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connecting flight time with a change of terminals at LHR

Hello all. I have signed up for the RS Germany, Austria, Switzerland tour May 19-June 1. I booked my airfare on American from DFW to Luxembourg May 17 (one ticket), with a plan to take a train from LUX to Trier. The connecting time at LHR was originally 1.5 hrs, but American made a change to the arrival time leaving me only 1 hr to get from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5. If I miss my flight to LUX, I will have to wait 11 hrs for the next flight. It's wouldn't be the end of the world, just extremely inconvenient since I'm going to feel "knackered", as they say in Britain. I'm 68, traveling solo. I was mildly anxious about this travel before, but more so now with the shortened connecting time. (Incidentally, I do have travel insurance.) I've studied the Heathrow website and there is a diagram for changing terminals. There are also employees who will meet you at your arrival point and escort you to your connecting flight for 125 pounds. My big question for you experienced travelers --is it possible to make a connection between T3 and T5 in 1 hour? Do the flight attendants let those with connecting flights disembark 1st?

Posted by
14811 posts

One hour is not enough. Could you give us the flight numbers because I can't find a pair with that tight a connection..

Posted by
16028 posts

Unfortunately American is notorious for schedule changes.

The minimum connect time for transfers between terminals is 90 minutes, so this will not work.

https://www.britishairways.com/en-us/information/airport-information/flight-connections

Call AA and tell them you need a different flight out of Heathrow, not to Luxembourg but to another airport with more frequent flights so you won't have to wait 11 hours. There should be other major airports from which you can easily reach Trier by train.. Maybe Munich? Or Stuttgart? Look up the travel times by train from these to Trier, and then look up the flight schedule to that airport on British Airways. It is best to have something in mind when you call to ask for ( or demand) a different flight.

Posted by
31 posts

Frank, my flight numbers are AA050 (American Airlines flight 50) DFW-LHR departing 5/17 & arriving 0655 5/18; and BA flight 416 departing at 0755 to LUX. I will investigate flights from LHR to other cities with trains to Trier.

Posted by
11037 posts

If your original purchase was a single ticket, DFW to LUX, with a change in LHR and AA changed the arrival time, it is their problem to help you find a solution to get you there. Call them and ask for help.

Posted by
6177 posts

As others have mentioned, call American and ask to be rebooked. Frankfurt would be my suggestion, (Stuttgart and Munich are both further away from Trier). And Frankfurt being a major hub means there should be no shortage of flights between Heathrow and Frankfurt. Even better if they can rebook you on their direct flight to Frankfurt, not having to transfer in Heathrow is always a huge advantage.

Posted by
8889 posts

There should be other major airports from which you can easily reach Trier by train.. Maybe Munich? Or Stuttgart?

Frankfurt or Cologne would be the next nearest airports to Trier after Luxembourg. And both have train connections.
Or even Düsseldorf.

Posted by
3985 posts

This is very simple and it will be free of cost.

First, go online to the American Airlines website and search for 2 to 3 itineraries with plenty of connection time that will work for you between DFW and your final destination airport in Luxembourg. The connecting airport may not necessarily be Heathrow. Or, it may mean finding an earlier flight from DFW to Heathrow giving you more time. Keep in mind, British Airways is also an option between DFW and Heathrow besides American as they are codeshare partners in the same alliance. So that earlier flight could be on American or British airways. Again, pick 2 or 3 itineraries that are acceptable to you.

With that information, you call American Airlines customer service and explain to the agent very politely what your original itinerary was and how American and not you made a change giving you only one hour at LHR.

You tell that person that one hour isn’t enough given your mobility. You then offer the 2 or 3 itineraries as a SUGGESTION which gives that agent less work to do and the agent may be very appreciative that you did the work for him or her. If the agent on the phone is rude or simply non-accommodating, thank the person, end the call, & call back to speak with another agent. Do this as many times until you speak with an agent who makes the change for you.

Posted by
16028 posts

I think it would be a lot simpler to ask to change the one flight ( DFW to LUX) to a different flight and airport, than ask to re-work the whole itinerary. The current flight does not meet the "minimum connect time" for connections requiring a transfer between terminals, so it must be changed. Since the ultimate destination is Trier, Denise does not require an itinerary that gets her to Luxembourg.

Posted by
3985 posts

While I see what you’re saying, Lola, as far as American Airlines is concerned, the destination is Luxembourg. That’s it. They may not work out an entire new destination free of cost even with their change to the transatlantic flight.

Posted by
31 posts

Thank you all for your help. AA does have a DFW - LUX flight leaving at 2155 arriving LHR at 1 pm. That would mean only a 5 hr layover before the flight to LUX. I could walk around the airport & get some exercise. I’ll work on that tomorrow. My brain is tired!

Posted by
31 posts

Problem solved. American rebooked my flight. Now flying DFW to Frankfurt, then will catch a Flexibus from the airport to Trier, ~ 3 hr trip. I should have done this in the 1st place. It helps to talk things out, though. Again, many thanks to y'all who responded.

Posted by
16028 posts

Great result! Sounds like they were willing to be very flexible and you actually got a better flight ( direct to Frankfurt, no layover).

Now you can relax and look forward to your trip.