LHR: How long does it typically take for Transfer?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: TLV/DFW
Programs: LY Matmid/AA Advantage
Posts: 44
LHR: How long does it typically take for Transfer?
Hi Guys,
Just wondering what the average/usual time-frame is for an airport/airline carrier change at LHR?
I have a 1.5 hour layover in LHR on the way to DFW - I'm just wondering if that's going to be enough time to get through security, etc. again without being in a rush.
(Inbound to LHR from TLV via LY and Outbound from LHR to DFW via AA). This is all on an AA ticket.
Just wondering what the average/usual time-frame is for an airport/airline carrier change at LHR?
I have a 1.5 hour layover in LHR on the way to DFW - I'm just wondering if that's going to be enough time to get through security, etc. again without being in a rush.
(Inbound to LHR from TLV via LY and Outbound from LHR to DFW via AA). This is all on an AA ticket.
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
Hi Guys,
Just wondering what the average/usual time-frame is for an airport/airline carrier change at LHR?
I have a 1.5 hour layover in LHR on the way to DFW - I'm just wondering if that's going to be enough time to get through security, etc. again without being in a rush.
(Inbound to LHR from TLV via LY and Outbound from LHR to DFW via AA). This is all on an AA ticket.
Just wondering what the average/usual time-frame is for an airport/airline carrier change at LHR?
I have a 1.5 hour layover in LHR on the way to DFW - I'm just wondering if that's going to be enough time to get through security, etc. again without being in a rush.
(Inbound to LHR from TLV via LY and Outbound from LHR to DFW via AA). This is all on an AA ticket.
MCT is 90 minutes.
http://www.heathrow.com/flight-connections
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,435
Anywhere between 5 mins and hours depending on time of day, the terminals, the weather. Anything between terminals (like your T4 to T3) is always a bit painful as to requires a bus transfer which in this case actually goes under one of the main runways. 90mins should be OK but won't leave a huge amount of time.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: TLV/DFW
Programs: LY Matmid/AA Advantage
Posts: 44
Anywhere between 5 mins and hours depending on time of day, the terminals, the weather. Anything between terminals (like your T4 to T3) is always a bit painful as to requires a bus transfer which in this case actually goes under one of the main runways. 90mins should be OK but won't leave a huge amount of time.
#5
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Location: LHR
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#6
Join Date: May 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, LT Gold
Posts: 3,148
I've connected from T4 to T3 from walking off the plane to walking onto my connecting plane in 25 minutes before.
Just move briskly and you should be a-okay.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,195
The MCT is not the actual time it takes passengers to transfer from terminal to terminal or gate to gate but more about how the airlines and airport coordinate their activities e.g. getting bags moved around and their arrivals / departures schedules and what they feel comfortable with plus a little leeway to allow for a delay on an incoming flight.
If the airlines didn't feel the (in your case) 90mins was sufficient then they wouldn't offer that flight combination to passengers on a single ticket.
The vast majority of people do the physical transfer in a lot less time than the published MCT and catch their flights with no issues- including being at the gate at the required 20-30 minutes before doors close.
If the airlines didn't feel the (in your case) 90mins was sufficient then they wouldn't offer that flight combination to passengers on a single ticket.
The vast majority of people do the physical transfer in a lot less time than the published MCT and catch their flights with no issues- including being at the gate at the required 20-30 minutes before doors close.
#8
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Los Angeles and Eastern Sierra (weekly travel to SJC). "Home airports": LAX/BUR/BIH/SJC
Programs: SWA A-List Preferred, TSA Pre
Posts: 139
Hi Guys,
Just wondering what the average/usual time-frame is for an airport/airline carrier change at LHR?
I have a 1.5 hour layover in LHR on the way to DFW - I'm just wondering if that's going to be enough time to get through security, etc. again without being in a rush.
(Inbound to LHR from TLV via LY and Outbound from LHR to DFW via AA). This is all on an AA ticket.
Just wondering what the average/usual time-frame is for an airport/airline carrier change at LHR?
I have a 1.5 hour layover in LHR on the way to DFW - I'm just wondering if that's going to be enough time to get through security, etc. again without being in a rush.
(Inbound to LHR from TLV via LY and Outbound from LHR to DFW via AA). This is all on an AA ticket.
The good news is that it's one ticket, so in the worst case, they will rebook you.
--
I was panicking over a 3 hour connection from VS to BA that was not on one ticket. We made the long T3 walk, thru immigration, waited for bags, hopped on Heathrow Express to T5, checked in, through security and somehow still had about 90 mins to spare. Heathrow was pretty convenient in that regard, just have to know what you're doing. :-) I swear the "Flight Connections" path I took the first time took longer.
#10
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
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If the inbound is very late then yes there could be problems but airlines have procedures in place for managing this and affected passengers.
Hundreds if not thousands of people do this transit every day of the year with no problem at all.
If airlines and HAL felt that 90 minutes was too tight then they simply wouldn't offer connections of that time length.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: Brighton. UK
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I'll reiterate it again for you
If airlines felt 90 minutes was too short an MCT from T4 to T3 they would increase it and NOT offer connections of 90 minutes.
It is not in their interest to offer unrealistic connection times - too many unhappy passengers and possibly too much EU261 compensation to pay out.
Hundreds if not thousands of people day in day out, week in week out, month in month out, year in year out do this connection without issue.
If airlines felt 90 minutes was too short an MCT from T4 to T3 they would increase it and NOT offer connections of 90 minutes.
It is not in their interest to offer unrealistic connection times - too many unhappy passengers and possibly too much EU261 compensation to pay out.
Hundreds if not thousands of people day in day out, week in week out, month in month out, year in year out do this connection without issue.
#13
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#14
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,110
At T3, don't underestimate the time to get to the gate once airside. AA uses the more distant gates in the 30-40 range and it's at least 10 minutes walk (15 if you don't walk fast) from the central shop/lounge area to the farthest gate.
This applies whether or not you are connecting, so don't cut it too fine if you are in a lounge or shop.
This applies whether or not you are connecting, so don't cut it too fine if you are in a lounge or shop.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
At T3, don't underestimate the time to get to the gate once airside. AA uses the more distant gates in the 30-40 range and it's at least 10 minutes walk (15 if you don't walk fast) from the central shop/lounge area to the farthest gate.
This applies whether or not you are connecting, so don't cut it too fine if you are in a lounge or shop.
This applies whether or not you are connecting, so don't cut it too fine if you are in a lounge or shop.