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Back-to-back (B2B) / Immediate Turnarounds at BA Destinations

Old Apr 7, 2019, 7:48 am
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Last edit by: Prospero
This community maintained wiki lists out all known airports on the BA network grading each airport in terms of its practical suitability for quick flight transfers. Three transfer categories are considered (and indicated as traffic lights from left to right in the following order)

Back to back: Immediate turnarounds without checked baggage, with an airside transfer and flying out on the same aircraft that operated the inbound flight
Transfer: Immediate turnarounds without checked baggage, with an airside transfer and flying out on a different aircraft (or airline) to the one that operated the inbound flight
Landside: Full arrival and departure sequence. It is assumed check-in for the onward flight is processed prior to the arrival at the airport.

Grading:
Excellent generally means you will leave the aircraft and find yourself in the boarding area for departure.
Good suggests that you may have to clear either security and/or passports before reboarding, but it should still be possible.
Reasonable: suggests possible but with risks attached
Poor: high risk and not advisable
Ungraded

Two caveats:
A) Sometimes things don't go to plan. E.g. EDI sometimes uses buses, which puts passengers landside and thus needing to reclear security. Ditto HAM.
B) The above needs to be combined with the turnaround time. MXP often has a generous back-to-back time, for example.


ABZ:
Back to back: Excellent; Transfer: Excellent if domestic, otherwise Reasonable; Landside: Reasonable. Arrivals decant into departure hall

ACE:
Back to back: Reasonable (if off season, there is a transfer channel just before passports); Transfer: Reasonable; Landside: Reasonable

AGP:
Back to back: Excellent for Schengen, Risky if not. Schengen - immediate turnaround possible at gate area. Non-Schengen - there is a transit passageway back to airside on the left after passports, but there can be long delays at passports, achievable if you are willing to politely push in the queue. see here.

ALC:
Back to back: Reasonable if off season, but you do need to go fully airside if non Schengen. Small and efficient airport. Peak time: see here

ALG:
Back to back: Impractical due to visa and immigration processes.

AMS:
Back to back: Excellent; Transfer: Excellent; Landside: Poor. Arrivals decant into departure hall normally

ANE:
Back to back: Good - very small airport, tarmac walk. You may want to telephone the airport to let them know since there's no OLCI facility.

ARN:
Back to back: Excellent; Transfer: Good; Landside: Reasonable (arriving pax should watch for sign to gates 70-82) * see posts 593, 238 & 1298 for more details. Post 174 is a pictorial guide.

ATH:
Back to back: Reasonable but don't hang about, you need to enter Schengen immigration, then leave Schengen, and a fairly efficient security check. Distances aren't great.

BCN:
Back to back: Good to excellent (bit of a walk, small flight connection facility to the left of passport control, dedicated security but no passports; Transfer: Good (if non-Schengen), Reasonable (if Schengen); Landside: Reasonable

BEG:
Back to back: Good; Transfer: Good: Landside: Good. There is a transfer route, at the end of the long corridor used by arriving passengers. BA does OLCI and App boarding passes. Just a bit of a hike.

BER:
Back to back: Good; Transfer: Good: Landside: Reasonable to Poor. Not much transfer traffic here so no queues for transit security when doing B2B - bit of a walk though. Note you can't access the lounge if doing B2B.

BGY:
Back to back: Reasonable to Poor; Transfer: Reasonable to Poor: Landside: Reasonable to Poor. More details, click here.

BHD:
Back to back: Excellent (use stairs upwards between gates 5 and 6, against flow); Transfer: Excellent if domestic, otherwise Reasonable; Landside: Reasonable

BIO:
Back to back: Reasonable, does involve going landside but small airport, airbridge rather than bus; Transfer: Reasonable; Landside: Reasonable

BIQ:
Back to back: Reasonable, involves going through passports to landside, security and passports again, but you need to be off early since passport checks are thorough.

BJV:
Back to back: Not really feasible, there is no online check-in or App facility, you must check in at the gate. More details click here.

BOD:
Back to back: Reasonable but does involve going landside and back again. However it's a small airport and efficient.

BLL:
Back to back: Good (there is a clear transfer route after passport control to avoid a security check; Transfer: Good; Landside: Good

BLQ:
Back to back: Good (small airport but you have to go landside); Transfer: Reasonable; Landside: Reasonable (bus gates)

BRI:
Back to back: Good (small airport but you have to go landside); Transfer: Reasonable; Landside: Reasonable

BSL:
Back to back:: Good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Good (Bit of a walk to landside, but it's not a huge airport. See this post for info)

BRU:
Back to back: Excellent on the transfer route, reasonable if not; Transfer: Reasonable; Landside: Poor (see comments in post #246 , also 64 onwards)

BUD:
Back to back: Good. Airside transfer with quiet security channel (might need to ask staff to open it for you). More details here: BUD Back-to-back?

