Heathrow transit time?

A

auburnfive

Veteran Member

• Feb 12, 2018

• #1

Hello,
trying to find out how much time to allow for arriving at Terminal 5, collecting bagge, going through Customs, and getting to Terminal 2 for a flight to Porto. The online advice says nothing more specific than “allow plenty of time”. Would 4 hours be enough? Will be on different airlines. Thanks

 

William Marques

Moderator

Donating Member

• Feb 12, 2018

• #2

4 hours ought to be more than enough if your flight arrives on time.

 

Kitsambler

Jakobsweg Junkie

Time of past OR future Camino

SJPP 2023

• Feb 12, 2018

• #3

The issue at Heathrow is that all arriving passengers go through security screening, just like when you boarded the plane in North America or where ever. You go through security with your carry-on baggage. (Then there may be an immigration check; depends on passport and transit status.)Once you complete your connecting flight, then you collect your checked bag and go through Customs, which is trivial if you have nothing to declare.

My US West Coast flights through Heathrow generally are timed for a very short interval (less than an hour) - which I am not willing to risk. Rather, I take the four hour layover, and enjoy a bit of shopping with a very nice lunch (Gordon Ramsey has a restaurant in Terminal 5.)

 

bhavagrahidasa

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino frances to Fisterra/Muxia 2013, twice in 2014, 2015, twice in 2016, 2017, a week on the VdlP

• Feb 12, 2018

• #4

Hi,

Generally, you should allow 45 minutes to clear customs and collect your bags. On Heathrow Airport's Meeting someone page they say that once a plane has landed you should allow 30 to 40 minutes but longer at busy times. Link here if you want to look
https://www.heathrow.com/arrivals/meeting-points

Transferring to Terminal 2 would be no longer than 30 minutes from once you clear customs. Quoted from the website;
Heathrow Express trains are free for travel between Heathrow Central station (Terminals 2 & 3) and Terminal 5. There's a train every 15 minutes.
Frequent London Underground trains also run between the terminals. The transfer is only free if you use a Transport for London Oyster card or a contactless payment card.

Check-in for European flights is a suggested 2 hours and different airlines close check-in at different times, often 30 minutes before the flight is scheduled.

So allowing 45 minutes to clear customs and then catch the Heathrow Express (very well signposted and only a few minutes walk) you should reach Terminal 2 within an hour and 30 minutes, plenty of time to check in.

Buen Camino.

 

trecile

Moderator

Staff member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Francés, Norte, Salvador, Primitivo, Portuguese

• Feb 12, 2018

• #5

As you will be flying on separate tickets you might want to read this TripAdvisor article about the risks of separate tickets.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-...s:Connecting.On.Separate.Airline.Tickets.html

 

Tandem Graham

E ultreia e suseia, Deus adjuva nos

Time of past OR future Camino

Le Puy, CF, VDLP, Francigena
Bike: UK-SdC, Lana

• Feb 13, 2018

• #6

Allow 2.5 hours including passports, security and customs. If you end up with spare time, there are nice facilities to eat, drink, shop, relax or even shower. It's a big airport - but lots of people switch flights there, so the internal systems usually run smoothly (better than Paris for instance, which for most people is a destination rather than change point). Buen Camino!

 

Anniesantiago

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2006 to date: Over 21 Caminos. See signature line

• Feb 13, 2018

• #7

I hate Heathrow.
I always get stressed there and have missed flights more than once.
Just sayin'

 

A

auburnfive

Veteran Member

• Feb 13, 2018

• #8

Thanks for the advice, we have 4 and 1/2 hours, worst case if the flight to the UK is massively late, the price of a new ticket works out to much less than the price difference for the through ticket. Fingers crossed...

 

AlwynWellington

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

please see signature

• Feb 13, 2018

• #9

auburnfive said:

Would 4 hours be enough?

Click to expand...

Yes

I managed arrival at T2 to check-in/bag drop at T5 in about 1 hr in October 2017. The key is catching the Heathrow Express (ultimate destination Paddington) to T2/T3 - no charge - then a route march to T2.

And heaps of time for a meal with my London based family.

Kia kaha (take care, be strong, get going)

 

Last edited: Feb 13, 2018

camino-david

RIP 2020

Time of past OR future Camino

Caminos Frances (x4), Finisterre, Aragon, Via de la Plata, Portuguese 2011 -2015. Hospitalero 2015

• Feb 14, 2018

• #10

Don't forget that arrival time is the time the plane touches down on the tarmac. It can sometimes take 15 mins before you get off the plane.