Feb 5, 2015, 10:54 am
Last edit by: stifle
Please edit or add information to this wiki as necessary.
Link to LHR page on aa.com
Link to London-Heathrow web pages
Link to Wikipedia page on LHR
Link to FT - AA thread London Heathrow (LHR) <-> Gatwick (LGW) Transport / Transfer (master thread)
The vast majority of arriving passengers with a passport from the European Union, Switzerland or, effective 20 May 2019, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea or USA can now use arrival immigration eGates without any fee or pre-registration requirement. But for those transiting LHR with a non-UK/non-Ireland destination and no luggage to claim during transit at LHR, the eGates are generally irrelevant since most such passengers don’t enter the UK-Ireland Common Travel Area.
NOTE: Connecting flights between Terminal 5 and Terminal 3 - please allow a minimum 1 hour 30 minutes between flights.
If you are unsure which terminal your connecting flight departs from, see "Which terminal does my flight depart from / arrive?"
For gate to gate connection assistance in T-3, AA Five Star Service can be used (fee, must be in AA Business or First on incoming or outbound flight). For interterminal assistance, see https://www.heathrow.com/airport-gui...cierge-service for Heathrow Meet and Assist.
LHR is composed of four terminals (Terminal 1 is now permanently closed). American Airlines and many oneworld airlines (e.g. AY, BA, CX, IB, JL, QF, RJ, UL) use Terminal 3. MH and QR use terminal 4. BA uses Terminals 3 and 5. These terminals are not connected - you can not walk from one to the other. Use this tool to see where your next flight departs / arrives.
Transferring/ Connections at LHR interterminal can be done three ways:
Link to interactive custom Heathrow Flight Connections Guide
1) Landside: exit your terminal and process HM immigration and customs as if you were arriving in the UK, then take the free train or busses connecting to other terminals. With most hotels, if you are staying overnight you will most likely utilise the "Heathrow Hoppa" busses costing Ł6 for one person or Ł11 for a family one way, Ł11 for one person and Ł21 for a family return; family is up to 2 adults and 3 children. A small discount is available for buying your ticket at a ticket machine in select hotels or via the HH website. You must proceed landside if planning to use the AA (or BA) Arrivals Lounge, which close at 1400 hrs / 2 PM as these are landside. (See post no. 627, here, for local land & hotel transport options.)
Inter-terminal landside connections can be via rail (free) or walking, depending on the terminals. See the diagram for Heathrow Express terminal connections, free when you are traveling within the airport's confines. See here You can also travel between the terminals, or Hatton Cross station, free of charge via the Piccadilly line, but you must touch a contactless payment card/Apple/Google Pay or Oyster card on the faregates at the start and end of your journey. When changing terminals via Heathrow Express or Elizabeth line you can either do the same or get a free paper ticket.
2) Airside:
Follow the signage to Flight Connections, where you will proceed a bus waiting area at airport ground level and take a bus to your next terminal, where you will proceed through boarding pass, carryon check a standard airport security check. Now you are ready to catch your next flight. Flight connections Minimum Connect Times are ordinarily 75 - 90 minutes (the latter for connections between T3 and T5).
NOTE: You must be at your connecting gate 20 minutes prior to departure. If you must recover bags and re-check (e.g. oneworld to non-oneworld or LCC) you must check your baggage in at least 45 minutes prior to departure.
Use this tool available from this page on LHR's website that include a step by step guide through Flight Connections. The page also offers videos. Use this tool to see where your next flight departs / arrives.[/quote]
Typical Terminal 3 to Terminal 5 Flight Connections path:
T3–>T5 see posts 674, 675.1. Welcome to Heathrow!: On leaving the aircraft, please follow the purple signs for Flight Connections.
2. Flight Connections bus: A dedicated bus will transfer you between terminals. Buses are free and depart every six to ten minutes.
3. Airline desks: Need to visit your airline's ticket desk? You'll find it here.
4. Ready to fly: Staff will check that you're in the right place, your hand baggage meets airline regulations, and you have time to catch your onward flight.
5. Hand baggage check: At this point your hand baggage will be checked to ensure it conforms to UK and EU regulations. Please be aware that liquids in containers over 100ml are not allowed through security.