CAG:
Back to back: Reasonable, does involve going landside but small airport, airbridge rather than bus; Transfer: Reasonable; Landside: Reasonable

CDG: ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: Terminal 2A closed from Jan 2023 and BA now at 2D (confusingly 2B is closed but flights still go from the B gates - check in is in 2D). No airside transfer so out through immigration (long queue if on UK passport) and back in again through security (long queue unless you have fast track). Then immigration again. Sometimes busses from/to a remote stand can make it even worse.

CFU:
Back to back: Near impossible, no OLCI, you must present yourself at check-in. Process involves bus, passports, out to landside, short walk to departures building on right, security and bus. Security is bad on peak days

CGN:
Back to back: No OLCI, but on some dates it is still possible. See this post for details.

CHQ:
Back to back: Near impossible despite being a small airport, no OLCI so you can only get a boarding pass at the airport, and bus to and from gates

CMB:
Back to back: Excellent. Easy to do airside. Arriving and departing pax are not segregated. If you have your return boarding pass, just walk directly from arrival gate to departure gate.

CMF:
Back to back: Generally Good, involves going landside. Best avoid Saturdays, the main changeover day, when security is stretched.

CPH:
Back to back: Excellent; Transfer: Good; Landside: Reasonable. Arrivals decant into departure hall

CTA:
Back to back: Reasonable, there is a transfer route signed but seems obsolete. However small and efficient airport so still do-able if going via landside

DBV:
Back to back: Impractical. There's no online check in so you have to go landside and collect a boarding pass. Otherwise a very small airport

DUB:
Back to back: Reasonable if arriving on BA, Good if arriving on EI departing on BA, Excellent if arriving and departing on EI. Transfer: Excellent if arriving and departing on EI, otherwise Good. Landside: Reasonable. BA arrives into terminal 1, there is no transfer route and you will have to clear passports and security. There can be a lot of walking and a back to back BA to BA is quite risky without Fast Track. If your arriving flight is EI metal it will land at terminal 2 and you will usually go through a dedicated (and dead) passport check and no security. The terminals are connected airside. See this post for a slightly dated photo guide.

DUS:
Back to back: Excellent; Transfer: Excellent if non-Schengen, Good if Schengen; Landside: Good. Arrivals decant into departure gate, though risk of bus to baggage hall

EDI:
Back to back: Excellent; Transfer: Excellent if domestic, otherwise Reasonable to Poor; Landside: Reasonable to Poor. Arrivals decant into departure hall normally, risk of bus to baggage hall

EFL:
Back to back: High risk on a Tuesday as only one flight, passport control is slow and turnaround time is approximately 50 minutes. OLCI is possible. Saturdays are possible if arriving on the early flight and leaving on the later flight. New terminal building is complete and fully operational, no buses involved, walk to terminal. Leave baggage hall via stairs, after the exit turn right and walk back towards check-in. Security is between arrivals and check-in. Exit the building and walk up the hill to Icarus for a coffee or snack or indeed a swim between flights. No lounge. UK flights now seem to be leaving from gates 1 & 2 which requires re-clearance of passport control after security. Only a vending machine and bare bones duty free shop.

EGC:
Back to back: Impractical. Bergerac has its own check-in system and is currently not on App/OLCI, so boarding passes must be obtained in person, no later than 45 minutes before departure

EXT:
Back to back: Not possible. Airport check-in only (check-in can't be done elsewhere due to FLY not being implemented). No airside transfer either.

FCO:
Back to back: Reasonable (return shuttle to main terminal); Transfer: Reasonable; Landside: Reasonable (Possibly excellent as of Jul 22 - see post #1092)

FDH:
Back to back: Impractical due to delays during ski season - see here.

FLR:
Back to back: Poor due to use of bus transfers and airport layout; Transfer: Poor (no transfer track}; Landside: Reasonable

FNC:
Back to back: Reasonable due to small airport. You do need to go landside and return to airside. Bus from aircraft, passports, security, passports, walk to aircraft. Note: high risk of weather related diversions.

FRA:
Back to back: Reasonable to Poor; Transfer: Poor (particularly if coming off Schengen); Landside: Reasonable

FSC:
Back to back: Uncertain - if boarding passes can be issued in advance then it will be an easy landside transfer in a tiny airport. If boarding passes can only be collected in FSC then it's impossible.

FUE:
Back to back: Reasonable if out of the peak season, airbridges used. Have to go via passports landside and security, behind check in. Try Canaries+Families security if desperate.

GCI:
Back to back: Infeasible. There is no online or App check in, check-in can't be done in LCY or elsewhere due to FLY not implemented in Guernsey. No airside transfer either.

