ARCHIVE: BA T5 <-> AA T3 transfer /connection at LHR / Heathrow
#811
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: OAK/SFO/SJC
Programs: AA Plat 2MM+, HHonors, Amtrak GuestRewards
Posts: 1,158
I can see the advice here is to avoid 90-minute T5-T3 connections. That said...
In early September, I'll be flying CPT-LHR-ORD. I have the choice of a 90-minute connection to AA's maybe more-lightly-loaded 7:45 am LHR-ORD, or a 6-hour connection to the 12:15 pm departure (coming from J on the CPT-LHR flight to Y on LHR-ORD on a mileage ticket). Right now, I took the longer connection, figure I'll give myself a lounge tour, get some tea at the Harrod's store, read the British tabloids, etc.
Would you roll the dice on a 90-minute early-morning T5-T3 transfer?
In early September, I'll be flying CPT-LHR-ORD. I have the choice of a 90-minute connection to AA's maybe more-lightly-loaded 7:45 am LHR-ORD, or a 6-hour connection to the 12:15 pm departure (coming from J on the CPT-LHR flight to Y on LHR-ORD on a mileage ticket). Right now, I took the longer connection, figure I'll give myself a lounge tour, get some tea at the Harrod's store, read the British tabloids, etc.
Would you roll the dice on a 90-minute early-morning T5-T3 transfer?
#812
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSY (finally); previously NYC, BOS, AUH
Programs: AA EXP, 6MM; BA GLD
Posts: 17,198
I can see the advice here is to avoid 90-minute T5-T3 connections. That said...
In early September, I'll be flying CPT-LHR-ORD. I have the choice of a 90-minute connection to AA's maybe more-lightly-loaded 7:45 am LHR-ORD, or a 6-hour connection to the 12:15 pm departure (coming from J on the CPT-LHR flight to Y on LHR-ORD on a mileage ticket). Right now, I took the longer connection, figure I'll give myself a lounge tour, get some tea at the Harrod's store, read the British tabloids, etc.
Would you roll the dice on a 90-minute early-morning T5-T3 transfer?
In early September, I'll be flying CPT-LHR-ORD. I have the choice of a 90-minute connection to AA's maybe more-lightly-loaded 7:45 am LHR-ORD, or a 6-hour connection to the 12:15 pm departure (coming from J on the CPT-LHR flight to Y on LHR-ORD on a mileage ticket). Right now, I took the longer connection, figure I'll give myself a lounge tour, get some tea at the Harrod's store, read the British tabloids, etc.
Would you roll the dice on a 90-minute early-morning T5-T3 transfer?
#813
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,215
I can see the advice here is to avoid 90-minute T5-T3 connections. That said...
In early September, I'll be flying CPT-LHR-ORD. I have the choice of a 90-minute connection to AA's maybe more-lightly-loaded 7:45 am LHR-ORD, or a 6-hour connection to the 12:15 pm departure (coming from J on the CPT-LHR flight to Y on LHR-ORD on a mileage ticket). Right now, I took the longer connection, figure I'll give myself a lounge tour, get some tea at the Harrod's store, read the British tabloids, etc.
Would you roll the dice on a 90-minute early-morning T5-T3 transfer?
In early September, I'll be flying CPT-LHR-ORD. I have the choice of a 90-minute connection to AA's maybe more-lightly-loaded 7:45 am LHR-ORD, or a 6-hour connection to the 12:15 pm departure (coming from J on the CPT-LHR flight to Y on LHR-ORD on a mileage ticket). Right now, I took the longer connection, figure I'll give myself a lounge tour, get some tea at the Harrod's store, read the British tabloids, etc.
Would you roll the dice on a 90-minute early-morning T5-T3 transfer?
a) stress if the process is very tight - only you will know your attitude to or tolerance of this,
b) uncertainty of when the next available flight will be - there are lots of OW flights to ORD and early September is not particularly peak so it's probably ok, and
c) you making it but your bag not - this is possible but unlikely. The most likely scenario is that both make it with some comfort, the next most likely scenario is that the inbound is late so you both miss it with comfort...
#814
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LBA
Programs: KLM FB Gold, LH M&M
Posts: 451
Going BA domestic-AA international, T5 -> T3, all on BA ticket
LBA-LHR, LHR-LAX, 3 hr layover
I presume all boarding passes are issued at LBA by BA staff, and bags checked through.
