Will this Heathrow connection work?
May 28, 2015 | 9:57 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: GLA
Posts: 1,265
Will this Heathrow connection work?
It's been a long time since I've flown through Heathrow and I'm not if this connection is long enough. I have the second segment booked, but am afraid to book the first because of this connection (which is not tight, but won't work if I really need 3 hours to check in for an intl flight!)
My first potential flight is on BA arriving from GLA at 12:25 pm at LHR (T5, I assume)
My second, already booked flight, leaves on EY at 3:05 p.m. (T4, I assume)
They will not be on the same PNR and we will have baggage.
Possible? Not possible?
My first potential flight is on BA arriving from GLA at 12:25 pm at LHR (T5, I assume)
My second, already booked flight, leaves on EY at 3:05 p.m. (T4, I assume)
They will not be on the same PNR and we will have baggage.
Possible? Not possible?
May 28, 2015 | 10:48 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London/Scotland
Posts: 1,567
You're assuming that the flight from GLA lands on time. Hopefully it will, but LHR operates close to capacity and delays are a fact of life. Delays of more than an hour aren't normal, but nor can they be discounted - they do sometimes happen.
What will it cost you if you miss the second flight? Your plan has way too much risk for my appetite.
I would either book under one ticket number (to get connection protection) or get to LHR much earlier.
What will it cost you if you miss the second flight? Your plan has way too much risk for my appetite.
I would either book under one ticket number (to get connection protection) or get to LHR much earlier.
May 29, 2015 | 1:52 am
#5
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Agree that it comes down to risk tolerance and how EY handles this type of misconnect. You would be well advised to ring them up and ask their policy on what happens if you're late to the airport (which is what we are talking about). That should clarify things. Is the 15:05 flight EY's only/last flight of the day? I'd feel more comfortable if they had another later flight as it's more likely they'll put you on it if you're late arriving to the airport for the previous flight.
May 29, 2015 | 2:44 am
#6
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Location: SE1, London & White River, South Africa
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Adding a sector will often require a reprice which could be expensive if the original fare is no longer available. BA will not through check bags onto a non-OW carrier so you will have to claim and recheck which is do able if your inbound from GLA is on time. Personally I would not risk it and take an earlier flight, or indeed the previous evening.
May 29, 2015 | 9:16 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2011
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If everything goes well, that connection should be fine. As others have said, it won't take much of a disruption to wreck it, and those kinds of small disruptions are sadly pretty common...
Have you looked at the train? Including the sleeper? Taking the sleeper down the night before is a pretty good price if booked a long way off, saves a night's accomodation, and you'd have several hours in London to see the sights / work before heading to Heathrow. An Advanced Purchase ticket on the train down in the morning might well be an option too
Have you looked at the train? Including the sleeper? Taking the sleeper down the night before is a pretty good price if booked a long way off, saves a night's accomodation, and you'd have several hours in London to see the sights / work before heading to Heathrow. An Advanced Purchase ticket on the train down in the morning might well be an option too
May 29, 2015 | 9:43 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: London
Posts: 1,117
The FlightStats website can show you historic on-time performance data for a particular flight. You can get some of the information for free, but you need to register for free and login to get to the rest.
Might give some idea on whether the initial flight from Glasgow is likely to be on time. Regardless it sounds a bit tight for my liking.
For what it's worth, here's a link to the Caledonian Sleeper website (the service is recently under new management):
www.sleeper.scot
Might give some idea on whether the initial flight from Glasgow is likely to be on time. Regardless it sounds a bit tight for my liking.
For what it's worth, here's a link to the Caledonian Sleeper website (the service is recently under new management):
www.sleeper.scot
May 29, 2015 | 11:54 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: GLA
Posts: 1,265
Okay, how would we feel about an 11 a.m. (BA1477) arrival at LHR with everything else the same?
I was hoping the 12:25 would work because I could get it with miles, but the 11 a.m. isn't too expensive.
The sleeper isn't an option because it leaves too early, we are arriving in GLA that night around 10:30 to the airport. I have learned an important lesson booking this trip -- do not book the internal flights first before getting the big international flights!
I was hoping the 12:25 would work because I could get it with miles, but the 11 a.m. isn't too expensive.
The sleeper isn't an option because it leaves too early, we are arriving in GLA that night around 10:30 to the airport. I have learned an important lesson booking this trip -- do not book the internal flights first before getting the big international flights!
May 30, 2015 | 2:23 am
#10
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,013
Okay, how would we feel about an 11 a.m. (BA1477) arrival at LHR with everything else the same?
I was hoping the 12:25 would work because I could get it with miles, but the 11 a.m. isn't too expensive.
The sleeper isn't an option because it leaves too early, we are arriving in GLA that night around 10:30 to the airport. I have learned an important lesson booking this trip -- do not book the internal flights first before getting the big international flights!
I was hoping the 12:25 would work because I could get it with miles, but the 11 a.m. isn't too expensive.
The sleeper isn't an option because it leaves too early, we are arriving in GLA that night around 10:30 to the airport. I have learned an important lesson booking this trip -- do not book the internal flights first before getting the big international flights!
May 30, 2015 | 2:52 am
#12
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11 is better as it gives you a reasonable amount of contingency for a 'normal' delay of an hour, and still have 30mins for reclaim, 30mins for transfers and check in 2 hours before flight departure. To save a bit of time use a black cab for the transfer, plentiful supply and takes 15mins tops. Anything really significant and you'll be in trouble but from experience those are either broad based weather issues or very specific and fairly fair technical problems.