to DUB or BHD.

Ziz

Thanks so much CWS for the info on how to check back to backs in future. I did notice that the turnaround was 1h15, and looking at the B2B thread DUB only takes 30min to get through (I have an EU passport) I thought it seemed like perhaps a better choice than a 2 hour transfer with potential delay and/or a 3:30am start. I'd say I'm risk averse but pretty quick and spritely. Plus I have accumulated a lot of FT knowledge to help me on my journey .