Is it difficult to change terminals at Heathrow?

[Bobo912]

I'm trying to decide which flight to book for our trip to Budapest/return from Munich. Delta, American and Continental all have flights that will work. Continental and American are the cheapest because they have children's fares. Child fare is not available on Delta. I'd like to stick with Delta or American because I have some miles in their frequent flyer programs already. I've never flown Continental. The flights to Budapest for both airlines have one layover at JFK, so no difference there. The return flight on Delta has one layover in Atlanta. All the American flight options have 2 layovers: one at Heathrow and another at either JFK, O'Hare or DFW. Total flight time on Delta is 15 hr 1 min and American 16 hr 10 min (that's the shortest one - layover in Chicago), so not a huge difference. The American flight is a little over $600 less for the two of us. American website says terminal change at Heathrow. I've never been there, but I know many of you have. My question is, how easy is it to get from one terminal to another. I looked on the Heathrow website and saw that there is a train between terminals and they made it sound easy, until I saw the warning not to get on the Paddington Station train by mistake. I'm not a total idiot, so I think I can probably get to the connection, but would like some reassurance from somebody who has been there or a warning if it's easy to get lost. The layover in London is 2 hours. TIA.

 

[Tozzie]

I'm trying to decide which flight to book for our trip to Budapest/return from Munich. Delta, American and Continental all have flights that will work. Continental and American are the cheapest because they have children's fares. Child fare is not available on Delta. I'd like to stick with Delta or American because I have some miles in their frequent flyer programs already. I've never flown Continental. The flights to Budapest for both airlines have one layover at JFK, so no difference there. The return flight on Delta has one layover in Atlanta. All the American flight options have 2 layovers: one at Heathrow and another at either JFK, O'Hare or DFW. Total flight time on Delta is 15 hr 1 min and American 16 hr 10 min (that's the shortest one - layover in Chicago), so not a huge difference. The American flight is a little over $600 less for the two of us. American website says terminal change at Heathrow. I've never been there, but I know many of you have. My question is, how easy is it to get from one terminal to another. I looked on the Heathrow website and saw that there is a train between terminals and they made it sound easy, until I saw the warning not to get on the Paddington Station train by mistake. I'm not a total idiot, so I think I can probably get to the connection, but would like some reassurance from somebody who has been there or a warning if it's easy to get lost. The layover in London is 2 hours. TIA.

Two things, if for some reason you choose continental be aware they are merging with united so I don't know if or how that would affect the flight, as for changing terminals you might want to go over and ask this question on the transportation board, there are a few experienced international travelers that will be able to answer your question on that board.

 

[DisFan10]

I'm trying to decide which flight to book for our trip to Budapest/return from Munich. Delta, American and Continental all have flights that will work. Continental and American are the cheapest because they have children's fares. Child fare is not available on Delta. I'd like to stick with Delta or American because I have some miles in their frequent flyer programs already. I've never flown Continental. The flights to Budapest for both airlines have one layover at JFK, so no difference there. The return flight on Delta has one layover in Atlanta. All the American flight options have 2 layovers: one at Heathrow and another at either JFK, O'Hare or DFW. Total flight time on Delta is 15 hr 1 min and American 16 hr 10 min (that's the shortest one - layover in Chicago), so not a huge difference. The American flight is a little over $600 less for the two of us. American website says terminal change at Heathrow. I've never been there, but I know many of you have. My question is, how easy is it to get from one terminal to another. I looked on the Heathrow website and saw that there is a train between terminals and they made it sound easy, until I saw the warning not to get on the Paddington Station train by mistake. I'm not a total idiot, so I think I can probably get to the connection, but would like some reassurance from somebody who has been there or a warning if it's easy to get lost. The layover in London is 2 hours. TIA.

Have you considered USAirways? They had the lowest fares amongst all the carriers you mentioned when we travelled in July. We went from LAX to PHL to Frankfurt to Budapest (last segment was on Lufthansa). When we arrived at FRA, the aircraft parked on the tarmac, so we got on a shuttle bus and were taken to the departure gate fieldside. (We made one stop for processing at Immigration/Passport Control). It was very convenient.

Our return flight departed from Munich to PHL to LAX. I'm not sure if the routing will work as well for you since you're in TN, but we were very happy with USAirways.

