Switching Terminals at Heathrow (on a combined ticket)

ixoy

I've recently booked a ticket for Japan that goes via London Heathrow. The Dublin-London leg is with Aer Lingus (and arrives in Terminal 1) and the London - Tokyo leg is with Virgin and goes from Terminal 3.
There's a 2.5 hour window between the arrival of the Aer Lingus flight and the Virgin departure and all of this was done under one booking.

My question then is - when I arrive in LHR, do I have to exit and check-in again with Virgin? Especially as it's a different airline to the first leg and in a different terminal. Or is there a way to bypass that process? I'm wondering because long-haul flights also want you to check in 2hrs+ beforehand, which could be a bit tight.
I've a feeling it's not as big as deal as I think but I've never had a combo-flight like this.

Random

assuming they're connecting flights you'll get your boarding card for both of them at your initial point of departure usually, in this case dublin. your baggage should be checked through the whole way through as well.

if in doubt contact the airline to confirm.

BuffyBot

You'll have to leave Terminal 1 and re-clear security at Terminal 3. There is no airside transfer between the Irish/UK domestic section of Terminal 1 and the rest of the airport.

Aer Lingus will check your bags through and they may be able to issue your boarding pass - if not, you'll just have to stop off at a Virgin desk in T3, which won't be a problem as they're right next to where you'll be entering the terminal anyway.

I would urge you to ring Virgin and get your pnr for the virgin part of your trip and log in on the virgin site and choose your seats before all the good ones are gone.
It's a long flight to be stuck in middle seats somewhere.

You can check in the virgin part separately if Virgin give you the pnr [passenger numerical reference] on their site as an online check in and just select whatever number of bags you have.
Select "collect boarding pass at the airport" DO Not print it.

At Dublin then,they should be able to check your bags through all the way to Tokyo and print both boarding passes-just tell them it's all on one pnr but that you already checked in on line for the Virgin part.

Just to add-if they cannot give you your Virgin boarding passes at the Dublin bag drop area[sometimes their software won't allow this,Aerlingus's on boarding passes for interlined multiple airline trips can be stupid sometimes],and you have done the above and checked in on virgin,then just scan your passport at one of the machines in the virgin area of T3 and it will spit out the cards for you.

Also that 2 and a half hour window that they advise is for people mainly who are starting their journey in heathrow.
You will have most of the work done when you get there if not all and if Aer Lingus do the job right,you will have your boarding cards and your luggage will already have been chgecked through by the time you get to Terminal 3.

You will also have a decent seat if you check in 24hrs before travel on line with virgin before all the masses take the good seats on you.
Try for an exit row

www.seatguru.com is your friend .

shazkea

BuffyBot wrote: »

You'll have to leave Terminal 1 and re-clear security at Terminal 3. There is no airside transfer between the Irish/UK domestic section of Terminal 1 and the rest of the airport.

Aer Lingus will check your bags through and they may be able to issue your boarding pass - if not, you'll just have to stop off at a Virgin desk in T3, which won't be a problem as they're right next to where you'll be entering the terminal anyway.

Actually all you need to do for Flight Connections these days in LHR is exit Terminal 1 and re-enter through Flight Connections in the T1 arrivals hall (assuming you have your onward boarding pass). Just follow the signs for Flight Connections in terminal 1 arrivals, then to the correct terminal/bus and it's all airside. Very smooth - I've been through a couple of times in the last few weeks and it was very efficient.

shazkea

shazkea wrote: »

Actually all you need to do for Flight Connections these days in LHR is exit Terminal 1 and re-enter through Flight Connections in the T1 arrivals hall (assuming you have your onward boarding pass). Just follow the signs for Flight Connections in terminal 1 arrivals, then to the correct terminal/bus and it's all airside. Very smooth - I've been through a couple of times in the last few weeks and it was very efficient.

Thats actually very very new.
I asked someone about this today who was connecting in heathrow yesterday and now on an EI flight,they ask connecting passengers to remain on board and exit from the rear of the plane to a bus that takes them to flight connections.
Even though I've connected at heathrow many times,it's always confusing especially now with the new set up.
I flew connecting through heathrow as recently as 3 weeks ago and there was none of that mullarkey.
It was a case of getting off the plane ,down the long trek to arrivals and the lift to the heathrow express for T5.

Leaving that aside,I'd again advise the op to get the reference for the virgin part of his flight and check in online 24hrs before the fligth for that flight separately.
That way he will get a choice of seats,better seats before the mad masses snap them all up.
Again seat guru is your friend.
Just tell the check in/bag drop agent to check your bags all the way through when in Dublin and tell them you have checked in to the virgin flight...they should be able to see this on their screen anyway,it will make no difference...except of course you won't be sitting way down the back in the middle section of 4 seats.

/end seating advice.


The virgin pnr may be different to the pnr of the entire booking.
Sometimes it's possible to get the other airline pnr by inputting your booking reference and name into www.checkmytrip.com
That will pull up the entire booking and information for all travellers on the booking.
If not just ring virgin,it's worth it.

toby2111

Hi folks,
Next Wednesday,Im flying Aer Lingus to Heathrow(Terminal 1) and have about 3 hours to get across to Terminal 5 for connecting flight to JFK with BA.I'm confused as to whether I get Heathrow Express or a bus??It seems to have changed very recently?Anyone got advice/directions?Surely I've enough time to make connection....

