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Old Dec 19, 2014, 1:01 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: audidudi
LHR is a big place and terminals are not connected airside. Airside transfers are done by bus. Landside transfers can be made via the free Heathrow Connect train to T1/2/3. To get from T4 to T5, you can either take train and transfer at T1/2/3 or, depending on timing, use the local bus (free) from T4 to T5.



All Delta Flights depart from London Heathrow Terminal 3:
Check in for DL flights departing LHR T3 is in the same area of the terminal used by VS. This is the southside of the T3 check in area - if looking straight on at the building, go to the left. Business, DM, and PM can use the Upper Class Check in area.

Boston:
DL 58: BOS-LHR...A332.
DL 59: LHR-BOS...A332 (Arrives at Terminal E).

New York:
DL 401: JFK-LHR...A332.
DL 402: JFK-LHR...A332.
DL 403: JFK-LHR...A332.

DL1: LHR-JFK...A332.
DL2: LHR-JFK...A332.
DL3: LHR-JFK...A332.

Atlanta:
DL 30: ATL-LHR...A332.
DL 32: ATL-LHR...A333.

DL 31: LHR-ATL...A332.
DL 33: LHR-ATL...A333.

Detroit:
DL 16: DTW-LHR...A332.
DL 18: DTW-LHR...B763.

DL 17: LHR-DTW...A332.
DL 19: LHR-DTW...B763.

Minneapolis:
DL 10: MSP-LHR...B763.

DL 11: LHR-MSP...B763.

Philadelphia: No longer operates.
DL 194: PHL-LHR...75W.
DL 195: LHR-PHL...75W.

Seattle: Now operated by VS.
DL 4349: SEA-LHR...B789.
DL 4348: LHR-SEA...B789.

Some notes on seats: I have not discussed extensively, as it has been covered ad nauseam on the forum.

Comfort+ - LINK

764:
The J the configuration is 1-2-1. If traveling with a companion, the two middle seats work well, as they're next to each other. With the window seats, the seat console is between the passenger and the aisle on the odd seats, minimizing being bumped by someone in the aisle. Some people do not like the forward seats (1-3) due to galley noise while others like these seats for their privacy.

For Y seats, row 30 (exit row) has tons of space. Comfort+ are rows 15-18. Row 15 is the bulkhead C+ seat - opinions vary, but the legroom here is not as good as on the 763. Refer to the C+ FAQ for pictures.

763:
The 763s on this route are the modified a/c with lie flat J seats. The rows with C+ on the 76Ws typically used on LHR flights are 16-21.

DL Forum 763 Mod Tracking (lots of info on seats) - LINK

Beginning in spring 2018, many of Delta's B767 flights to London were switched to A330s instead, which is generally thought to be a more comfortable aircraft type, especially in business class.

Want to see London on approach to LHR?
If you want the chance to get a good look at London when landing @ LHR (assuming the weather cooperates), sit on the right side of the a/c. If winds dictate landing patterns over the city, you'll see it from this side. Pics from one of my landings.

Immigration & Baggage Collection @ LHR

The FA's will provide a landing card for those with non EU/EEA passports. If you're staying in the UK, you'll need the address (hotel, residence, etc.) for your landing card. Passport control will request the landing card and your passport.

Upon deplaning, you will head to the UK Border Agency (UKBA) checkpoint if remaining in the UK or follow the purple "flight connections" signage if you have an onward flight from any LHR terminal.

If you are connecting, refer to the Heathrow website for details on other terminals and specific flight connections.

When flying BE, the FA's hand out FastTrack passes, which often speed the process of entering the UK, the immigration queues can take a while.
  • T3: As you enter the immigration hall, the UK/EU desks are immediately to your left, keep going straight. The entry to the non-EU passport queue will be ahead on the left and FastTrack will be directly ahead. Keep an eye on the regular queue because it's often faster than FastTrack (more agents).
  • T4: If looking at the UKBA desks, the FastTrack lane has been moved to the center of the passport control area and is in between the EU and non-EU passport queues. In the absence of a FastTrack card, I try to be prompt in getting to passport control...closer to the front, the better!