GIB:
Back to back: Good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Good. Must go landside, bearing right and back up through security. Turnaround can be long. Leave the aircraft early so as to beat the queue at passport arrivals.

GLA:
Back to back: Excellent; Transfer: Excellent if domestic, otherwise Reasonable; Landside: Reasonable. Arrivals decant into departure hall normally.

GNB:
Back to back: Good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Good: Walk to/from aircraft. Must go landside, outside and right back into departures. Long turnaround times make this feasible though Saturdays busy.

GOA:
Back to back: Reasonable; Transfer: Reasonable; Landside: Reasonable

GOT:
Back to back: Excellent; Transfer: Excellent; Landside: Excellent. Borderline foolproof. Arrivals decant into departure hall.

GVA:
Back to back: Excellent; Transfer: Good; Landside: Good (but can be poor during ski season). Turn left in arrival lane to go back up to departures area.

HAJ:
Back to back: Excellent; Transfer: Excellent if non-Schengen, Good if Schengen; Landside: Good. Arrivals decant into departure gate. See posts 1670 and 1671 below.

HAM:
Back to back: Very Good to Excellent - transfer security check (not busy, before immigration) then immediately back into the departures area; Transfer: Excellent if non-Schengen, Good if Schengen; Landside: Reasonable. Arrivals and departures are now separated, and very occasionally bus to baggage hall.

HEL:
Back to back: Good: Transfer: Good; Landside: Reasonable. Incoming passengers can reverse direction just before Schengen passports. If a bus from gate, you will need to rush.

HER:
Back to back: Infeasible. There is no online or App check in, it's a bus transfer and arrivals / departures are in separate buildings.

INN:
Back to back: Good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Good. You have to go landside, and there is a bus transfer to/from the aircraft, but the airport is very small and highly efficient.

INV:
Back to back: Good to Excellent; Transfer: Good; Landside: Good. You have to go landside and through security. See here for more info.

IOM:
Back to back: Good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Good (no flight connections but small airport)

IST:
Back to back: Good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Poor ( Would lose 15-20 minutes if lanside option is preferred )

JER:
Back to back: Excellent; Transfer: Excellent if domestic, otherwise Good; Landside: Good. Arrivals decant into departure hall, sometimes you need to double back to the BA lounge.

JMK:
Back to back: Nearly impossible due to clunky arrival processing and use of buses.

JTR:
Back to back: Impossible: bus transfer, slow passports.

KEF:
Back to back: Excellent; Transfer: Excellent if non Schengen, Good otherwise; Landside: Good. BA flights tip arriving passengers into the departure gate. Foolproof. NB LCY flights pax use a bus from a remote stand, still easy as dropped off less than 100M from the departure gate.

KLX:
Back to back: Moderately risky due to boarding passes only being issued at check-in. No buses used normally, walk off plane straight into very small building.

KRK:
Back to back: Nearly impossible due to clunky arrival processing and use of buses.

LBA:
Back to back: Good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Good. Have to go landside for any connection or b2b but small airport, see here for further details

LCA:
Back to back: Good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Reasonable. There is a "Connecting Flights" channel on the left of the arrivals corridor, half way along, well before passports.

LEI:
Back to back: Moderate to risky: you have to go via landside, and you need the return boarding pass before travel. But it's a small and efficient airport. No buses are used, it's similar to LCY in operation.

LHR T3:
Back to back: Good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Reasonable. Follow connecting flights route, which can be as quick as 11 mins from disembark to through security. No conformance unlike T5. see here.

LIG:
Back to back: Good to Excellent; Transfer: Good; Landside: Reasonable. See this post for more information

LIS:
Back to back: Good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Reasonable. There is a security check to the right, immediately before and avoiding the passport desks. Risk of bus gates, but still OK.

LIN:
Back to back: Not a good place due to bus transfer and needing to go fully landside; Transfer: Good; Landside: Reasonable to Poor (bus gates)

LPA:
Back to back: Possibly OK if off peak. Some flights are bus gates, but it's a relatively small and efficient airport. OLCI and App check in both work.

LUX:
Back to back: Very Good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Good. Landside route is described here: Airside transfer door described here.

MAD T4:
Back to back: Very good; Transfer: Good to Reasonable depending on arriving terminal. Landside: Reasonable See this post for full details.

MAH:
Back to back: Good to excellent, see post number 563.

MAN:
Back to back: Reasonable to Poor; Transfer: Reasonable to Poor: Landside: Reasonable to Poor

MCT:
Back to back: Excellent - direct transfer route

MJV:
Back to back: Good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Good provided you avoid a peak time More information here. (Murcia San Javier airport closed in Jan 2019 and was replaced by RMU)

MLA:
Back to back: Good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Good. See this post and linked blog for details.

