Dublin to LA via LHR - Stopover question

Scar Tissue

Hi, I'm just wondering with regards to stopover times for Dublin to LA via LHR is 90 minutes enough time between arrival into T1 and departure from T5? I've read some conflicting information in past threads saying it's enough and that it's definitely not enough and would like to put my mind at ease.

My information is as follows:



Also, from what I've read I get a bus from the plane to T1 connection centre then another bus from T1 to T5.. I obviously go through security at T5 but what's the story with clearing US customs, do I do that in Dublin?

Thanks!

athtrasna

Its tight but doable. The beauty of travelling with a single airline/on a single ticket is that if you don't make it they will re-route you to get you there with very little hassle.

You will do customs and immigration in LA, it's only available here to those on direct flights to the US

Marcusm

You'll clear customs & immigration at your entrepot into the US, ie LAX.

DJ Hafez

I've made it on a similar tight enough limit, but my bags didn't so just be prepared for that!

Scar Tissue

I'll be running straight from T1 to T5, but wasn't sure whether 90 minutes would be cutting it too close, thanks! Here's hoping I or the bag don't get lost :pac:

ProudDUB

I agree. It is tight, but doable provided that there are no delays of any kind at either Dublin or Heathrow. I'd worry about the bags too. It's not a case of them getting lost. It's a case of there not being enough actual time for the baggage handlers to get the bags from Plane A to Plane B. Pack your pjs (and anything else you need for one night) in your hand luggage just in case.

DJ Hafez

ProudDUB wrote: »

It's a case of there not being enough actual time for the baggage handlers to get the bags from Plane A to Plane B. Pack your pjs (and anything else you need for one night) in your hand luggage just in case.

Yeah, They'll generally come on the next flight and they'll have them sent to your hotel or whatever too. The only issues that arise are if you're planning on going very far from LA straight from the airport.

It's happened me 4 times since T5 opened and the longest I had to wait was 24 hours as there was only 1 flight a day to the destination

Scar Tissue

DJ Hafez wrote: »

Yeah, They'll generally come on the next flight and they'll have them sent to your hotel or whatever too. The only issues that arise are if you're planning on going very far from LA straight from the airport.

It's happened me 4 times since T5 opened and the longest I had to wait was 24 hours as there was only 1 flight a day to the destination

Will be staying 30 minutes East of LAX, tbh I'm more worried about getting *me* on the airport than my bags necessarily.. Really should've given it more thought when booking but figured it wouldn't have let me book the connecting flight so close if it wasn't enough time

athtrasna

90 mins is usually the allowable minimum between connecting flights when booking online

Marcusm

Scar Tissue wrote: »

I'll be running straight from T1 to T5, but wasn't sure whether 90 minutes would be cutting it too close, thanks! Here's hoping I or the bag don't get lost :pac:

There's nothing "straight" about it; bus from plane to T1 connections centre followed by a wait followed by a bus to T5 where they send you through security north which tends to be slower. It's one of the more frustrating aspects. BA's own expanded Dublin service still couldn't fly directly to T5 even if there was capacity due to the lack of a Customs phone.

Pythia

I did it twice last year with the 90 minute minimum and never again. You are running the whole time. I had to ask people to let me skip them in the baggage scanning queue. Couldn't believe you had to do the scanning in between terminals! I almost missed both flights and was in a terrible state by the time I got on the plane both times. Didn't have time to stop for anything. I will never leave that short a time again.

And my bags didn't make it one of the times too.

Basq

I've done a similar stopover in LHR to Miami..

.. 90 minutes is roughly what I had.

I did spend the whole time rushing but it is do-able.. though the risk of any flight delays would always be a concern.

tricky D

ProudDUB wrote: »

Pack your pjs (and anything else you need for one night) in your hand luggage just in case.

Add underwear and phone charger to that list.

DJ Hafez wrote: »

Yeah, They'll generally come on the next flight and they'll have them sent to your hotel or whatever too. The only issues that arise are if you're planning on going very far from LA straight from the airport.

It's happened me 4 times since T5 opened and the longest I had to wait was 24 hours as there was only 1 flight a day to the destination

Supposed to be on the next flight turned into a 5 day delay for me and probably the worst customer service I've ever encountered on multiple levels.

Scar Tissue

tricky D wrote: »

Add underwear and phone charger to that list.


Supposed to be on the next flight turned into a 5 day delay for me and probably the worst customer service I've ever encountered on multiple levels.

Well this is comforting :pac:

Thanks for all the replies, hopefully it goes smoothly.