**Also, be sure to have a copy of your itinerary with you as border agents sometimes ask for evidence of your planned departure from the UK.

Baggage:
After clearing passport control, pax head downstairs to collect their baggage (T3 or T4). LHR baggage is generally pretty good and the priority tags work most of the time^. There are cash machines, vending machines, and restrooms in the baggage hall.

Upon collecting baggage, pax pass through customs and then enter the arrivals hall. Booked taxi courier drivers are often waiting across from the exit doors.
  • T3: As you exit customs into the arrivals hall, follow the lane around - the ramp to the Underground and Heathrow Connect/Express will be on the left. Hotel bus shuttles (Hoppa bus) and the taxi rank are also to the left and outside.
  • T4: Go to the left for the Heathrow Connect/Express trains and go to the right for Underground trains (The Underground (AKA the Tube) is the cheapest way into London via the Piccadilly Line; Heathrow Connect to Paddington with a few stops in between is in the middle; the Heathrow Express is the most expensive direct service to Paddington). Rental car and limousine desks are to the right. Rental car and hotel shuttle buses (Hotel Hoppa) are outside of the terminal - follow posted signs.


Baggage storage is also available outside of security.
  • T3: Left Luggage is near the WH Smith in the arrivals hall.
  • T4: Exit to the right and it is across from the escalators that go down to the Tube station.
It currently costs 5GBP/item for 0-4 hours, 11GBP/item for 4-24 hours storage, and 5GBP/item for each additional 24 hours.

Lounges:

Arrivals @ LHR T3:

D1, DM, and PM can use the VS Revivals Lounge on the mezzanine level. Unlike with departures lounges, DM and PM are not allowed to bring a guest along to the Revivals Lounge (unless flying in D1/Upper Class).

Departures:

LHR T3: Delta One passengers, DMs, and PMs have access to the VS Clubhouse lounge. DMs and PMs may bring one guest who is traveling on the same flight. A 3rd party lounge (the "No. 1 Traveller" Lounge) is offered to GM traveling in economy or Premium Economy.


NOTE: Although the dl.com Sky Club Locations page states that Sky Club members get access to the SkyTeam lounge at LHR, I've had agents at the desk there tell me that my SC card does not matter and my ST Elite+ status is what gets me access unless flying in J.
FT Discussion:
Paid SC Member Denied Access to LHR Sky Team Lounge

Check in and security at LHR T4 (AF, KL, and other SkyTeam partners):
Check in for SkyPriority and J pax is at the desks used for SkyTeam pax.

As far as time for check in, Delta Check In Time Requirements. On that note, I have family (Medallions) who have checked in (with checked baggage) right at 60 minutes before the flight and made it through security and to the plane with a few minutes to spare.

FastTrack for the security checkpoint - The FT lane is to the left if looking at the main security queuing point. Pax flying in J can use FT. I have been able to use FT when flying in Y by showing my DM card. Not sure if it is the policy, but I last used it on March 2013 with no issue. Others have also reported success using the FT lane by showing their credentials.

NOTE: Increased security measures at LHR security checkpoints are creating delays - Email I received from DL LINK

If flying AF or KL from LHR, the latest check in time changes effective 1 Feb 2012: Changes to Latest Check-in Time at LHR on AF/KL
More discussion on London and the UK:
FT UK & Ireland Forum - LINK
UK Air Passenger Duty

DL paid ground transfer JFK-EWR/LGA on TATL flights - LINK

Delta and Virgin Atlantic (VS) Partnership:
dl.com: VIRGIN ATLANTIC PARTNERSHIP FAQS
FT thread: Delta Virgin Atlantic Partnership

NOTE: At LHR, DL and VS use T3 while other SkyTeam carriers use T4. These terminals are not connected air or landside.