 

[mkmommy]

Did not have to change terminals in Heathrow last month but it did seem to be well signed for those that did.

You may be able to get child fares for Delta, but you have to call for them cannot book it on line.

 

[Bobo912]

Did not have to change terminals in Heathrow last month but it did seem to be well signed for those that did.

You may be able to get child fares for Delta, but you have to call for them cannot book it on line.

I called earlier and they told me no. I guess they don't have any trouble filling their planes.

Have you considered USAirways? They had the lowest fares amongst all the carriers you mentioned when we travelled in July. We went from LAX to PHL to Frankfurt to Budapest (last segment was on Lufthansa). When we arrived at FRA, the aircraft parked on the tarmac, so we got on a shuttle bus and were taken to the departure gate fieldside. (We made one stop for processing at Immigration/Passport Control). It was very convenient

We flew US Air when we went to Costa Rica and really enjoyed the flight. I searched on Kayak earlier today and US Air came up with a good fare, right there with American and Continental, but when I went to their website and searched it returned no flights. Either they were having technical difficulties or I did something wrong because I just tried again and I'm getting some good options. We would fly through Charlotte. I'll have to compare them with American.

Two things, if for some reason you choose continental be aware they are merging with united so I don't know if or how that would affect the flight, as for changing terminals you might want to go over and ask this question on the transportation board, there are a few experienced international travelers that will be able to answer your question on that board.

Thanks, Tozzie. I hadn't even thought of the merger. I forgot about checking United too. They are also less than Delta, but I think I want to minimize the risk that the flight schedule will change, so maybe I'll stay away from Continental and United. But booking this far in advance, I'm sure something will change no matter who I book with.

 

[Bobo912]

DisFan10, did your flight to Budpest on USAir go have a layover in Frankfurt? Do you remember how long it took to get through customs? Did you have to go through security again? From looking at the Heathrow website, it appears I would have to go through security again there because of the terminal change, I guess.

 

[tsgirl]

Hi Bobo912. In August, we flew home from Cannes, France, via Heathrow. Unfortunately, BA would not check our bags straight through to JFK, so we had to retrieve our bags and check in all over again at Virgin Atlantic! In the midst of that, we had to change terminals. Hopefully, that would not apply to your flights because I don't think 2 hours would be long enough for that. We took the train you mentioned, and at one point, we thought we were on the wrong train and going into London. The time between the two stops seemed pretty long for stops within the same airport, but we were fine. Keep in mind, they speak the same language as we do, even though they may not think so! If you decide on the itinerary which requires the terminal change, I think it is doable. Hope that helps!

 

[Bobo912]

Thanks, tsgirl, it does help. Since we're arriving from outside the UK, I don't think our bags would be checked through either. Sometimes going through security is a breeze and sometimes it's not. I think there are too many variables involved with going through Heathrow that could potentially result in us missing our plan (of at least with me worrying too much about it, which isn't what I want on my vacation). I have a lot of other options, so I think I'll stop considering whether I'm accumulating miles with one airline and just go for the best schedule/price combination. If I can figure out what that is.

 

[crashbb]

From which terminal to which terminal will you be transfering? What airline will you actually be flying on the Munich to London segment?

At Heathrow, you can actually do "airside" transfers via the FCC (Flight Connection Centre) for most terminal combinations. Depending on time of day and airlines involved, this can be easier than a landside transfer (or not).

 

[Bobo912]

I don't know for certain since the website just says there is a terminal change. From Munich to London is Bristish Air and London to US is American. I think it may be terminals 3 and 5.

 

[crashbb]

I don't know for certain since the website just says there is a terminal change. From Munich to London is Bristish Air and London to US is American. I think it may be terminals 3 and 5.

You'd be going from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3. I generally connect 1 to 3, which is easy because you can walk between them. Terminal 5 is by itself.

You can see use flight connection (which avoids any possiblitiy of going wrong with the train), if you want.

FLIGHT CONNECTION T5 TO T3

I generally find things well marked at Heathrow, and I would have no fear in taking the train from T5 to T3 (or rather to the Central and then walking to T3). A lot of people do it (either to get to T1 or T3, or to get to the Tube or another bus/train) so you won't be alone and there are plently of people to ask for help, if needed.