6. Security screening: You will pass through security screening at this point. If you are a non-UK resident and have goods to declare to HM Customs, please use the Customs telephone before security control.
7. Departure lounge: Check the screens in the departure lounge, which will be updated when your gate opens and again when your flight is ready for boarding.
NOTE: Flight departure gates are listed in only sufficient time to get to the gate, not hours (or often an hour) prior to departure.
Typical Terminal 5 to Terminal 3 Flight Connections path:1. Welcome to Heathrow!: On leaving the aircraft, please follow the purple signs for Flight Connections.
2. Flight Connections bus: A dedicated bus will transfer you between terminals. Buses are free and depart every six to ten minutes.
NOTE: As there is a new AA desk at the bus boarding point, you can get your AA boarding pass and pass the AA oral security questioning while you await the bus.
3. Hand baggage check: At this point your hand baggage will be checked to ensure it conforms to UK and EU regulations. Please be aware that liquids in containers over 100ml are not allowed through security.
4. Security screening: You will pass through security screening at this point. If you are a non-UK resident and have goods to declare to HM Customs, please use the Customs telephone before security control.
5. Airline desks: Need to visit your airline's ticket desk? You'll find it here. But see 2A if flying AA.
6. Departure lounge: Check the screens in the departure lounge, which will be updated when your gate opens and again when your flight is ready for boarding.
Lounges:
Airside lounges at LHR are designated departure lounges. You use the lounge in the terminal you're departing from – arriving and departing passengers are separated, so it's not possible (for example) to use a terminal 5 lounge if you are arriving in terminal 5 and departing from terminal 3.
Terminal 3 lounges include:
Airside, departure lounges:
American Airlines Flagship / First Class Lounge - Lounge Zone H
American Airlines Admirals Club - Lounge Zone H
British Airways Galleries First and Club lounges - Lounge Zone F
Cathay Pacific First and Business lounges near Gate 11
Qantas Airways London Lounge - Lounge B / Gate
Landside, for arriving AA and BA long haul passengers who flew in first or business class, or any class if oneworld Emerald (no guest)
American Airlines Arrivals Lounge (recently renovated)
Terminal 5 lounges:
Airside lounges:
British Airways Concorde Room (longhaul BA First)
British Airways Galleries First Lounge - South Concourse
British Airways Galleries Club lounges both North & South Concourses
British Airways Galleries Club lounge T5B Satellite
Landside, for arriving BA First/Club World passengers and oneworld emerald members in World Traveller or World Traveller Plus (no guest)
British Airways Galleries Arrivals Lounge
For hours, access, amenities, etc. consult the oneworld lounge access tool here
Link to the most useful London Heathrow International Airport website. Click on "Connections" for a connection assistance tool.
For long connections where you might wish to go to London, you can use "the tube" (Underground, ~50 minutes, cheapest), busses to various locations, taxis (the most expensive, about 45 minutes) or "minicabs" and other hired cars, the Heathrow Express (15 minutes to Paddington station) or Heathrow Connect (30 minutes to Paddington). You can also Uber or bus to nearby Windsor town, and with sufficient time even tour Windsor Castle.
For links to local and local hotels, other airports (such as Gatwick, ~1:30), railroad stations (Feltham, Watford, Woking and Reading), intercity coaches (such as Oxford) start at this page.
The Tube takes 50 minutes from the Central / Terminals 2/3, T-4 or T-5 stations using the Piccadilly Line. Link to LHR tube page; link to London Toolkit page on LHR and Piccadilly line; link to Transport for London page.
The Heathrow Express / HEX departs T-5 and takes 21 minutes (it stops at Central / T2/3, six minutes) and onward to Paddington (15 minutes, about 1/3 of the time a taxi would take, though a taxi or bus can tale longer in some traffic). The trains have 15 minute headway (depart every 15 minutes) and have baggage racks.
(If you stay at Hilton T-4, board HEX at T-5, go to Central / T-2/3, get off, take the connecting train to T-4 (4 minutes), all free. From T-4 follow the signs to the hotel, perhaps 10 minute walk by covered board walk).
The Elizabeth Line (formerly TfL Rail) costs less, takes 30 minutes to Paddington from the Heathrow stations, and continues to key central London destinations such as Tottenham Court Road and Liverpool Street.
