Transfer Between Gatwick and Heathrow
 

I have a Delta flight to Gatwick and a connection on BA from Heathrow. I was wondering if I Delta would ckeck my bags through to my final destination, or do I have to do it myself. Has anyone out there experienced this? I have a 12 hour layover, so there is not time cruch. Any advice would be appreciated.

In my experience, you will HAVE to claim luggage at LGW and transfer to LHR to BA

A connection between British Airways at Gatwick and British Airways at Heathrow, and BA will check your bags through. So it is possible to have a LHR/LGW bag transfer. The question is whether Delta will be able to handle the transfer.

Since you have to "enter" the U.K. in order to transfer to LHR, you will have to retrieve your bags at LGW and take them through customs. I personally would not trust an airport to airport transfer of luggage - too many things could go wrong.

I would take the express bus to LHR, with your luggage, and check your luggage in at the BA counter, take the tube into London and return to LHR at your leisure.

To get about an hour more in London, take the train into London, taxi or tube to Paddington, and check in there. I've used the Paddington-LHR baggage service. It's quite reliable and those folks are used to dealing with way-in-advance check-ins. Then, enjoy the city!

(I haven't specifically checked to see if BA has Paddington check-in, but so many other airlines do that I can't imagine they wouldn't.)

Efrem:

I believe that most if not all Heathrow airlines have baggage check at Paddington. Only American and BA if I recall correctly have Gatwick baggage check at Victoria.

Right, but LA2CDG was transfering FROM Gatwick TO Heathrow, so check-in at Paddington would be what he/she cares about.

Guys, AA notified us last week that check-in is no longer possible at Paddington. Whether BA are still doing so I do not know. LA2CDG, which day of the week are you arriving? Not 29th March I hope, partial tube strike that day. You will have to clear customs and immigration. Does BA not fly from LGW to your final destination?

Ah you are correct. I was thinking that LA2CDG was transfering from a BA LHR flight to a DL LGW flight, but it is the other way around.

I once tranferred between Gatwick and Heathrow. I took the 777 bus. Passengers travelling connecting between 2 BA flights can take the bus free, I believe, if they have a special coupon.

I think the 777 (the bus, not the Boeing) is the fastest way, short of private limo or motorbike between LGW and LHR.

The Excess Baggage Company, which operates baggage storage sites in all the LHR and LGW terminals, also provides (for a fee) transfer service between the airports. I believe the minimum time you have to allow is 12 hours.

Thanks for all your help. Looks like the best way to do this will be to take the Gatwick Express to Victoria and a quick cab to Paddington for check in. Enjoy the day in London and the tube to LHR at 7pm.

Looks like this is another general travel question that has been solved.

Djlawman

I only hope that he did not try to do that today as London has a Tube Strike, and getting from Victoria to Paddington will be no joke

With BA, I often transfer between LGW and LHR using through-checked luggage from Jersey to my final destination (usually US and vice versa. BA's luggage vans are 'bonded'by customs and excise - your luggage technically never enters the UK.

Jersey passengers even get a free limo between the airports when travelling in club or first, or as mentioned above, an express coach voucher for economy.

Andy