Is 1 hour and 45 minutes enough time to make this flight connection?
August 4, 2009 7:41 AM Subscribe
Is it possible to make this Heathrow flight connection?
My grandparents booked me tickets to fly from Chicago to Prague, with a connection in London. The flights are both on British Airways, but they were booked separately so I have two itineraries.
The first flight is supposed to arrive at Heathrow Terminal 5 at 9:20 am. The next flight to Prague leaves from Terminal 5 at 11:05 am. If I miss the second flight, BA won't automatically rebook me because of the separate itineraries.
According to this transfer guide, I need at least 60 minutes to go through Flight Connections and Security at Terminal 5.
There is also a possibility that I will need to check a bag (my suitcase including the handle and wheels is 4-5 cm longer than their limit for carry on bags) . BA has said that if I ask at O'Hare, they might be able to label my baggage with a final destination of Prague so that I don't have to collect it and check it in again -- but they can't guarantee it because my flights have separate itineraries.
So, my questions:
* If my first flight arrives on time, is it realistic that I could make the second flight if I only have carr-on baggage, or I have checked baggage that is being transferred over by the airline?
* Will I be able to get away with taking a my suitcase as carry on, even though it is slightly over the height limit? I've always just checked it before out of convenience, so I don't know how stingy airlines are about this type of thing.
I assume if I have to check the bag, pick it up in London, and then check it back in again, I will probably not have enough time to make the connection.
Basically, I'm trying to figure out if it is worth booking a later flight to Prague before I leave Chicago, or risking it and waiting to see if I actually miss my flight in London before trying to book a later flight.
My grandparents booked me tickets to fly from Chicago to Prague, with a connection in London. The flights are both on British Airways, but they were booked separately so I have two itineraries.
The first flight is supposed to arrive at Heathrow Terminal 5 at 9:20 am. The next flight to Prague leaves from Terminal 5 at 11:05 am. If I miss the second flight, BA won't automatically rebook me because of the separate itineraries.
According to this transfer guide, I need at least 60 minutes to go through Flight Connections and Security at Terminal 5.
There is also a possibility that I will need to check a bag (my suitcase including the handle and wheels is 4-5 cm longer than their limit for carry on bags) . BA has said that if I ask at O'Hare, they might be able to label my baggage with a final destination of Prague so that I don't have to collect it and check it in again -- but they can't guarantee it because my flights have separate itineraries.
So, my questions:
* If my first flight arrives on time, is it realistic that I could make the second flight if I only have carr-on baggage, or I have checked baggage that is being transferred over by the airline?
* Will I be able to get away with taking a my suitcase as carry on, even though it is slightly over the height limit? I've always just checked it before out of convenience, so I don't know how stingy airlines are about this type of thing.
I assume if I have to check the bag, pick it up in London, and then check it back in again, I will probably not have enough time to make the connection.
Basically, I'm trying to figure out if it is worth booking a later flight to Prague before I leave Chicago, or risking it and waiting to see if I actually miss my flight in London before trying to book a later flight.
If you have to check your bag, then claim it and re-check it in time for an 11:05 departure, I doubt you'll make it. That's in the best possible situation, where your flight arrives on time, the baggage comes out promptly, etc.
If you can get your bag through as carry-on, you'll probably make it, barring a serious delay on your incoming flight. gene_machine has the right idea here...compare the cost of getting a new (and useful) carry-on bag with the cost and aggravation of trying to book a new connector to Prague when you arrive. He's right about BA, too. Trust them with as little as possible...it gives them fewer opportunities to fuck things up horribly.
posted by Kreiger at 8:19 AM on August 4, 2009
If you can get your bag through as carry-on, you'll probably make it, barring a serious delay on your incoming flight. gene_machine has the right idea here...compare the cost of getting a new (and useful) carry-on bag with the cost and aggravation of trying to book a new connector to Prague when you arrive. He's right about BA, too. Trust them with as little as possible...it gives them fewer opportunities to fuck things up horribly.
