O’Hare and Heathrow connection question

Posted by Karen (Monterey County, CA (formerly Verbania Italy-Lago Maggiore)) on 06/17/19 01:53 PM

My husband is flying back to Italy from Fargo next Monday. He’s checking 1 bag.

Fargo to Ohare is American
Ohare to Heathrow on British airways. Does he change terminals at Ohare? And will he have to go through security again? 2 hours and 50 minute connection time.

Once he arrives at Heathrow at 6:50am, has a 2 hour 30 minute connection on British airways to Linate Milan. Will he need to go through any immigration in London (thinking not). Change terminals? And will he go through security again? Does Heathrow fast track people through secuity if flight is boarding.
Also assuming checked bag goes all the way through to Linate without picking up and rechecking? Please confirm.

Thanks for you help so husband knows what to expect?

Posted by Pam S

Aurora, Il, USA

06/17/19 02:16 PM

198 posts

According to BA website, most departures to London from O'Hare are from Terminal 3 although some use the international terminal, 5 (which is a bus ride away from the main terminal). It seems like the Fargo flight will most likely use Terminal 3. If everything is out of Terminal 3, he won't have to go through security again, although he will if the London leg is from Terminal 5.

Posted by Nigel

Northamptonshire, England

06/17/19 02:23 PM

32750 posts

You should be able to see the terminals used by using either the BA app or the Heathrow app. You have the flight numbers involved? If they both let you down the flights may be code-shared with AA. If so, the AA app is pretty good with terminals and gates too.

Posted by Suki

06/17/19 02:33 PM

11156 posts

Go to Heathrow. Com, click on their link for Connections, Enter the two flights numbers and exact transfer info will come up. Excellent way to get all the correct info you need. Most BA flights we take, arrive and leave from the Terminal 5.
Much much nicer than Terminal 3.

Posted by Marco

Oxford, United Kingdom

06/17/19 03:07 PM

5326 posts

Single ticket ? - bag checked right through.
Security at Heathrow? - anyone arriving from a non-CAA airport has to go through security. There may be expedited security if BA has arranged it, knowing that he is connecting if the incoming is late.
Immigration at Heathrow - no, if he follows international transfer rather than arrival signs.
Terminals? - if actually BA operated leaves Ohare from T5 and arrives T5 Heathrow. If Ohare is actually a BA codeshare on AA, it would leave from T3 and arrives at T3 (easy to remember!). All BA flights to Milan leave Heathrow T5.

Small wrinkle - presuming it is genuine BA and change within T5, time may be short-circuited if the inward plane arrives at one of the satellites (B or C) and the onward flight to Milan also departs from B or C as he can clear security at the departure satellite and not have to go to the main building A, which can easily save 20-30 minutes. However, if one or the other flight has an A gate than security has to be done at the main terminal. You won't know this until arrival, so check screens.