Jfk-lhr-jnb
Mar 14, 2005 | 5:09 pm
#2
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,593
You can stay airside by following "flight connections", avoiding the need to clear customs and enter the UK. Airside includes quite a few shops at LHR, particularly in T4, so maybe it is the most pleasant airport to do this at (however you can only be airside at the terminal from which your flight to JNB departs, which is T1 if flying BA or T3 if flying most others). But 8 hours is a lot to stay at an airport, particularly with 8+ hour flights before/after. If you have no airline lounge access, there are several "paid-for" lounges available at LHR for a fee.
Mar 15, 2005 | 5:42 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MSY
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 6,057
Originally Posted by bluewatersail
We'll be flying JFK to JNB with a change of planes and 8 hour layover in LHR. Will we have to clear UK customs or is there a transit area we can wait in?
Mar 15, 2005 | 8:15 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA
Programs: FA
Posts: 6,483
Take the Tube (subway) to Central London. It's much cheaper than the express--you have 8 hours to kill anyway. Also, if the OP is connecting at LHR, wouldn't the luggage be already checked and in possession of the airline? Would there still be the need for luggage storage? Just wondering.
LAX
LAX
Last edited by LAX; Mar 15, 2005 at 8:17 am
Mar 15, 2005 | 8:21 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, UA MM Lifetime Gold, BA Silver
Posts: 451
or, you could do what i did in january. i booked a day use room at the london heathrow sheraton. i had a shower and slept for a few hours. it was great. and i was refreshed for the long journey to jnb.
Mar 15, 2005 | 2:29 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: New York, NY, USA
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Posts: 4,378
I am not a fan of T1 and if taht's where you're headed I strongly recommend either going into London (I'd take the underground--you won't save THAT much time by taking HEX unless you're planning activities in the Paddington area) or the airport hotel option. If you are unable or unwilling to check your bags through, the left luggage charge is now 5.50 GBP per bag.
Mar 16, 2005 | 4:33 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,752
Originally Posted by travelmad478
my choice: go through immigration, park your bags at Left Luggage (5 per bag, in the arrivals hall) and have a day in London via Heathrow Express