MRS:
Back to back: Good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Good. There is a transfer and security point just before going down to passports. Use the phone on the post to ask for it to be opened it for you; however, there is no guarantee that it will and you may have to exit to landside and re-enter through departures security.

MUC:
Back to back: Very good; Transfer: Good but note 2 terminals; Landside: Good. Transfer point after passport, details in this post

MXP:
Back to back: Good (bit of walk to Transfer facility); Transfer: Good; Landside: Good. Thread links here.

NCE:
Back to back: Reasonable; Transfer: Poor; Landside: Good. There is a direct transfer route by turning into the door way on the right before the slope up to passports

NCL:
Back to back: Excellent; Transfer: Excellent if domestic, otherwise Good; Landside: Good. Arrivals decant into departure hall.

NQY:
Back to back: Good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Good (no flight connections but small airport). See post 475 for more information.

NTE:
Back to back: Good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Good. see this post.

NUE:
Back to back: Impractical unfortunately due to no OLCI, all check in done at the airport

OLB:
Back to back: Excellent; Transfer: Excellent; Landside: Excellent. Arriving into Olbia is via jetty to the departure gate, no passports or security. Note no OLCI via the App, more info here.

ORK:
Back to back: Good, do need to clear passports and security but very small and efficient airport.

ORY:
Back to back: Not recommended due to fast turnarounds on LCY services. You have to go fully landside and back in again, via 2 passport checks and a security check.

OPO:
Back to back: Excellent (Look for grey escalator going up); Transfer: Good (reasonable if Schengen); Landside: Reasonable

OTP:
Back to back: Good as at April 2019. Poor as of 29 Dec 18; Transfer: Excellent (See post #1919); Landside: Good to Reasonable. Arrival experience and speed of transit depends on arrival gate. On some arrivals, there is a Connection facility on the right at Passport Control after leaving aircraft although sometimes it is up some stairs and on the left. If this is the case, you need to go to the top of the stairs to see a passport official / go to passport desk (to explain you have arrived from London and are going straight back to London - likely resulting in a confused look on the officer's face) before returning half way down the stairs to go through security.

OSL:
Back to back: Good on the whole; Transfer: Reasonable; Landside: Reasonable. (See experiences in this post, this post, this post and this post.)

OVD:
Back to back: Not really suitable. This is really an Iberia Express route but leaves T5 under BA code. The aircraft is based in OVD not LHR. Small efficient airport though.

PFO:
Back to back: Good on the whole, but you do need to go landside. However it is a small airport. May not be so good on a busy Saturday during school holidays. Note bus transfers however.

PMO:
Airport is currently being rebuilt. Once completed potentially a good option due to airbridge. Departure security is two floors above arrivals (use lift)

PMI:
Back to back: Excellent; Transfer: Excellent; Landside: Excellent. Borderline foolproof - you are landed direct into boarding area

PRG:
Back to back: Excellent; Transfer: Ungraded; Landside: Ungraded. For back-to-back the LHR-PRG arrival dumps you right into the main corridor of that pier; walk 100 ft. to security check for the BA boarding lounge and you'll be good to go.

PRN:
Back to back: Possible but not recommended, see post 557.

PSA:
Back to back: Reasonable; Transfer: Reasonable; Landside: Reasonable (not the best location since there are a lot of LCC and you have to reclear security from landside). (August 2018 review and comment)

PUY:
Back to back: Unrealistic, due to the bus transfer process followed by passport control.

RAK:
Back to back: Terrible; Transfer: Ungraded; Landside: Ungraded. See post #1353 below

RHO:
Back to back: Infeasible - no OLCI or App check in, bus transfers from gates. Also airport very busy on Saturday PM and Sunday AM.

RTM:
Back to back: Good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Good (Reasonable during morning/evening peaks)

SEZ:
Back to back: Excellent. Use the Transit desk at the right side of the immigration hall, opposite end to passport control, see this post.

SKG:
Back to back: Reasonable; Transfer: Reasonable; Landside: Reasonable. Note bus transfers on apron.

SOF:
Back to back: Excellent; Transfer: Excellent; Landside: Reasonable. Arrivals decant into departure area.

SPU:
Back to back: Reasonable but there is a bus transfer and then landside; Transfer: Reasonable but transfer routes seems to be from Star Alliance; Landside: Reasonable

STR:
Back to back: Reasonable (stairs from baggage hall back to security. Can't avoid security/passports); Transfer: Reasonable; Landside: Reasonable. Report here.

SVG:
Back to back: Excellent; Transfer: Excellent; Landside: Excellent. Borderline foolproof, though only restricted number of flights

SVQ:
Back to back: Reasonable but need to exit landside and go up through departures, security. and passports is by the gate. Compact airport, fast security even if queuing.

SZG:
Back to back: Reasonable; Transfer: Reasonable; Landside: Reasonable. No transfer channel and note bus transfers, but small airport.

