I apologize if this has been asked and answered. I could not find it in the search bar.
My family of 5 (all adults) will be traveling from PDX (US) to Edinburgh via Heathrow on British Airways in 2 weeks. Can you walk me through the transfer from landing in London to flying out to Edinburgh? Will we go through customs in London or in Edinburgh? I think it all takes place in Terminal 5. About how long does it take from landing in London to get to the gate for Edinburgh?
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
5492 posts
LHR website has a section on how to manage connecting flights.
https://www.heathrow.com/connecting-flights
Plug in your flights and it will tell you what you need to do.
You will go through Passport Control at Heathrow on arrival.
Posted by
Royaume-Uni nul points, pas plus
2600 posts
Immigration (for people) at Heathrow
Customs (for things) at Edinburgh
Posted by
OP
9 posts
@ CJean @ramblin’on
Thank you. That was very helpful.
Posted by
Freedonia
16409 posts
Just to emphasize.....you do not go through the main passport control area of Terminal 5. You follow the flight connections sign and go through a separate passport control area for connecting flights within the UK. You will then go through security.
So, don't follow the crowd. Follow the signs.
If you have checked bags they should be checked through to Edinburgh.
Posted by
OP
9 posts
Thank you. Good to know.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7206 posts
When we connected from LHR to EDI in September, both terminal 5, it took about an hour. Part of that time was because the British Airways flight from Baltimore always parks at a hard stand and we need to wait for busses to take us to the terminal. Sometimes the busses arrive quickly, sometimes we sit on the plane for 15-20 minutes.
Immigration for connecting flights was easy. There was no line at all so we were through in no time. Security is a different matter.
Posted by
DC area
50 posts
I haven't made the journey yet, but I am also traveling on BA with a layover at Heathrow. I recommend downloading the Heathrow App and adding in your flights. It should provide real time updates. From what I've read, Terminal 5 is actually 3 building- the main one, gates B and gates C and you won't know which part you're landing in OR departing from until you land. Others who have done this, please correct me if I'm wrong!
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7206 posts
After passing through security upstairs, you go downstairs to the main waiting room. Gates are posted about an hour before departure. For us, the flight to Edinburgh departed from an A gate right in the main T5 building.
Posted by
OP
9 posts
Thank you. This is all very helpful. We will only have an hour and 40 minute layover. So it could be tight. Luckily there are several flights after ours that we should be able to catch if we miss our assigned flight.