AT LHR, do I need to stay airside and follow signs for Flight Connections?
Or just get the bus to T3 and either check-in with AA as normal, or go straight to security if I have a boarding pass for AA.
LBA-LHR, LHR-LAX, 3 hr layover
I presume all boarding passes are issued at LBA by BA staff, and bags checked through.
AT LHR, do I need to stay airside and follow signs for Flight Connections?
Or just get the bus to T3 and either check-in with AA as normal, or go straight to security if I have a boarding pass for AA.
#815
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA, U2+, SK, AF/KL, IHG, Hilton, others gathering dust...
Posts: 2,551
Going BA domestic-AA international, T5 -> T3, all on BA ticket
LBA-LHR, LHR-LAX, 3 hr layover
I presume all boarding passes are issued at LBA by BA staff, and bags checked through.
AT LHR, do I need to stay airside and follow signs for Flight Connections?
Or just get the bus to T3 and either check-in with AA as normal, or go straight to security if I have a boarding pass for AA.
LBA-LHR, LHR-LAX, 3 hr layover
I presume all boarding passes are issued at LBA by BA staff, and bags checked through.
AT LHR, do I need to stay airside and follow signs for Flight Connections?
Or just get the bus to T3 and either check-in with AA as normal, or go straight to security if I have a boarding pass for AA.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...-how-long.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...nnections.html
#816
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New York
Programs: AA Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 592
T3 to T5
Looking into flying BA from Marseilles to LHR to JFK. Flight from Marseilles arrives at T3. Flight to JFK departs from T5. It will be my wife and I, and our two young children (3 and 5). We will be in either business or first.
Is this going to be a pain in the *ss to accomplish? Should we look into other european cities for connections? Problem is award availability.
This is not until next june. Any chance that BA moves that Marseille flight to terminal 5?
Is this going to be a pain in the *ss to accomplish? Should we look into other european cities for connections? Problem is award availability.
This is not until next june. Any chance that BA moves that Marseille flight to terminal 5?
#817
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Looking into flying BA from Marseilles to LHR to JFK. Flight from Marseilles arrives at T3. Flight to JFK departs from T5. It will be my wife and I, and our two young children (3 and 5). We will be in either business or first.
Is this going to be a pain in the *ss to accomplish? Should we look into other european cities for connections? Problem is award availability.
This is not until next june. Any chance that BA moves that Marseille flight to terminal 5?
Is this going to be a pain in the *ss to accomplish? Should we look into other european cities for connections? Problem is award availability.
This is not until next june. Any chance that BA moves that Marseille flight to terminal 5?
#818
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,095
I can see the advice here is to avoid 90-minute T5-T3 connections. That said...
In early September, I'll be flying CPT-LHR-ORD. I have the choice of a 90-minute connection to AA's maybe more-lightly-loaded 7:45 am LHR-ORD, or a 6-hour connection to the 12:15 pm departure (coming from J on the CPT-LHR flight to Y on LHR-ORD on a mileage ticket). Right now, I took the longer connection, figure I'll give myself a lounge tour, get some tea at the Harrod's store, read the British tabloids, etc.
Would you roll the dice on a 90-minute early-morning T5-T3 transfer?
In early September, I'll be flying CPT-LHR-ORD. I have the choice of a 90-minute connection to AA's maybe more-lightly-loaded 7:45 am LHR-ORD, or a 6-hour connection to the 12:15 pm departure (coming from J on the CPT-LHR flight to Y on LHR-ORD on a mileage ticket). Right now, I took the longer connection, figure I'll give myself a lounge tour, get some tea at the Harrod's store, read the British tabloids, etc.
Would you roll the dice on a 90-minute early-morning T5-T3 transfer?
You will clear security in T3 which will be quiet at that time in the morning.
Note that you do NOT need to go T5A to catch the bus to T3. You can get it from T5B. See here (despite the somewhat mistitled thread there).
If you do choose to hang out in T3 for a few hours, it's quite alright. The AA lounge mostly sucks, but the BA and CX lounges are better. The main terminal area is OK as well.
#819
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP...couple hotels and cars too
Posts: 4,548
Looking into flying BA from Marseilles to LHR to JFK. Flight from Marseilles arrives at T3. Flight to JFK departs from T5. It will be my wife and I, and our two young children (3 and 5). We will be in either business or first.
