AntonS

Looking at Premium Economy SEA-LHR on VS and LHR-LED on BA on a separate ticket. Connection time is 2 hours to change from T3 to T5.

No checked bags. Is it doable?

BA ticket is like $200 one way and $70 change fee, so if I miss a flight its not a huge deal.

Note that VS actually offers single fare SEA-LHR-LED with PE on TATL segment but for some reason the availability only comes back in Y and J, not PE. I wasted one hour with two different VS reservation agents who gave up. Expedia has the same issue, books in Y and J without problems, PE is forcing to J. Could be married segments?

craigthemif

Your problem might be getting a boarding pass for Russia without a visa check. That will eat into the time you have to clear conformance at T5.

clarkeysntfc

Doable but very risky.

UKtravelbear

The BA visa check will be key here. As will hitting BA conformance otherwise you will be off loaded. So you are very much dependent on an on-time VS arrival.

That applies whether you try both airside and landside terminal transfers.

And to be pedantic on separate tickets you are not connecting!

Often1

The question is not whether you suffer a loss with a no show on the BA ticket, but what a new ticket costs at walk-up fares. Even if you land in time to deal with rebooking, the $70 change fee will still require a fare difference to be paid if there is one.

The question is all about risk because you bear 100% of the risk.

AntonS

Thanks everyone, very helpful.

I didn't realize check-in would be such issue. I will try to check-in online or at BA ticket counter in SEA in they are open before VS departure.

In LHR cutoff seems to be 45 minutes, but perhaps they may let me in if seats are still available when I show up at the gate after cut off?

Good news is that LHR-LED seems to be flooded with $200ish one way fares, so I will probably protect myself 24 hour out on a later flight just in case and use 24 hour free cancelation if I make connection (on Expedia you can cancel anytime before fligth).



​​​​​

AntonS

Quick update. I was able to check in online for BA flight. VS arrived on time. It took me about 45 minutes to get from VS plane to the departure gate at T5. Could have done in 40 minutes if I had to run. There was 5 minutes wait at T5 security and 5 minute wait for the bus.
​​​​
Conclusion: 2hr is very doable if you can check in online. You will have more than 1 hour to spare if flight arrives on time and there is no long waits at security checkpoint or bus.

But if you can not check in online, it's risky because you will need to be at BA connection center 45 minutes prior, which is about 30 minutes walk/bus from VS = 1hr 15 minutes, so any delay over 30-40 minutes and there is a good chance you miss it. Even a small delay would make me run and sweat.

StingWest

Thanks for the update!

craigthemif

Good to see an update and that its conclusions are measured.

Far too many people take one or two experiences (where everything runs smoothly) to confirm to themselves that it always works that way...