How long to change Teminals at Heathrow?

HolidayGirl

We are lucky enough to be going to Hong Kong and Thailand for a couple of weeks from the 11th Feb. All is fine but on the return journey we are due to land at Heathrow Terminal 3 at 20.10hrs and we then are due to take off from Terminal 5 at 21.00hrs for our flight back to Manchester - Has anyone done this, is it possible in 50 mins? (we dont have to collect luggage)?

Thanks

luci

I very much doubt you will make the second flight due to going through immigration and security.

We landed at 14.40 at T5 and even though our connecting flight was at the same terminal at 16.05, we only made it because they held the flight for us and we got there at 15.55.

I believe you are supposed to be at the gate 40 mins before flight departure and the doors are supposed to close 20 mins before departure.

Bob_the_Saver

If it lands on exactly on time (ie. the big silver bird touches the ground at 21.10) not a chance in hell.

rrf494g

It's very unlikely . . .

that 50 mins will be enough. I was amazed at my transfer time from term 5 to other terminals. I think there is usually 2 hours allowed for "safe" transfer time when it's busy.

good luck

Voyager2002

I hope that all your flights are on one ticket. If so, the problem is for the airlines to worry about, and the most likely outcome will be that you are moved to a later flight (or given a hotel for the night and a flight in the morning). If you bought a separate ticket for the LHR-MAN sector then you are on your own: if you miss your flight you will be in the same position as someone who got stuck in traffic or whatever on the way to the airport.

Doshwaster

This sounds like a BA/Qantas (who fly into T3 from BKK) to BA connection. In which case I find it hard to believe that the airline would book you onto flights with such a tight (or impossible) connection.

tanith

I agree with everyone else its most unlikely you'll make that flight.

nearlyrich

We had a very tight connection from Beijing to Heathrow, caused by a long delay in Beijing we probably had about 45 mins to get from one terminal to another after bag collection and clearing customs (should have been a few hours layover) I vividly remember running through from one terminal to another and being completely stressed at the though of missing the last shuttle flight to Manchester.

If you want to avoid that stressy feeling at the end of the holiday then get them to book a different flight for you if possible.

Kira000

The good news is, that T5-T3 is one of the quickest terminal connections as they are just across the airfiedl from each other. The bad news is that 50 minutes is really really pushing your luck. Even assuming the first plane is exactly on time, it relies on you being able to get off the plane quickly ( it can take 5-10mins to deplane the last people from a jumbo), a transfer bus leaving at exactly the right time, and no queues for a bus, at immingration or security, and that your second flight is not boarded by coach or from one of the outer satellites (where you are called to board at between -45mins and -60 mins!).

Have you actually been offered this by the airlines or an agent, or is a self selected option? The reason being, that i believe 50minutes is below the official minimum connection advised between terminals, which means if you miss the second flight, the airlines wouldnt be held responsible for any costs incurred. I think the minimum connection is either 60 or 75 minutes, best to ask the question when you book, and make sure your flights are over the minimum so you get the additional protection of it does go wrong.

Alan_Bowen

The problem is you have booked the last flight of the night to Manchester and I think you realistically have no chance whatsoever of getting the connection. T5 requires passengers to be at the gate 30 minutes before departure, T3 to T5 is not the longest connection but the recommended time I believe is 2 hours. You will have to go through immigration at T3, the worst for immigration queues although 2110 is not peak period, there will be 400 passengers on your flight alone and First and Club Class will be off first so there could be 80 people in front of you, allow even 30 seconds each and three staff on duty, and you soon see 50 minutes doesn't work. As others have said, if you have a single ticket issued by BA, they will have to put you up at Heathrow for the night, if you booked the connection independently, you pay for the hotel and a new ticket for the morning, a single ticket bought the day before is almost £200 each. See if you can get an earlier flight back to London!