I am going to visit a friend in The Netherlands in September. I have to connect through Heathrow to get to my destination in Amsterdam. I have a 2.5 hour layover, and am hoping that will be sufficient to land, do immigration and reboard the last leg of my flight. I could not pass up a 300 dollar savings! Your thoughts?
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
If you go to the Heathrow airport website under "Flight Connections" you'll find their minimum connection time estimates for the various types of connection. You'll have to know the terminal at which your incoming flight will land and the terminal from which your second flight will depart. http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-guide/flight-connections
Posted by
Portland, OR, USA
805 posts
That should be fine even if you have to switch terminals. Might be a bit close but 2.5 hours should work.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5850 posts
Catherine, Are you traveling on a single ticket or on two separate tickets? Normally you would not go through immigration in the UK on a connecting flight to the Netherlands. The UK is not part of the Schengen Agreement. If you are on one ticket with your bag checked through, you will stay airside. If you are on separate tickets, you could also stay airside if you have checked in online and have carry-on only. Personally, with separate tickets I would allow a bit more time as the minimum connection times apply when you have a connecting flight (on one ticket) and not when you have separate tickets. If you are on one ticket, then 2.5 hours is fine.
Posted by
OP
STOCKTON, California, United States
5 posts
Thank you for your responses. I purchased the tickets on sale on Expedia, and am flying American Airlines (Sacramento - London - Amsterdam). I arrive at Terminal 3 and have to get to Terminal 5. My luggage should be checked all the way through to Amsterdam, but I thought I might have to do immigration at Heathrow. The last time I flew to Amsterdam, it was directly from Altanta, so stopping in London will be a new experience for me.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5850 posts
Catherine, 2.5 hours will be fine. You won't have to go through immigration. Just follow the signs for connecting flights. You will take a bus to Terminal 5 and you will go through a security check, but you have plenty of time.