fineleg Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 When flying from USA to India - there seems to be only approx 1 hour (well 10 minutes more than an hour, so I'll say approx 1 hour) at London Heathrow. British Airways Terminal 5. Both the incoming and outgoing flights seem to be at Terminal 5 in London. Is this time sufficient? Or should I book on some other airlines? I like the price on British Airways, but want to know if the connection time of 1 hour is ok or cutting it too close for International travel?
fineleg Posted March 3, 2011 Author Posted March 3, 2011 I've not really flown via Heathrow - and hence the question. In some airports, one hour Intl connection will be really tough to make it. I'm hoping some of you here, have experience with transit via London airport. Update: Via Frankfurt seems to be only 1 hour 15 minutes instead of this 1 hour 10 minutes, so not too much difference there I suppose!!! Airlines seem to be making transit times shorter and shorter?
Ram Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 I have flown via Heathrow and if my memory serves me right, thats plenty enough time to make the switch. You do have to pass through security again, but that shouldnt be a problem. As long as your incoming flight into the UK is not delayed/canceled, you should be fine. Plus, if both the incoming and outgoing flights are BA, they will couple the two of them together only if they ‘KNOW’ for sure if you can make the connection. And the advantage of having the same airlines is that if by any chance your incoming flight into the UK is delayed, they could even hold the transit flight from the UK to India to make sure all the transit passengers made in time.
The Outsider Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 Typical fineleg thread!:hysterical: Of course, it's sufficient. Otherwise why would airlines be offering you the connection? You just have to walk from one gate to another on the same terminal. Even Munaf can manage that in that time. Even if you miss the connection, what's the big deal? Just get on to the next flight.
EnterTheVoid Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 If I had a choice, I'd personally catch the flight next day. To go from Australia to India, I'd have to catch a transit flight via Singapore/Malaysia. I have some university friends in Singapore so would like to spend some time with them before catching the plane to India.
cricket_usa Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 You should be good. I you have to go thru security check again but you should have enough time.
Zap_Brannigan Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 Chennai to Chicago once thro' heathrow. I think i had about an hour and a half. Cut it really close since it was a huge airport and was very crowded at that time. If you can find the approx. places of the 2 gates in the airport, i suppose you can transfer efficiently. Personally, i never choose 1 hour between transfer. Learned my lesson when a domestic flight got delayed. Still made the flight but the anxiety of will i make it or wont i make is not worth it. Besides i like airports and would like to spend more time in them.
fineleg Posted March 3, 2011 Author Posted March 3, 2011 Thank you Ram, Prof Shwetabh, Sree_india and BossBhai, cricket_usa and Zap. I appreciate your quick response to the thread. Prof: Like BossBhai says, everything has to go according to the schedule. It is not a question of walking like Munaf Patel from one gate to the other. I can walk faster than Munna Patel :D The following are the things I am thinking about: 1. Security checks. Often times, in European airports (Frankfurt) they do make you go via security checks, and the lines are long. I do not know if they do this at Heathrow in London - esp. since the inbound and outbound flights are both in Terminal 5. However, London once in a while goes into high security mode, and hence I may want to assume that Yes - there will be a security check in London. 2. Margin for delay: Arrival of the flight from US into London. Sometimes delays happen in US airports, and the flight may be a bit late. Do I have sometime to make up? With a 70 minute connection, it is a bit tight. 3. Next flight out of London: Prof says "Even if you miss the connection, what's the big deal? Just get on to the next flight." However - the issue is this: They'll usually have only one flight out of London to Madras per day. So, you just might get stuck at London. And the bigger issue - flights are usually booked full even for next some days, right? Europe-India flights from London/Frankfurt are usually quite booked. If that's the case - would it even be possible to get on the "next flight" if we miss the connection. On the positive side: Like Ram said - it is both BA flights, so hopefully British Airways can coordinate connections, and holding the other flight by a bit for connections etc. Boss Bhai - the thing is even via Frankfurt - somehow the time only seems to be 1hr.15mins. So, its just 5 mins more via Frankfurt than the London route. I dont know why the European airlines have shortened connection times, but apparently it comes out that way - in the new schedules. And the ticket fares seem to be quite high via Frankfurt, and there seems to be a better offer going on in British Airways currently. Hence, I'm trying to think and decide. Other routes via Singapore or Hong Kong - seems like fare is considerably higher, and I will have to do extra layovers in other cities instead of direct flights. So, its not so attractive. So, I am still leaning towards via-Europe if possible. S'pore/Hongkong are last options if nothing else works out - then I may take them. SreeIndia - what you suggested is good - extra day stay. But I may not have the extra day available to take.