 

[Bobo912]

Have you considered USAirways? They had the lowest fares amongst all the carriers you mentioned when we travelled in July. We went from LAX to PHL to Frankfurt to Budapest (last segment was on Lufthansa). When we arrived at FRA, the aircraft parked on the tarmac, so we got on a shuttle bus and were taken to the departure gate fieldside. (We made one stop for processing at Immigration/Passport Control). It was very convenient.

Our return flight departed from Munich to PHL to LAX. I'm not sure if the routing will work as well for you since you're in TN, but we were very happy with USAirways.

Actually, we would be connecting through PHL. On the flight to Budapest the schedule is better than going through CLT and on the flight from Munich all they have available through CLT are refundable tickets that are over $3000 apiece. Cheaper return flight has just the one stop in Phildelphia. The flight to Budapest has a 2:40 minute layover in Frankfurt. That sounds like a decent layover to me. What do you think?

 

[DisFan10]

Actually, we would be connecting through PHL. On the flight to Budapest the schedule is better than going through CLT and on the flight from Munich all they have available through CLT are refundable tickets that are over $3000 apiece. Cheaper return flight has just the one stop in Phildelphia. The flight to Budapest has a 2:40 minute layover in Frankfurt. That sounds like a decent layover to me. What do you think?

Yes, that 2:40 min layover at FRA should be safe. Our flight had an 2:20 min layover and we were delayed departing PHL by one hour, so I'm glad we had those two hours.

As for Immigration/Passport Control, the shuttle bus made a stop at another terminal for us to do that before continuing to our departure gate. It took less than 10 minutes to get through Immigration. We did not have to go through security again. Our route on the shuttle bus was all fieldside, so we didn't have to do any walking between terminals.

 

[sayhello]

I have a lot of other options, so I think I'll stop considering whether I'm accumulating miles with one airline and just go for the best schedule/price combination. If I can figure out what that is.

In my recent experience, the fewer the connections, the better. Less opportunity for the airlines or the airport to screw up your connections. YMMV I had a 3 hour layover in Washington DC, United shortened it to 2 hours, and I missed my flight by 5 minutes.

Sayhello

 

[Bobo912]

In my recent experience, the fewer the connections, the better. Less opportunity for the airlines or the airport to screw up your connections. YMMV I had a 3 hour layover in Washington DC, United shortened it to 2 hours, and I missed my flight by 5 minutes.

Sayhello

I keep coming back to that idea myself. I can save a few hundred dollars by not flying on Delta, but increase the risk of missing a connection.

 

[DisFan10]

I keep coming back to that idea myself. I can save a few hundred dollars by not flying on Delta, but increase the risk of missing a connection.

Delta is notorious for its frequent and arbitrary changes to flight schedules. We used to fly with Delta, but not anymore! They really messed us up on more than a few occasions. Now we avoid Delta unless there is absolutely no other airline that flies to the destination we need.

 

[pxlbarrel]

To answer the original question about changing terminals at Heathrow, it's very easy. We arrived in Terminal 3 and had to go to Terminal 5 because our hotel, the Sofitel, was located at Terminal 5. If your luggage isn't being checked through and you have them with you, you can use the luggage trolley up until you board the train. You can get another trolley when you exit the train. If you do have luggage with you, the trolley is a must. It was quite a walk from where we got out of baggage claim and the train platform.

Just follow the signs to the train. It will be the same platforms as the ones heading toward London but just watch the boards on the platforms that tell you which train is coming in. My mom almost stepped onto one heading out to London but we grabbed her before she got on. LOL She wasn't paying attention.

We did the same thing on the way back to Terminal 3 the next day when we flew home.

The train between the terminals are free. I think the only thing you have to worry about is leaving yourself enough time to get from one terminal to the next.

 

[lizabu]

I haven't read all the posts but I know the answer to the OP question. It is so easy to switch terminals. Just get off the plane and follow the signs, you can even ask people on the way. The have a shuttle that drives you right over to the other terminal. It probably takes 10 minutes. I had the most expensive breakfast of my life in a small restaurant at the Heathrow airport.

ETA-we didn't have to bother with our luggage. The airline moved it from one plane to the other for us

 

[bannilong]

You may be able to get child fares for Delta, but you have to call for them cannot book it on line.