This London Heathrow International Airport connection / transfer thread has been split off from the original thread, which can be read here: BA T5 <-> AA T3 transfer /connection at LHR / Heathrow (obsolete, trailing thread).
For other terminals please see ARCHIVE: BA T5 <-> AA T3 transfer /connection at LHR / Heathrow
Also see this page for MCT information.
Link to LHR page on aa.com
Link to London-Heathrow web pages
Link to Wikipedia page on LHR
Link to FT - AA thread London Heathrow (LHR) <-> Gatwick (LGW) Transport / Transfer (master thread)
The vast majority of arriving passengers with a passport from the European Union, Switzerland or, effective 20 May 2019, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea or USA can now use arrival immigration eGates without any fee or pre-registration requirement. But for those transiting LHR with a non-UK/non-Ireland destination and no luggage to claim during transit at LHR, the eGates are generally irrelevant since most such passengers don’t enter the UK-Ireland Common Travel Area.
NOTE: Connecting flights between Terminal 5 and Terminal 3 - please allow a minimum 1 hour 30 minutes between flights.
If you are unsure which terminal your connecting flight departs from, see "Which terminal does my flight depart from / arrive?"
For gate to gate connection assistance in T-3, AA Five Star Service can be used (fee, must be in AA Business or First on incoming or outbound flight). For interterminal assistance, see https://www.heathrow.com/airport-gui...cierge-service for Heathrow Meet and Assist.
LHR is composed of four terminals (Terminal 1 is now permanently closed). American Airlines and many oneworld airlines (e.g. AY, BA, CX, IB, JL, QF, RJ, UL) use Terminal 3. MH and QR use terminal 4. BA uses Terminals 3 and 5. These terminals are not connected - you can not walk from one to the other. Use this tool to see where your next flight departs / arrives.
Transferring/ Connections at LHR interterminal can be done three ways:
Link to interactive custom Heathrow Flight Connections Guide
1) Landside: exit your terminal and process HM immigration and customs as if you were arriving in the UK, then take the free train or busses connecting to other terminals. With most hotels, if you are staying overnight you will most likely utilise the "Heathrow Hoppa" busses costing Ł6 for one person or Ł11 for a family one way, Ł11 for one person and Ł21 for a family return; family is up to 2 adults and 3 children. A small discount is available for buying your ticket at a ticket machine in select hotels or via the HH website. You must proceed landside if planning to use the AA (or BA) Arrivals Lounge, which close at 1400 hrs / 2 PM as these are landside. (See post no. 627, here, for local land & hotel transport options.)
Inter-terminal landside connections can be via rail (free) or walking, depending on the terminals. See the diagram for Heathrow Express terminal connections, free when you are traveling within the airport's confines. See here You can also travel between the terminals, or Hatton Cross station, free of charge via the Piccadilly line, but you must touch a contactless payment card/Apple/Google Pay or Oyster card on the faregates at the start and end of your journey. When changing terminals via Heathrow Express or Elizabeth line you can either do the same or get a free paper ticket.
2) Airside:
Follow the signage to Flight Connections, where you will proceed a bus waiting area at airport ground level and take a bus to your next terminal, where you will proceed through boarding pass, carryon check a standard airport security check. Now you are ready to catch your next flight. Flight connections Minimum Connect Times are ordinarily 75 - 90 minutes (the latter for connections between T3 and T5).
NOTE: You must be at your connecting gate 20 minutes prior to departure. If you must recover bags and re-check (e.g. oneworld to non-oneworld or LCC) you must check your baggage in at least 45 minutes prior to departure.
Use this tool available from this page on LHR's website that include a step by step guide through Flight Connections. The page also offers videos. Use this tool to see where your next flight departs / arrives.[/quote]
Typical Terminal 3 to Terminal 5 Flight Connections path:
T3–>T5 see posts 674, 675.1. Welcome to Heathrow!: On leaving the aircraft, please follow the purple signs for Flight Connections.
2. Flight Connections bus: A dedicated bus will transfer you between terminals. Buses are free and depart every six to ten minutes.
3. Airline desks: Need to visit your airline's ticket desk? You'll find it here.
4. Ready to fly: Staff will check that you're in the right place, your hand baggage meets airline regulations, and you have time to catch your onward flight.
