heathrow airport

You will probably have to change terminals. Alaska is using terminal 3. (Virgin also uses that terminal for its SEA-LHR flights, just in case that info is useful to anyone else!) BA consistently uses terminal 5 for Edinburgh flights You can google for how to get from T3 to T5, but last time we did that the options were the Heathrow Express or the Elizabeth Line. Both free, but you need a ticket which is dispensed from machines near either train. Not difficult, but a long trek.

I understand about changing terminals. I will be carrying my bag. in other trips I have gone through customs and immigration at the first country - then transfer to the other terminal without having to go through security again. i assume I go through customs and immigration in London (i misspoke above), but not have to exit the terminal and go through security again, but that is not what I am seeing online. thanks

You will go through security between flights at LHR.

Use this to input your flight info to see what the procedure is.

https://www.heathrow.com/connecting-flights#

You will go through Immigration and Customs on arrival at T3. Then transit as described above on one of the trains. At T5 you will need to check in if you don't already have your boarding pass, and go through security before heading to your next gate. I don't think you can use the link above. Because you are on separate tickets, you aren't considered as having a connecting flight.

I’m confused, what type of airline “restrictions” required that you buy a separate ticket versus a connecting flight on the same ticket, especially since Alaska and BA are partners? Your stress with a separate ticket is going to be that if for some reason you miss your connection, you will have to buy another ticket.

The point margie brings up caused me to check the Alaska site and had no problem getting a single ticket solution to EDI from Anchorage

Multiple flights
17h 34m +1 day
4:01 pm ANC
SEA
1h 8m
LHR
2h 0m
6:35 pm EDI
BA 1456 — Operated by British Airways: LHR to EDI

A single ticket avoids a lot of issues.

i got my alaska airlines ticket with miles - I'm not changing that. sue

In that case, all you can do is hope your flight arrives on time and you have no delays at Passport Control, terminal transfer, check in or security. The good news is that if you miss the flight to Edinburgh, there should be several later flights that day, although at a higher price.

It is possible to use your Alaska miles with a connecting flight with a partner airline which BA is, all on one ticket. It’s unfortunate you didn’t do a bit more research. Good luck.

I have planned and taken sixteen European vacations, often using points to fly. Unfortunately, despite my extensive research, we have never figured out how to book flights on two different airlines using mileage points. Please share your information about how one does that.

If you have the boarding pass for the flight to Edinburgh prior to your arrival at Heathrow (I suggest downloading it to your phone), you can follow the purple Flight Connections signs for terminal transfer. You will stay airside and board a bus that will take you to Terminal 5. There you once again follow the Flight Connection signs. At one point it will split...people transferring to flights in the UK and people transferring to flights outside the UK. (You should not follow the crowd at either T3 or T5 to the main immigration area.)

Take the one with flights staying in the UK. You will first probably have to show your boarding pass, then you will go through immigration (e-gates), then security, then you are free to go to your gate (once announced.). The immigration and security area for connecting flight is separate from the main immigration and security areas.

The link for flight connections will basically say the same thing. I have done this more than once.

If you don't have your boarding pass for the second flight, then you will have to go through immigration at T3, walk through customs and exit the secure area into the main terminal. Follow signs to either the Heathrow Express or Elizabeth Line,(they share the same entrance and it is closer to T3 than the Underground), get a transfer ticket, and take either train to T5. Then you get a boarding pass from BA, go through security, and on to your gate.

It is easier if you can get that boarding pass prior to arriving at Heathrow.

My other suggestion is to look to see if you can rebook, using points, from your home airport to EDI. Alaska probably has code share with BA so the flight to EDI from Heathrow would show an Alaska flight number rather than a BA flight number. But it's the same flight.

By the way, how much time do you have between flights?

Cynthia…..go into the Alaska Air book site, put your destination and dates in, use the points button and the flight options come up. One ticket with partner connections. For Example: I put in a random date for a round trip Anchorage to Edinburgh. One of the options was 90,000 points plus $664 , BA is the connecting airline, one ticket.

I'm very happy that worked for you, Margie. I tried the usual steps on the website - no luck! I called 2 different times - to the frequent flyer phone number and regular reservations and neither could make it work. there seems to be less and less cooperation between supposedly cooperating airlines. I did think about having the boarding pass ready to go. Hope that works. thanks for everyones comments. sue

I am genuinely puzzled that sue is unable to use the Alaska Air site to find a single ticket booking from ANC to EDI ( via SEA & LHR). There are also other solutions. I picked random dates in Oct and March/April 2027.

I am able to find solutions whether using cash or points/miles for payment.

It also shows that flights booked with points/miles are labeled 'refundable'

(This ticket is fully refundable. Please review the partner carrier's website for full fare rules.
www.alaskaair.com/atmosrewards/content/partners/airlines
A $20 non-refundable partner award booking fee is applied per person, each way.
Fares and availability are subject to change without notice until purchased.
If you are unable to travel, you must notify us before the flight departs. If you do not, we will cancel your trip and your fare will not be available for future use.)

Depending on how much time you have between flights in London, loosing the $20 booking fee may be worth it, to convert to a single ticket.

Hope it works out, whatever way you do it.

I puzzled, too, Joe. Obviously something is missing from the conversation. I don’t think it matters at this point though since it sounds like she already has her separate BA flight. Hopefully she has a long connection time, is able to get her connecting boarding pass and all her flights are on time.

it looks like the issue is that I wanted the nonstop from seatle to london which doesn't show up on the website. Hopefully having my boarding pass for the BA portion will make it all easier. My ticket is better and cheaper than those on the website. I guess BA is not as good a partner as Iceland or Aer Lingus! I'll just relax and go with the flow - which is always a good bet when traveling! Thanks

if you have the BA boarding pass, the connection will be a lot easier.

At T3, you'll go down to the bottom level where you will see lines for the different terminals. (There will be someone there to help if you need it.) Then board the bus for the short ride to T5. (Short is subjective as it is on the other side of the airport.)

Follow the purple signs at T5 as well. If I remember correctly, there are also signs for connecting passengers.

It really is fairly easy. And if you're lucky, everything will be working at security so nothing has to come out of your bags. Just your pockets.

T5 has a main building and two satellite terminals. However, most domestic flights leave from the main building.

When you arrive in Edinburgh, it's a domestic flight so you just exit the plane and go.

Just to add to Frank's post you will go through customs on arrival at Edinburgh, although you are unlikely to notice anything unless you're planning to bring some illegal drugs in your carry on!