Thanks
 

Thanks for all of the valuable replies. Will I have access to CX lounge if my SWU doesn't go through and I'm economy but Concierge Key? I assume no.

And in T5 as a CK on an economy BA ticket will I be able to bring wife into lounge there?

thanks.

Thanks
 

Thanks for all of the valuable replies. Will I have access to CX lounge if my SWU doesn't go through and I'm economy but Concierge Key? I assume no.

And in T5 as a CK on an economy BA ticket will I be able to bring wife into lounge there?

thanks.

Yes.

Yes. You'll have access to Galleries First, plus one guest.

Executive Platinums can access OneWorld first class lounges, with one guest, when flying on an international itinerary on any OneWorld carrier, regardless of class of service. I'm assuming CK gets at least the same lounge access privilege as EXP, but I don't know for sure. This would entitle you to the BA first class lounge in T5.

Maybe read your CK membership materials?

Concierge Keys have Oneworld Emerald status. So yes, access to any oneworld F lounge with one guest.

I've had a search and can't find an answer to this so hoping someone can help.

I'm arriving on a BA flight from EDI at 0930. I'm then departing to JFK on AA at 1700.

They are separate tickets so my bag won't be checked through (I'll try my luck in EDI but expecting it to be no) but will I be able to check in and drop a bag for the AA flight after arriving from EDI?

I'm expecting the AA counter to be open but curious if they'll accept bags that early. Thank you!

What is the meaning of "transfer security"? I have just the opposite transfer to make in two days.

And does one have to clear security twice if taking the connection bus? Have 2.5 hrs to connect. Was hopeful to spend a little time in CE F lounge as well.

If you are doing a T5->T3 transfer, you will have to clear security once - when you arrive at T3. If you need to go back to T5, you will clear security again at T5.


In my case, I arrive into T3 and leave from T5. In order to use T3 lounge which is airside - I need to clear security at T3 and again when I reach T5.

@Acid;

Maybe I'm just confused about your intentions.

AA Arrival is landside at T3. CX F lounge is airside T3, forgive me , but what's your plan again.

As for me, I arrive T5, will make my way to T3 and go to CX F lounge for as long as possible. (Ergo, skipping any lounges Id have access to.) On my return, I will access AA Arrivals, time permitting, then make my way to BA F lounge in T5.

@Zacnlinc
I fly JFK-LHR on AA this week and arrive at T3. My connection LHR-BOM is on BA from T5. I plan to use the CX F lounge in T3 before I go to T5 for my connection. I'll not be using AA Arrivals. Hence I need to clear security at T3 and T5

I think the confusion is that (I believe) you cannot access T3 if you don't have a flight departing there.

The CX F Lounge is great, but not great enough to endure two security checks at LHR (if you can even get into T3 without a Boarding Pass for T3). BA Galleries F lounge in T5 is quite nice.

I learned on this thread(few pages earlier) - it is possible to access T3 even if you are departing from T5(at least while in T3-T5 connection at LHR).

I dont mind going through security twice at LHR as I travel light. I rather shower at CX lounge than in BA-T5 and have a decent breakfast. I'll try it out tomorrow(hopefully the flights are not delayed due to Hurricane Jose)

Have you actually done it before? Which lounge in T3 did you access using your T5 bp?

The LHR website always was (and perhaps still is) clear that one can only access the lounges in their departure terminal, and folks on this site have claimed for as long as I can remember that accessing the lounges in another terminal is not doable. But somewhere in this way-too-long thread folks have reported that it's doable and that they have in fact done so.

It is doable at T3. However, I would suggest it is not recommended. You do not need a T3 bp to go through connection security there, some passengers legitimately don't have one yet and instead have to get their bp at the airlines desks immediately after security at the T3 FCC.

I have no idea whether the T3 lounges may allow access if your bp is from another terminal - you shouldn't really be in T5 after all.

It is not possible at all at T5, you cannot go through connections in to T5 or through security to enter the departures without a bp for a T5 departing flight.

I don't understand why "it is not recommended." If someone is willing to clear security twice, it seems that the worst that can happen is that they'd be turned away from the lounge. And others have reported that they've been successful in accessing a T3 lounge with a T5 boarding pass.

The policy was quietly changed a year or so ago, around the time that the T5 Aspire lounge opened.

The exits from the terminal are not sign posted. Indeed, the terminals are specifically designed not to allow people out (except onto a plane) once they are in. Staff may be confused about why you are in the wrong terminal and unwilling to help you get back to the transit area without a rigmarole.

