I'm flying Lax-Lhr next week business class on AA 136 then flying BA to Lhr-Dub. I booked the flights separately. Does anyone know if I can ask at Lax that my luggage goes through to Dublin without me having to retrieve at Lhr? Also can I be considered as a internal connecting passenger without having to actually go out of terminal 3 to get to terminal 5 myself? I'm hoping that as AA and BA are alliance partners and that I am flying business on both flights will help. Anyone? Thanks.

Yes, you can check bags through to DUB (assuming the connection is same-day and your BA fare is not hand baggage only, etc.). Almost identical question just asked here, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onewo...-question.html

I am not sure what you mean by "internal connecting passenger". You will need to take the bus from T3 to T5, and you will need to be re-screened. Follow the flight connections signs.

I'm flying business on both flights so amount of luggage shouldn't be a problem. I didn't explain it very well but what I'm hoping to avoid at all costs is having to pick up my cases at lhr and then having to make my own way to terminal 5. It sounds like it'll work out fine. Thanks so much for your help.

I assume the OP is asking whether she will need to immigrate at T3, make her own way to T5, and then go through immigration again. If she were on a "truly" international connection then, as you point out, she wouldn't, and could go through Flight Connections. However, since she is connecting to the Republic of Ireland, which is a unified border zone with the UK (i.e. there are no immigration controls between the Republic of Ireland and the UK so there will be no immigration on arrival in DUB), then she will need to go through immigration on arrival in Heathrow: http://www.heathrowairport.com/heath...lic-of-ireland. However, the bags themselves can be checked through and will not need to be retrieved and re-checked in London.


One other thing I would add to the list of conditions that have to be fulfilled is that the two flights must meet the Minimum Connection Time (MCT) requirements for Heathrow.