Heathrow connection timing

Is 2.5 hours enough time??

No.

Have you looked at other options? If flying Star Alliance you can also consider Lufthansa via Frankfurt or Munich or SAS via Copenhagen.

Thank you.
I know I can do those things, but I will be in the UK for 10 days, then off to Poland. My previous flights to Poland have been with Lufthansa via Frankfurt.

R/T DC to London very inexpensive at the moment. R/T London to Warsaw $300. Trying to make it work. It's $1000+ less than multicity.
Thanks.
Judy

I have bought a separate ticket to London and then tickets from London on. When I do this, I always spend at least one night in London between flights to reduce risk.

When you say your multi-city trip was $2600, did you put all your flights on the same ticket? When I am splitting time between two locations, I usually do an open jaws ticket with a separate one-way ticket between London and my other European destination. For example, if I were doing your trip where I was spending time in both London and Warsaw, I would book two tickets:

1) USA to London / Warsaw to USA on one multi-city ticket.

2) London to Warsaw on a one-way ticket

I find that if you add that middle leg to your multi-city ticket, it really increases the price.

If you haven't already done so, try Laura's tip.

The other thing I'd do is check on whether it costs about the same amount to buy separate tickets London-Warsaw and Warsaw-London. That way, you don't risk cancellation of the return ticket to London if you somehow miss the outbound London-Warsaw flight. I know that wouldn't be likely, but I'd rather not have those flights linked unless it saves money. Intra-European flights are often priced so that two one-way tickets are the same price as a round-trip ticket.

If you opt to spend a night at Heathrow (which I would do), I can recommend the Premier Inn at Terminal 4. I've used it multiple times the night before flights home. It is usually very reasonably priced--considerably cheaper than a downtown London hotel as well as cheaper than the other on-airport options. That PI is connected to T4 through an indoor walkway. It's a bit of a walk (10 minutes??), but you don't have to worry about bad weather or relying on a bus to the airport. You can take the Underground from T4 to your departure terminal.

believe because the flights are separate I have to go through customs to get my baggage of LOT airlines, and get on my United flight back to the US. Is 2.5 hours enough time??

As both your tickets are on Star Alliance, I see no reason to pick up bags at LHR, they should be willing to check your bag through to USA. I would carry a printed copy of both reservations just in case. But, I still wouldn't chance the 2.5 hours unless it's on a single reservation, as you risk losing cost of the flight back to DC. Good luck!

intersting .So, as a courtesy, LOT should be able to have my bags go through to United? That would solve a lot of issues, unless of course, I decide to stay over in Heathrow as suggested, and I also thought of doing.

The way I have set this up to avoid the $2600 multi-city, is two totally separate trips. 1) Round Trip Dulles to Heathrow 5/3-5/22. 2) Heathrow to Warsaw 5/13-5/22. The challenge has been the timing of the Warsaw return.

Also, as I just posted, any thoughts on LOT airlines? Seems to be not the swiftest airline, in general, and if I need to rely on them to transfer my bags, I don't want any hassle. Booking this way is saving my $1k+, so I want to make it work, and some level of inconvenience is acceptable. A travel nightmare is not worth it. I am totally open to a stay over at Heathrow; else I take a 4:40 flight back to US, but arrive at 9:25 am to be safe, or arrive at 1:50, but sounds as if that's not enough turnaround time. (if I don't have to claim my bags, it may work). THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INPUT. GREATLY APPRECIATED.

My understanding is that most airlines will not transfer checked bags to another airline ( known as “interlining”) unless the two flights are on a single ticket. But according to this article, United will transfer bags to a different airline on a separate ticket IF the other airline is. Star Alliance partner, as mentioned above.

https://yourmileagemayvary.net/2022/11/20/what-are-interline-baggage-agreements-and-why-do-they-matter/

However, you cannot assume it works in reverse—-LOT transferring the bag to United at Heathrow.

FWIW , I would never book a same-day connection at Heathrow with separate tickets, even with a long layover. We always fly to London 2 days ahead of our long-haul flight, especially these days with all the potential for cancellations and schedule changes. That adds to the overall cost, due to the high price of hotels in London, but we always enjoy spending time there.

Take a look at Laura’s suggestion: multi-city booking DC to London and Warsaw back to DC, with the one-way London to Warsaw booked separately with a low-cost carrier.

Thank you everybody.
I took the advice given here and went for the safe, sure thing. There's enough travel surprises that can happen with precise perfect planning!
I booked a multi-city Dulles (DC) to Heathrow, and then Warsaw to DC. Flights are exactly what I want timing, etc.
I then booked a one way Heathrow to Warsaw, again great timing, for under $300. So the whole thing still is $1000 less than that extra leg London to Warsaw on one ticket. Thank you all again.

Also, per comments posted, I am more confident about LOT Airline.
Thanks again. Greatly appreciated. Rick would be proud! :)