Heathrow - is this possible?

WiseInvestor_2

Becles - check your messages

hammy_the_hammer

you're very patient ...the last point i'd make before giving in is that even if they are on time to LHR i have the severest of doubts that they will make the flight. if they do miss the flight they'd be better making up some sob story about cars breaking down and having to pay £200 in a taxi to get there etc etc i wouldn't tell them they booked a flight with 90mins time to connect leaving and then entering another terminal landside

Becles

Dad phoned and has invited himself round on Friday night, as Sky are broadcasting the Sunderland match and he doesn't have Sky!

I'll see if I can work on him again then

paulboy83

Even if they are on time, they will be lucky to make it. Its about a 5 min run from T1 to T3 assuming they know where they are going, I was in T3 a few weeks ago and even the queue for virgins fast bag drop was huge! Not to mention the lengthy security lines. I was travelling standby and was given my seat 35 mins before departure and I was lucky to make it to the gate in time from check in.

Now lets look at worst case scenario: The BA flight is delayed an hour, leaving them 30 minutes to do the transfer. They will get their bags as their next flight departs which leaves them walking over to virgin to find that the next flight with seats isnt until at least tomorrow which will cost them £x00 each to transfer to (lets assume more than BA will charge) They then need to go book into a hotel at the airport another £100ish and about £10 for the bus to the hotel. Then they need to eat £30 for 2 meals I'd guess. They then get to Mumbai and find that Jet arent going to take them as they didnt turn up for the next flight and they need to book again, at another £x00, eventually they are 24 hours late and very very stressed, its not really worth it is it.

If he is determined to fly is it going to work out cheaper to book an early flight into LGW. BA fly there until the end of march then Jet2 will be on the route as BA pull out and sometimes the price can be cheaper. The same will apply to Stansted, Easyjet fly in there and there are direct buses between stn/lgw and lhr.

Voyager2002

Becles wrote:

I met my Mam for lunch yesterday, and told her my concerns.

Dad is under the impression that BA will radio ahead if the Newcastle flight is late and someone will meet them at the gate and rush them though to the other terminal. This happened when they went to Delhi and the Newcastle flight was delayed, but they had booked BA for both flights. I've said in BA won't be as helpful as they are changing to a Virgin flight.

He also thinks if they miss the Virgin flight, that Virgin will happily pop them on the next flight. However Mam is worried as they are going to Mumbai then Goa, so they'll miss their Jet airways flight in Mumbai and have to make more arrangements there. Also the hotel they booked has arranged a free car and driver to meet them at Goa airport, so they'll miss him as well and have to find their own transport to the hotel. Personally I don't think Virgin will be accomodating if they miss the flight through their own fault.

The trains are a no-no, as it's about 3 hours sitting to London, compared to about an hour on the plane, and he's not keen on using the Tube at rush hour (will have to cross London about 5pm).

At the minute he's stuck in his ways, but Mam is going to have another go at him this week. I'll see them on Christmas day, and as part of their presents I've got holiday stuff, like books and sweets for the flights. I'll make some comment about hoping they manage to get on the flights, and see if I can work on him that way.

Arrrgghh parents

Your Dad's fatal error was to buy separate tickets for the NCL-LHR and LHR-India journeys. And to make it worse, he chose to use two rival companies that hate each other and have a history of using dirty tricks as part of their competition.

His previous experience was based on doing the whole thing on one ticket. In that case, BA was responsible for getting him to his destination in India and so did everything possible to get him from a delayed Newcastle flight on to the onward flight to India. Had it gone without him because of BA's actions, he would have been placed on the next departure. And baggage was transferred directly from his Newcastle flight to the India-bound departure. Under those circumstances, 90 minutes to connect is fine.

However, for this trip BA is only responsible for getting him to LHR, so if he is late for the Virgin flight that is his problem. And BA will not help with baggage transfers or anything: he is on his own.

pin

Voyager2002 wrote:

Your Dad's fatal error was to buy separate tickets for the NCL-LHR and LHR-India journeys. And to make it worse, he chose to use two rival companies that hate each other and have a history of using dirty tricks as part of their competition.

His previous experience was based on doing the whole thing on one ticket. In that case, BA was responsible for getting him to his destination in India and so did everything possible to get him from a delayed Newcastle flight on to the onward flight to India. Had it gone without him because of BA's actions, he would have been placed on the next departure. And baggage was transferred directly from his Newcastle flight to the India-bound departure. Under those circumstances, 90 minutes to connect is fine.

However, for this trip BA is only responsible for getting him to LHR, so if he is late for the Virgin flight that is his problem. And BA will not help with baggage transfers or anything: he is on his own.

Pretty much sums up the situation, BA has no requirement (and nor should they) to arrange for an interline of baggage (the only time this can happen is if the journey is booked on one PNR). Also Virgin is under no obligation (and nor should they be) to take your folks on a different flight if they are delayed.

Especially looking at the situation this weekend, it is very very feasible that your parents could misconnect in London or even in India (to go onto Goa). Your dad, rather needing a good slapping, needs a kick up his backside (or both). BTW are you as stubborn as your padre?

Voyager2002

The bottom line on this dilemma:

So far as Virgin are concerned, your parents' journey with them begins when they check in at Heathrow. (The fact that they are flying there on a rival airline and a separate ticket is irrelevant: they are in the same position as people arriving by car or train.) Anyway, passengers for most long-haul flights area sked to check in at least two hours before departure. So, even if the flight from Newcastle arrived on time, and even if there was no need to wait for baggage, and even if no time at all was required to get from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3, your parents would be late for check-in. In reality, if anything goes wrong, even slightly wrong, they will miss the flight to India. So: have they checked their tickets with Virgin to see what would happen next? Would they be allowed to take the next flight (which might not have any room, of course) and would they have to pay any penalty charges?

Personally, I think they would have a chance of making their flight, but I would only risk it if my flight to India were on a full-fare flexible ticket, AND if I had not already paid for flights and accomodation at the other end.

hammy_the_hammer

i have done some brief checks and it's either good or bad news ...he's either got longer or shorter than 90 minutes connection time if i've looked at the websites correctly. i think you need to ask for the times of the newcastle flights as you are acting as the taxi. virgin check-in / bag drop closes 60 mins before departure....the worst scenario is that your dad has only left 45 mins between flights ie he definitely won't be on it.

Becles

I'm not sure of the exact times. Dad just told me the dates and said it didn't clash with hubby's job (I need his car as I can't get suitcases in mine!) or the school run. Then Mam butted in to tell me about the short time between flights, and the actual flight times were forgotten!

I'll find out the proper times tomorrow.

I do know he doing online check in with Virgin before he leaves home.

pennylane99

Virgin flies from Heathrow to Mumbai at 21.45

the BA flights showing from Newcastle are one at 17.55 arriving Heathrow 19.05

or the last one of the day leaving Newcastle at 19.45 arriving Heathrow 21.00


so he has either 2 and half hours.....or just 45 minutes.....