I would feel comfortable leaving on the BA flight. Here is the deal:
Since you're arriving at 2pm you won't get a FastTrack pass as they are given-out in the morning, and its too late to use the Arrivals Lounge as well.
You exit the plane and follow the Flight Connections signs and right before entering Passport Control you make a hard right turn and follow the signs to the buses that will take you directly to T5. When you arrive at T5 you'll go through security again. There are two lines regular and business/1st class. I've always been able to just show my Upper Class Ticket stub and enter the business class/1st class line. Go to your gate. It took me exactly 30 minutes to get from plane door opening to my gate at T5 in Oct.
Just make sure you've printed your BA boarding pass prior to your Virgin Atlantic flight so you won't have to stop at the BA ticket desk at T5 prior to going to your gate.
I'll be doing this exact connection again in 3 weeks.
Good luck, don't stress.
Steve
Originally Posted by
SF_trotter
I am booked on a VS flight arriving LHR T3 at 14:00. I am looking at flight options to continue on to EDI after arrival.
I am flying Upper Class and will have only hand luggage.
The LHR-EDI flight options are:
15:55 British Airways flight from T5
16:25 BMI flight from T1
19:00 BMI flight from T1
My preference is for the 15:55 BA flight because it is cheapest. Will I be able to make that flight? Or should I book the 16:25 or even 19:00 flight?
I noticed that the minimum connection time for T3 -> T5 is 90 minutes, whereas T3 -> T1 is only 75 minutes. Is this because the T3 -> T5 queues are longer?
Finally, I assume I'd get some kind of Fast Track pass from VS since I'm traveling Upper Class -- will the Pass work in T1 and T5 immigration and security?
Thank you.