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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 May 1, 2019, 3:00 am
  #76  
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Originally Posted by Flying Yazata
I assume it wouldn't be an issue that my arrival and departure for an immediate turnaround at INV would be on two different BA tickets?

Probably the most stupendous question, but I'm not certain how foolproof separate ticketing is with BA for these turnaround scenarios. I know that the outbound flight from INV won't be leaving without the inbound, so in that sense I assume it should be safe.
Have a look at post 7, and equivalent posts in the recently archived version of this thread. Very few things in life are guaranteed but the point of this thread is about risk mitigation.
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Old May 1, 2019, 5:46 am
  #77  
 
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In the wiki PMI shows as excellent. Don't the LCY Embraers normally involve a bus which means going landside?
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Old May 1, 2019, 6:04 am
  #78  
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Originally Posted by steve170461
In the wiki PMI shows as excellent. Don't the LCY Embraers normally involve a bus which means going landside?
PMI airbridges Embraers at least some of the time (e.g. the last time I flew out of PMI). But if there is a bus link you're still returned to a lower floor area before the Schengen e-gates, so you just go up to to main floor, or along to the bus gates.
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Old May 1, 2019, 6:16 am
  #79  
 
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PRG for some reason now uses gate A8 for some LHR and LCY flights which is a bus gate. There is also Gate security, Buses boarded 40 mins before departure and held on tarmac. Until 20 mins before departure. On inbound flights more than 10 minutes late would suggest this is now a challenge.
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Old May 7, 2019, 10:14 am
  #80  
 
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Originally Posted by pythonisman
FCO: Three orange smileys
Back to back: Reasonable (return shuttle to main terminal); Transfer: Reasonable; Landside: Reasonable
I commented upthread about FCO, not sure if there's any more info. I have an ex-EU later this year and would like to sort the lead-in flight sooner rather than later (it's around Christmas time so they're attracting a premium at the moment and I'm worried they're only going to go up from here - but maybe some advice there could be helpful too

We're on the 14:40 flight FCO-LHR and then onward to Singapore on a Saturday.

Flying to FCO the night before may be difficult/not possible for my partner, so we might need to do a back to back, and check our bags in for the long-haul flight at LHR on the way out and then fly HLO to/from FCO.
(There's a chance we could make it onto a late Vueling flight out of LGW, but I'd be a bit terrified about the risk if there were issues as it's the last flight of the day and might make things more stressful, particularly in the winter).

I worked out how to search the old thread for advice on FCO and saw there were old posts (2016) where it looked to be possible but risky, but some recent ones from 2017/2018 stating it was now easier, potentially trivial- but wondering if anyone has any recent experience that could confirm / refute this?

The posts in question giving me some comfort are:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28055389-post1489.html and https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28055656-post1492.html

Not sure what best options I can do as an alternate -- I'm open to just about anything reasonable, but need to leave London late on the Friday (after 19:00hrs at the earliest, ideally- the last BA flight out is at 18:20 and might be too hard to get) and be 'safe' getting onto the BA flight back to Heathrow the next day at 14:40 -- any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
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Old May 9, 2019, 6:37 am
  #81  
 
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Quick update from some recent travels:

HEL - with the new BA timetable consisting of one off-peak daily flight and the imminent non-Schengen pier extension (it basically looks ready to go, and is already marked on HEL's own terminal maps), the BA flight has, at least for the last month or so, docked at an airbridge - I reckon bus risk is now minimal. I'd call that "Excellent" as you get decanted right by the gate a la AMS/SVG/BGO etc

LIS - the afternoon flight arrives off-peak, so pretty much always an airbridge, so that's definitely "Excellent". However, the morning flights have frequently been bus gates, and, while do-able, you can't avoid walking back to the start of the non-Schengen pier and passing through security - that's OK if you're fast and there are no queues or delays, but not for the faint hearted

Last edited by kt74; May 9, 2019 at 6:48 am
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Old May 9, 2019, 6:45 am
  #82  
 
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Just done BRU. Easily less than ten minutes casual walk. Back to gate and third in the priority queue
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Old May 9, 2019, 8:33 am
  #83  
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Originally Posted by pythonisman
I worked out how to search the old thread for advice on FCO and saw there were old posts (2016) where it looked to be possible but risky, but some recent ones from 2017/2018 stating it was now easier, potentially trivial- but wondering if anyone has any recent experience that could confirm / refute this?
The terminal rebuild project has more or less completed so that was something complicating the previous posts. Essentially it is now fairly straightforward, though not as easy as MXP, which usually prices out slightly cheaper than FCO. If you have some B2B experience, go hand baggage only, have boarding passes lined up then I don't see you having a problem. I would either go B2B or go the night before (any carrier). I wouldn't advocate anything in between those 2 options.
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Old May 9, 2019, 9:42 am
  #84  
 