5. Hand baggage check: At this point your hand baggage will be checked to ensure it conforms to UK and EU regulations. Please be aware that liquids in containers over 100ml are not allowed through security.
6. Security screening: You will pass through security screening at this point. If you are a non-UK resident and have goods to declare to HM Customs, please use the Customs telephone before security control.
7. Departure lounge: Check the screens in the departure lounge, which will be updated when your gate opens and again when your flight is ready for boarding.
NOTE: Flight departure gates are listed in only sufficient time to get to the gate, not hours (or often an hour) prior to departure.
Typical Terminal 5 to Terminal 3 Flight Connections path:1. Welcome to Heathrow!: On leaving the aircraft, please follow the purple signs for Flight Connections.
2. Flight Connections bus: A dedicated bus will transfer you between terminals. Buses are free and depart every six to ten minutes.
NOTE: As there is a new AA desk at the bus boarding point, you can get your AA boarding pass and pass the AA oral security questioning while you await the bus.
3. Hand baggage check: At this point your hand baggage will be checked to ensure it conforms to UK and EU regulations. Please be aware that liquids in containers over 100ml are not allowed through security.
4. Security screening: You will pass through security screening at this point. If you are a non-UK resident and have goods to declare to HM Customs, please use the Customs telephone before security control.
5. Airline desks: Need to visit your airline's ticket desk? You'll find it here. But see 2A if flying AA.
6. Departure lounge: Check the screens in the departure lounge, which will be updated when your gate opens and again when your flight is ready for boarding.
Lounges:
Airside lounges at LHR are designated departure lounges. You use the lounge in the terminal you're departing from – arriving and departing passengers are separated, so it's not possible (for example) to use a terminal 5 lounge if you are arriving in terminal 5 and departing from terminal 3.
Terminal 3 lounges include:
Airside, departure lounges:
American Airlines Flagship / First Class Lounge - Lounge Zone H
American Airlines Admirals Club - Lounge Zone H
British Airways Galleries First and Club lounges - Lounge Zone F
Cathay Pacific First and Business lounges near Gate 11
Qantas Airways London Lounge - Lounge B / Gate
Landside, for arriving AA and BA long haul passengers who flew in first or business class, or any class if oneworld Emerald (no guest)
American Airlines Arrivals Lounge (recently renovated)
Terminal 5 lounges:
Airside lounges:
British Airways Concorde Room (longhaul BA First)
British Airways Galleries First Lounge - South Concourse
British Airways Galleries Club lounges both North & South Concourses
British Airways Galleries Club lounge T5B Satellite
Landside, for arriving BA First/Club World passengers and oneworld emerald members in World Traveller or World Traveller Plus (no guest)
British Airways Galleries Arrivals Lounge
For hours, access, amenities, etc. consult the oneworld lounge access tool here
Link to the most useful London Heathrow International Airport website. Click on "Connections" for a connection assistance tool.
For long connections where you might wish to go to London, you can use "the tube" (Underground, ~50 minutes, cheapest), busses to various locations, taxis (the most expensive, about 45 minutes) or "minicabs" and other hired cars, the Heathrow Express (15 minutes to Paddington station) or Heathrow Connect (30 minutes to Paddington). You can also Uber or bus to nearby Windsor town, and with sufficient time even tour Windsor Castle.
For links to local and local hotels, other airports (such as Gatwick, ~1:30), railroad stations (Feltham, Watford, Woking and Reading), intercity coaches (such as Oxford) start at this page.
The Tube takes 50 minutes from the Central / Terminals 2/3, T-4 or T-5 stations using the Piccadilly Line. Link to LHR tube page; link to London Toolkit page on LHR and Piccadilly line; link to Transport for London page.
The Heathrow Express / HEX departs T-5 and takes 21 minutes (it stops at Central / T2/3, six minutes) and onward to Paddington (15 minutes, about 1/3 of the time a taxi would take, though a taxi or bus can tale longer in some traffic). The trains have 15 minute headway (depart every 15 minutes) and have baggage racks.
(If you stay at Hilton T-4, board HEX at T-5, go to Central / T-2/3, get off, take the connecting train to T-4 (4 minutes), all free. From T-4 follow the signs to the hotel, perhaps 10 minute walk by covered board walk).