Essentially, if you know your way around the airport with your eyes closed, you'll probably be fine. If you need directions, it may cause problems.

It is not a signed route. You are not really supposed to be heading in to T3 departures if you do not have a flight departing from there. However, unlike T5, it is possible to do so.

The exit route from T5 isn't signposted, but I'm pretty sure there is an exit sign or at least a Flight Connections sign (I think both actually) at the end of the lounge corridor in T3.

That's exactly what I thought... Hence... My confusion indeed.

At LHR, like most airports, they want you to go through security exactly once: When you enter the terminal from which your flight departs. Because flights come into LHR from so many other airports all over the world, they also make every connecting passenger* go through security exactly once: when they enter the terminal from which the flight departs. (The US similarly makes incoming international passengers go through security if they are connecting to another flight.)

Making it convenient or even possible for people to switch terminals for the sole reason of visiting a lounge means that passenger will have to pass through security two or more times, thus increasing the cost to LHR. Thus, it is discouraged and made as inconvenient as possible.

However... if the passenger wants to SHOP in another terminal, especially for a high-price duty free item, that's a different story. That passenger is given an escort to and from the other terminal. LHR is realizing revenue from that activity, so they make it possible. Note that the escort stays with you, so you can't ask for an escort for shopping then just head to a lounge. You pretty much have to have a plan for a particular visit at a particular shop or a particular item that is not available in your regular departing terminal.

Personally, I don't think the extra hassle of another security check or UK Immigration is worth a lounge visit. Just my opinion; YMMV. If I am not eligible for a T5 BA lounge, I just find a nice restaurant, order a meal and bide my time there.


*I am unsure if LHR forces a second security check for UK domestic-domestic connections. I have never made such a connection so don't have personal experience.

So I decided against going to CX and came to T5 as my incoming flight AA100 was delayed close to an hour (one pax decided not to fly once doors were closed at JFK)

I regret not going to AA arrivals. Typing this in BA T5 and have been waiting for a shower now for 70 minutes. Went inside to have breakfast and all tables are packed. Finally one opened and staff were overwhelmed with the meal requests, clearing tables etc.

Domestic arrivals are not re-screened, whether they are going to an international flight or another domestic one (unless changing terminal).

It's very similar to the US rules except there's no immigration for int-int connections.

Where did you go for a shower in T5? The BA arrivals lounge can be quieter sometimes as can teh GC(n) lounge. If you have the time the T5B GC lounge would probably have little/no waiting for showers.

There's another thread in this forum discussing people's experiences with 2 hour shower waits at Galleries South, and still an hour at North.
I think Galleries First uses the same shower complex in the Elements spa in South, but do they prioritize F pax? (Though probably not OWE).

That thread would have definitely encouraged the poster to use the AA Arrivals lounge (time permitting of course)...

I was in T5 south. At that point I was more concerned about my flight taking off for Mumbai - as the last 2 days have been chaotic at BOM airport with the torrential rains and Spicejet aircraft which overshot the main runway 09-27
We circled for 1hr+ and finally the runways opened again for us to land followed by another hour to get a gate! I was impressed with BA pilots and crew for being extremely professional and keeping us informed with details every few minutes.

Greetings from the mother ship!

Just some information for those lucky Concierge Key members among us, there is now a Jaguar car transfer available in the T5 to T3 direction only, so long as the first flight is a BA UK domestic flight, and you are on one PNR / Locator. So for example Newcastle (NCL) to LHR on BA, connecting to LHR-JFK on AA metal. I've a feeling EXP may occasionally get this too, but essentially it's a feature for BAEC members.

More details and insights here. Lots of extra words too!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...nnections.html

We did the T5->T3 transfer last week in under 30 mins!

It was much easier than expected. And to think our flight was 1.5 hrs late arriving at LHR from SFO! We still had time to visit CX F for some very yummy food with a little time to kill before heading next door to our gate for BCN.

Pretty good going. Did you get the airside bus from t5b rather than going all the way to t5a?

I am going to have to pay closer attention if the return is the same. But, sorry, can't really answer that question with confidence of any sort.

We were "following the purple signage" as instructed by the flight crew as they were assuring those of with tight connections we should make it.

At some point I had this inner feeling that the entire process was too easy and maybe we should have go to baggage claim to "reclaim" luggage. I kept that to myself as Mrs Zacnlinc was already "warned" that we may be close to missing connection if there're more delays!