VS Fare Classes:
VS fare classes do not align with DL fare classes. VS fare buckets:
Upper Class - J, C, D, I, Z, G (G is an award & upgrade fare class)
Premium Economy W, S, H, K, P
Economy Y, B, R, L, U, M, E, Q, X, V, N, O

Note that because Virgin Atlantic uses the same G fare class for both award tickets and upgrades, if using miles or GUCs to upgrade a Virgin Atlantic flight, it will be rebooked in G and may thus show up to Delta as ineligible for mileage earning with SkyMiles. This is incorrect, as upgraded tickets should earn miles based on the original coach ticket -- so if upgrading Virgin Atlantic flights, pay close attention to your SkyMiles earning and be ready to follow up with Delta to get the miles credited correctly.

dl.com - earning miles on VS (VS is a Tier 1 partner.): LINK

Medallion Benefits flying on VS (DM, PM, GM):
- Priority Check-In
- Priority Baggage Handling
- Priority Security
- Priority Boarding
- Baggage fee waiver for one additional piece up to 23kg (~50lbs)
- VS Clubhouse access with a same-day TATL flight on DL or VS (GMs: only at BOS/EWR/IAD/JFK/LAX/SFO, not LGW/LHR; PM have access at LGW, but not LHR unless in J; DM have access at LGW and LHR)

NOTE: VS J pax (and presumably Medallions) are now eligible for Fast Track security for connections, departures, and arrivals at LHR T3: LINK.

Clubhouse (Lounge) Access:

DL/VS J passengers get access to VS Clubhouse lounges at LGW/LHR and BOS/EWR/IAD/JFK/LAX/SFO with a same-day TATL flight on either DL or VS.

GM in W or Y have access to the BOS/EWR/IAD/JFK/LAX/SFO lounges but not LGW/LHR.

DM or PM in W or Y may use the LGW and LHR Clubhouse lounges as well as BOS/EWR/IAD/JFK/LAX/SFO, and may bring 1 guest traveling on the same flight with them.

DM/PM/GM in W or Y at LHR T3 have access to "No. 1 Traveller" lounge instead of, (for DMs in addition to), the VS Clubhouse.

LHR T3:
al330729's pics from the VS Clubhouse at LHR T3 - LINK

JFK:
As a DM flying JFK-LHR, I was able to use the VS Clubhouse at JFK. For pics, please see:
- Lounge - LINK
- Food - LINK
- Showers/Spa - LINK

VS Revivals (Arrivals) Lounge at LHR T3:
alee0729 had no issues accessing the VS Revivals Lounge following a DL arrival into T3. Shower pic - LINK

On Dec. 21, 2013, I stopped by the Revivals Lounge to get clarification on access for DL Medallion members. Per the agent, only pax flying Upper Class (Business) can currently access the lounge due to space issues; DL Medallion status does not = access. This may change once some DL flights start using T3 in Spring 2014.

Upgrading on VS-Operated Flights:
Virgin Atlantic Code Share Flight Questions
Using SM to Upgrade on VS

Access to Extra Leg Room Seats / Exit Rows on VS-operated Flights:
Possible Improvements to the DL-VS Relationship
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FAQ: Flying to London on DL

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Old Jun 12, 2018, 6:47 am
  #1621  
 
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Originally Posted by FlyinHawaiian
@gooselee, please share your results; I'm flying JFK-LHR on VS next month around the same time that my +1 is flying a DL flight departing from T4 and I'd like to have breakfast with her in the Clubhouse, if possible. Thanks!
Even if gooselee is denied your +1 may be granted access because she is flying on DL. In other words, they may be willing to bend the rules to accommodate a guest on another VS/DL flight, but perhaps not on an AA flight. Will be interesting to find out.

IIRC, most of the time I have entered a lounge of any airline with a guest or as a guest, only the primary person was scanned in, but I could be wrong about that.
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Old Jun 12, 2018, 7:09 am
  #1622  
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Originally Posted by FlyinHawaiian
@gooselee, please share your results; I'm flying JFK-LHR on VS next month around the same time that my +1 is flying a DL flight departing from T4 and I'd like to have breakfast with her in the Clubhouse, if possible. Thanks!
Which DL flight is this? All DL flights now depart from T3, unless the flight is not actually operated by Delta (like a DL flight number on an Air France-operated flight to Paris).

