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Heathrow Transfer process: 2 separate Tickets

Posted by (St Pete, FL) on

Hi Folks,
I am seeing alot of conflicting reports as to our situation coming up in September. We are flying in to London on Virgin direct from Tampa. We are purchasing separate tickets on Aer Lingus to fly us from LHR to Dublin, same day. We will have carry-on luggage. We arrive in Terminal 3, and fly out of Terminal 2. I understand how to get from 3 to 2 and follow connecting flights signs. HOWEVER, some say given separate tickets, we have to exit at term 3, go through immigration. Then go through security, etc, for our next flight. Others say, if carry-on, and have a boarding pass for the next flight, good to go to follow signs to connecting flights, and not leave the secure area.

Can either approach be verified?

Thanks!
Glenn

Posted by
16783 posts

If you only have carry on luggage AND you have your boarding passes for the connecting flight, you can use the "Flight Connections" pathway.

Go to this website:

http://www.heathrow.com/flight-connections

fill in the flight information and it will give you step by step instructions.

Be aware, you will go through passport control and security at Heathrow but it will be a separate area from the main passport control. Follow the Flight Connection signs.

When you get to Dublin, you will have to go through passport control again if you have a US passport.

If you will be returning to the UK from Ireland, there is no passport control in that direction.

Posted by
16783 posts

So if one needs to go through passport control you would need a UK ETA?

Due to the CTA, travel between the UK and Ireland comes under a separate category that has not been addressed for those not holding British or Irish passports.

Technically, you are entering the UK so I would think an ETA is required.

It's interesting because when you enter Ireland from just about anywhere you also get leave to enter the UK. But will Irish immigration care if you have an ETA if you don't tell them you are also going to the UK?

You don't need an ETA to enter Ireland but you do to enter the UK. But there is no immigration entering the UK from Ireland.

Thoughts anyone?

Posted by
1052 posts

Just to stir the pot a little bit, if your Aer Lingus flight is cancelled and the next flight that they can get you on is the following day; wouldn't you need an ETA especially since you would have to exit the airport? I don't believe that LHR allows passengers to stay in the airport overnight. Might be worth having just for one of those just in case situations.

Posted by
220 posts

We already got our ETA. Its cheap, easy to get, and not worth worrying about. We booked the Virgin flight through Delta, and Delta's Fly Ready identified the ETA as required. But if anybody is in the same boat, just get the ETA, it's like $10-15.

Glenn

Posted by
220 posts

@Ed, I had thought about that, which is why we booked Aer Lingus. They have flights from LHR to Dublin almost every hour. I would consider the risk low.

Glenn

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