The Elizabeth Line (formerly TfL Rail) costs less, takes 30 minutes to Paddington from the Heathrow stations, and continues to key central London destinations such as Tottenham Court Road and Liverpool Street.
This London Heathrow International Airport connection / transfer thread has been split off from the original thread, which can be read here: BA T5 <-> AA T3 transfer /connection at LHR / Heathrow (obsolete, trailing thread).
For other terminals please see ARCHIVE: BA T5 <-> AA T3 transfer /connection at LHR / Heathrow
Also see this page for MCT information.
GUIDE: LHR / London Heathrow, Connection, MCT inc. AA T3 <--> BA/IB T5
Feb 5, 2018, 7:51 am
#556
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,222
Agree that BA is very inflexible when you miss a flight.
My husband was connecting LHR-GLA (same ticket), stayed a few minutes too long in the lounge, and then went to the wrong gate. There was an earlier delayed GLA flight that he went to instead -- easy enough mistake when you're jetlagged. A couple other pax did the same. No pity from BA - had to buy a new ticket and since it was the last flight of the evening, had to pay for a hotel.
Also agree that you're probably 50/50 on the connection. Everything has to go well, including timing of the HEX. I would strong advise you to avoid checking a bag. That probably increases the likelihood of success to 90%+. (1h30m is usually plenty when you can take the airside bus).
I would add that if the AA flight from LHR is delayed, I *think* their policy is to protect you for travel on other OneWorld carriers, even if it's ticketed separately (and even though they won't check bags through). If so, this all might be moot. Am I wrong on this?
My husband was connecting LHR-GLA (same ticket), stayed a few minutes too long in the lounge, and then went to the wrong gate. There was an earlier delayed GLA flight that he went to instead -- easy enough mistake when you're jetlagged. A couple other pax did the same. No pity from BA - had to buy a new ticket and since it was the last flight of the evening, had to pay for a hotel.
Also agree that you're probably 50/50 on the connection. Everything has to go well, including timing of the HEX. I would strong advise you to avoid checking a bag. That probably increases the likelihood of success to 90%+. (1h30m is usually plenty when you can take the airside bus).
I would add that if the AA flight from LHR is delayed, I *think* their policy is to protect you for travel on other OneWorld carriers, even if it's ticketed separately (and even though they won't check bags through). If so, this all might be moot. Am I wrong on this?
Feb 6, 2018, 4:57 am
#557
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,614
My wife and I will be arriving into LHR T-3 on AA 106 from JFK, on February 15, at 7:50 AM. We are then scheduled to connect with BA 450 to PMI (Palma) at 10:15 AM. We will be travelling in J and are on the same PNR. It appears that the MCT for connecting to T-5 for our connection is 1:30.
I will be appreciative if someone would let me know if there are any potential pitfalls here, based on AA 106 arriving as scheduled.
Also, our PNR covers four flights (AVL/CLT/JFK/LHR/PMI), with the first three being on AA. We will each need to check one bag, and I would like to confirm that we will be able to check the baggage through to PMI, when we check-in at AVL. Will we also be able to obtain boarding passes for all flights in AVL? The scheduled elapsed time between our departure from AVL to the departure time for BA 450 will be well < 24 hours.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
I will be appreciative if someone would let me know if there are any potential pitfalls here, based on AA 106 arriving as scheduled.
Also, our PNR covers four flights (AVL/CLT/JFK/LHR/PMI), with the first three being on AA. We will each need to check one bag, and I would like to confirm that we will be able to check the baggage through to PMI, when we check-in at AVL. Will we also be able to obtain boarding passes for all flights in AVL? The scheduled elapsed time between our departure from AVL to the departure time for BA 450 will be well < 24 hours.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Feb 6, 2018, 5:44 am
#558
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,887
My wife and I will be arriving into LHR T-3 on AA 106 from JFK, on February 15, at 7:50 AM. We are then scheduled to connect with BA 450 to PMI (Palma) at 10:15 AM. We will be travelling in J and are on the same PNR. It appears that the MCT for connecting to T-5 for our connection is 1:30.
I will be appreciative if someone would let me know if there are any potential pitfalls here, based on AA 106 arriving as scheduled.