Thank goodness the bags showed up in BCN. All the better. Doing the return in three days. Will pay attention to determine what's what. All I know is we land at T3 and need to make out way to T5. Planning to go to whatever lounge Emerald gets me in there. GT F?

T3—>T3 1 hour connection enough?
 

My daughter is flying LAX-JFK-LHR on AA arriving T3. She then continues on to PRG on BA (T3). My concern is her LHR connection is only 1 hour. Being that both flights are in T3, will she have enough time to make the connection? She has no status, will be checking her bags through, will be in coach and the route is on the same PNR.

1 hour is within the MCT but as this is on 1 PNR then she'll be protected in the event of missing the LHR-PRG leg and there are around 5 flights per day so likely to be rebooked without too much hassle

But T3 connections can involve a couple of looooong walks to flight connections then to the new gate - more details here https://www.britishairways.com/asset...Terminal-3.pdf

That's a very close connection. She'll make it or be put on the next flight.

Thank you. This information is very helpful.

I was on a tight (90 minute MCT) connection from a BA flight from MOW into T5 to AA at T3 a few days ago. It was a through ticket, so I was protected, but the AA flight was the last of the day and while I was prepared to stay over if I had to, I REALLY did not want to. My BA plane was a 777, so I figured it would come into 5B or C; I was praying for B. Of course it came into C. The flight was roughly on time, but it took about 10 minutes to get the jetway in place.
There was a 1W agent off the jetway with a sign for my AA flight, who handed me an Express Connections flyer, which I took but didn't need, as I was entitled to FT (and which turned out to be unnecessary anyway). I gave her my name, asked her to let them know I was en route, took the tram (which mercifully came rather quickly) from C to B, and then headed to the doorway for the bus. The agent at the door said she'd had a call about me and called the driver to tell him to stop. Waited about 5 minutes for the bus and was joined by 3 other pax from my MOW flight who were making the same connection. The bus seemed to stop in a different place at B--some stairs up into the terminal, but also a ramp, and a shorter walk to Security, which thankfully had a very short line. All would have been well, except that one of my bins got flagged for 2ary screening, except that the sole agent doing 2aries for our belt was QUITE slow on the bag he was screening, and there was another large bag waiting before mine. I explained the situation and asked very politely if anyone else was available to help, but that seemed to make him even more meticulous with the bag he was screening. I asked another agent, also very politely, and got no answer at all. I think I'd have been spending the night in a Heathrow hotel had it not been for one of the other pax making the same connection, whose bag was flagged after mine. She and her husband were more vociferous than I, and eventually another agent, who was able to search rather more expeditiously came over to assist. So I and my bin were released, I stopped at the AA desk and asked them to alert the flight that I was coming, and headed to the gate (which I was sure would be something like 44, but this time the gods were a bit kinder, and it was only 24). I think they held the plane for my fellow pax and some other late connecting pax, but it took me about 20 minutes on board to catch my breath.
I normally don't do LHR connections with less than 2 hrs, but this was the only decent BA plane from MOW (the others require leaving in the middle of the night, and I find those BA Airbus seats are torturous), and with expiring SWUs, I wanted AA metal across the pond. Nevertheless, I think I would think long and hard before doing it again.

FT smarties... novice question (LHR Terminal transfer - to merge)
 

Hi. My family is flying cph to lhr on BA and then connecting to AA for LAX. i hear some say that i can interline bags to AA / connect with out immigration and others say i have to collect them, go throgh immigration and re check on AA. Just trying to figure out if we can take the 11am flight cph to lhr (arrives 12) so we can catch the AA flight to lax (3:05pm)

In advance, thank you all for the help. i love FT and the tremendous knowledge found here.

They will need to go security at LHR. They will not see their bags after drop off at CPH until they get to LAX
They will NOT go through immigration at LHR. If the flights are not in the same terminal they can take a bus on the secure side.
They should follow the signs/lines to "connections"

If passengers are on separate PNRs / tickets they must go landsude in the U.K. and collect luggage, go to Terminal 3 and check in.

To the contrary, on single PNR they'll collect baggage on arrival in the USA.

Please read the Wikipost at the top of the page in this thread, where your query is likely to end up merged: LHR / London Heathrow AA T3 <--> BA T5 connection / transfer master thread. In addition to useful information, it has links - one leads to a step by step guide for Heathrow interterminal transfers.