fineleg Posted March 3, 2011 Author Posted March 3, 2011 Chennai to Chicago once thro' heathrow. I think i had about an hour and a half. Cut it really close since it was a huge airport and was very crowded at that time. If you can find the approx. places of the 2 gates in the airport, i suppose you can transfer efficiently. Hmm...I'll try to find out. Though airlines can and do change gates sometimes. Usually they do stick to the same gates. But customer service reps don't tell you the gate#s. Personally, i never choose 1 hour between transfer. Learned my lesson when a domestic flight got delayed. Still made the flight but the anxiety of will i make it or wont i make is not worth it. Besides i like airports and would like to spend more time in them. In my case, I dont have domestic flights. Both are British Airways (or Lufthansa) only. But yeah, like you - I usually prefer 2 hour connection times. But many airlines (via Europe) seem to have shortened it now as per what the Agent tells me (true or not, I dont know and it also depends on what city you fly from etc etc). The other options via Asia seem more expensive for my itinerary. Will think about this.
punjabi_khota Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 If its the same terminal, you are good to go. Else not.
fineleg Posted March 3, 2011 Author Posted March 3, 2011 If its the same terminal' date=' you are good to go. Else not.[/quote'] Same Terminal 5. But I hear in London (or Frankfurt too) - you need to take a Bus and then a Train/vestibule once you get down from the US flight to go the the India flight gates(though they are in the same terminal). Even within same Terminal, we cannot avoid security check? It depends on the airport layouts. And most European airports seem to have this. Security checks may be because of all the heightened security these days.
The Outsider Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 BTW, you would be able to get ahead of the queue for the security check in case you are running short of time due to no fault of yours.
fineleg Posted March 3, 2011 Author Posted March 3, 2011 BTW' date=' you would be able to get ahead of the queue for the security check in case you are running short of time due to no fault of yours.[/quote'] That's good info, thx. That may be a saving grace! (if the situation happens)
Late Cut Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 I always fly through the middle east; the hasstles are a lot less and i have had flights wait for me even though i was delayed by more than three hours. Heathrow is the worst; i have seen security guards harass little kids and play with their video games. I prefer Quatar. It is one of the best rated airlines and had great service and the Doha airport is small so no need to run across miles....though given the current middle east situation i am not sure how things are. Lufthansa has also been a gold airline to use. Either way, best of luck dude.
Jersey #10 Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 I stopped at Heathrow and I had 4 hours connection gap. I think I had two hours to spare after going through the security clearance and traveling between terminals. I had to change terminals though. That's probably why I had to go through security check again. 70min. may be not enough for you to transit from one flight to another. I will be very surprised if you have to go through security check since you are not changing terminals.
flamy Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 yet another epic finey thread :dontknow: p.s. just wanted the smiley and the chathood is down :D
Ram Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 Whoa! I honestly think I wouldn’t do this much research/analysis to choose my spouse. :dontknow: Its an effin flight. What could go wrong? It probably will be a touch and go affair, but at least it will be exciting and you will also get some useful cardio in, when you run between the gates.
fineleg Posted March 3, 2011 Author Posted March 3, 2011 You do get a 3hr connect gap on Lufthansa/United flights going thru Frankfurt. Thanks for the info Boss Bhai. Unfortunately, the exact same issue is with Lufthansa Frankfurt on the way back from India. So, will need to figure out some idea - will work with the travel agent on that. I prefer Quatar. It is one of the best rated airlines and had great service and the Doha airport is small so no need to run across miles....though given the current middle east situation i am not sure how things are. Lufthansa has also been a gold airline to use. Either way, best of luck dude. Thanks Late Cut, for the info on Qatar. I've never flown that, though like you say I dont know how the Middle East situation affects it? I will be very surprised if you have to go through security check since you are not changing terminals. Thanks transparent. Yep, they seem to do the security check even if its the same terminal, and like Boss Bhai says if many aircrafts arrive, then there are long lines. p.s. just wanted the smiley and the chathood is down :D Flamyngo! :poink: Whoa! I honestly think I wouldn’t do this much research/analysis to choose my spouse That's you, this is me :D Different folks, different personalities. Makes the world interesting :winky:
zubinpepsi Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 finey , you going alone or with husband and kids?? make sure u have a transit visa.. :)
Late Cut Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 The flights are faster through the middle east too. Don't think you need a transit visa as long as you get an indian visa (assuming you are an american citizen). And a big thank you also to the folks who gave me tips on Goa- the trip was great, maybe i'll post some pics when i get a chance.
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