posted by Kreiger at 8:19 AM on August 4, 2009
Last time I connected through Heathrow they were strictly enforcing carry on rules there, so even though my companion had been allowed to carry on a laptop and another bag in Houston, he had to check one of them at Heathrow. This involved standing in a long line of annoyed tired people. Get a bag that meets the guidelines or call BA customer service and see if you can link the itineraries and get your bag checked through.
posted by IanMorr at 8:47 AM on August 4, 2009
posted by IanMorr at 8:47 AM on August 4, 2009
1.5 hours, you might be able to make it with checked luggage, but only, only, only if everything is on time (flight leaves on time, flight arrives on time, luggage is out on time, security check doesn't take more than 15 minutes, etc). You will be leaving everything to fate. With just carry-on luggage, maybe, possibly, if you're really lucky.
Better to be safe than to be sorry. Does it really cost you that much more (in time or in price) to ensure you have a worry-less flight??
posted by moiraine at 8:53 AM on August 4, 2009
Better to be safe than to be sorry. Does it really cost you that much more (in time or in price) to ensure you have a worry-less flight??
posted by moiraine at 8:53 AM on August 4, 2009
You don't mention what time of year you plan on doing this. Heathrow is a much more forgiving place on a November weekday than an August weekend. If you are planning to be there on an August weekend then there will be a big line to clear passports and another big line to re-enter security. You may be able to short-cut the second queue if your flight is urgent. Probably not the first one however.
posted by rongorongo at 9:10 AM on August 4, 2009
posted by rongorongo at 9:10 AM on August 4, 2009
Response by poster: I'm leaving Chicago tonight, and the flight from Heathrow would be tomorrow morning. (I know, I should have looked at the arrival and departure times more closely when the flights were first booked, not right before I leave...Lesson learned.)
I think I'm going to go ahead and try to book a later flight to Prague now, because even if I bought a new bag to take as carry on, it sounds like I could easily still miss the second flight if the first one is late at all.
Thanks to everyone for the reality check!
posted by puffin at 9:19 AM on August 4, 2009
I think I'm going to go ahead and try to book a later flight to Prague now, because even if I bought a new bag to take as carry on, it sounds like I could easily still miss the second flight if the first one is late at all.
Thanks to everyone for the reality check!
posted by puffin at 9:19 AM on August 4, 2009
I just flew through Terminal 5. It'll also depend on which gate your flight to Prague is departing from. The A gates are in the main terminal, B and C gates are a train ride away.
Going one way, I had a 60 minute gap between flights, and I had to totally run to my gate (which was one of the A gates). We made it by probably 5 minutes. We had checked luggage and it made it fine. At my departure airport, the desk agent put a tag on my suitcase with the label "short", which I imagine was because my layover in Terminal 5 was only an hour.
On the way back, we had 2 hours I think and it was more than enough time.
My guess is that with 1.5 hours, you'll be fine if your flight is not delayed.
posted by reddot at 9:42 AM on August 4, 2009
One thing to note:
If you're making a connecting flight from BA to BA in T5, BA actually makes sure you go through the flight connections centre with enough time to spare. If their computers say you won't make it, they'll automatically push you to the next flight. There is no running for the gate. That 60 min minimum isn't recommended, it's a hard limit.
It might be worth calling BA to see if you can get this on the same itinerary somehow, so that the process is easier if you're late arriving from Chicago.
posted by generichuman at 9:44 AM on August 4, 2009
If you're making a connecting flight from BA to BA in T5, BA actually makes sure you go through the flight connections centre with enough time to spare. If their computers say you won't make it, they'll automatically push you to the next flight. There is no running for the gate. That 60 min minimum isn't recommended, it's a hard limit.
It might be worth calling BA to see if you can get this on the same itinerary somehow, so that the process is easier if you're late arriving from Chicago.
posted by generichuman at 9:44 AM on August 4, 2009
Best answer: Can't you call BA and ask them to link your PNRs? I don't see why they wouldn't do this, as I am sure they are not too upset about BA/BA connections.
