Gate Assignments at LHR ?
 

I will have a tight 1 hr. connection in LHR, arriving from PHX and going on to Madrid. Do the gates used in Term 5 stay pretty constant for the incoming and outbound flights (ie. does flight to MAD usually depart from same gate)?

I was going to check gates used a day or two before I fly so I would be more aware of where to go once I get to LHR.

I have a Club World seat in Upper Deck 747 near the stairs, so I hope that should help.

I know, I won't be able to use Lounge -- but prefer to get to MAD before dark.

It really does change from day to day. I was in the Flounge T5 three days running 2 weeks ago, at the same time, and noticed that the same flights were scattered all over the place on different days. There's a very good chance that you will land at T5B, a lesser change T5C, and a reasonable chance that MAD will be T5A. But that's about as far as you can take it, there is very little pattern other than that they hate putting JFK flights through A10 these days.

1 hr connection? No problem! About perfect for T5, unless you like spending your spare time in a post industrial warehouse. I'd hazard you'd get 10 mins in the lounge too. Just double check it's BA metal, not a BA code share (they still leave from T3 but I presume the MCT has outlawed them anyway).

It is BA metal, not a code share. I might have asked this in a different thread - does one need to go through immigration / customs and is that not a bit of a time consumer? I understand no need to get and re-check bags as they will be checked thru to MAD.

I will print out a terminal map (I have only been in T5 once before) so keep myself refreshed.

You won't need to pass through Customs or Immigration but you will need to pass through Security.

[QUOTE=corporate-wage-slave;17387206]
1 hr connection? No problem! About perfect for T5 ... QUOTE]

I'm not sure it is. See the thread "55 minutes tranfer..." I have just had a flight cancelled (by BA) because it was deamed to be 'too tight' (55 minutes). When the OP stated 1 hour, was that actually 60 minutes (the cut-off) or was it 'about' 1 hour (55 minutes)?

NB I was transferring between two Eu flights - as you pointed out, more than likely to both be in T5A.

I think I would make a distinction between what Minimum Connection Time allows you to do - and what time it actually takes to get around T5. So the system may well deem 55 minutes too short, in reality it is not too tricky to transfer in that time. After all people routinely check in at the front of the house 55 minutes before the flight. MCT allows for various factors such as gate delays and is all very sensible, but equally it is physically possible to transfer in that time without rushing unduly.

When is the flight? The last time I flew to Madrid (last week) those flights were still departing T3 - I know they're due to move to T5 but can't remember when... If they're still at T3 then 1 hour will be tight...

I've seen BA flights for Barcelona and Madrid on the departures board at T5 since at least Monday.

bjorns

I think they moved on Sunday :) - it was October 30th they moved.

As OP, I thought I would add my connect time is exactly 60 min. Arrival time is 13:05 from PHX and departure at 14:05 to MAD.

I think my seats on inbound on Upper Deck 64JK are close to stairs and so hope we can be off the plane relatively quickly. Of course, much may depend on if flight arrives early or late - but that is out of my control.

Next BA metal to MAD is 19:35, which will work if that flight is not completely full. Using a 2 for 1 voucher - would BA ever put me on an Iberia flight if I missed connection??

Thank you everyone for information - makes my planning easier.

Of course they will put you on IB, no questions asked.

That is great news as IB has 3 flights between the BA I am booked on to MAD and the next BA metal to MAD out of LHR. I wondered about this as Chase 2 for 1 voucher is for BA mental only --- but thought they may make an exception especially in inbound arrives late resulting in us missing that 60 min connection. I am taking the IB afternoon schedule of flights LHR to MAD with me as reference. Thanks

Remember that for misconnect reaccommodations, booking rules don't apply!!

IB is, obviously, an airline with which BA has an agreement with to reaccommodate passengers, and that (besides availability and an employee willing to look into it) is all that matters.

If you are not familiar with BA's procedures, have a look around this board for the word "conformance".

Unlike every other airline where catching a flight is a matter of getting to the gate before the door closes, BA has goons posted at security who will forcibly prevent you from catching the flight even when it's perfectly obvious that you could make it.

The goons' normal cut-off time for throwing you off the flight is 35 minutes ahead of scheduled departure, but there's sometimes some variation for connecting pax.

As you would be using the fast-track line to clear the security, 60 minutes should be good enough.