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How much time need in LHR if changing airlines and need to recheck bags

Now considering flying from US to LHR on AA with points and then getting to Munich on Lufthansa so I would have to get my luggage and recheck it in with Lufthansa and that needs to be an hour before the flight leaves. Any thoughts on how long this whole process could take?
Linda

Posted by
58 posts

This question is asking how much time I need in LHR if two separate tickets that I need to go to counter and recheck bags
Linda

Posted by
11177 posts

Anything less than 4 hours between flights is, to me, an unnecessarily high risk choice.

When I had a change in LHR, a BA flight from US to BA flight to Italy, I spent something like 90 minutes walking from one plane to the next and going through security. Had only carry on luggage and was biz class so 1st off the plane and had the use of some express lanes to get through the airport and process faster than coach passengers.. By the time I got to the gate boarding was beginning.

Posted by
4602 posts

Last fall I had 2 separate round-trip tickets - both on British Airways - changing at London Heathrow (LHR.) I had to collect my luggage at baggage claim and then check in to the next flight. I allowed 5 hours in both directions and spent 2-3 hours waiting for my next flight in each case. But I would not book separate tickets with only a 2-3 hour planned window.

Largely this was due to walking, minimal waiting times in lines. On my "steps" app on my phone I can see that I walked something like 1 - 1.5 miles for each of my LHR connections. (Hard to tell exactly from my app, but it was a lot of walking!)