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Help with Heathrow Connections

Posted by (West Sacramento, California, USA) on

Our homeward bound itinerary has us flying from Zurich to London, Heathrow, on British Airways. When booked, this flight was going into terminal 3, but now it shows that it will arrive at the new terminal 5. Our flight from London to Los Angeles is on Virgin Atlantic from terminal 3.

Should we be able to through check our luggage from Zurich to Los Angeles? If not, is the 3 hours and 15 minutes enough to go through UK Arrivals, Customs, Immigration, change terminals, and get checked in and to our flight.

Everything is purchased, has been since late November, now the airport changes have me concerned. Especially since my 91 year old Grandmother is travelling with us. She is fit and healthy, but not a track star anymore.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Kevin

Posted by
281 posts

A little more information. I called British Airways, and they said because the flights from Zurich to London, and London to Los Angeles are on seperate tickets it cannot be through checked.

So is the 3:15 going to be enough time is the real question. And how will we get between terminals? I can only find a bus transfer for through checked transit passengers.

Thanks again,
Kevin

Posted by
8700 posts

If your flight arrives on time, you should have no trouble making your connection. However, you will be glad for all the cushion you can get.

From the Heathrow Web site: "In the event that your baggage is not through-checked you must follow signs for arrivals and collect your cases from the baggage reclaim hall in arrivals and then check your bags in as normal for the second leg of your journey."

Between terminals riding the Heathrow Express is free. Trains run every 15 minutes. Ride from the Terminal 5 station to the joint station for Terminals 1-3.

Posted by
281 posts

Tim:

Thanks. I checked all of the Heathrow website information about connections, and read the quote you gave me. The site as stated tells you what you will do to connect between flights if your bags are through checked, using a bus for such passengers,but it doesn't have any information about transit between the terminals if you are not through checked. I checked the schedule for the underground, but all I could find was that it would cost 3 GBp cash or 1 GBp Oyster, I didn't think to check the Heathrow Express. I was thinking it should be like Atlanta, or Zurich, with a train to the Satelite/Mid-field terminal, and conversely I was afraid it would be like Brisbane, Australia, where I had to take a taxi around the airport to get from the Domestic Terminal to the International Terminal on the other side of the runway which ran between the terminals.

Thanks Again,
Kevin

Posted by
1317 posts

Especially because your grandmother is traveling with you, you might be able to get some assistance from airport personnel if you arrange it in advance. (I am thinking of those little motorized carts they zip around on). Especially if your flight is late, this might really help you out.

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