How much time should I allow between my arrival at Terminal 3 Heathrow until a same day departure from terminal 5? ( destination Edinburgh) The flight to Edinburgh is not a connecting flight, so we will have to clear Customs, pick up bags, before getting to the next Terminal. Would 2 and a half hours be enough time for all this?
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Yes.
Posted by
Malaga, Malaga, Spain
410 posts
It should be enough time, but it could be tight. Heathrow is very busy and even if a flight lands on time, it can take a while before you are actually in the terminal and usually at least 20 minutes from the time of landing. Then there can be considerable distances to walk. I have been in a queue in passport control for 45 minutes on several occasions - and gone straight through on others. There really is no predicting it. For me, this would be a worryingly short period of time.
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5458 posts
The minimum connecting time for a T3 international arrival to a T5 domestic departure is 90 minutes. However, that is for a proper connecting flight where check baggage does not need to be collected (customs would in effect happen in Edinburgh). You will have to do it landside which will be longer unless you can get your first carrier to through check the bags. You don't say who you are travelling with to T3, but I guess from your location it is likely to be Air Canada - not sure how co-operative they would be (different alliance etc). There is also the wrinkle about conformance time at T5. You have to have presented yourself at security 35 minutes before your flight is due to take off, otherwise you will be offloaded.