If your companion is indeed departing from T4 then there will be no way for them to use the Clubhouse, you can't go into the "wrong" terminal at LHR. If your companion is departing from T3 I think you should be fine (unlike the person with the companion flying on a non-DL/VS airline).
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Old Jun 12, 2018, 7:34 am
  #1623  
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Originally Posted by bgriff
Which DL flight is this? All DL flights now depart from T3, unless the flight is not actually operated by Delta (like a DL flight number on an Air France-operated flight to Paris).

If your companion is indeed departing from T4 then there will be no way for them to use the Clubhouse, you can't go into the "wrong" terminal at LHR. If your companion is departing from T3 I think you should be fine (unlike the person with the companion flying on a non-DL/VS airline).
Wrong direction. Poster was talking about departing JFK.
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Old Jun 12, 2018, 7:51 am
  #1624  
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Originally Posted by gooselee
Thanks all. I may need to think through strategy. I selfishly don't want to skip the clubhouse after what will be a very long work trip, but if we attempt and are denied entry, I will certainly be obligated to hang around the terminal with her.

Perhaps I should schedule a business meeting that morning instead...
As of a month or so ago, I was not able to guest my sister (on a DL flight to a different destination) into the VS Clubhouse at JFK. I'll be there this weekend and can ask - are you and your wife both headed to LHR, just on different flights?

The Revivals Lounge at LHR does not offer +1 access.
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Old Jun 12, 2018, 8:00 am
  #1625  
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Originally Posted by flyerCO
Wrong direction. Poster was talking about departing JFK.
Ah, sorry, I should have read more carefully.

Departing JFK is a whole different wrinkle then, because one could be flying DL to all sorts of places that don't qualify for Clubhouse access. It's worth a try but if your companion isn't flying DL to LHR (and it sounds like they aren't since DL doesn't have a morning flight to London), don't be surprised if they are turned away. In theory you might still be able to bring both of you into the Sky Club, though that is of course less exciting than the Clubhouse.
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Old Jun 12, 2018, 8:29 am
  #1626  
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Originally Posted by rwoman
As of a month or so ago, I was not able to guest my sister (on a DL flight to a different destination) into the VS Clubhouse at JFK. I'll be there this weekend and can ask - are you and your wife both headed to LHR, just on different flights?

The Revivals Lounge at LHR does not offer +1 access.
I think this question was meant for FlyinHawaiian.

My case involves departing LHR with a coworkers who is very much not my wife. Coworker is in AA to CLT, I believe. For some reason I thought I had looked it up and saw that AA/VS use the same terminal at LHR? If it's physically impossible for her to even get to the LHR Clubhouse entrance then that might make my attempt moot anyway.

And based on these last few data points, I may still ask just to report back to FT but I'm not holding out much hope.
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Old Jun 12, 2018, 8:38 am
  #1627  
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Originally Posted by gooselee
I think this question was meant for FlyinHawaiian.

My case involves departing LHR with a coworkers who is very much not my wife. Coworker is in AA to CLT, I believe. For some reason I thought I had looked it up and saw that AA/VS use the same terminal at LHR? If it's physically impossible for her to even get to the LHR Clubhouse entrance then that might make my attempt moot anyway.

And based on these last few data points, I may still ask just to report back to FT but I'm not holding out much hope.
AA does use the same terminal as DL/VS in LHR. Indeed the AA lounge is just downstairs from the Clubhouse. But as discussed there's a good chance that you won't be allowed to bring in a guest who's not flying DL/VS, and I believe the rules say you shouldn't be able to.
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Old Jun 12, 2018, 9:35 am
  #1628  
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I’m a PM flying JFK-LHR in PE and my wife has no DL status and is flying on a DL flight to California; @rwoman; it would be great to know in advance what the policy is so thanks for your offer to check.

