Dec 30, 2015, 9:51 am
Last edit by: KARFA
Welcome to this guide. If you are arriving at LHR and connecting to, from, or within T5 than this guide should help provide some practical information about how your connection will work. There are a number of types of connections which you may end up doing at T5 and hopefully all should be covered in this guide.
- General Layout of LHR and T5 - including information on underground walkways
- Arriving and Departing Gate Information
- Diagram of FCC
- Diagram of DUB Arrivals Area
- Arriving from the UK - Connections and Arrivals
- Arriving from DUB - Connections and Arrivals
- Arriving on an International Flight (not inc. DUB) - Connections and Arrivals
- T5B to T5B Connections, T5C to T5C Connections, and T5B to T2/3/4 Connections
- T2/3/4 to T5 Connections
- Arriving at T5 and Crossing the UK Border at T2/3/4, Connecting to an AA Flight Departing From T3, Checked Bags, Connections to LCY/LGW Flights, Duty Free
- New FCC in LHR T3 (July 2018)
A Guide to Connecting at LHR T5
Feb 6, 2018, 7:03 pm
#316
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 207
I am flying BCN-LHR-SJC in June on BA. The BCN-LHR flight is in Y and arrives at T3. The LHR-SJC flight is in F and departs from T5.
I have a 3 hour layover at LHR, and I am keen to check out the First Wing which means going land side. I have a U.S. passport.
Is it better to (1) clear immigration at T3 and take the tube or HEX to T5 or (2) take the air side bus from T3 to T5 and clear immigration at T5?
My luggage will be checked through to SJC so a little extra walking is not a problem. The main issue is which route is likely to be quicker and less of a hassle. I am arriving at LHR at 11:30 AM on a Thursday (if that makes a difference).
I have a 3 hour layover at LHR, and I am keen to check out the First Wing which means going land side. I have a U.S. passport.
Is it better to (1) clear immigration at T3 and take the tube or HEX to T5 or (2) take the air side bus from T3 to T5 and clear immigration at T5?
My luggage will be checked through to SJC so a little extra walking is not a problem. The main issue is which route is likely to be quicker and less of a hassle. I am arriving at LHR at 11:30 AM on a Thursday (if that makes a difference).
Feb 6, 2018, 7:53 pm
#317
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I would just take the airside route then go straight to the CCR rather than mess about going landside and using the F wing (which whilst nice is not that nice!)
Feb 6, 2018, 11:28 pm
#318
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 207
Feb 7, 2018, 2:37 am
#320
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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Join Date: Apr 2012
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I am flying BCN-LHR-SJC in June on BA. The BCN-LHR flight is in Y and arrives at T3. The LHR-SJC flight is in F and departs from T5.
I have a 3 hour layover at LHR, and I am keen to check out the First Wing which means going land side. I have a U.S. passport.
Is it better to (1) clear immigration at T3 and take the tube or HEX to T5 or (2) take the air side bus from T3 to T5 and clear immigration at T5?
My luggage will be checked through to SJC so a little extra walking is not a problem. The main issue is which route is likely to be quicker and less of a hassle. I am arriving at LHR at 11:30 AM on a Thursday (if that makes a difference).
I have a 3 hour layover at LHR, and I am keen to check out the First Wing which means going land side. I have a U.S. passport.
Is it better to (1) clear immigration at T3 and take the tube or HEX to T5 or (2) take the air side bus from T3 to T5 and clear immigration at T5?
My luggage will be checked through to SJC so a little extra walking is not a problem. The main issue is which route is likely to be quicker and less of a hassle. I am arriving at LHR at 11:30 AM on a Thursday (if that makes a difference).
By going landside on your connection you are having to go through immigration which if you remained airside you would avoid. However, if you have enough time there is certainly no harm in going landside, up to departures, and to the first wing.
Feb 7, 2018, 8:17 am
#321
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 207
Hi majortom421. I agree with Tobias-UK. The only unknown is whether immigration for non-EU passport holders would be quicker at T3 or T5, but there may not be much in it so you may as well stick with (2).
By going landside on your connection you are having to go through immigration which if you remained airside you would avoid. However, if you have enough time there is certainly no harm in going landside, up to departures, and to the first wing.
By going landside on your connection you are having to go through immigration which if you remained airside you would avoid. However, if you have enough time there is certainly no harm in going landside, up to departures, and to the first wing.
Feb 11, 2018, 9:12 am
#322
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Bangkok / London
Programs: BA Silver, AmEx Platinum, AVIS Presidents Club, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,106
What do BA do with pax who miss conformance on the last domestic flight of the day?
Specifically, my parents have a one hour connection INT-DOM tomorrow but are delayed by around 30 minutes on the inbound so likely won’t make the last flight to MAN, especially as they are likely to arrive at B or C gates. Does BA put them on a flight the next morning or can they arrange/reimburse road transport for that evening?
Never missed a connection like this with BA so just wondered what I should tell my parents to expect.
