London Heathrow connection

jabberwock

So I arrive in Heathrow from Thailand at 7am (hopefully on time) and have a connection to Dublin at 9.05am.

Should I be worried about getting to the Aer Lingus flight?

If so do you think it is possible that if I miss it can I get onto a later flight?

What's the security like there now? It's been 18 months since i was there

BuffyBot

It depends where you're arriving into (which terminal) and whether or not you'll be checked in for your Aer Lingus flight before you depart Thailand. If you are are, and you're luggage is checked through to Dublin and security isn't too blocked up you will probably do it. If both flights are on the same ticket, and you miss the Dublin connection they'll normally try and sort you out.

If you have to collect bags and transfer between terminals, re-check them etc then I think you're cutting it way too fine - and the airline would be under no obligation to put you on a later flight.

jabberwock

Thanks Buffybot,

Picking up my tickets in a couple of hours. Coming from NZ through Aus then Thailand and so on.

All on the same ticket with BA (to london) so I guess I will be able to check thorugh my baggage. Will double check when i pick up the ticket.

groags

I am not sure if you will be able to check your baggage through to Dublin. Are Lingus used to be with Oneworld before they became a Ryanair clone. As a result I don't think you can check baggage through as they now use different systems and are not connected. If I am right that means you have to collect your baggage at the terminal you land at, terminal 3 I am guessing (unless you are traveling after the 27th Mar when Terminal 5 opens), and then make your way to terminal 1 to check into your Aer Lingus flight. All this in two hours, not a chance!!

I have the same issue coming from Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific later in the year. I haven't figured out the how to get to Dublin part yet as I wasn't sure. I certainly don't want to have to navigate Heathrow with large and heavy luggage in short space of time. I couldn't think of an experience more stressful. I think I might be flying with BA, at huge cost no doubt just so I can send the baggage the whole way through!!

mikedragon32

You will be able to check your bags through and because it's all on the one ticket if your flight is delayed getting into Heathrow, they'll do their best to put you onto the next flight instead.

It happens quite regularly and generally is not dependent on the airlines' alliances.

dereko1969

i'm flying with cathay pacific from heathrow and the travel agent said i could check the bags straight through to melbourne when i check in at the aer lingus desk in dublin. was getting a little concerned about the tightness of time - flying into heathrow at 705, flight to hong kong at 920 but if the bags are checked through i should be fine

groags

Travel agents.....grrrrr. Your travel agent said you could get bags checked in at Dublin all the way through to Melbourne and mine said I couldn't get my bags checked all the way through to Dublin from Brisbane. They said that not an alliance airline so they are not obligated to. I wouldn't think that there would be different rules fom one side of the world to the other but then it wouldn't surprise me. There seems to be more people who say I can rather than can't so will go with the majority vote but give myself more time just in case although knowing my luck it will work smoothly and be forced to sit around a busy, unpleasant airport. Why didn't I fly through Europe instead!!

jabberwock

picking my tickets up in an hour.

looking at my itinerary it has British Airways as the airline the whole way through with the BKK-LHR part operated by Quantas and the LHR-DUB by Aer Lingus.

the PNR (?) andAirline reference are all the same so I guess it looks good for be able to check straight through.

Landing into Terminal 4 if that makes any difference on getting across??

BuffyBot

If it's all on the same PNR that's good - it should be checked all the way through, and they should be able to issue your boarding pass for each flight also.

Terminal 4 to Terminal 1 can take a little time, so I certainly wouldn't delay at any stage in the process.

Miss Fluff

Terminal 4 to Terminal 1 can take a while and it's quite a hike to the Gates for Irish flights. I flew Beijing-London-Dublin a couple of weeks ago and the Beijing flight was delayed so I missed my connection. They will happily accommodate you and even check your luggage on to your new flight so don't worry. There is a flight to Dublin every hour.

stereo_steve

Heathrow is a disgrace! My girlfriend took a job in London and my job is a traveling one. So I go through Heathrow alot.

They are never on time. I can guarantee you will be put in a holding pattern when you arrive because the runways will be too busy for you to land. Especially at 7 in the morning. Occasionally after you land you have to wait for another plane to leave the boarding area to make room aswell.

Luckily for you, the Dublin flight will more than likely also be delayed taking off! So things might work their way out!

Washout

Miss Fluff wrote: »

Terminal 4 to Terminal 1 can take a while and it's quite a hike to the Gates for Irish flights. I flew Beijing-London-Dublin a couple of weeks ago and the Beijing flight was delayed so I missed my connection. They will happily accommodate you and even check your luggage on to your new flight so don't worry. There is a flight to Dublin every hour.

so what happens if you do miss your connection?
Do you have to get your luggage and then check it into a later flight?

Miss Fluff

Washout wrote: »

so what happens if you do miss your connection?
Do you have to get your luggage and then check it into a later flight?

No thanks goodness, if your connection is with the same carrier they do all of that for you which is great:)