Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Destinations > Europe > U.K. and Ireland
Reload this Page >

Connect through LHR from EU - immigration??

Connect through LHR from EU - immigration??

Old Apr 17, 2014, 9:51 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ATH/YYZ/TUS/BNE
Programs: AC*SE , DL, AA, VS
Posts: 154
Connect through LHR from EU - immigration??

Hey guys/gals,

Searched for an answer but couldn't find one specific enough.

I'll be flying VIE-LHR-IAD on OS/UA.
I have a 2 hour layover in LHR. Will I need to go through immigration upon landing in LHR from Vienna? Or can I stay airside to connect to my UA flight?

Thanks folks!!
Ghadji1 is offline  
Old Apr 17, 2014, 10:03 pm
  #2  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
Originally Posted by Ghadji1
Hey guys/gals,

Searched for an answer but couldn't find one specific enough.

I'll be flying VIE-LHR-IAD on OS/UA.
I have a 2 hour layover in LHR. Will I need to go through immigration upon landing in LHR from Vienna? Or can I stay airside to connect to my UA flight?

Thanks folks!!
No need to go through immigration/customs, but you will have to re-clear security.
Jasper2009 is offline  
Old Apr 18, 2014, 12:12 am
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ATH/YYZ/TUS/BNE
Programs: AC*SE , DL, AA, VS
Posts: 154
Originally Posted by Jasper2009
Quote:
No need to go through immigration/customs, but you will have to re-clear security.
Thanks!

So 2 hours should be ample time then eh?
Ghadji1 is offline  
Old Apr 18, 2014, 12:23 am
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Brussels BE
Programs: SEN, FB PLT, HH,
Posts: 105
Connect through LHR from EU - immigration??

Yes, enough.
Simon1 is offline  
Old Apr 18, 2014, 6:01 am
  #5  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,657
When are you flying?
If before June, OS arrives into T1 and UA departs from the same terminal.
As others have noted, you will re-clear security and two hours will be plenty of time for the connection.
From the LHR website: how to connect T1>T1
From the UA forum: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...2-onwards.html
If you are flying in June or after then, then UA will be the first carrier to operate out of the new T2 and other *A carriers will follow.
So, if you are flying early in June, you will have to go T1>T2.
UAPremExecflyer is offline  
Old Apr 18, 2014, 6:56 am
  #6  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,103
Originally Posted by Ghadji1
Hey guys/gals,

Searched for an answer but couldn't find one specific enough.

I'll be flying VIE-LHR-IAD on OS/UA.
I have a 2 hour layover in LHR. Will I need to go through immigration upon landing in LHR from Vienna? Or can I stay airside to connect to my UA flight?

Thanks folks!!
Usually you will not have to clear immigration/customs at LHR in such circumstances. The glaring exception is if the travel record/APIS/passport results in being flagged and they want to grab a passenger.

Airside transits of your sort at LHR involve re-clearing what can be a security screening zoo at LHR. Two hours at LHR is plenty now and it is plenty then.
GUWonder is offline  
Old Apr 19, 2014, 9:14 am
  #7  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Gold, BW Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,177
You'll have no immigration controls to deal with, but if you end up in a body scanner lane and wish to opt out things might get a little tight for time.
stifle is offline  
Old Apr 19, 2014, 11:17 pm
  #8  
Moderator, Hilton Honors
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,419
The exception to the above advice is if travel is on separate tickets. Then you'll need to clear immigration and customs and recheck in. In this case 2 hours is a bit tight (especially if travel is after UA moves to T2 when a change of terminals is also required).
Kiwi Flyer is offline  
Old Apr 20, 2014, 1:15 am
  #9  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer
The exception to the above advice is if travel is on separate tickets. Then you'll need to clear immigration and customs and recheck in. In this case 2 hours is a bit tight (especially if travel is after UA moves to T2 when a change of terminals is also required).
Id have to somewhat disagree with this. You dont need to a BP to re-clear security at LHR and the OP should be able to get their BP from UA at the transit desk.

The only exception would be if OS refused to check the bags all the way to IAD in which case the OP would have to clear immigration/customs and check in again. In that case I would indeed recommend a much longer connection.
Jasper2009 is offline  
Old Apr 20, 2014, 1:39 am
  #10  
Moderator, Hilton Honors
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,419
Originally Posted by Jasper2009
Id have to somewhat disagree with this. You dont need to a BP to re-clear security at LHR and the OP should be able to get their BP from UA at the transit desk.

The only exception would be if OS refused to check the bags all the way to IAD in which case the OP would have to clear immigration/customs and check in again. In that case I would indeed recommend a much longer connection.
Apologies - I assumed OP has bags to check.

These days many airlines do not check through to a separate ticket on another airline (sometimes not even for the same airline).
Kiwi Flyer is offline  
Old Apr 20, 2014, 1:48 am
  #11  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer
Apologies - I assumed OP has bags to check.

These days many airlines do not check through to a separate ticket on another airline (sometimes not even for the same airline).
No apologies required. The OP didnt say whether they had two separate tickets or not.

If it were two separate tickets, I would indeed recommend a longer connection, even if they didnt have checked baggage.

I often fly Europe-LHR-Canada/US on two separate tickets and always plan for at least a 3h connection even when travelling with hand baggage only (i.e. no need to go through immigration/customs), and despite that Ive not always made my connection. LHR can be a mess at times, but assuming the OP is booked on one ticket, there should be no problems.
Jasper2009 is offline  
Old Apr 20, 2014, 2:31 am
  #12  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Gold, BW Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,177
Originally Posted by Jasper2009
Id have to somewhat disagree with this. You dont need to a BP to re-clear security at LHR and the OP should be able to get their BP from UA at the transit desk.
That varies by terminal. You can't clear transit security at LHR T5 without a boarding pass now. That might well be the case in T2 too.

But we're going way into ifs, buts and maybes now
stifle is offline  
Old Apr 20, 2014, 7:01 am
  #13  
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM), France and TravelBuzz!
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Paris, France, AF F+ Rouge pour toujours, Flying Blue whatever, LH FTL, HHonors Gold, formerly proud SCC Executive, now IC Ambassador, BA down to nobody, Grand Voyageur Le Club
Posts: 12,399
Moving this thread to the UK & ROI forum. Thanks for your understanding.

Jouy31
TravelBuzz co-moderator
JOUY31 is offline  
Old Apr 20, 2014, 11:04 am
  #14  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
Originally Posted by stifle
That varies by terminal. You can't clear transit security at LHR T5 without a boarding pass now. That might well be the case in T2 too.

But we're going way into ifs, buts and maybes now
Sure, but the BA transit desk is right before transit security, so its a non-issue since one can easily obtain a BP.
Jasper2009 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.