Feb 11, 2018, 9:16 am
#323
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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BA normally auto rebooks during the flight into LHR if they know it's a no-go, and usually for the first flight the next day. Hotels are also booked and often (but not always) there will be someone on the bridge with Hoppa tickets and hotel vouchers, plus a new boarding pass. If they have a Smartphone the App can indicate this will happen as you come into land, which gives you a bit of a feeling as to whether to rush, or whether to plod off slowly or not. This is assuming one reservation obviously. If they aren't in a rush to get home, they can ask to be shifted a flight a bit later so they can have a sensible night's sleep and breakfast, rather than what may be a rather short night at the hotel.
Feb 11, 2018, 9:29 am
#324
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Bangkok / London
Programs: BA Silver, AmEx Platinum, AVIS Presidents Club, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,106
BA normally auto rebooks during the flight into LHR if they know it's a no-go, and usually for the first flight the next day. Hotels are also booked and often (but not always) there will be someone on the bridge with Hoppa tickets and hotel vouchers, plus a new boarding pass. If they have a Smartphone the App can indicate this will happen as you come into land, which gives you a bit of a feeling as to whether to rush, or whether to plod off slowly or not. This is assuming one reservation obviously. If they aren't in a rush to get home, they can ask to be shifted a flight a bit later so they can have a sensible night's sleep and breakfast, rather than what may be a rather short night at the hotel.
No smartphone (in fact my dad refuses to carry a phone full stop).
Is it still the case that if EU261 is applicable they have to continue with whatever BA book and can’t just choose to get the National Express home and still get the compensation? They’re in no rush to get home so if they have to stay overnight and go in the morning so be it but if they’re not getting EU261 in any case I reckon they’d rather just get a coach home and be in their own bed.
Feb 11, 2018, 9:35 am
#325
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: 63,811
Is it still the case that if EU261 is applicable they have to continue with whatever BA book and can’t just choose to get the National Express home and still get the compensation? They’re in no rush to get home so if they have to stay overnight and go in the morning so be it but if they’re not getting EU261 in any case I reckon they’d rather just get a coach home and be in their own bed.
Feb 11, 2018, 9:38 am
#326
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Bangkok / London
Programs: BA Silver, AmEx Platinum, AVIS Presidents Club, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,106
Yes, if it's a delay they will need to sit it out to be eligible for Article 7 compensation. However it will of course depend on the cause of the delay and if it's only a short delay on a tight connection then BA will be in a stronger position to claim it was ATC / weather related, so just right to care would apply. They would be able to claim a refund on the abandoned LHR-MAN sector, which may be around the £50 mark, if the delay is over 5 hours. It would be particularly useful if your parents can recall exactly what the flight deck said about the delay during the boarding announcement, which may be repeated in the arrival announcement.
I’ve posted a separate message in the delays clinic thread asking if anyone knows why the outbound from LHR was delayed (which has caused the delay to the inbound).
Feb 11, 2018, 3:45 pm
#327
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 87
We’re flying from MAN -LHR (T5) - LHR (T3) - PHX on a through tix, club Europe for the domestic leg, first for the international leg. We’ve done the terminal connection/transfer from T3-T5, changing from a Virgin flight onto a BA flight but not tranferrred from T5 - T3, as we’re flying with the same airline what’s the best way to transit between the two terminals. We used Heathrow express to travel between the terminals last time, this only took approx. 30mins but not sure we took the best option as we seemed to have a long walk to get to the trains. Is this the best option or is the shuttle a better option? Any chanace the PHX flight may depart from T3?
Feb 11, 2018, 3:52 pm
#328
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,770
We’re flying from MAN -LHR (T5) - LHR (T3) - PHX on a through tix, club Europe for the domestic leg, first for the international leg. We’ve done the terminal connection/transfer from T3-T5, changing from a Virgin flight onto a BA flight but not tranferrred from T5 - T3, as we’re flying with the same airline what’s the best way to transit between the two terminals. We used Heathrow express to travel between the terminals last time, this only took approx. 30mins but not sure we took the best option as we seemed to have a long walk to get to the trains. Is this the best option or is the shuttle a better option? Any chanace the PHX flight may depart from T3?
Incidentally the procedure is the same whether transferring between the same airline or different airlines, as long as your baggage is checked through.
Feb 11, 2018, 3:55 pm
#329
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
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We’re flying from MAN -LHR (T5) - LHR (T3) - PHX on a through tix, club Europe for the domestic leg, first for the international leg. We’ve done the terminal connection/transfer from T3-T5, changing from a Virgin flight onto a BA flight but not tranferrred from T5 - T3, as we’re flying with the same airline what’s the best way to transit between the two terminals. We used Heathrow express to travel between the terminals last time, this only took approx. 30mins but not sure we took the best option as we seemed to have a long walk to get to the trains. Is this the best option or is the shuttle a better option? Any chanace the PHX flight may depart from T3?
From stepping off the plane to clearing security in T3 should be around 30-45 minutes.
Feb 11, 2018, 4:09 pm
#330
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 87
Thank you Ldnn1 and =KARFA, we don’t have a preference I think we took a wrong turn/followed the wrong sign last time then end up on Heathrow Express. The bus is preferred, this time the bags will be checked through just need to follow the right signs. Thank you