We on a Virgin Atlantic flight from SFO to Heathrow that arrives at 10:30 am. We need to fly to Shannon airport that same day. It seems that aer lingus is our best/only option. Because we didn’t book as a connecting flight, I am trying to calculate how much time we will need. There is a 2:40 flight but we will have to go through passport control/ security/ maybe pick up a checked bag. Anyone have experience with this?
Thank you
Posted by
Freedonia
16937 posts
Having a checked bag makes the difference:
If you only have carry-on, AND you can get the boarding pass for the second flight prior to arriving at Heathrow, you might be able to use the Flight Connections area to transfer terminals (T3 to T2) airside. You go through faster passport control and security separate from the general area. (Heathrow suggests around 75 minutes for this.)
However, if you have a checked bag you will have to claim it at baggage claim. This means going through regular passport control, claiming your bag, making your own way from Terminal 3 to Termianl 2 (a 10-15 minute walk via underground walkway), check the bag in the Aer Lingus, go through security, and go to your gate.
Four hours is plenty of time. But, be aware, that if you arriving flight if late, and you miss the second flight, you will have to buy a new ticket to Shannon.
If you are traveling on a US passport, you will have to go through immigration and customs in Shannon as well. However, if at the end you are flying back to the UK, there is no passport control on the UK end. It's like a domestic flight.
Posted by
OP
32 posts
Thank you for the information. Unfortunately I am not sure it is possible to get a boarding pass at SFO for the aer lingus flight. We are flying on Virgin Atlantic which doesn’t seem to coordinate with them.
Posted by
Seattle, WA & Bordeaux, France
373 posts
This past summer, I flew Delta from SEA to LHR then changed airports to catch a BA flight from London City to Bergerac, France (2 separate bookings.) I allowed myself 5 hrs to transit and I had plenty of time even with a stopage on the Tube. I was able to get my BA boarding pass on their app before my first flight left SEA. For context, my travel was beginning of July 2024 and I had only carryon luggage.
Posted by
Freedonia
16937 posts
Do you not get boarding passes on your phone? Or print them out from a computer?
Posted by
OP
32 posts
Well that would be ideal. We have had problems a few times with international travel getting them to download. I think possibly it’s my hyphenated last name which causes endless issues with various databases. But we can give it a try.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
9130 posts
I am going to assume worst case, no airside transfer.
My experience at Heathrow, the last several times, is that passport control is very quick, once you walk 10-15 minutes to arrive there from your flight. Never more than 5 minutes at e gates. Then comes the wait for your checked baggage. If you are lucky, 10-15 minutes. If you are me, 45-60 minutes for your luggage to show up.
Once out of arrivals, you will either go to departures in the same terminal or use the public transport for a free transfer to the correct terminal where you would check bag, do security, and head to gate. Same terminal allow 45 minutes. Change terminal add 30 minutes. Add those all up. I would expect this transfer could successfully be done in 3 hours or less. You have 4 hours. I would go for it.
Posted by
OP
32 posts
Thank you so much.
I think we will go for it!
Really appreciate the responses.