For a Feb/Mar trip, we have booked a roundtrip United award flight from San Francisco (SFO) - Heathrow (LHR) - Lisbon (LIS) with a 2hour, 10 min connection time at Heathrow both going and returning. All on one ticket. From all I've researched, we will be able to stay airside and follow the Connecting Flights signs and not go through customs/immigration. Per the LHR website, UA and TAP both operate out of Terminal 2, and the LHR website says it will take 60 minutes to transfer.
QUESTIONS: How far apart are the UA and TAP gates at LHR? Do we need to go through a security check when we transit from one airline to the other even when we stay airside? If so, how crowded is it usually? Is there any travel day that is least crowded to transit LHR (Saturday, Sunday, or Monday). Are there any expedited services available for hire to help? Basically, is 2hr 10min enough to transit between UA and TAP in Terminal 2? Thank you!
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11948 posts
You will go through security between flights.
Unless the 1st flight is seriously late you should be fine.
The "Fast track" service is suspended due to covid---https://www.heathrow.com/at-the-airport/airport-services/fast-track
Posted by
Uppsala, Sweden
7055 posts
How far apart are the UA and TAP gates at LHR?
The airlines do not have their own gates. But since you will probably arrive on a widebody and depart on a narrowbody I guess the gates will not be next to each other. Flights to/from Europe mostly use terminal 2A and intercontinental flights mostly use 2B.
Do we need to go through a security check when we transit from one
airline to the other even when we stay airside?
Yes, you always have to go through security when transferring in the UK
Posted by
OP
Sacramento, CA, USA
17 posts
Thank you for the information. Very helpful.