What is a reasonable amount of time required/needed to make your connecting flight at London Heathrow? We are coming from the west coast of the U.S. and the final destination is Madrid. The flight I desire has a very short layover of 1 hr and 15 minutes. We will only have carry on luggage. Is that enough time to make the connecting flight to Madrid?
Thanks!
Is this all on one ticket? What airlines?
I have not booked tickets yet, but considering this flight vs. one with a longer layover (3 hours). This is all one flight. Considering British Airways. The other option is through Air France. Thanks!
1 hr and 15 minutes is bang on the minimum connection time now for a Heathrow T5-T5 connecting flight (it used to be 60 mins). No immigration but you do need to go through security. This is doable but has relatively little margin for on the day issues. On the other hand BA / Iberia flights to Madrid are fairly numerous if a switch becomes necessary.
We fly British Airways from Seattle to Europe almost yearly. I would not choose a 1 hour 15 minute layover. It appears the Madrid flights depart from T5, the same as your flight arriving from the US. But T5 has 3 separate buildings, and you have to move from one to another by connecting train, passing through a rigorous security check on the way. So it’s is not a simple walk through the terminal.
Also, our flight has always arrived at the gate later than the stated time, cutting into that scheduled layover.
SInce BA sold you this and it meets their allowed posted MCT - Minimum Connection Time (you did not say BA but making an assumption that if not BA the seller still followed the rule), then there is no issue. They will not want to put you up overnight and will take care of you if your arrival makes your connection not possible. From plane door through security and to next gate area all in T5 should really not take longer than at most 40 minutes. The train to move between buildings of T5 runs constantly and is quick. Now if your connection to Madrid were leaving from T3, this is more demanding and a T5 to T3 connection has MCT of 90 minutes, as that transfer is much more time consuming. Also note that anyone arriving from outside the UK and transiting through Heathrow undergoes security screening en route to their next gate, it is pretty much the same as screening here other than of course TSA-Pre does not apply.
We had 1 hr 40 minute connection all in terminal 5 when heading home last fall. Our flight from Munich was 30 minutes late.
Ran to security, ran to tram. Made it to gate when they were bording last group. Hubby got pulled aside for additional screening. He was last one allowed on the flight.
But, his checked suitcase didn’t make it.
I personally wouldn’t cutit that close.
Thanks, all! We will choose a longer flight layover. Your answers have confirmed what I suspected - 1 hour and 15 minutes is not enough time.
This site may help your orientation::
I’m only replying in case there are future travelers facing this question. Our Las Vegas British Airways flight departure time is listed as 9:30p.m. Our trip in May was Las Vegas-Heathrow-Barcelona. We had a 2 hour connection time and did not make it. Our departure was delayed and our gate arrival ant LHR after landing was delayed as well. We were rebooked by the time we landed on the next flight, but seated separately (not a big deal).
Just dropping a note to thank everyone for the helpful information. Like the OP, I'm in the planning stage of flight booking and will choose a three hour layover to ensure that I have enough time to make a T5 arrival and connection with BA.
