I am looking to book a flight from LHR to PRG with a one hour connection and returning from LHR to LAX with a two hour connection? How feasible is this and what happens if you miss the connection? I rememeber it taking 3 hours to check in at Heathrow when terminal 5 was not quite complete and having to be bused there? Any help would be appreciated.
Posted by
Chicago/Rural WI
811 posts
Question: is the entire kit-n-kaboodle on one airline ticket? If so, if you miss either connection then the airline will put you on their next available flight at no additional charge.
If they are separate tickets/separate airlines, then you may want to consider travel insurance (or booking later flights to lenghten the layover time). One hour is kind of tight at LHR, especially when coming from/to the US.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5850 posts
I'm assuming that this would be on one ticket.
Check the LHR website and look under Flight Connections for the minimum connection times. They vary depending on the terminals and destinations involved.
An hour is agressive but if you are arriving and departing from the same terminal you may be ok. I have missed connections twice at LHR (due to late departure from States) and each time I have been put on next flight and arrived at my final destination just a few hours late. Each time, my luggage also showed up at the same time that I did.
Posted by
Tempe, AZ, USA
1266 posts
Debi - Depending on how many overseas flights are land at the same time as your flight, I wouldn't feel comfortable with a 1 hour connection time at Heathrow. You will have to deplane, go through passport control, and go through security. That being said if BA is the issuing airline the ownus is on them if you miss your connection.
Posted by
Freedonia
16283 posts
No passport control, just security. (You're not entering the UK, just transiting. You'll go through passport control at PRG.) EU rules require passengers arriving from non-EU countries and transferring to flights within the EU, must be rescreened.
No need to change terminals at LHR assuming you're on BA flights.
At LAX, get your boarding passes for LAX-LHR and LHR-PRG. On the return, when you check in in PRG, get your boarding passes for PRG-LHR and LHR-LAX.
If you have purchased all the flights as one, and you miss your connecting flights, the airline will put you on the next available ones. And it may include compensation.
Posted by
OP
Sherman Oaks, CA, USA
262 posts
Thank-you, all who replied! You are so full of knowledge. I learn things every day here and I love it!
I found some flights that give a bit more connection time, at the same price!
Happy Travels!