V-Flyer

Hello

I am flying Vs05 Lhr - Mia on 19 December.

I am rather fortunate to be working in Dublin at the moment so was able to take Advantage of a great upper class price.

When I booked my ticket my Dub -Lhr flight was due to land at 1110 giving me 2 hours to change terminals.

I have now just noticed that the flight time has been changed and it now lands at 1145 giving me only 90 mins.

What is the best method to get between the terminals, I have had a few friends say come out and get a taxi ?

Also should I expect the Heathrow horror of security at both terminals ?

Lastly, I am thinking I will most likely not be able to take advantage of the lounge, what do you think ?

Cheers
Sburt

I've also got a 90 minute T5-T3 connection later this month.

Easiest way (assuming your luggage is checked through from DUB-MIA) is to stay airside and use Flight Connections - follow the purple signs which will take you on to a bus between terminals.

You'll only clear security once, at T3.

You'll be lucky to get any lounge time TBH - maybe 15 mins if your DUB flight lands on time but that route is often delayed. If it IS late and you miss the VS5 you'll be put on another flight to MIA (assuming it's all the same ticket) so no need to stress unduly.

If you're on a single ticket and your luggage is checked through from DUB you should be fine, but otherwise I'd say you should get decent travel insurance to cover the chance of not making it.

There is a handy took on the LHR website where you input your arriving and departing flights and it tells you if you are within the MCT or not. T also explains the airside route.

Personally I'd stay airside.

Looks like I am staying airside, thanks everyone.

I did this in June after getting an ex-DUB ticket to SFO.
I had a three hour window between my BA flight arriving from DUB at 8.00 and the SFO departure at 11.00ish.
I found it a bit scary - it was tight and left me about 30 mins only in the lounge
I would worry with only 90 mins, good luck.....

Now you are getting me worried, I called the travel agent who checked with Virgin and they think its ok so they were not willing to move me to the earlier flight.

I have booked a concierge to get me from 1 plane to the next so hopefully this will help with security etc.

Fingers crossed !!!!!!!

The Flight Connections bus transfer should take no more than 30 minutes including waiting time. Even if there's a queue for security at T3 there's no way it should take any more than an hour from gate to gate.

As long as your incoming flight's reasonably on time you'll be fine. If it's not it's a pain but at least you're protected.

sburt10 wrote:Now you are getting me worried, I called the travel agent who checked with Virgin and they think its ok so they were not willing to move me to the earlier flight.

I have booked a concierge to get me from 1 plane to the next so hopefully this will help with security etc.

Fingers crossed !!!!!!!

VS (indeed any LHR based airline) won't change your DUB-LHR flight unless and until the scheduled time difference becomes less than the minimum connection time. In fact the MCT is somewhat padded and the vast majority of people transfer between terminals well within that time.

What 'concierge' have you booked at LHR? I didn't know they offered such a service.

Yes, they have a couple of services, this is the one I booked -

http://www.heathrow.com/airport-guide/t ... ge-service

I also have the Platimum service at Dublin which is fantastic, €250 for 2 people, private suite, private security, passports checked in the suite, baggage checked for you, limo across the tarmac right onto the plane.

tontybear wrote:What 'concierge' have you booked at LHR? I didn't know they offered such a service.

I'm not sure if it's changed but they offered a meet and assist option for non-frequent flyers, older people visiting relatives, flying first time in 30 years etc, to assist people through the airport, on and off connection busses and how to get ready for security etc, it may come with normal fast track.

sburt10 wrote:I also have the Platimum service at Dublin which is fantastic, €250 for 2 people, private suite, private security, passports checked in the suite, baggage checked for you, limo across the tarmac right onto the plane.

I have that service in Dublin also - well perhaps not the limo across the tarmac on to the plane because I wouldn't want that if it's raining. It's called Aer John and it's free

Hahaha, yes, you are right, Ryanair have been offering that for years !!!

I'm arriving T5 from MAN, but then need to collect bags (cant be checked through to destination as 2 separate tickets) before making way to T3 Check In and then Clubhouse - over 5hrs to make the connection. Is it possible to get the Flight Connections Bus once bags have been collected or do I have to use the Heathrow Express. Thanks

Your only option once landslide after collecting your bags is the free Heathrow Express (HEX) when transferring between T5 to T3.

You can also use the Tube which is also free, but only if you use an Oyster card. It will charge you if you use contactless or ApplePay.

The HEX is the easiest option with luggage, as those carriages are geared up for luggage and have proper storage areas, the Tube doesn't.

Total journey time is about 20 minutes depending on HEX waiting times. The actual HEX journey is about 4 minutes, the rest is walking time.

It's very easy as I've done this many times. Once you have collected your bags from T5 domestic baggage reclaim area, head out through the main arrivals area and then head down to the HEX / Tube station on the lower level (it's sign posted) using either the lifts or the escalators (the lifts are much quicker).

i always opted to exit through arrivals at T5 & use the HEX to avoid to security queues at the flight transfer entry point in T5 which is much smaller than the main terminal security and always seemed to take longer. Also if you use this option you can use the Upper Class check in & security wing at T3, avoiding the main security area completely. Takes around 20 minutes to get from T5 to T3 using this option

mitchja wrote:You can also use the Tube which is also free, but only if you use an Oyster card. It will charge you if you use contactless or ApplePay.

.

That's not correct.

The journey is free if you use contactless but you do have to touch in and out otherwise it will charge you the maximum daily fare - just like with an oyster.

tontybear wrote:

mitchja wrote:You can also use the Tube which is also free, but only if you use an Oyster card. It will charge you if you use contactless or ApplePay.

.

That's not correct.

The journey is free if you use contactless but you do have to touch in and out otherwise it will charge you the maximum daily fare - just like with an oyster.

That's not what is says on the Heathrow website then as it states:

Frequent London Underground trains also run between the terminals. The transfer is only free if you use a Transport for London Oyster card.

That infers any other form of payment will result in a charge.

Probably just hasn't been updated since TfL started accepting contactless & Apple Pay.

gumshoe wrote:Probably just hasn't been updated since TfL started accepting contactless & Apple Pay.

That is correct, only method of tube travel that will cost money between terminals is a cash ticket. Oyster, contactless bank card and mobile payments (Apple Pay and Barclaycard Android App) will not be charged as long as touched in and out.

I looked on the TFL website using the 'single fare finder' tool.

Hi all

Just reading the above posts for our trip to LA in July, we have a 4 hour connection time, and not worried but was wondering which is the easiest way from terminal 5 to terminal 3. Stay airside or go landslide? We have Oyster cards so that's not a problem. Just want to maximise our time in the club lounge

Thanks in advance

I'd stay airside. Follow the purple Flight Connections signs at T5, they'll take you to the bus which takes 10-15 mins to get to T3. Clear security, stop by the VS transfer desk and hit the Clubhouse. No point going landside unless you've got luggage which hasn't been checked through in which case you have to collect it at T5 and recheck it at T3.