Long story short - I have a separate ticket bringing me from Dublin to London, and then a flight leaving London to go to Chicago. Rebooking them isn't an option at this point. I arrive and depart out of Terminal 5. I understand that I have to go through baggage claim, etc, again. Does anyone know how long this will take? I currently have 3 hours in between them, and want to know if that's doable or if I need to (unfortunately) make a costly change.
Posted by
Chicago
7903 posts
3 hours is only enough if the first flight is on time. I have gambled similarly with separate tickets but never when catching the 2nd flight trans Atlantic is more important.
Posted by
Freedonia
15206 posts
There's good news and maybe not such good news.
As of now, there is no passport control between Ireland and the UK. When you get off the plane, you will collect your luggage, check in for your flight to Chicago--I would do this online and then all you have to do is drop your bag---then go through security and get to your gate. If your flight is on time, this won't take very long.
Your arriving flight will probably be at a A gate and your departing flight from either Satellite B or C. Leave time for the transfer via underground shuttle airside.
However, if your flight is after October 31, no one knows if the open border between Ireland and the UK will continue. Passport control might be reintroduced but for American passport holders this means you can use the egates.
Personally, I would ask in Dublin if they can check your bag through to Chicago. The worst they can do is say no.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16387 posts
Even if it is all in T5, you will go through security again to reach the gate for the departing flight.
According to the experts on Flyertalk, British Airways will not check baggage through when the flights are on separate tickets, no matter how politely you ask. Do you absolutely have to check a bag, or can you manage with carry-on luggage?
If you have to check a bag, and if you booked both flights with BA, you can call and ask if you can amend your Chicago flight to include both flights on one ticket. You should be able to do this for the $55 change fee ( I have successfully done this with Miles tickets). Then you can check your bag through.
If you booked either flight with a third party, you are at the mercy of that agent's policy on changes.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks for all the insight. I did actually reach out to them this morning, and they told me they wouldn't allow me to include both flights on one ticket, even with a fee. I will be talking through it with my husband later today and see what we can do to change the Dublin to London flight. After discussing this with BA, the price to do so doesn't exactly make me happy, but at least we wouldn't be rushed and have some peace of mind.
Thank you again!
Posted by
Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas
2199 posts
I’ve done it going the other direction and ended up with plenty of time to spare (even had to change terminals) but... it was very stressful wondering if we would be able to make the connection and the 2nd flight was just to Ireland ( the cheaper leg). Both flights were booked through British Airways, but the Ireland leg was operated by Aer Lingus hence the terminal change and British Airways wouldn’t transfer bags.