I have looked at prior posts, but still confused. I will be flying with my mom to Prague and we land in Heathrow terminal 5 then have a 3 hour layover before our next flight to Prague in terminal 3. I realize these are separate terminals and it sounds like you need to fully exit one terminal to go to another via bus or train. Does this mean I will need to go through security in terminal 3? Do I have to go through passport control before leaving terminal 5? Lastly, how long does this normally take to change terminals? I’m worried now we will miss our connecting flight.
Posted by
11502 posts
Go to Heathrow Connects to see how you will change terminals. You have plenty of times to make your connection.
Posted by
Duluth 🛶
7628 posts
Hi, ckarrieteart, it's really less complicated than it seems. As Suki said, you can use the Heathrow Connector, but here is the actual website. Just plug in your dates and flight numbers and it should give you the info you need. https://www.heathrow.com/connecting-flights
Posted by
Preston UK
1087 posts
The key is whether your journey is all on one ticket or on two. If you have booked your trip all on one ticket you can follow the Flight Connections signs, which will lead you to a bus service from T5 to T3. You will stay airside and will not need to go through immigration. You will, however, need to pass through security on entering T3. 3 hours is plenty of time for this change.
However, if you have booked two separate tickets you will need to go through immigration, collect any checked bags and then make your way to T3 landslide. 3 hours would be tight for this.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
7907 posts
To add a little information, much of the guidance will mention the trains/underground between terminals, but yeah, that would involve leaving the secure area and having to go through security.
However, if you follow the connecting flights signs in the direction of terminal 3, you will get to a shuttle bus that will stay airside and in the secure zone.
You will still do a security check, but for connecting flights that is relatively quick.
I assume this is all on one ticket? If you purchased the two flights separately, a few people have argued that you will not be able to stay "in transit" and need to go through immigration and then back through security, but I can't verify that.
Posted by
Duluth 🛶
7628 posts
I assume this is all on one ticket? If you purchased the two flights separately, a few people have argued that you will not be able to stay "in transit" and need to go through immigration and then back through security, but I can't verify that.
Paul, the link I inserted above actually addresses this. Once you scroll down there is a blurb that says:
If you’ve booked two flights separately, in most cases you’ll need to pick up your checked bags and check-in for your connecting flight. If so, simply exit through Arrivals and check-in at Departures.
Posted by
Preston UK
1087 posts
Generally, if you have booked two separate flights, but you have only got carry-on luggage AND you have already got your boarding pass for the second flight, you should also be able to use Flight Connections and stay airside.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
7907 posts
To explain my point, on here and other sites, I have had people strongly argue that if it is not on one ticket, you must exit through immigration and then go back through security at Heathrow.
The "blurb" really does not clear it up, in any airport in the world, if you check bags and are transferring to a non affiliated airline, you need to reclaim bags, which are outside the secure zone, and past immigration.
I would think as long as you can show a boarding pass, you should be able to stay in transit between terminals with no checked bags.