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Originally Posted by kt74
Quick update from some recent travels:

HEL - with the new BA timetable consisting of one off-peak daily flight and the imminent non-Schengen pier extension (it basically looks ready to go, and is already marked on HEL's own terminal maps), the BA flight has, at least for the last month or so, docked at an airbridge - I reckon bus risk is now minimal. I'd call that "Excellent" as you get decanted right by the gate a la AMS/SVG/BGO etc
Excellent news, I'm doing a B2B there on 3rd June, my third ever TP run (the other two were domestic many years ago).
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Old May 10, 2019, 9:12 pm
  #85  
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For IST ( Istanbul Airport ( New )), making an immediate turnaround from BA 676 to BA 677 is possible as transfer security wait times are a huge improvement after Atatrk Airport. Also, there is a special lane for those who have less than 75 minutes for their next flights. For non-Turkish citizens, I won't suggest that passengers with immediate turnarounds use the landside route as it would waste a lot of time but for long transfers more than 3h+, it would be OK. Also, be aware that the same extra security measures in Atatrk Airport are also in effect at Istanbul Airport so you may be subject to random screening at the gate so plan your journey to the gate accordingly.

Also, a small reminder that pax eligible for fast-track ( BA doesn't contract the fast-track service for arrivals but I don't know for transfer ) and lounge, you must stop by the Havaş transfer desk which is facing the main transfer security checkpoint. To access the contract lounge, you would need a lounge voucher.

So,

B2B: Good
Transfer: Excellent
Landside: Reasonable
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Old May 14, 2019, 10:17 am
  #86  
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: LHR
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Anyone with experience of KWI ? Although strictly not a B2B I have 3 hour between a DOH-KWI on QR going onto KWI-LHR on BA (Seperate tickets). I seem to remember all arrivals get spat out into main terminal where you find next flight gate & go without the need to go landside ??

If landside is needed I think I'm in trouble as the visa on arrival requires 11 hour minimum stay !! Any info appreciated. Many thanks !
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Old May 14, 2019, 10:20 am
  #87  
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
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Just returned from a B2B, LGW - BOD. As the wiki suggests, it is doable however with risks. I would disagree however that BOD is an efficient airport, security lines are minimal, however passport control queues were ridiculous. I waited about 20 minutes before moving to the front of the queue (ignoring the tutting) to make sure I made the flight. Perhaps this was just a bad day, the cabin crew mentioned other passengers had also said how bad the queues were, but just a word of warning for anyone else who might be planning on doing this run!
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Old May 15, 2019, 4:15 am
  #88  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
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Originally Posted by travelsbyplane
Thanks for your input. Though I understand the rule about a back-to-back technically being classed as a return, and not a transit, would this not just apply to a TWOV scenario where one would be denied boarding? What I was thinking of was actually getting a transit visa, but on the day would just choose to stay in the transit zone. Or do you think BA staff at LHR would insist on it being a tourist visa? From reading info on various forums, it seems that for a tourist visa, you have to get a sponsor e.g. hotel tourist voucher, so not sure this would work for b2b.

Interesting, and all quite complicated really! Maybe the best option is to just do a 1 night stay and go for a tourist visa! To be honest I'd be very interested to explore a bit of Moscow anyway.

Thanks all for the advice.
Don't over-complicate it. You just need to show an onward ticket, for BA to check you in for the flight. The visa check is done by the check-in agent. You just need to show him/her an onward ticket. Book an onward (refundable) international ticket with S7/RJ/ anyone.

On arrival in DME, just go to the transit line, (at immigration, take the escalator upstairs, turn left) and show your return BA boarding pass. You will be through in 2-3 minutes. Cancel your onward ticket.
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Old May 15, 2019, 4:23 am
  #89  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
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Originally Posted by KARFA
I have done a b2b at DME about 1.5 years ago. I was able to get a bp on the app for the DME-LHR before starting the LHR-DME flight.
Unlikely at DME. DME/SVO have never used mobile BPs. You need a printed boarding pass (PYOBP always works from both DME/SVO) as you need the physical stamps on the boarding pass from security and immigration, in order to board. Transit security/immigration will also stamp the boarding pass.

The mobile app tells you that mobile BPs are not available on this route.
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Old May 15, 2019, 4:28 am
  #90  
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Originally Posted by MrSimonR
Unlikely at DME. DME/SVO have never used mobile BPs. You need a printed boarding pass (PYOBP always works from both DME/SVO) as you need the physical stamps on the boarding pass from security and immigration, in order to board. Transit security/immigration will also stamp the boarding pass.

The mobile app tells you that mobile BPs are not available on this route.
you are quite right, seems i did OLCI and printed it instead https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28775010-post1838.html

You should be able to get your DME-LHR bp before going to do your visa check before your LHR-DME flight - I could only get the bp by printing online since mobile bp wasn't available for DME-LHR.
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