Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Related thread: LHR Terminal 2 United Club, GlobalFirst Lounge, and Arrivals Lounge Discussion Thread
Heathrow Free Travel Map Version 4.cdr
MCT for term 2 to term 2 connections ( most *A) is 1:00
Heathrow Free Travel Map Version 4.cdr
MCT for term 2 to term 2 connections ( most *A) is 1:00
Consolidated LHR connection time/logistics
#301
Join Date: May 2000
Location: WAS
Posts: 1,069
Thank you both for the quick responses.
After playing around with the airfares, I actually think I might book a business class airfare on A3. It's fully flexible/refundable. I might book a similar "backup" on BA the following day in case I miss the flight. So I don't think in terms of money out, I'm not much worse off then if I had a single ticket as long as UA will through-check my luggage so I can just transfer without having to reclaim and recheck luggage.
My concern has more to do with how likely or not I am to actually miss the flight because of the associated inconvenience (since I won't be on a known connection and therefore there'll be no wait for me if my incoming flight is delayed). It looks like about 10% of the time, UA122 is late 15-29 minutes. If I'm down to 50 minutes, will I have a hard time making my connection?
Also, does the 15 minute walk to security imply a 15 minute walk back? And does A3 use the A gates or B gates at LHR T2 (the gate info seems to be top secret info!)? And does clearing security require leaving the 2B satellite where UA arrives?
After playing around with the airfares, I actually think I might book a business class airfare on A3. It's fully flexible/refundable. I might book a similar "backup" on BA the following day in case I miss the flight. So I don't think in terms of money out, I'm not much worse off then if I had a single ticket as long as UA will through-check my luggage so I can just transfer without having to reclaim and recheck luggage.
My concern has more to do with how likely or not I am to actually miss the flight because of the associated inconvenience (since I won't be on a known connection and therefore there'll be no wait for me if my incoming flight is delayed). It looks like about 10% of the time, UA122 is late 15-29 minutes. If I'm down to 50 minutes, will I have a hard time making my connection?
Also, does the 15 minute walk to security imply a 15 minute walk back? And does A3 use the A gates or B gates at LHR T2 (the gate info seems to be top secret info!)? And does clearing security require leaving the 2B satellite where UA arrives?
#302
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: All of them, UA-Plat, 1MM*G
Posts: 881
I would be concerned about your thru-checked bags in the event that you miss the A3 flight and want to fly on your BA backup. It is not clear to me whether A3 will carry the bags on to ATH when to them, you don't seem to be continuing to ATH from LHR. While you may be able to sort this out, either at LHR or after arrival at ATH, I would expect that it will take some significant amount of time.
#304
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New York, London, Sydney
Programs: United GS/2MM, DL*P, VS*G, AA*EXP, Avis CHM, Hertz Platinum, Sixt*D, HH*D, HGP*P, Starwood*P
Posts: 9,847
Everyone is so pessimistic. It's an easily makeable connection, even with a decent chunk of delay (30 mins fine, 45 mins survivable). No guarantees of course, but not worth getting you knickers in a twist over, either.
#305
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
On a connection, should he miss his onward flight due to the late arrival of his connection, he it would fall to UA to rebook him. On a ticket transfer, his onwards ticket will be cancelled and it will retain whatever value it retains under its fare rules. That is generally nothing. Absent the intercession of staff, one is stuck purchasing a new ticket at walk-up prices.
Thus, this is a matter of risk tolerance, not mere inconvenience.
#306
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,418
#307
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,220
I would be concerned about your thru-checked bags in the event that you miss the A3 flight and want to fly on your BA backup. It is not clear to me whether A3 will carry the bags on to ATH when to them, you don't seem to be continuing to ATH from LHR. While you may be able to sort this out, either at LHR or after arrival at ATH, I would expect that it will take some significant amount of time.
#308
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,220
My concern has more to do with how likely or not I am to actually miss the flight because of the associated inconvenience (since I won't be on a known connection and therefore there'll be no wait for me if my incoming flight is delayed). It looks like about 10% of the time, UA122 is late 15-29 minutes. If I'm down to 50 minutes, will I have a hard time making my connection?
Also, does the 15 minute walk to security imply a 15 minute walk back? And does A3 use the A gates or B gates at LHR T2 (the gate info seems to be top secret info!)? And does clearing security require leaving the 2B satellite where UA arrives?