Anyway, I've connected T3 to T5 (AA/BA) and it doesn't take very long. An hour max. If you are staying in T5, it should be no problem. But, with checked bags, all bets are off. Make sure you check your bags all the way through, you will not have time to clear immigration, collect your bags, get your onward boarding card, check in your bag, go through security, and navigate through the shopping mall. (Some BA gates are 20-30 minutes away from the T5 entrance due to the fact that you have to walk through the mall, then take a train to the gate.) If you only have carry-on, though, you should be fine. T5 to T5 connections should not take long.
It looks like we could have thunderstorms this afternoon in Chicago, which could delay your flight and make you arrive late. In that case, you could be totally fucked.
If you can't link your PNRs, be prepared to buy a full-fare ticket to your final destination in London. It might not be necessary, but things might also not go well. (Why did you book a connection separately, anyway?)
posted by jrockway at 9:45 AM on August 4, 2009
Anyway, I've connected T3 to T5 (AA/BA) and it doesn't take very long. An hour max. If you are staying in T5, it should be no problem. But, with checked bags, all bets are off. Make sure you check your bags all the way through, you will not have time to clear immigration, collect your bags, get your onward boarding card, check in your bag, go through security, and navigate through the shopping mall. (Some BA gates are 20-30 minutes away from the T5 entrance due to the fact that you have to walk through the mall, then take a train to the gate.) If you only have carry-on, though, you should be fine. T5 to T5 connections should not take long.
It looks like we could have thunderstorms this afternoon in Chicago, which could delay your flight and make you arrive late. In that case, you could be totally fucked.
If you can't link your PNRs, be prepared to buy a full-fare ticket to your final destination in London. It might not be necessary, but things might also not go well. (Why did you book a connection separately, anyway?)
posted by jrockway at 9:45 AM on August 4, 2009
@generichuman, it appears that the OP has neglected to tell BA that he is connecting. I would not trust them to figure this out themselves, he needs to call them and tell them.
posted by jrockway at 9:46 AM on August 4, 2009
posted by jrockway at 9:46 AM on August 4, 2009
. I would not trust them to figure this out themselves, he needs to call them and tell them.
Seconded. Call BA and see if you can get this on the same PNR. That idiotproofs the whole thing, even if it does mean that you might get bumped to a later flight into Prauge.
posted by generichuman at 9:52 AM on August 4, 2009
Seconded. Call BA and see if you can get this on the same PNR. That idiotproofs the whole thing, even if it does mean that you might get bumped to a later flight into Prauge.
posted by generichuman at 9:52 AM on August 4, 2009
Response by poster: If you can't link your PNRs, be prepared to buy a full-fare ticket to your final destination in London. It might not be necessary, but things might also not go well. (Why did you book a connection separately, anyway?)
My grandparents booked it using their frequent flier miles, and apparently it was cheaper to book two separate trips. I'm not sure why they chose flights so close together.
We've called BA and they said that they said that I should ask at O'Hare whether I could check it all the way through, but that there was no guarantee because originally two reservations were made.
So given that ambiguity and the weather here, I went ahead and booked a later flight (luckily we only had to pay the difference between the two tickets).
posted by puffin at 10:34 AM on August 4, 2009
My grandparents booked it using their frequent flier miles, and apparently it was cheaper to book two separate trips. I'm not sure why they chose flights so close together.
We've called BA and they said that they said that I should ask at O'Hare whether I could check it all the way through, but that there was no guarantee because originally two reservations were made.
So given that ambiguity and the weather here, I went ahead and booked a later flight (luckily we only had to pay the difference between the two tickets).
posted by puffin at 10:34 AM on August 4, 2009
Too bad they wouldn't make the change for you on the phone. This further confirms my thoughts that BA's customer service is horrible. (AA is much better, in my experience.)
Have a nice trip :)
posted by jrockway at 10:57 AM on August 4, 2009
Have a nice trip :)
posted by jrockway at 10:57 AM on August 4, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by gene_machine at 7:45 AM on August 4, 2009