Flying logistics

What does the airline suggest? Or are you trying to selfconnect?

I had planned to self connect.

A quick web search currently reveals lots of flights from LAX to various UK destinations including Edinburgh with 1 intermediate stop either within the US or the UK. If you are not planning to stop for a visit to London on either leg it seems to be easier to just book the whole thing together and let them worry about connections/ bad weather/luggage handling, etc. If you are stopping over on only one leg try it as a multi-city ticket LAX-Heathrow-Edinburgh-LAX so they will have to handle the short connection time when you are not stopping over.

You probably realize this, but self-connecting between flights, while ostensibly more flexible, may cause problems should delays take place.

When an airline books your flights on one ticket, if you miss the connecting flight you are placed on a later flight at the airline's expense. When you self-connect, you get to pony up for the new flight and refunds for the missed flight may not be possible. I prefer putting inconvenience on the back of the airline setting up the connection.

I agree that you really should try to not self connect but let the airline sort it out for you. Buy an open jaw ticket to Glasgow and home from Edinburgh, or just a return ticket to Edinburgh the cities are close so that will work fine. If you can't do that, add a night in London both ways.

If you still insist on self connecting, make sure you have enough time. Heathrow is a huge airport that and you will need time there. Personally I would not be comfortable with anything less than 4 hours if both flights where in the same terminal, if you need to change terminal I would add 30 minutes.

If it’s not all on one ticket, then I would stay near Heathrow for your last night. What if there is a delay or cancellation of the Edinburgh to Heathrow leg? The recommendation for an intercontinental flight is usually allow 3 hours (and that was pre Covid).

Personally I would not be comfortable with anything less than 4 hours if both flights where in the same terminal, if you need to change terminal I would add 30 minutes.

Badger's thought deserves emphasis. I would add that if you have checked luggage add some time to deal with the retrieval and re-check, in addition to whatever extra covid protocol may be in place as you would no longer be an 'airside' transfer.

$elf connect i$ ba$ically an invitation to di$a$ter

I would never, ever consider self-connecting at Heathrow.

A few other notes.....if you have checked luggage and self-connect, you will have to get your luggage and check in for your next flight. You will have to go through regular immigration and then customs.

If it is on one ticket, you follow signs for flight connections and go through a smaller, quicker area of immigration. Your bag will be checked through to Glasgow.

You will have to go through security again either way.

The only airline to fly non-stop from Heathrow to Glasgow is BA. BA flies from LA to LHR. Very easy to make it one ticket. Then is there is a problem, you're covered.

You guys are the best! So self-connect is out and we'll book all the legs with the same airline. Thanks so much!

Good plan. Then the airline will make sure you have enough time at your transfer airport. Whether that airport is Heathrow, Reykjavik, Dublin or somewhere else. And if your first flight is delayed, you will be rebooked.

we'll book all the legs with the same airline.

Book a single ticket; do not book multiple tickets ( 'legs' )

You didn't mention your airline, but I've always traveled to Europe on United Airlines and had no issues at all. You can fly from LA through Newark or Dulles and from there non-stop to Edinburgh and avoid London completely, unless you were planning to layover there. If you're planning to visit Glasgow, you can easily take the train from Edinburgh or rent a car and drive there. Much easier than dealing with Heathrow.

And I've flown American and British Airways and I 've a colleague who has flown Delta, so I would look for what is best for you. BTW I did recently fly from NYC to Phoenix--almost as long as NYC to Heathrow!--and found that the AA customer service is not what it used to be. As a Gold member I used to get right to an agent in ten minutes. Last week it took 8 hours. So if you have problems try to solve them via the internet or in person. In desperation tweeting might work. It did for me in some respects. I am still a bit flabbergasted that any organization would think that taking 8 hours to get back to a customer who is flying within 24 hours is remotely acceptable.