TFS:
Back to back: Reasonable but in all cases involves going landside. May be tricky to reclear security in peak holiday season.

TIA:
Back to back: Probably impractical. There is a bus transfer process and passport checks/stamps takes a while (Albania isn't in the EU).

TLL:
Back to back: Very good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Reasonable. see this post.

TLV:
Back to back: At your own risk. There is a transfer route with security on the way to passport control just after the rotunda.

TNG:
Back to back: No transfer or B2B route. Have to pass immigration, customs and security again. Airport is tiny (think 10 flights a day) and B2B is perfectly doable provided no problems at immigration.

TRN:
Back to back: Reasonable to Good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Reasonable. No short cuts to avoid going landside via passports x2 and security, apart from Fast Track security, but a small and efficient airport.

TXL:
Back to back: Good (security takes place in limited area by arriving gate); Transfer: Good; Landside: Good. Security is at gates, if using A gates. NB: Currently, this usually includes LCY flights, which now mostly use A gates like LHR flights. TXL Closed in November 2020, replaced by BER.

UIP:
Back to back: Good - very small airport, tarmac walk.

VCE:
Back to back: Very good; Transfer: Good at off-peak times; Landside: Reasonable. See this post for details

VIE:
Back to back: Excellent (BEWARE: see here); Transfer: Good; Landside: Reasonable

VLC:
Back to back: Good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Reasonable. There's no transfer route so you have to go via landside. Departures is straight up from the arrival point. Disagree with the previous two sentences. For me, a direct turnaround from gates 12-14 was possible without going landside. Took less than a minute.

VNO:
Back to back: Excellent; Transfer: Good; Landside: Reasonable. Arriving passengers enter departing passenger area. [BA have codeshare and also has TP Run options via AY]

VRN:
Back to back: Good; Transfer: Good; Landside: Reasonable. There's no transfer route so you have to go landside but it's a very small airport and there is Fast Track.

WAW:
Back to back: Good (small connection facility on left after airbridge); Transfer: Good; Landside: Reasonable

ZAG:
Back to back: Good (must re-clear security--this is effectively an international transfer); Transfer: Good (must re-clear security [there are separate transfers for international to international near east end of a/p and international to domestic with passport control near west end of a/p] but airport is small); Landside: Reasonable (must clear passport control, go downstairs through baggage claim to exit, outside and upstairs to check-in, upstairs again to the top floor for security and passport control and then back downstairs to the gate level.

ZRH:
Back to back: Generally good but see this post and the replies for more information.

ZTH:
Back to back: Infeasible due to buses and no online check-in possibilities. Somewhat unfortunate given the small airport. No transfer route, you must enter Schengen and go to landside.
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Back-to-back (B2B) / Immediate Turnarounds at BA Destinations

Old Dec 9, 2021, 6:05 am
  #751  
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Programs: BA Exec Gold
Posts: 357
Originally Posted by xenole
My back-to-back LHR-SOF / SOF-LHR-JFK tomorrow.

Took a PCR test with Randox at the Radisson Edwardian around 7:33am. Negative result about 4hrs later (same day test).
Also did a lateral flow with Collison at St. Pancras. Negative result about 20 mins later.

PLF to the UK is a faff. Took a screenshot of the one vaccination barcode it wanted (pdf from the NHS app was apparently too small as well). Having to flight numbers and times too.

Verifly dealt with the SOF-LHR flight and a separate LHR-JFK flight. Checked in fine and boarding passes issued.

​LHR-SOF won't finalise as they want to see my passport etc. Can't check-in (does mention in verifly that transit requires no test result). At least that's here in T3, so hopefully straightforward.
I couldn't get OLCI (even with Verifly) to work for SOF/LHR last week. I tried to get the F check-in desk at T3 to issue it and he refused. I explained that there wasn't time for me to go landside to check-in as it would be closed by the time I reached it etc. He actually pushed my papers back towards me. In short, I received unsympathetic FO treatment. Fortunately a nearby CW check-in agent stepped in and got it issued.

Good luck obtaining your inbound boarding pass before leaving LHR. Perhaps you could report back. I have a few more coming up which I may now convert into a one or two night stay for worry of not obtaining the inbound boarding card. It isn't clear whether the Sofia gate can check you in and issue the boarding card.
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Old Dec 9, 2021, 10:36 pm
  #752  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond
Posts: 7,699
Popped to T3 early just in case there were any issues.
Agent wanted to see my PCR test and vaccination proof, and boarding pass for LHR-SOF issued. No problem

Still not sure if you require a PCR to transit Bulgaria, but I would rather get the test than be refused boarding as an agent interprets the rules one way or another. Works for my onward US flight as well.
Verifly does say if you're transiting, all you need is to be fully verified.

