Connections at LHR
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Richmond, VA - primarily using UAL out of RIC/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Silver
Posts: 195
Connections at LHR
Hi, I'm traveling through LHR and making a connection between Terminal 3 and terminal 4 - what can I expect - and how long should it take? Thanks.
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 42,600
You will have to follow signs to Flight Connections... if you are arriving on UA or AA, you will have a nice??? long walk, and the moving walkways are under construction (ie, not there right now). Then you will have to not only take a bus but also go through security at LHR. Expect the minimum time for all of this to be one hour, and your minimum connect time to be no less than 1.5 hrs.
#6
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Coventry, Warwickshire, England
Posts: 115
Check out the Heathrow website:
http://www.baa.co.uk/domino/baa/baan...eHome/Heathrow
http://www.baa.co.uk/domino/baa/baan...eHome/Heathrow
#8
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: New York, NY, USA
Programs: BAGold; AA3MMPlat; UA1MMGold; FBGold; MarriottAmb; AccorPlat; HHGold; ICPlatAmb; HyattDiscoverist
Posts: 4,378
Larrude--I remember it being a long walk, maybe 15-20 minutes from the baggage claim of one terminal to checkin at the other (I didn't check my bags through), but I had a trolley for my luggage, which probably slowed me down a bit. If you're talking gate to gate, add another 10-15. I recall a bus option, but I didn't want to haul my stuff on and off it.
[This message has been edited by rfrost (edited 04-03-2000).]
[This message has been edited by rfrost (edited 04-03-2000).]
#9
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Coventry, Warwickshire, England
Posts: 115
Terminals 1 & 2 are more or less interconnected, and Terminal 3 is about 300 yards away. Terminal 4 is however, about 5 miles away on the other side of the airport! There is a frequent (every 5 minutes or so) free shuttle between the terminals. You will probably find all the trnsfer times at the Heathrow website on my previous post.
#10
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA 2.996MM & Plat Pro, DL 1MM, GM & Flying Colonel
Posts: 25,037
There are two kinds of connections: "airside" and "groundside."
Airside connections are what you have if you're arriving by air, do not clear customs or legally enter the UK, and depart by air.
Groundside connections are if you clear customs, enter the UK, and re-enter the other terminal like any other departing passenger.
Airside, it's the shuttle bus. Period. These leave every 10 minutes from every terminal to every other one. The trip is about 5 minutes among 1-2-3, 10 minutes from any of these to 4. Your hand luggage will have to be re-Xrayed when you arrive at the other terminal but there is no passport control, no customs, and generally no lines (queues) to speak of. Follow the signs to Flight Connections. It can be a longish walk. Still, there is no reason it should take more than 45 minutes worst case, arrival jetway to departure gate. Add to this however much time you want to arrive before your flight leaves. You won't need much if you get your boarding pass at your originating airport.
Groundside, you walk among 1-2-3. The best way to get between 1-2-3 and 4 is the Heathrow Express train (the same one that goes to Paddington Station in London). It leaves every 15 minutes and takes 5 minutes for the (free) journey between terminals.
If you have no checked baggage and qualify for fast passport control (a Fast Track card, an EC passport or anything else) groundside connections can be faster, especially within the north (1-2-3) complex if you're a fast walker.
Airside connections are what you have if you're arriving by air, do not clear customs or legally enter the UK, and depart by air.
Groundside connections are if you clear customs, enter the UK, and re-enter the other terminal like any other departing passenger.
Airside, it's the shuttle bus. Period. These leave every 10 minutes from every terminal to every other one. The trip is about 5 minutes among 1-2-3, 10 minutes from any of these to 4. Your hand luggage will have to be re-Xrayed when you arrive at the other terminal but there is no passport control, no customs, and generally no lines (queues) to speak of. Follow the signs to Flight Connections. It can be a longish walk. Still, there is no reason it should take more than 45 minutes worst case, arrival jetway to departure gate. Add to this however much time you want to arrive before your flight leaves. You won't need much if you get your boarding pass at your originating airport.
Groundside, you walk among 1-2-3. The best way to get between 1-2-3 and 4 is the Heathrow Express train (the same one that goes to Paddington Station in London). It leaves every 15 minutes and takes 5 minutes for the (free) journey between terminals.
If you have no checked baggage and qualify for fast passport control (a Fast Track card, an EC passport or anything else) groundside connections can be faster, especially within the north (1-2-3) complex if you're a fast walker.



