We are flying British airways and stopping over in LHR on the way to Athens and have a three hour layover. From what I could find, BA lands in terminal 5, and our connecting flight is on Aegean which is in terminal 3 I believe. I’ve been told that LHR is crazy busy and not the easiest to find what you’re looking for. Since we have to change terminals, I would like to find the easiest and quickest way to get from terminal 5 to terminal 3. We will have to go through security again, and luckily, we are not checking bags. Any advice on ways to make this somewhat seamless experience would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by
Moncton NB
1127 posts
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7204 posts
Use the link above for planning. It will also give an approximate amount of time it will take. You will need to go through security again.
While there is walking involved, follow the purple line along floor and the signs for connecting flights. They would be hard to miss.
Posted by
Chicago
662 posts
Actually, I think Aegean is in Terminal 2 at LHR, which is all Star Alliance airlines.
But the directions are partly the same. You have 3 options:
- Picacdilly Line between T5 and T2/T3
- Elizabeth Line between T5 and T2/T3
- Heathrow Express between T5 and T2/T3
After you alight at the T2/T3 terminal, then you follow signs for T2, not T3.
Any of them should be fairly timely, assuming you are connecting during
normal hours.
Reference:
Heathrow xfer info
Posted by
Freedonia
16403 posts
You have been given good information, you have been given not so good information.
First, use the link given by darrenblois and fill in your flight info.
I'm guessing these are two separate tickets and not all on one.
If you have the boarding pass for the Aegean flight, you can attempt to use Flight Connections . This will keep you airside and a bus will take you between T5 and T2. Then there will be no need to go through immigration.
Posted by
Duluth 🛶
8154 posts
I believe shoeflyer and Frank are correct and Aegean Airlines uses Terminal 2. https://www.heathrow.com/airline-contact-info/aegean-airlines
Just an FYI, I have never used this before, but you might want to look into Heathrow's Fast Track program, given your time constraints. It's £12.50 per person (although some passengers with status can get it free) and you can book it up till midnight the night before. https://www.heathrow.com/at-the-airport/airport-services/fast-track
Posted by
Chicago
662 posts
Frank II is definitely correct about the potential for not leaving secure area of airport
and having to go through immigration/security. My bad for not noting that.
I think 3 hours to connect, even with changing terminals and leaving the secure area,
is not too bad. But given the state of affairs in the UK these days, you should be
keeping tabs on things like Border Force strikes, train issues, and the like, which
could turn a fairly straightforward situation into a messy one.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
@darrenblois-
Thanks for the link!
@jaimeeIsabio-
Thank you, I figured going through security again was likely, so thanks for confirming. And the purple lines.. will be looking for these :)
@shoeflyer-
Thank you for that! I’m glad to know I was given wrong info on the terminal, that would not have been good.. which of the 3 lines is faster? Will be landing at LHR at 12:10 pm
@Frank II -
You are correct, one is booked with BA, the other with Aegean separately. I didn’t know about Flight Connections, so I’m definitely buying that. I should be able to check in early and get the boarding pass.
@Mardee-
I’ll look at Fast track as well, thank you!
@shoeflyer- no worries for not mentioning it.
I just read today about Border Force strikes.
Can you explain what they do? ( LHR newbie here)
We land on Sept. 7th. Hopefully we won’t be affected.
Posted by
Lake District, England
8126 posts
Border Force control immigration- passport checks. As we believe that you are a connecting passenger (within the technical meaning of that wordage), you should not be having to go through immigration to enter the UK at T5, and then leave the UK again at T2.
That also means that you are probably not using the public transport to connect between the terminals, as to do so, you would have to legally enter the country by going through immigration.
So, in theory, the Border Force industrial action should not affect you. With the advent of E-gates the impact of such strikes is lessened anyway. There is always the possibility that, if immigration becomes heavily clogged up, they may have to hold arriving aircraft and control deplanement. But that would have to be handled if and when it happened. That is when the "connections" desk may have to expedite your inter terminal transfer.
Posted by
Freedonia
16403 posts
Remember, you must have the boarding pass for your Aegean flight to be able to use flight connections. Otherwise, you will have to go through immigration and customs, make your own way to T2, check in to get the boarding pass, go through security and then on to your gate.
There is no option to get your Aegean boarding pass airside. For security purposes, you cannot be allowed to stay airside without it. Technically, no one should be allowed airside without a boarding pass for that day.
It may also be a good idea to read up on security at LHR since it may be different than your home US airport.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
734 posts
Security is definitely different. Just in case you’ve been playing the games the TSA let us get away with where you have a baggie for each piece of luggage. They won’t allow that
Also if you are like me and have pre-check and have gotten a little lazy about having all your liquids in one baggie- your liquids must fit in a baggie and you must have them out in a tray. No exceptions so have them organized and ready to go or you will be held up.
This is the bare minimum of what I would consider acceptable because it’s an unprotected connection. Keep in mind that if your first flight is late you may be buying a new ticket to your destination. I do this quite often and my rule is a minimum of four hours and willingness to pay the price which in your case will be a new ticket to your destination
Keep your eye on the schedules because in this day and age schedules are written in pencil, so they can easily be changed.
Posted by
Snohomish, WA
62 posts
We did this connection in June of this year. Arrived at terminal 5 and left from terminal 5. We did have to go through security of course but had more than enough time to spare so we spent a few hours in the BA lounge. We did NOT have to go to terminal 3. Arrived from SEA on BA52 at about 7:00 am. By the way, Aegean airlines in Athens is quite a mess. You have to take a bus to and from the aircraft. It's not convenient at all but there are no options. If you are flying to any Greek islands after you land in Athens, be prepared for Aegean to be late and disorganized. We loved Greece and will be back, just had to go with the flow with Aegean. Happy travels.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
@isn31C
Thanks for the info! Nice to have clarity now.
@Frank II
Thank you, and yes, I plan on getting the digital boarding passes and printing them out 24 hours before we take off. (Just to be safe)
@Carol
Thank you,
I’ve done some pretty extensive research on security at LHR. I have prepared by replacing as many liquids with dry items as I can, and I will have it in my personal item easily accessible for security. And thanks for the advice about the schedules. We have faces this on other occasions, so it’s good that I know what to expect now.
@thommi01
Oh boy. Sounds like quite the adventure. Thank you for the heads up on taking a bus to and from the plane. I would not have expected that. We will be flying out2 days later on Olympic, but will be prepared now.
Thanks so much