Added: busy flight. At least they boarded children and assistance first, then just group 1! First time I've seen anything other than groups 1-3 at LHR

Got to semi-snowy SOF on time at gate 7. Decanted straight into the general areas.
Walked round to the podiums at the entrance to a holding area, scanned my boarding pass and the scanner went red. Agent dabbled a bit on the computerand it rescanned green.
Lots of Group 1 here. All very eager to board.

Arrived at LHR 30 mins early and no ground crews aware of us arriving. Might be slightly blocking a Virgin A350-1000 at present.
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Last edited by xenole; Dec 10, 2021 at 8:00 am
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Old Dec 13, 2021, 2:05 am
  #753  
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GGL, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 910
CDG Experience (C gates) - Positive

So I'm reporting back on B2B experience at CDG, which is now quite favourable I think. Terminals 1 & 3 at CDG are currently closed. BA uses Terminal 2A.

The airbridge arrangement at CDG is capable of alternating between arrival and departure levels, so when you arrive you are decanted into the lower (arrivals) level, probably around gates C83-C85 or so. There is also possibility you may arrive into A gates, in which case see this post instead.



(Airbridge connected into arrivals level, as seen from departure level above)

When arriving and walking towards arrivals from the C gates there is big yellow signage for transfers off to stairs on the right. Take the stairs down and it drops you into the entry to the regular security check post the passport check. The process is basically the same as if you had come from landside, but deposits you after the passport check. Then through security and up the escalator that takes you to the upper level for departures. I think the whole round trip including a delay at security for a passenger in front was 10-12 minutes at most. Once they're ready for boarding the airbridge is raised up to the departure gates level.

I'll update the wiki to make this more favourable. I was back at the gate with at least 20 minutes before boarding started, however a couple of notes:

1) There is no dedicated transfer security to bypass the usual security. I was there on a Sunday morning and all scanners were in use and things moved along very briskly and professionally. And as it's going into regular security there is no risk of waiting for someone to open a dedicated transfer route etc. I think on balance the use of the regular security checks is better and more predictable.
2) There were an inordinate number of bags that people brought along, and boarding took an age. If you were far back down the aircraft you may see quite a delay getting off. I was in 1D both ways so was easy to disembark quickly. Guess that is the same for a lot of B2B destinations though.


Originally Posted by David_Doyle
I'm going to take one for the team here and try it in early December. Not because I've deliberately chosen it, but because with various flight cancellations and schedule changes I now end up arriving into CDG at 17:40 and departing - hopefully - at 18:30. The original intention was to have 4-6 hours but hey-ho. Note that I'm doing LHR-CDG as the end sector of my CDG-LHR-DXB-LHR-CDG journey, so I'm not risking an itinerary if I miss the inbound.

I'll be leaving my rucksack at Heathrow so will be just decanting wallet, keys, belt, phone at CDG. From the Paris airport websites it suggests a yellow signed 'transfers' route which I read will just be a security check. I'm seated in 1C both ways so *hopefully* set myself up with the best chance.

The vagaries as I've read it are long queues outside of our control.

The outbound LHR-CDG and the inbound look busy - coming back is just J2 Y2 with all the rest zeroed out - so may be a help.....

I'm heartened to read CWS's experience from last year, but yes I'm going to be braced for a potentially 'exciting' experience. I'll be reporting back after
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Last edited by David_Doyle; Jan 6, 2022 at 6:14 am Reason: Updated to reflect C gates
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Old Dec 18, 2021, 8:55 pm
  #754  
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MEX
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This is probably a very dumb question, but why do people do these B2B trips? Seems to be a BA-specific thing? Are they for segment runs?
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Old Dec 18, 2021, 10:37 pm
  #755  
 
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Originally Posted by capedreamer
This is probably a very dumb question, but why do people do these B2B trips? Seems to be a BA-specific thing? Are they for segment runs?
Tier points usually, but price could be a factor.

LHR-SFO in CW may cost 2500.
SOF-LHR-SFO in CE/CW may cost 1200.

OK, it takes longer, and you need to get to say Sofia, Amsterdam, Zurich, Dublin or wherever, and there's always some risk in missing a flight etc., but when you could be paying half the price (and maybe hit gold in one go), it could be worth it to some.

A simpler reason is a final push for status. If you need 80TP to hit gold, your tier point year ends in a few days, doing something like MAN-LHR-MAN in the space of a few hours is easy. Not everyone can do a longer trip, but a free morning works for them.
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Last edited by xenole; Dec 18, 2021 at 10:47 pm
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Old Dec 19, 2021, 12:50 am
  #756  
 
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Originally Posted by xenole
Tier points usually, but price could be a factor.

LHR-SFO in CW may cost 2500.
SOF-LHR-SFO in CE/CW may cost 1200.