BuffyBot

3 hours is plenty to do it either way.

finbarrk

toby2111 wrote: »

Hi folks,
Next Wednesday,Im flying Aer Lingus to Heathrow(Terminal 1) and have about 3 hours to get across to Terminal 5 for connecting flight to JFK with BA.I'm confused as to whether I get Heathrow Express or a bus??It seems to have changed very recently?Anyone got advice/directions?Surely I've enough time to make connection....

I did that 2 months ago. I just followed the signs for the train connection. It is actually the Heathrow Express, it's only a few minutes. T5 is fantastic.

toby2111

Cheers guys,I'll take the Express so.When you say T5 is fantastic,is there lots of shops etc?Hard to imagine an airport terminal being fantastic!!!!

Fratton Fred

toby2111 wrote: »

Cheers guys,I'll take the Express so.When you say T5 is fantastic,is there lots of shops etc?Hard to imagine an airport terminal being fantastic!!!!

There are plenty of shops, but it is an amazing building. You will probably end up getting an underground train to you gate as a lot of them are satellite buildings.

toby2111

Sounds good,I presume its easy to navigate T1 to T5 and well signposted?Heathrow is massive!!

BuffyBot

Yes, it is

Just follow the signs for the Train and get on the Heathrow Express

toby2111

Thanks.
Did I read somewere that because trains only go one way(T1 to T5),on my return journey I have to get bus from T5 back to T1?I'm sure its not as complicated as I'm making it out to be!!

BuffyBot

No, there are trains both way (otherwise, how would the train get back to T1? )

What you're thinking of is the airside bus - if you follow the flight connections in T5 you'll find yourself being bussed around Heathrow to get over to T1

toby2111

Ah OK,just thought I read that trains run in a one way loop from T1 to T5.I'm sure I'll be able to navigate my way around,I've plenty of time anyhow,thanks for the advice!

finbarrk

toby2111 wrote: »

Cheers guys,I'll take the Express so.When you say T5 is fantastic,is there lots of shops etc?Hard to imagine an airport terminal being fantastic!!!!

Well it is easy to kill a few hours there if you know what I mean. I dined in a lovely Italian restaurant before the security check.

ixoy

Deleted User wrote: »

I would urge you to ring Virgin and get your pnr for the virgin part of your trip and log in on the virgin site and choose your seats before all the good ones are gone.
It's a long flight to be stuck in middle seats somewhere.

Seats are already chosen when I did the original booking! We've got 2 to ourselves and by a window!

You can check in the virgin part separately if Virgin give you the pnr [passenger numerical reference] on their site as an online check in and just select whatever number of bags you have.
Select "collect boarding pass at the airport" DO Not print it.

At Dublin then,they should be able to check your bags through all the way to Tokyo and print both boarding passes-just tell them it's all on one pnr but that you already checked in on line for the Virgin part.

Just to add-if they cannot give you your Virgin boarding passes at the Dublin bag drop area[sometimes their software won't allow this,Aerlingus's on boarding passes for interlined multiple airline trips can be stupid sometimes],and you have done the above and checked in on virgin,then just scan your passport at one of the machines in the virgin area of T3 and it will spit out the cards for you.

Excellent - thanks for that! I imagine the travel agency [TrailFinders] should be able to sort that out for me. I'd certainly hope so.

Also that 2 and a half hour window that they advise is for people mainly who are starting their journey in heathrow.
You will have most of the work done when you get there if not all and if Aer Lingus do the job right,you will have your boarding cards and your luggage will already have been chgecked through by the time you get to Terminal 3.

Do you still need to go in and out of security, passport control, etc? Always found that one of the longest bits.

I've never been to T3 ever despite having been through lhr 100's of times.
But I used the transfer bus between T5 and T1 today and it was all airside but despite that fact we still had to go through passport and security at the connections centre at T1.
So I'd expect that to be the case also between T1 and T3.

If you are tight on time,because EI are delayed,don't hesitate to pipe up and tell people you are rushing for a flight and head to the top of the queue.
Queues everywhere at controls and security were long today,it's august.

Yeah trailfinders should be able to give you the pnr for the virgin part of your itinerary.
If the two of ye can get a window and aisle at the exit row when checking in 24hrs before the flight,then snap it up-otherwise stick with the window seats you've requested.

By the way-depending on what way trailfinders booked the flights , they might be tied together in a way that both the aer lingus will appear on the virgin screen when you olci.
If that happens,check in for both and select "collect boarding passes at the airport".
In that scenario,you still select whatever number of bags you are checking in...and then on the following day when you start your journey go to the bag drop in dublin and have them check them through all the way to japan.

Have fun!

le_girl

Just wondering if the OP or anyone else has any more recent update on this? I'm flying with Aer Lingus and Virgin through Heathrow too but heading to SFO.

Aer Lingus told me that they will be able to check my bags through and that I won't have to pick them up in LHR but they can't print my boarding pass for the second leg so I'll have to check in with Virgin in T3.

From what I've read here it's pretty straightforward to get from T1 to T3? From arrivals down to Heathrow Express and a 15 minute walk to T3 departures? Is there passport control or security on arriving from DUB in T1?

BuffyBot

Yes. it's very easy. Just follow the signs for the London Underground (not the Heathrow Express). The station is between the two terminals. At the station, you just walk through the corridor to T3.

Same story.
Get the pnr of the virgin part of the trip from wherever you got the ticket and check in on line with virgin and print the boarding pass for sfo so no hassle at t3.
Again,virgin might have your ei sectors on their system so you might get that pass aswell but if not at least get the virgin sfo one.

At T1 you will not go through security/metal detector etc.
That will be at t3 departures.

There is a bus from t1 to t3 as part of flight connections aswell but I've never taken it so recommend the tried and tested route via the walk to the underground station.