For a later trip to LHR this year with my wife in PE, I know the VS Arrivals policy won’t let me guest her. Hopefully we can access the old DL arrivals lounge if it gets added to PriorityPass.
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Old Jun 14, 2018, 2:16 am
  #1629  
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Originally Posted by FlyinHawaiian
I’m a PM flying JFK-LHR in PE and my wife has no DL status and is flying on a DL flight to California; @rwoman; it would be great to know in advance what the policy is so thanks for your offer to check.

For a later trip to LHR this year with my wife in PE, I know the VS Arrivals policy won’t let me guest her. Hopefully we can access the old DL arrivals lounge if it gets added to PriorityPass.
If you're flying to London and she's heading to California, no guest in the VS lounge. You can guest into the Sky Club.

Delta no longer has an arrivals lounge at LHR; they use the VS Revivals lounge. I believe the old DL Arrivals lounge (outside near bus stop 17) accepts Priority Pass.
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Old Jun 14, 2018, 5:40 am
  #1630  
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@rwoman - Thank you; I am blessed to be married to a FTer who is understanding enough to let me head off to the JFK Clubhouse while she goes to the PP Wingtips Lounge. We've been to the SkyClub enough times not to care for a single trip.

The status of the old DL Arrivals lounge at LHR as a PP lounge is opaque and under discussion in another forum; if it's not clear by our later trip this Fall, we will look for other PP lounges at LHR for our arrival.
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Old Jun 14, 2018, 8:32 am
  #1631  
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The only two arrivals lounges listed as PP are in T2 and T4.
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Old Jun 14, 2018, 9:25 am
  #1632  
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I just stumbled onto this thread. Thank you, FlyerTalkers! I will arrive at LHR in Delta One (for the first time!) and have a few questions.

What is a Fastrack security lane? Will it be clearly marked?

Is there anything special enough about a Priority Pass arrival lounge (T2 or T4) that would make it worth the bother of getting there compared to visiting the VS arrival lounge in T3?

I plan to buy an Oyster card at T3 and take the Piccadilly Line into London (after rush hour), where I expect to buy a Senior Railcard and have it linked to the Oyster card. Is there anything wrong with this plan? Is there a way to improve on it?

Thanks for any help.
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Old Jun 15, 2018, 5:56 am
  #1633  
 
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Serpens...

We will be in London 1st week of July. I have been using Londontoolkit.com. We plan to take the TFL Heathrow train (formerly Heathrow Connect) to Paddington. TFL trains share the same platform as the Heathrow Central. Three of us will be there 7 days, so we will purchase a 7 day Travelcard zone 1-2 (loaded on Oyster).

Two more will arrive a few days later, and will only be there 4.5 days, so we plan a "pay as you go" method.

1. When will you be in London? I will come back and post how it went.
2. Londontoolkit.com is a really good resource for the ticket breakdown.
3. I also use rome2rio.com
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Old Jun 15, 2018, 7:39 am
  #1634  
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Originally Posted by stan1162
1. When will you be in London? I will come back and post how it went.
Early September and late September (and in the north and west of England in between).

Originally Posted by stan1162
2. Londontoolkit.com is a really good resource for the ticket breakdown.
Thanks; I'll look at it (or rather have my internet researching traveling companion look at it).

Originally Posted by stan1162
3. I also use rome2rio.com
What is that? Is it more than Rome to Rio?

Thanks.
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Old Jun 15, 2018, 9:48 am
  #1635  
 
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Originally Posted by serpens
Early September and late September (and in the north and west of England in between).



Thanks; I'll look at it (or rather have my internet researching traveling companion look at it).



What is that? Is it more than Rome to Rio?

Thanks.
Rome2rio.com is a travel planning site. I find it useful especially for more off-the-beaten path travel. For example, I have been using it for an upcoming trip to Norway and have been able to find bus schedules for Ålesund to Åndalsnes.
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