Minimum connection time @LHR

[malwcal]

To the wise:

In October I am traveling to Europe, with the trip back including flights FCO-LHR, LHR-SIN. We are traveling FCO-LHR on BA557, arriving at LHR terminal 5 at 20:25, which will connect to QF10 departing LHR terminal at 22:20.

The question: is this enough time to connect?

The catch: BA557 is on one booking and QF10 is on another as BA557 is an awards redemption and QF10 is paid in cash.

In fact, these flights were both originally on one booking, which Qantas travel suggested to us, but in the end I decided to to part on points and part as a normal fare.

So, is this enough time? Can we expect our luggage to be checked-through to home? Is there anything we should be careful of?

 

[anat0l]

As long as your FCO-LHR flight is not delayed, you should make it with your baggage. Just make sure you get your bags tagged to your final destination and follow the directions for Flight Connections carefully when you arrive (I'd assume there is a T5-T3 option).

FWIW LHR website prescribes a transfer time for T5-T3 of 90 minutes.

If your inbound flight is delayed, then you may have a serious problem....

 

[Dave Noble]

Since you are changing to a OneWorld flight , BA should check the bags through to the onward flight

Be aware that if you miss the onward flight that BA is unlikely to assist since they are separate tickets and that if you are too late arriving for the onward flight, you may be potentially up for the price of another ticket

If this was a through ticket , I wouldn't be concerned , but with 2 tickets I woul not be risking it on a 105 min connection and would be booking an earlier FCO-LON

 

[DrAndyC]

The last 2 of 3 times I have transitted through LHR I have had my bags misplaced.

The first was OSL-LHR with SAS (arrive terminal 3) - LHR-SYD with Qantas (depart terminal 3). Bags were interlined through and had a 2.5 hour wait at terminal 3. Bags were not in SYD on arrival. Received next day. This was 2 weeks ago.

The other was HEL-LHR with Finnair (arrive term 3) then LHR-PEK with BA (then terminal 4 I believe?). Had a 4 hour layover (next time I will do HEL-China direct with AY). Bags were lost and I spent 2 days in Beijing in -15 degrees weather without luggage.

I tend to avoid LHR in Europe when transitting. The moral of my story is really to pack anything you really need in your hand baggage. Hope fully you will be fine however and Im simply an unlucky fella

Since you are changing to a OneWorld flight , BA should check the bags through to the onward flight

Be aware that if you miss the onward flight that BA is unlikely to assist since they are separate tickets and that if you are too late arriving for the onward flight, you may be potentially up for the price of another ticket

If this was a through ticket , I wouldn't be concerned , but with 2 tickets I woul not be risking it on a 105 min connection and would be booking an earlier FCO-LON

 

[anat0l]

The moral of my story is really to pack anything you really need in your hand baggage.

Sage advice worth heeding irrespective of the situation or airport.