Virgin Atlantic changed our SEA to Heathrow arrival time at Terminal 3 to two hours later which leaves only 90 min to deplane, and make our connecting flight in Terminal 2 (instead of 3 1/2 hours). A few questions:
1. Do we have to clear customs because we are changing terminals?
2. Can we make it to Terminal 2 on time?
3. Do we have to go through security again in Terminal 2?
4. Is all this possible in 90 minutes?
Our connecting flight is with Lufthansa to Frankfurt, Germany and then on to Hamburg for our RS Tour.
Any recommendations? Both sets of tickets were purchased using VISA points and bank is not helpful.
TIA
Susan R.
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5456 posts
1 no, connect airside.
2 do bus transfer
3 you will always go through security once sonewhere
4 with a lot of stress and no guarantee.
Posted by
OP
Edmonds
5 posts
Thanks, Marco
Appreciate your clear answers.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11875 posts
Should have asked in just one place to make things simpler for you and the responders.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/90-minutes-to-make-connecting-flight-at-heathrow
You indicate the tickets are not refundable, but can you make changes? Is there a later flight to Hamburg?
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7937 posts
With a “Flight Connection,” you do have to clear Passport Control upon arrival, then will be directed to Security immediately afterwards
It’s a 10 minute walk between Terminals 3 & 2
No, Terminal 3 Security is your only time, assuming you make your flight and don’t have to reschedule a different flight to get to Germany
90 minutes will be tight, but you can make it - if you arrive on-time at Heathrow and there aren’t additional delays. Get help from an airport official if needed
I added additional input on your other posted question. Good luck, and enjoy your Tour!
Posted by
New York, NY
4071 posts
Are these on the same itinerary? I am guessing that they are not because Virgin Atlantic & Lufthansa are not airline alliance partners.
90 minutes is too tight in my opinion because chances are, your inbound could be late. If that’s the case and you have a separate ticket for Lufthansa & you miss the flight, you will have to buy a brand new ticket on Lufthansa to Hamburg. The last minute price will be EXPENSIVE. If that Lufthansa ticket is part of a roundtrip, that entire round trip will be canceled. Don’t do this.
Take an earlier flight into Heathrow. Delta is a partner so if Virgin Atlantic doesn’t have one, check Delta. VA can refund all of your points since they changed your itinerary and you can use them on Delta. The agent at Virgin Atlantic can help.
Posted by
Freedonia
16273 posts
If you only have carry on bags, you DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH IMMIGRATION EVEN IF YOU ARE CHANGING TERMINALS. You will have to go through security.
Go to http://www.heathrow.com/flight-connections
put in your flight information and it will give you step by step instructions.
When you follow the flight connections signs they will put you on a bus "airside" to go to terminal 2. Airside means not going through immigration and customs.
Posted by
Almost Heaven
3114 posts
I've made more than a few tight connections with a flat-out sprint, which is invigorating! I'd recommend training a bit, however. Also, some stretching in your seat beforehand.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
2790 posts
I'd start working on changing a flight.
The advice above about "points" may not be relevant as it's credit card points... Make sure you know what happens if you cancel!
It's doable but it's going to stress out your entire trip. And as was pointed out above if you miss the flight to Germany you could have to buy a new ticket.
This is an unprotected connection so neither airline has to do anything. In the future your MINIMUM connection time when booking something like his 4 hours or more. 3.5 was 'borderline' for me and I do this at LHR quite often.
Posted by
OP
Edmonds
5 posts
Thanks, everyone for taking time to respond. I will be rescheduling as even though I like a good sprint and in great walking shape...I am 66 and sitting on a plane for 9-10 hours takes a few minutes to work out the kinks. Happy travels!
Susan
Posted by
New York, NY
4071 posts
Glad you are rescheduling. When you fly on separate airline tickets, I would allow 4 hours. I have only bought separate tickets once and that’s because my destination was Gibraltar and my transatlantic airline was not British Air or a partner of BA, the only airline going to Gibraltar at the time. I allowed 4 hours between my arrival from JFK & departure to GIB. I didn’t need to switch terminals either; I arrived and departed from Terminal 3.
Posted by
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
540 posts
I agree that rescheduling is the right thing to do. On my last BA flight through Heathrow from the USA, we sat on the ground for awhile waiting for buses to arrive to take us to the terminal. If I had had a tight connection, it wouldn't have been good. I did, though, see unfortunate travelers who had a tight connection talking with the security screening personnel begging to get to the front of the line. They obliged, but, really, who wants to do that?