Also, our PNR covers four flights (AVL/CLT/JFK/LHR/PMI), with the first three being on AA. We will each need to check one bag, and I would like to confirm that we will be able to check the baggage through to PMI, when we check-in at AVL. Will we also be able to obtain boarding passes for all flights in AVL? The scheduled elapsed time between our departure from AVL to the departure time for BA 450 will be well < 24 hours.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
I will be appreciative if someone would let me know if there are any potential pitfalls here, based on AA 106 arriving as scheduled.
Also, our PNR covers four flights (AVL/CLT/JFK/LHR/PMI), with the first three being on AA. We will each need to check one bag, and I would like to confirm that we will be able to check the baggage through to PMI, when we check-in at AVL. Will we also be able to obtain boarding passes for all flights in AVL? The scheduled elapsed time between our departure from AVL to the departure time for BA 450 will be well < 24 hours.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
A Guide to Connecting at LHR T5
As this is one ticket AA should check your bag all the way through to PMI - there is no requirement for you to pick it up at LHR and it would be transferred from your AA flight to the BA LHR-PMI flight. I can't why AA wouldn't be able to issue all bps to PMI. However, if for some reason they can't issue the LHR-PMI bp it isn't critical. Your bag will still be checked through anyway, and all it will mean when you get to T5 you will need to stop off at a BA customer service desk in the flight connections centre to collect a bp. You do not need to show a bp when you board the airside buses at T3.
As an alternative should you wish to use the AA arrivals lounge you can go through immigration at T3 and use the lounge - get a fast track voucher from your AA flight so you can use the fast track immigration. When you have finished you can take the HEX or tube to T5, The tube service interval is between 8-12 minutes and HEX is every 15 minutes. The tube requires a card to check in and out and this can be either an oyster card or contactless credit/debit card although I think US cards sometimes don't work. Even though you check in and out for inter-terminal transfers you will not be charged as they are free. The HEX requires no cards to use and is also free between terminals. The HEX station is much close to T3 arrivals but the HEX is less frequent and departs from the central station for T5 at 10/25/40/55 past the hour. Once you get to T5 get the lift as that will take you all the way up to departures floor and go through security. North and south security both have fast track lanes but I find north fast track can be quieter. Make sure you get to security in T5 no later than 35 minutes before your flight - T5 operates a system called conformance which means you need to be marked as ‘Ready to Fly’ at 35 minutes before your flight and if you do not meet conformance you will very likely be denied to travel. You are marked as ‘Ready to Fly’ and deemed to meet conformance when you first have your boarding pass checked at the entry gates on the departures floor for north/south security. Going landside will not affect your bags being checked through.
Hope that helps
Feb 7, 2018, 12:18 am
#560
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SFO
Posts: 70
Thanks everyone for the advice, and thanks KARFA for the very well detailed response! I'm just going to change my LHR-EDI flight to a later flight since the Avios change fees are minimal compared to changing the destination of the AA award, and now I know better for next time.
Feb 7, 2018, 1:01 am
#561
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,750
Thanks everyone for the advice, and thanks KARFA for the very well detailed response! I'm just going to change my LHR-EDI flight to a later flight since the Avios change fees are minimal compared to changing the destination of the AA award, and now I know better for next time.
Feb 10, 2018, 6:47 am
#562
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 3
American or British through Heathrow
Hello there! Great community this is!
I've been a United flyer for a number of years but owing to corporate contracts we are now on American which sucks as our partner firm in Europe is in Germany.
I am flying to and from Munich next month and need to decide between American through Heathrow or British through Heathrow. I hear moving from terminal 5 to 3 is beyond annoying.
Any advantage to staying on American versus British? Lounges at JFK or Heathrow better on one? How about inflight - American 777-2 versus British 747.
Through flying and corporate agreement I am platinum.
how I will miss the Senator Lounges.!
I've been a United flyer for a number of years but owing to corporate contracts we are now on American which sucks as our partner firm in Europe is in Germany.
I am flying to and from Munich next month and need to decide between American through Heathrow or British through Heathrow. I hear moving from terminal 5 to 3 is beyond annoying.
Any advantage to staying on American versus British? Lounges at JFK or Heathrow better on one? How about inflight - American 777-2 versus British 747.
Through flying and corporate agreement I am platinum.
how I will miss the Senator Lounges.!
Feb 10, 2018, 6:57 am
#563
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
Programs: Master of the Privy Purse des Muccis
Posts: 17,899
Hello there! Great community this is!
