LHR Transit
Jun 22, 2016, 3:55 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,109
MCT is 90 minutes. This is realistic, you will likely take about 60 minutes (less if you move fast and the buses are with you) to arrive airside at T5. Bear in mind there is a security check at T5 with the usual liquid restrictions.
You will likely have a short time in the T5 lounge. Note that the aircraft door for a BA flight will close at T-20 minutes, do not be late. If you are in the GF lounge, gates in the 14-18 sort of range are within 5 minutes walk of the lounge, 1-10 are more like 10 minutes. Ask the lounge entrance staff for the expected gate of your lounge.
Not necessarily. If your bags are checked through, DO NOT go landside for this, instead follow signs at T3 for "Flight connections" and take the airside bus to T5. CX251 may well arrive early, so you'll have a couple of hours at least in the T5 GF this way.
If you have to get your bags because of the unhelpful new OW policy causing your bags not to be checked through, then you do have to use the HEX (or Tube with contactless or Oyster card), and you will likely take about 75 minutes to arrive airside at T5.
Keep your CX boarding pass to show the lounge staff to assure entry to GF rather than GC. If you want a shower, ask at the desk to the right as you arrive on the GF entrance level before you go in the lounge, you may have to wait a little while.
You will likely have a short time in the T5 lounge. Note that the aircraft door for a BA flight will close at T-20 minutes, do not be late. If you are in the GF lounge, gates in the 14-18 sort of range are within 5 minutes walk of the lounge, 1-10 are more like 10 minutes. Ask the lounge entrance staff for the expected gate of your lounge.
If you have to get your bags because of the unhelpful new OW policy causing your bags not to be checked through, then you do have to use the HEX (or Tube with contactless or Oyster card), and you will likely take about 75 minutes to arrive airside at T5.
Keep your CX boarding pass to show the lounge staff to assure entry to GF rather than GC. If you want a shower, ask at the desk to the right as you arrive on the GF entrance level before you go in the lounge, you may have to wait a little while.
Last edited by flatlander; Jun 22, 2016 at 3:58 pm Reason: If bags
Jun 24, 2016, 7:01 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: OneWorld Emerald (BA GGL), *A Silver (Miles & Less), Skyteam Pleb (KLM FlyingBlue), Mucci Platinum
Posts: 904
Why in the world would you want to queue to get through immigration, and then take the very long way round via the Heathrow Express?! It's so much quicker taking the airside connections bus straight into T5.
Jun 24, 2016, 7:05 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
Because the OP needs to collect their baggage in the case it doesn't get through checked - highly likely given new oneworld/CX policy.
Jun 24, 2016, 7:05 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: OneWorld Emerald (BA GGL), *A Silver (Miles & Less), Skyteam Pleb (KLM FlyingBlue), Mucci Platinum
Posts: 904
However, that means by the time you get to the lounge it may be as late as 6:30am, after the first wave of early morning arrivals, which may mean you need to wait for a shower (bear in mind they are pretty basic showers, but better than nothing if you need to freshen up ahead of your connecting flight).
Jun 26, 2016, 2:02 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX Gold, QF Bronze
Posts: 735
That should be more than enough time. Including the long walks and waiting for the bus, it should be about 30 minutes max from your gate to T5. Assuming you hit early morning security rush hour at T5, it'll be another 15 minutes or so.
However, that means by the time you get to the lounge it may be as late as 6:30am, after the first wave of early morning arrivals, which may mean you need to wait for a shower (bear in mind they are pretty basic showers, but better than nothing if you need to freshen up ahead of your connecting flight).
However, that means by the time you get to the lounge it may be as late as 6:30am, after the first wave of early morning arrivals, which may mean you need to wait for a shower (bear in mind they are pretty basic showers, but better than nothing if you need to freshen up ahead of your connecting flight).
Jun 26, 2016, 2:55 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,019
If your luggage is not checked thru you would need to go thru immigration (quick if you have an EU passport, otherwise could be much longer), then wait for your luggage, take it to the Heathroiw Express station (quite a walk), wait for the train, quick train ride, walk to T5 check in and check in there, then go trhu security and immigration again.
With access to the premium lines, priority bags etc you should be in the lounge in around 90 min after deplaning if things go reasonably well. With long lines it easily could be far over 2 hours.
Could you connect somewhere else?
With access to the premium lines, priority bags etc you should be in the lounge in around 90 min after deplaning if things go reasonably well. With long lines it easily could be far over 2 hours.
Could you connect somewhere else?
Oct 27, 2019, 7:29 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2018
Programs: CX ows, DL E+
Posts: 188
Really depends on which passport you're holding and transiting to where.
Oct 27, 2019, 12:43 pm
#13
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,799
Oct 27, 2019, 3:40 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,019
If you don't have checked luggage pr your luggage is checked thru (usually when both flights are on the same ticket) you can do the international - international transfer.
With luggage on separate tickets you might need to go thru immigration, pick up the luggage, schlep yourself and the luggage to check in, go thru security and immigration again. I believe you will need a regular visa (depends on your passport country) in that case.
With luggage on separate tickets you might need to go thru immigration, pick up the luggage, schlep yourself and the luggage to check in, go thru security and immigration again. I believe you will need a regular visa (depends on your passport country) in that case.
Oct 27, 2019, 4:31 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,016
If you don't have checked luggage or your luggage is checked thru (usually when both flights are on the same ticket) you can do the international - international transfer.
With luggage on separate tickets you might need to go thru immigration, pick up the luggage, schlep yourself and the luggage to check in, go thru security and immigration again. I believe you will need a regular visa (depends on your passport country) in that case.
With luggage on separate tickets you might need to go thru immigration, pick up the luggage, schlep yourself and the luggage to check in, go thru security and immigration again. I believe you will need a regular visa (depends on your passport country) in that case.
All flights on 1 ticket? From where to LHR to where? (Noting this is CX forum)
Wanting to do airside transit, without formally entering UK?
Airlines use TIMATIC to determine requirements
Many sources, including UA's ---> https://www.united.com/web/en-US/app...aspx?i=TIMATIC