I arrive UA from JFK at LHR at 6:55 and depart BMI at 8:55.
Is this enough time??
I expect my bags to be sent through unless I have to clear customs in LHR??

Any advice appreciated.

Shofar

This question has been asked before and answered in great detail, but unfortunately the maddening search function (or my inability to use it from this terminal) prevents me from providing a link.

In short, to answer your questions:

Yes it is enough time.
Yes your bags will go through (customs at final destination, not first)

This question was discussed yesterday:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=344243

Yesterday's question was T4 to the other terminals which is longer.

T3 to T1 could take you 10mins if you ran so I would expect 20 mins to be reasonable.

Remember, at LHR, you have to go through security again (even if you are connecting). Depending on the line for security, it took take you some time. This is cutting it somewhat close, but you should make it. However, if your incoming flight gets delayed significantly, you may be in trouble. Your bags will make it almost certainly.

That's a very unrealistic estimate. Even if you know all the cheats and rat-runs then 20 minutes is unlikely. I've done it in 15 as a fluke but I wouldn't rely on repeating it.

Assuming that you don't get into the complex game of treating yourself as an arriving passenger and departing from scratch at T1, then you've got to consider:

• The arrival gate at T3, which chould be a 10 mins walk from the main building
• Waiting for the bus to T1
• Security at the Flight Connections Centre, which can take anything from 2 minutes to 45 minutes
• Immigration at the Flight Connections Centre, usually okay
• The long walk to along to T1 departures
• Sorting out updated boarding passes etc

I agree. I have done it many times.

Thanks for all the advice and now you've got me worried.

Any suggestions for expiditing this transfer?

If I miss this flight to ABZ I'm waiting till late in the afternoon.

Shofar

Hi shofar,

The other way is rather than go via Flight Connections, is to follow signs for arrivals, clear immigration ( are you able to get a Fast Track voucher if travelling C/F) walk through customs and then walk to T1.

I would not worry too much about getting through to T1 unless your UA flight is very delayed.

Regards

TBS

Don't be worried. As I said earlier, you have plenty of time. I wish someone who can work the search function could find the right thread (it has loads of advice and information).

In the unlikely event you miss your ABZ flight, BMI may allow you to travel on the BA flight rather than wait around for the next BMI one, but it's entirely discretionary and they don't do it as a matter of policy.

To expedite your transfer? Not much that will help but if you are running very late into LHR, there is a BMI transfer desk at the Flight Connection Centre (just after security re-clearance) where you can get help.

Yeah, but it is complicated unless you know what you're doing - and for a non-UK/EU passport holder the immigration queues at T3 are longer than those at the Flight Connection Centre, so the benefit would be negligible.

this is venturing way afield of UAL related....and as it is specifically about LHR I am sending it to Local Talk - Airports - LONDON.

Thanks

squeakr
MOD UAL

Any opinions on traveling T3 to T2? I did it once with a 2 hour connection to T1 and ended up waiting around for 1-1/2 hours. Next time, tried it with a 1 hour 20 minute connection to T2. Naturally, UA arrived 1 hour late. Missed my connection, which was NOT on a partner carrier and -- worse -- on a separate ticket. I had to plead just to get on the next flight, because the rules of the ticket I bought didn't allow changes. Oh yeah, they cancelled my return too, but that's a different story.

So, I'd like to try the 1 hour 20 minute connection again but am nervous about it now. What do the LHR experts here think?

If I do miss my connection due to UA's late arrival, what's my best course of action at that point? Will UA help this 1K? I'd hate to wait 8 hours again at LHR for the next flight onward and a day-trip into London after not sleeping all night just isn't much fun.

UAfan with whom are you travelling onwards from T2? UA won't be able to help you at all if you're late, but if you're onwards with Star carriers it shouldn't be an issue.

Your experiences so far have been at extremes. In context, to be an hour late on a long haul with a non-protected onward ticket is pretty unlucky. To breeze through the connection process in 20 minutes is pretty fortunate. A 1hr 20 connection is a solid guess for a good result.

I agree. I connect through LHR at least 6 times in a year, and I like to leave 100 to 120 minutes for comfortable connections.