I've been a United flyer for a number of years but owing to corporate contracts we are now on American which sucks as our partner firm in Europe is in Germany.
I am flying to and from Munich next month and need to decide between American through Heathrow or British through Heathrow. I hear moving from terminal 5 to 3 is beyond annoying.
Any advantage to staying on American versus British? Lounges at JFK or Heathrow better on one? How about inflight - American 777-2 versus British 747.
Through flying and corporate agreement I am platinum.
how I will miss the Senator Lounges.!
I've been a United flyer for a number of years but owing to corporate contracts we are now on American which sucks as our partner firm in Europe is in Germany.
I am flying to and from Munich next month and need to decide between American through Heathrow or British through Heathrow. I hear moving from terminal 5 to 3 is beyond annoying.
Any advantage to staying on American versus British? Lounges at JFK or Heathrow better on one? How about inflight - American 777-2 versus British 747.
Through flying and corporate agreement I am platinum.
how I will miss the Senator Lounges.!
Hi,
Welcome to flyertalk TechflyerinCT!
What Cabin are you travelling in ( is it from JFK?)
If in business and using your ( AA Platinum status?) you might be able to get a upper deck seat on BA in the 747 which is very good ( although I understand there can be aircraft swaps between the 747-400 and 777)
The T5-T3 transfer at LHR can be a bit of a pain but generally is not too bad ( be prepared to stand on the bus and you will be clearing security when you reach the other terminal) but you wolud have to clear security each way if you had a T5 T5 connection on BA)
Regards
TBS
Feb 10, 2018, 7:00 am
#564
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 199
I just flew JFK-LHR-BRU about a week ago, transiting from AA to BA and T3 to T5. The transit was easy, there are dedicated buses which allow you to stay 'airside' the whole way, although you will have to go through a security scan along the way (but not through the border). While I haven't done the reverse in quite a while, I remember the experience being pretty similar.
Comparing equipment will require knowing the cabin/class you plan to fly in; if you are flying in J, I'd suggest that that AA 777s are better than the BA 747s, but that's only because I really don't like the Club World seats. If you can fly on an AA 777-300 instead of a 777-200, you'll have an even better seat, but the -200s are OK (I had one each on this trip).
Comparing equipment will require knowing the cabin/class you plan to fly in; if you are flying in J, I'd suggest that that AA 777s are better than the BA 747s, but that's only because I really don't like the Club World seats. If you can fly on an AA 777-300 instead of a 777-200, you'll have an even better seat, but the -200s are OK (I had one each on this trip).
Feb 10, 2018, 7:19 am
#566
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,176
British Airways (never shortened to just 'British') Munich flights depart from T5.
As you are starting at JFK if you fly BA you will be able to do a T5-T5 transit which is simple and involves a passport check (not immigration) and security.
If you fly AA in to T3 you are still going to have to get from T3 to T5
As you are starting at JFK if you fly BA you will be able to do a T5-T5 transit which is simple and involves a passport check (not immigration) and security.
If you fly AA in to T3 you are still going to have to get from T3 to T5
Feb 10, 2018, 7:26 am
#568
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: RDU
Posts: 2,262
Feb 10, 2018, 7:28 am
#569
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Rolling Lakes Yacht Club
Posts: 4,982
Hello there! Great community this is!
I've been a United flyer for a number of years but owing to corporate contracts we are now on American which sucks as our partner firm in Europe is in Germany.
I am flying to and from Munich next month and need to decide between American through Heathrow or British through Heathrow. I hear moving from terminal 5 to 3 is beyond annoying.
Any advantage to staying on American versus British? Lounges at JFK or Heathrow better on one? How about inflight - American 777-2 versus British 747.
Through flying and corporate agreement I am platinum.
how I will miss the Senator Lounges.!
I've been a United flyer for a number of years but owing to corporate contracts we are now on American which sucks as our partner firm in Europe is in Germany.
I am flying to and from Munich next month and need to decide between American through Heathrow or British through Heathrow. I hear moving from terminal 5 to 3 is beyond annoying.
Any advantage to staying on American versus British? Lounges at JFK or Heathrow better on one? How about inflight - American 777-2 versus British 747.
Through flying and corporate agreement I am platinum.
how I will miss the Senator Lounges.!