Plane from Edinburgh to Heathrow to catch international flight

Is this on a ticket with two legs purchased from a single airline? A ticket bought thru a reseller like Expedia? Or is this two separate tickets?

There is no "international" terminal at Heathrow. There are four terminals. Which terminal you'll be using depends on the airline.

The only airline flying nonstop from Edinburgh to Heathrow is British Airways. It's at Terminal 5. If your group is continuing on to Atlanta with British Airways, they will have to transfer to Terminal 3 as of now. (This could change.)

This website will give them step by step instructions:

http://www.heathrow.com/flight-connections

If they are on one ticket and miss their connection, they will be put on the next AVAILABLE flight. Not necessarily the next flight. It's a bit of a gamble.

If you bought the tickets separately, no way would I chance it.

I’ve just done this a couple of weeks ago.
There was a choice of times for the EDI-LHR flights, so I booked the one with the 3 hour layover in LHR.
It left on time, landed in T5 and I then had to get to T3 for my flight to Canada, which was via an airport shuttle bus.
I had plenty of time before my flight home to Canada.
Just don’t dally upon landing, and check Heathrow’s website beforehand so that you know what to do and how, before you travel through there.

Two separate tickets..... they are booked on Delta from Heathrow to Atlanta and the trip to Edinburgh is just a side jaunt.

Two separate tickets..... they are booked on Delta from Heathrow to Atlanta and the trip to Edinburgh is just a side jaunt.

It’s generally recommended to spend the night before an international flight at the departure city.
It’s a big gamble if the flight from Edinburgh is delayed and they miss their international flight.

Enjoy your trip!

In normal times there are very inexpensive rooms available at the Premier Inn attached to Terminal 4. I've used it several times before morning flights back home.

Delta is also at Terminal 3.

If their flight is on time from Edinburgh, you should be okay.

But if it is delayed, with two separate tickets, if you miss the Heathrow to Atlanta flight you will have to buy a new ticket.

I wouldn't hesitate if they were on the same ticket. Two tickets changes everything. They need to be in place at Heathrow the night before. Unless you are willing to self-insure the cost of a last minute trans-Atlantic ticket, you are putting yourself in a high risk situation with the same day flight to Heathrow.

Your other post indicates 5 of your 6 will have large luggage; presumably this means bigger than carry on? Since 2 of the group are involved at least one appears to be traveling with a checked bag

Having to retrieve a bag, and then get to the bag check in for the next flight, clear security and get to your next gate pretty much means flawless execution at every step of the journey is required to be successful.

if they choose to take the AM flight I wish them luck........ but it would not be my choice

I also recommend spending the night before near Heathrow. What if that flight from Edinburgh to Heathrow is changed or cancelled last-minute, or even a week or two before your trip? That happened to us; fortunately our connection to the US was on the same ticket so the airline had to rebook our flights at no cost to us. Your group wouldn't have that option.

Facing the same expense for direct out of Edinburgh, I believe this is what my daughter and partner did in October. ...separate ticketing for flights, arrival in Heathrow for 3 hour layover before flight to Seattle. I believe they had one checked bag on the return flight. I'll see what I can find out. I don't know that I would take that chance, even if it was the same terminal. They wanted that last night in Edinburgh

Only take carryon for better chance of successful transfer.

No, that is cutting it too close and way too much can go wrong. I’ve connected at Heathrow with a 3 hr layover, on a single ticket, and needed every second of that time.

On two separate tickets, I wouldn’t risk it. If the first flight is delayed, they’re screwed. If they are checking bags, they will need to claim the bag, go to the main checkin desk for the second flight’s airline, go through security, and make their way to the gate. What if the luggage takes long to reach the carousel? They’re screwed. If they have to transfer terminals, that bus takes about 10 minutes alone. Heathrow is enormous.

Nope, nope and nope. Not worth it. Take a flight or train the day before.

If it's two separate tickets it might work, but it's way too risky in my opinion. Are they prepared to buy new tickets to Atlanta at same day price?

The one way price for Jan 3 is over $2800, LHR-ATL Some flights show main cabin as sold out and only more expensive seats are available

I suspect in May the pricing would be much the same, and available seats even more scarce.

Once again reference to a line from a movie seems timely

"You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky? ' Well, do ya, ...?"

I think everyone here wants you to make an informed decision, knowing the risks.

I routinely booked non-protected connections like this. And I would not do this one. If that Edinburgh flight is late you will be buying a new one-way ticket home and it will not be cheap. Neither airline will be liable for your ticket home. If you have to collect baggage and recheck it lines at Heathrow for checking bags and security can be very long.

I suggest taking the last flight the night before, and spending the night. You might get lucky like the person above and not have any problems, but if you do have a problem, you’ll be unlucky

I was once at the Eurostar station in Paris watching a woman have a meltdown, because the train had been delayed and she was going to miss her flight home from Heathrow and there was nothing anybody was going to do about it I was doing the same thing she was doing going back to Heathrow for a flight but I was going a day early which gave me a lot of extra time so I was not panicking

Everyone-
Thank you so much for your sound and sage advice. I think our current plan is to book two early returners on a flight out of Edinburgh on Sunday and then have them stay in one of the Heathrow hotels to catch their flight on Monday. It looks like the all have pretty decent ratings. Will the 23 year old have trouble checking in at the Hotel if I book it? I know in the states, there are min. age requirements.

Are there shuttles for these hotels to take them back and forth to the airport?

As always, drop any tidbits you have. And Thanks so much, I knew it was crazy to take a chance- thanks for all of your help!
Best-
Michelle

Or they can take the train to London, stay in central London and head to Heathrow next morning. Spending the last night of the trip in London sounds a lot more fun than spending it in an airport hotel.

Stay at the hotels located at the terminals. No shuttle required then.

BA has a 9PM departure from EDI, so they could spend the last day with the family and get an in terminal LHR hotel and not really miss anything and spend only sleeping time at the airport..... just a thought to consider.