Is this going to be a pain in the *ss to accomplish? Should we look into other european cities for connections? Problem is award availability.
This is not until next june. Any chance that BA moves that Marseille flight to terminal 5?
Is this going to be a pain in the *ss to accomplish? Should we look into other european cities for connections? Problem is award availability.
This is not until next june. Any chance that BA moves that Marseille flight to terminal 5?
Just watch connecting times- dont cut it so close to the MCTs, and it will be easy. Odds are you'll have plenty of time in the lounges too.
#820
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: SIN
Programs: EK Blue, EY Guest, AA, QR
Posts: 288
I am planning on making a landside transit during a 12 hour layover at LHR.
I would like to ask if anyone can recall whether the flight connections center in T3 can be accessed from the border control posts?
In T5, they are right next to each other. In other words if the border agent wants a boarding pass before allowing entry, you can get it right there in case you did not get it at the Port of departure
Thanks
I would like to ask if anyone can recall whether the flight connections center in T3 can be accessed from the border control posts?
In T5, they are right next to each other. In other words if the border agent wants a boarding pass before allowing entry, you can get it right there in case you did not get it at the Port of departure
Thanks
#821
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,467
I am planning on making a landside transit during a 12 hour layover at LHR.
I would like to ask if anyone can recall whether the flight connections center in T3 can be accessed from the border control posts?
In T5, they are right next to each other. In other words if the border agent wants a boarding pass before allowing entry, you can get it right there in case you did not get it at the Port of departure
I would like to ask if anyone can recall whether the flight connections center in T3 can be accessed from the border control posts?
In T5, they are right next to each other. In other words if the border agent wants a boarding pass before allowing entry, you can get it right there in case you did not get it at the Port of departure
It's a different set up to T5, T3 doesn't have Ready To Fly, which is a cast iron system which regulates the whole flying and baggage process of T5, instead T3 uses Positive Boarding, with a much lighter touch. You can go through Flight Connection security without a boarding pass and then collect it in the main hall area, though I can see with that timeframe you are not going to be doing that.
#822
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP...couple hotels and cars too
Posts: 4,548
I am planning on making a landside transit during a 12 hour layover at LHR.
I would like to ask if anyone can recall whether the flight connections center in T3 can be accessed from the border control posts?
In T5, they are right next to each other. In other words if the border agent wants a boarding pass before allowing entry, you can get it right there in case you did not get it at the Port of departure
Thanks
I would like to ask if anyone can recall whether the flight connections center in T3 can be accessed from the border control posts?
In T5, they are right next to each other. In other words if the border agent wants a boarding pass before allowing entry, you can get it right there in case you did not get it at the Port of departure
Thanks
Year ago I was dumb enough- when asked by a UK border agent, "so what are you plans for the UK?" - to say, "just want to check it out, grab a shower and breakfast at the arrivals lounge before heading to Germany...to which he said 'you will not be entering the UK today' and directed me to turn around and head to flight connections.
#823
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: SIN
Programs: EK Blue, EY Guest, AA, QR
Posts: 288
An FYI-
Year ago I was dumb enough- when asked by a UK border agent, "so what are you plans for the UK?" - to say, "just want to check it out, grab a shower and breakfast at the arrivals lounge before heading to Germany...to which he said 'you will not be entering the UK today' and directed me to turn around and head to flight connections.
Year ago I was dumb enough- when asked by a UK border agent, "so what are you plans for the UK?" - to say, "just want to check it out, grab a shower and breakfast at the arrivals lounge before heading to Germany...to which he said 'you will not be entering the UK today' and directed me to turn around and head to flight connections.
#824
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,927
Year ago I was dumb enough- when asked by a UK border agent, "so what are you plans for the UK?" - to say, "just want to check it out, grab a shower and breakfast at the arrivals lounge before heading to Germany...to which he said 'you will not be entering the UK today' and directed me to turn around and head to flight connections.
What possible grounds would he have to deny you entry? Was there something else, maybe you looked especially scruffy or were traveling on a passport from Sudan or Syria?
#825
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: SIN
Programs: EK Blue, EY Guest, AA, QR
Posts: 288
One is not supposed to do a landside transit without visa for sightseeing, shopping etc., the "reason" has to be something related to the actual transit process such as rechecking bags, sleeping at a hotel overnight etc.