So, in short, I would be optimistic of making the connection, but it's far from certain.
#310
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,214
You need to walk from the arrival gate to immigration which takes approx. 10-15 minutes depending upon which gate and how fast you walk.
Hand luggage is good (but my checked luggage is usually there by the time I get to the luggage area as LHR is one of the most if not best, in time to get your luggage to you).
You cannot walk to T5, you need to catch the Heathrow Connect/Express from T2 to T5 and it is a five/ten minute walk to catch the train. They run every 15 minutes.
I cannot remember how long it took to get from the station to the departure level at T5 but used the elevators and would allow another five minutes.
Then you need to get through security at T5 . There is no TSA-pre equivalent so you need to take out liquids, computer, belt, etc. There is a fast track if you have status/business class ticket but it is still a time consuming process depending upon the number of other people can take another 5-10 minutes.
I personally think 95 minutes is cutting it too fine, especially if you have never done the transfer between T2 and T5 before.
#311
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: BOS/SIN
Programs: DL PM, OZ Diamond Plus, BA Silver
Posts: 1,799
I have done this but allowed myself four hours in case my flight was delayed.
You need to walk from the arrival gate to immigration which takes approx. 10-15 minutes depending upon which gate and how fast you walk.
Hand luggage is good (but my checked luggage is usually there by the time I get to the luggage area as LHR is one of the most if not best, in time to get your luggage to you).
You cannot walk to T5, you need to catch the Heathrow Connect/Express from T2 to T5 and it is a five/ten minute walk to catch the train. They run every 15 minutes.
I cannot remember how long it took to get from the station to the departure level at T5 but used the elevators and would allow another five minutes.
Then you need to get through security at T5 . There is no TSA-pre equivalent so you need to take out liquids, computer, belt, etc. There is a fast track if you have status/business class ticket but it is still a time consuming process depending upon the number of other people can take another 5-10 minutes.
I personally think 95 minutes is cutting it too fine, especially if you have never done the transfer between T2 and T5 before.
You need to walk from the arrival gate to immigration which takes approx. 10-15 minutes depending upon which gate and how fast you walk.
Hand luggage is good (but my checked luggage is usually there by the time I get to the luggage area as LHR is one of the most if not best, in time to get your luggage to you).
You cannot walk to T5, you need to catch the Heathrow Connect/Express from T2 to T5 and it is a five/ten minute walk to catch the train. They run every 15 minutes.
I cannot remember how long it took to get from the station to the departure level at T5 but used the elevators and would allow another five minutes.
Then you need to get through security at T5 . There is no TSA-pre equivalent so you need to take out liquids, computer, belt, etc. There is a fast track if you have status/business class ticket but it is still a time consuming process depending upon the number of other people can take another 5-10 minutes.
I personally think 95 minutes is cutting it too fine, especially if you have never done the transfer between T2 and T5 before.
#312
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,214
If no checked bags there's no need to go through immigration — just follow the signs to flight connections, take the T2-T5 bus and go through transfer security in T5. It's definitely doable (10 minutes to walk from T2B to T2A, 10-15 min wait for the bus and the bus journey is maybe another 10 minutes) but if on separate tickets and the UA inbound is delayed then one is SOL
I had caught the bus about six/seven years ago between terminals (I still needed to go through security screening at that time) and was not aware they still had them. Thank you for that information as I had been using the Heathrow Express to connect between the terminals.
#313
Join Date: Nov 2014
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 1,679
If no checked bags there's no need to go through immigration — just follow the signs to flight connections, take the T2-T5 bus and go through transfer security in T5. It's definitely doable (10 minutes to walk from T2B to T2A, 10-15 min wait for the bus and the bus journey is maybe another 10 minutes) but if on separate tickets and the UA inbound is delayed then one is SOL
#314
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,965
Last time I flew into LHR (2.5 weeks ago), arrived in the morning and early, we had to use a remote gate (i.e. stairs). The upside is the bus dropped us off at the A part of the terminal so we did not have that long walk - it took 11 minutes between door 1L and the time I got to the eGate. Bag took a little longer but I was out in 45 minutes total (touchdown to out of customs). eGate definitely was great.
I was in the first row of PE so I got onto the 2nd bus. Still, if one is in the back of the plane, it can add to the time.
I was in the first row of PE so I got onto the 2nd bus. Still, if one is in the back of the plane, it can add to the time.
#315
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,769