OK, it takes longer, and you need to get to say Sofia, Amsterdam, Zurich, Dublin or wherever, and there's always some risk in missing a flight etc., but when you could be paying half the price (and maybe hit gold in one go), it could be worth it to some.

A simpler reason is a final push for status. If you need 80TP to hit gold, your tier point year ends in a few days, doing something like MAN-LHR-MAN in the space of a few hours is easy. Not everyone can do a longer trip, but a free morning works for them.
Ah makes sense. Thanks!
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Old Dec 21, 2021, 7:15 am
  #757  
 
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Originally Posted by capedreamer
This is probably a very dumb question, but why do people do these B2B trips? Seems to be a BA-specific thing? Are they for segment runs?
I assume this is true for any airline trying to convince passengers to take their one-stop flights rather than a competitors nonstop alternative. So for BA, ex-EU presumably the equivalent for Skyteam or Star flyers is finding somewhere other than CDG/AMS/FRA to start their journeys. Do people on the AF/KL/LH forums discuss trips starting outside their airlines home country as well?
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Old Dec 21, 2021, 7:17 am
  #758  
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Originally Posted by salut0
I assume this is true for any airline trying to convince passengers to take their one-stop flights rather than a competitor’s nonstop alternative. So for BA, ex-EU — presumably the equivalent for Skyteam or Star flyers is finding somewhere other than CDG/AMS/FRA to start their journeys. Do people on the AF/KL/LH forums discuss trips starting outside their airline’s home country as well?
I don't know about these airlines/places, but I have seen references to people in Hong Kong doing ex-TPE trips.
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Old Jan 1, 2022, 2:38 am
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I have a (sort of) B2B to HEL on 29 January - I am returning about three hours later but dont plan to leave the airport and will simply go straight to the airport lounge. Codeshare with Finnair from LHRdo I need to take a Covid test? Or does this count as transiting? Im pretty sure I wont need to leave the area I land in. Cheers!
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Old Jan 1, 2022, 3:29 am
  #760  
 
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Originally Posted by capedreamer
This is probably a very dumb question, but why do people do these B2B trips? Seems to be a BA-specific thing? Are they for segment runs?
Some reasons for starting from somewhere other than UK given above - but mostly cost, and that more legs gives more tier points which is pertinent to the BA Exec Club.

But why specifically B2B, rather than separated flights - it is quick and easy, but it is also self-protected to a certain extent. If the B2B outbound is delayed, then by implication the return will be delayed and you will still make it. If you were to take an earlier flight out to your starting point, and that was delayed so much (or cancelled) that you missed the first flight of your main trip you would potentially be stuffed.
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Old Jan 1, 2022, 3:39 am
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Originally Posted by xenole
Popped to T3 early just in case there were any issues.
Agent wanted to see my PCR test and vaccination proof, and boarding pass for LHR-SOF issued. No problem

Still not sure if you require a PCR to transit Bulgaria, but I would rather get the test than be refused boarding as an agent interprets the rules one way or another. Works for my onward US flight as well.
Verifly does say if you're transiting, all you need is to be fully verified.

Added: busy flight. At least they boarded children and assistance first, then just group 1! First time I've seen anything other than groups 1-3 at LHR

Got to semi-snowy SOF on time at gate 7. Decanted straight into the general areas.
Walked round to the podiums at the entrance to a holding area, scanned my boarding pass and the scanner went red. Agent dabbled a bit on the computerand it rescanned green.
Lots of Group 1 here. All very eager to board.

Arrived at LHR 30 mins early and no ground crews aware of us arriving. Might be slightly blocking a Virgin A350-1000 at present.
I am just wondering, if BA didn't let you board would this be grounds for denied boarding? (or is this holding area airport handler?)
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Old Jan 1, 2022, 8:05 am
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Originally Posted by vintagepilot
Some reasons for starting from somewhere other than UK given above - but mostly cost, and that more legs gives more tier points which is pertinent to the BA Exec Club.

But why specifically B2B, rather than separated flights - it is quick and easy, but it is also self-protected to a certain extent. If the B2B outbound is delayed, then by implication the return will be delayed and you will still make it. If you were to take an earlier flight out to your starting point, and that was delayed so much (or cancelled) that you missed the first flight of your main trip you would potentially be stuffed.
That makes sense. Thank you very much!
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Old Jan 2, 2022, 8:29 pm
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My back to back LHR-CDG-LHR today (2nd Jan 2022) on two separate tickets worked quite smoothly in the end.

Arrived late on BA308 and was leaving on the same plane as BA315. That helped because although we had to wait for our gate to become available and we left the plane only 20 minutes before the originally scheduled departure time of BA315, the return flight was of course quite delayed because of the inbound delay.






