Time in Heathrow for connecting flights-different airlines

Barbara, would this be on a single ticket? If it is, wouldn't the first airline transfer the bag automatically?

I have avoided changing planes at Heathrow, so I cannot provide any specific input.

Assuming that this is on separate tickets I would want a 4 to 5 hour minimum.

Taxing, deplaning, lavatory break and walk to passport control takes about 30 minutes
Passport control can be 15 to 90 minutes.
Transfer terminals about another 20 minutes.

That can be 2+ hours just to get to the BA check in counter.

Something else to keep in mind whenbuying flights many months in advance, airlines often change flight times. So what was once a 5 hour “connection”. Can become 3 or 8 hours.

I actually like London so I end up overnight there.

Here's how you need to look at it:

If everything goes well, they would probably be OK. But if something goes sideways, and they miss their "connection", what would be the consequences? The consequences would be, at a minimum, having to buy a replacement ticket on the spot. That could be anywhere from a little to a jaw-dropping lot of money.

On the outbound, they would have more options to buy a replacement ticket. While short-haul intra-Europe tickets are often cheap, they're generally not (at all) cheap on short notice.

Also, what happens to the rest of the trip itinerary if the arrival is delayed a day or two? Is it no big deal (just shave a day or two off their time to enjoy the first location where they had many days scheduled), or does this start a chain reaction of missed connections and a string of subsequent disasters?

For the return, the cost for a replacement transatlantic ticket home (for today or tomorrow) can be stunningly expensive.

In both cases, there's a chance that the extra cost could involve the cost of a hotel room for a night or two as you wait for that expensive onward flight.

Bottom line: 3 hours might be enough, or it might not. How lucky do you feel?

It must be on one ticket for the bags to be checked through. Some of the cheap fares seen on Kayak and other sites are "hacker fares" which may be two separate tickets, one on VA for the long haul flights and one on BA for the European flights. If that is the case, your friend will need to go through immigration before heading to baggage claim, then pick up the bag, perhaps transfer terminals, re-checkmthe bag, and gomthrough security to reach the new gate. (Passengers go through security again at Heathrow even if bags are checked through; this will happen even if on one tickets).

I would want a minimum of 4 hours between flights for separate tickets. Actually 5 hours for the home-bound flight.

It isn't impossible that it is a genuine through connecting fare, as BA is required by regulation to interline with VS. However, this doesn't fit in with the suggestion that they would need to pick up bags. As this is an international connection there would be no need to do this on a through itinerary.

Thanks for all your thoughts. I never would want to do this scenario myself as I am risk averse. So I’ll suggest to my friend to get one ticket from LA

Don’t think they want to stay overnight in London. Appreciate your help!

No part of your OP is "connecting" as BA & Virgin aren't partners. In your description, LHR is a layover, not a connection.

3 hours is a risk; if the friend misses the flight to Budapest, he/she will have to buy a new ticket on the spot. If the BA ticket includes the return from Zurich to LHR, the friend will LOSE that too if he/she misses the flight to Budapest so that means buying a new ticket to LHR from ZRH.

So if your friend is a gambler and can afford to buy new tickets on the spot, ask him/her if he/she wants this itinerary and explain the consequences of a 3 hour layover.

When I've done layovers at Heathrow, I allow 4 hours minimum.

Carry-on luggage would solve these problems ......I usually do two weeks with an 18lb carry-on.

No part of your OP is "connecting" as BA & Virgin aren't partners.

As I said above this isn't necessarily true as it is perfectly possible to book genuine through single itineraries with these two. Whether the OP's friend can though has not been confirmed though I think.

Yes, if using only carry-on, I think I would personally take the chance. But as stated, flight times can change. My friend is not a seasoned traveler and I don't think his girlfriend will go for a small bag. So, I think we'll just keep looking at better flights. Thanks all for your insights!

"My friend is not a seasoned traveler"

That's the key phrase right there. In that case, they should definitely be booked on a single ticket, on one airline alliance (i.e., if not the same airline, on partner airlines like United/SWISS or Delta/Air France). That way, not only will they not have to pay extra if there's a problem, but the airlines will help them. Even if it costs a bit more, the lack of any potential drama will be worth it.

My sister just flew Washington Dulles to Heathrow to Barcelona, all on British Airways. She was delayed about 2 hours taking off from Dulles, but on arrival at Heathrow, BA gave her a new boarding pass for the later flight to Barcelona. She was very glad to not to have to worry about what to do, or even to have to think in a tired state - not to mention VERY glad not to have to pay extra!

She also emphasized that while she made the connection from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3 in 25 minutes due to good luck with the inter-terminal bus and a short line at security, the recommended 90 minutes (for a single booking) was not an exaggeration. In her words, "Heathrow is not an airport, it's a city!"