Heathrow Airport (LHR) transfer question

Hello feiliao,

You will need to go through Heathrow's sprawling, multi-floor walking expedition and will need to go through security again, but it is the internal "crossing into the EU" check and is not the same as customs/immigration for the UK. Follow the purple signage - it will be a long walk with escalators - with most everyone else from your plane to the connections area. You will go through security again - but usually not that long a line - and then be in the departures area for T5 A. There are shops, restaurants etc in this area. If you need to go to B or C you will need to transit to a shuttle train, but you probably won't know this until you get a gate assignment.

Two hours should be enough for this transition as long as your flight is roughly on time. As I've mentioned there is some distance to travel so it cannot be a quick connection and I would say that an hour from when you enter the terminal is probably a minimum for a comfortable transfer time.

Heathrow is a shared struggle unfortunately - enjoy the Pret-a-Manger in T5 as I have many times - hope that helps,
=Tod

1h40 min should be sufficient. You will need to go through security again before bearding the plane to the US, and I think they will check your passport too. Having checked in bags is irrelevant. Those go through automatically on your next flight. You don’t need to retrieve them and check in again in London. After you check in your bags in Rome you won’t see them again until you arrive in the US.

You'll be fine. There is no immigration or customs either way as you are a transferring passenger. Your bags will automatically connect to the new flight.

I have no idea what "crossing into the EU check is" and I have done this lots of times. You will go through security again and your passport will be checked by the airline just as they would with any passenger boarding an international flight.

Go to this website, fill in your flights and you will get step by step instructions:

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

T5 isn't that bad. There are three buildings with an underground tram between them. Remember, don't follow the crowd to immigration. Instead follow the purple signs for "connecting passengers."

Do we need to go through immigration/passport control or customs in LHR?

No. You will stay airside. There will be a security check when you connect. Your luggage will be checked through.

Assuming you are on a single ticket, you should be fine and it will be the airline’s responsibility to get you to your final destination if your first flight is delayed and you miss your connection.

The Heathrow website has a page where you can plug in your flights and see the steps for connecting.

Don't worry. These connections will work. When you get off the plane there will be clear signage about "flight connections". Follow those signs. You will go through security again, but you don't enter from the same point as people who are just beginning their trips.

The most important thing to make this connection work is to have everything that you have with you ready for security. Have those liquids in a plastic bag and easy to pull out. Make sure any water bottles are empty. If you don't, your bag will go to secondary screening and that is the big time waster. If you are going to have a checked bag, I would put all liquids/plastic bag in it and just not have to worry about them at security.

As soon as you are through security, look at the monitors for your connecting flight. If the gate has been announced, head there immediately. If not, you probably have time to use the restroom, etc. If it tells you an area of the airport but not the gate yet, start moving that direction.

Don't stop to shop, etc. Just keep moving at a steady pace and you will be fine.

We have done this a number of times and will be doing it again on our way to Rome in February.

The purple signs say “Flight Connections” and are easy to follow.

T5 has 3 buildings connected by an underground train that runes frequently. Your incoming flight may arrive at TA, B, or C. Your outgoing flight will likely not be posted at the time of your arrival, but no worries. The Flight Connections signs will take you to TA and the airside security check there ( separate from the ones used by people entering the airport fro the land side). After security you enter the main shopping plaza/ waiting area and watch for your next gate to be posted. You may have to go back to B or C, which can take 10 or 15 minutes, so head that way as soon as your gate is posted.

The security line moves quickly, but make sure you have NO liquids (empty water bottles are OK) and have not forgotten about that corkscrew or pocket knife you brought along. Heathrow security is very strict. If they flag your bag for a check, that can delay you. But you have scanned your boarding pass to enter the security lines so you have met the time requirement for boarding, so it should not be a problem.

Wow thank you everyone for your prompt and detailed replies! I have a very good mental picture of the terminal and the whole process now. The website of the LHR works great too. I'm quite confident about the connection now. 😄

I've done it a couple of times. You will have enough time as most of BA now comes into T5. While you can't look around much you will be able to catch your flight.

We fly BA a lot from IAH to LHR and beyond. You will be fine with your connections. Just don't waste time getting to your connecting gate. LHR is a big airport, but very efficient.