Please help me decide.
I am traveling Tuesday from LAX to Paris with a 2 hour connection time at Heathrow.
I will have a 21" carryon size suitcase and a tote bag.
Should I check my bag?
I will be arriving at T3 (AA) and departing from T5 (BA).
If it makes any difference this will be my first time connecting in Heathrow-I did a little reading on the connection and now am a little freaked out as I don't want to miss my flight.
what do you suggest?
Is it a through ticket from Honolulu to Paris CDG, or is it one ticket to London and another seperate one to Paris?
You are safely outside the minimum connection time for travelling on a single ticket for a T3-T5 transfer, which is 90 minutes - but as Nigel asks, are you on a single ticket?
Thanks for your reply.
I am traveling on an American frequent flyer ticket booked sorta last minute...
So the worst routing.
I fly from Honolulu to another island then to San Diego, where I stay the night.
Next morning I fly from San Diego to LAX then Heathrow and finally Paris.
I usually carry on with so many connections but after reading about Heathrow I think at the very least I should check my luggage at LAX.
I fly on American Eagle from San Diego to LAX which is a smaller plane, so now I think I may need to check my luggage in San Diego all the way to Paris.
What would you do?
With thst many connections, I'd choose carryon. With each connection, the odds go up that your bag might miss a connection or go MIA. Typically on the small planes (San Diego to LAX) they have plane side baggage check. So you drop your larger carryon as you get on the plane, then pick it up as you get off the plane. Make sure you have all valuables, computer, etc in your tote that you will carry on the plane. The overheads on the small planes can be very small, so any thing you take on the plane has to fit under the seat in front of you or in the overhead. For that reason, don't select a bulk head for this short flight.
I don't know if you've already seen this, but Heathrow's web site has a very detailed connection tool here: http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-guide/flight-connections/connection-guides
This will outline all the steps involved, so you'll be prepared.
Dianna,
If you can bring your 21" as carry on,i would do it. One last thing to worry about.
On my first international flight i had a 30 minute L/O in SFO to LHR. guess what? our luggage didnt make it. I was young and dumb back then but i learned now and still am learning. The only time i will checkin baggage is if they dont allow anything bigger than a purse as carry on, or on my return flight home.
happy trails.
A21" should be easy to carry on. The transfer from T3 to T5 at Heathrow is easy. Just follow the " flight connections" signs ( color-coded, I think they are purple but the LHR website shows them). You will stay airside and be directed to a dedicated shuttle bus that takes passengers between the terminals. You do NOT have to go through passport control this way, but you will have to go through another security screening. We have done it from gate to gate in 50 minutes.
We never check bags when there is a plane transfer involved. Just too many ways it can go wrong.