A few notes:
didnt originally intend this to be a B2B but BA306 my original flight was cancelled so moved to BA308 instead
BA315 was booked as an AA coded flight as part of CDG-LHR-JFK
had hoped to get boarding passes for all segments in LHR but that was hard. Tried twilight luggage check but they wouldnt check the bag just for the LHR-JFK segment the following Day so we did carry-ons only for the B2B
v important to get boarding passes for CDG-LHR and all paperwork. VeriFLY took a v long time and I had to call their customer service to expedite the green tick for my covid test. Once that happened I could successfully checkin online.
However after checking in online we had boarding passes but with a note saying we still had the visa and passport check to do. Made sure to do that in LHR and get reprinted boarding passes for CDG-LHR-JFK before boarding BA308 rather than leaving it to Paris. Not sure if the BA agents in Paris on the airside could have done it. Does anyone know?

I have a short timelapse I took of most of the connections walk from disembarking at T2 A51. Anyone know how I could post it here?

In summary: its a very easy and quick walk from arriving to departing at the same gate.

The connection route took a very short time and then we went up the escalator back to the departures level where we got back to the gate. Strictly speaking the gate entrance for boarding was actually on the same level as we exited the aircraft and there’s a divided revolving door which funnels passengers into the transit route when they arrive, which is then presumably closed once all passengers have got off.

That same door is used to allow passengers back in to the boarding bridge after being scanned as departing passengers before getting on the flight again.

You do have to go through security check and scanning of carry on bags and they will take away liquids unless theyre for a baby. The hall for this check is quite large and at peak times might be busy but there was almost nobody there when we went through.

Nobody checked anything except our boarding passes for BA315 and nobody asked any covid or immigration questions or wanted to see any of the paperwork wed laboriously filled out beforehand. I dont remember showing the other French forms (about the reasons which allow travelers to transit who are at the moment otherwise prohibited to enter France) to BA before checkin for LHR-CDG either, although they did make us fill out the general French passenger data form online before checking in.

Last edited by salut0; Jan 3, 2022 at 5:46 am
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Old Jan 5, 2022, 3:00 am
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Originally Posted by salut0
I have a short timelapse I took of most of the connections walk from disembarking at T2 A51. Anyone know how I could post it here?

In summary: its a very easy and quick walk from arriving to departing at the same gate.

The connection route took a very short time and then we went up the escalator back to the departures level where we got back to the gate. Strictly speaking the gate entrance for boarding was actually on the same level as we exited the aircraft and theres a divided revolving door which funnels passengers into the transit route when they arrive, which is then presumably closed once all passengers have got off.

That same door is used to allow passengers back in to the boarding bridge after being scanned as departing passengers before getting on the flight again.

You do have to go through security check and scanning of carry on bags and they will take away liquids unless theyre for a baby. The hall for this check is quite large and at peak times might be busy but there was almost nobody there when we went through.

Nobody checked anything except our boarding passes for BA315 and nobody asked any covid or immigration questions or wanted to see any of the paperwork wed laboriously filled out beforehand. I dont remember showing the other French forms (about the reasons which allow travelers to transit who are at the moment otherwise prohibited to enter France) to BA before checkin for LHR-CDG either, although they did make us fill out the general French passenger data form online before checking in.
Thanks for your message and I'll update the Wiki to reference this post.

Just to note - I think I've seen the 'revolving' door you speak of, which makes me think you might have come in on a different gate and/or layout than I did a few weeks back.

When I arrived the airbridge was connected into the lower 'Arrivals' level, then when everyone was off the aircraft and they were ready to board the bridge was moved up to the 'Departures' level. From your account it seems there is an option at CDG to use the same level for both but with a door filter to separate arrivals and departures. When I arrived I followed the normal exit route and then off to the right along this route was the 'Transit' route that puts you straight back at the start of the main security check.

Regardless, still seems like an easy route.
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Old Jan 5, 2022, 8:23 am
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Still photos from my time lapse of the connections walk from CDG T2 A51 arrival to departure at the same gate.

The whole process took max 15 minutes. YMMV if you arrive elsewhere

Leaving the gate before entering the revolving door which on arrival is set to funnel
people into connections/arrivals:




Through the revolving door down a short corridor:


then down an escalator/steps:


Down the steps, around a corner and along another short corridor:


before climbing more steps to an area where you can check your connecting gate:


where theres a desk. I assume this is a CDG staff desk so I wouldnt assume they could do much with BA boarding passes or tickets. Which is why we ensured all document checks had been done in LHR for the CDG-LHR return leg:




Down more steps again:


this time into a large security check hall where boarding passes are checked and bags are scanned:




I stopped videoing here because I didnt want to be told to delete my footage! After this check theres an escalator back up to the departure gates. You walk through a duty free shop a bit like in LHR and then access the departure side of the gates we saw through the glass wall when going through the revolving door upon arrival.
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