This spring, I will be needing to get from Heathrow terminal 2 to terminal 5 in 1.5 hours. Looks like a bus ride is in order. This is on a Tuesday. Do not know the specific gates yet. Will be hauling two small carry ons.

Any suggestions or hints to be sure this is easily doable?

Thanks.

1.5 hrs is doable but it will feel stressful. I've made the same transfer via the bus multiple times and it takes about an hour all in. The problem is if your incoming flight is delayed then you are at risk of missing your connecting flight. And since you are making the Terminal 2 to 5 transfer that probably means you are on separate airlines so they won't know to wait for you. If your connecting flight happens to be the same airline then they will track your incoming flight and could hold the plane for a few minutes.

And by 1 hour all in, I mean from walking off the plane, walking to the bus, waiting 10 min for the bus, a 15 min bus ride, going back through security (IIRC) and walking to your gate.

Oilman. Thanks for the info. All BA. Austin to Edinburgh.

The two hour connection became 1.5 last week. Can hardly wait!

BA does not operate in LHR terminal 2.

Sorry - Terminal 3 to 5 transfer. Still looks like a bus involved?

BA isn't going to give you a schedule that isn't achievable(assuming inbound flight is largely on time).

It is easily doable. if you are checking bags your bag not making it is the biggest risk. I fly BA IAH to ABZ all the time through LHR with 1.5hr layovers, checked bags have been the biggest issue as ground staff continue to be an issue at LHR.

mike073 said:

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Sorry - Terminal 3 to 5 transfer. Still looks like a bus involved?

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Yes, a bus will be involved but it's pretty fast. Largest delay will likely be the security re-screening at T5. The Brits seem to get more hung up on electronics and pulling out every last charger, battery pack, etc. than TSA. I had a rats nest of chargers and cables in my bag last time I went through LHR and they ushered me off to the side for the full treatment while they pulled them out one at a time.

Do you have Oneworld status? They'll give you a priority card for the re-screen if so.

Also, this far out, decent chance that your flight from Austin ends up arriving at T5 anyway.

mike073 said:

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Sorry - Terminal 3 to 5 transfer. Still looks like a bus involved?

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3 to 5 is touch and go. In addition to the bus you may end up taking the underground train.

If you are on a coach ticket and have no status I would be really nervous of this connection.

I have connected dozons of times at LHR 1 hour+ is typical on this path.

akaggie05 said:

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mike073 said:

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Sorry - Terminal 3 to 5 transfer. Still looks like a bus involved?

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Yes, a bus will be involved but it's pretty fast. Largest delay will likely be the security re-screening at T5. The Brits seem to get more hung up on electronics and pulling out every last charger, battery pack, etc. than TSA. I had a rats nest of chargers and cables in my bag last time I went through LHR and they ushered me off to the side for the full treatment while they pulled them out one at a time.

Do you have Oneworld status? They'll give you a priority card for the re-screen if so.

Also, this far out, decent chance that your flight from Austin ends up arriving at T5 anyway.

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Honesly 5 is typical for austin. You mentioned Edinburgh that is often in 3. 5 to 3 is less stressful since there are less people at security.

Something seems odd. I fly to EDI all the time from LHR and it's always T5, actually doing this flight tomorrow afternoon.

Also have flown to/from IAH, AUS & DFW multiple times the past couple years and always T5 if BA operated.

Honestly if you have to transfer, taking the tube (underground) should work or even just get a taxi or Uber. The driver will probably be pissed but who cares.

Or just DM me and I'll come get you in my car and transfer you over for 50 quid in 15 min max

Also T5 security is usually a breeze for me, never had to take a bunch of stuff out or had much hassle.

Thanks to everyone for the knowledge. I know it is four months away but the Heathrow planner right now shows arriving at terminal 3 from Austin and leaving from terminal 5 to Edinburgh. I do plan to check ahead of the flight as it gets closer. Managed to avoid Heathrow terminal changes for the past 15 years back and forth to Europe. Not this time so far.

Scuba is encouraging.

59 is even more encouraging!

Been on BA 190 quite a bit in last year and half and always T5. During Covid it was T3 at times. Easy to get to T3 assuming on time.

Only think I can't stand is BA downgrading to the 777 occasionally for a random month at a time. A350 far superior product and the reason we fly BA 190.

OilManAg91 said:

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1.5 hrs is doable but it will feel stressful. I've made the same transfer via the bus multiple times and it takes about an hour all in. The problem is if your incoming flight is delayed then you are at risk of missing your connecting flight.

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Literally happened to me some years ago. And it was a day with an unusually high number of delays so everyone and their mom had to get rebooked. Had to spend the night near Heathrow because all the flights were full.

Heathrow is like a city. Had I not been delayed I would have probably made my flight, but even with the delay I thought I could make it. Between the bus ride and going through security again, there was just no way.

Do not dilly dally. I did a terminal swap a few years ago at Heathrow and has about 2 hours. Barely made it.

That airport is horrific!!

Piggy-backing on this. What about a 1.25 hour connection? Trying to get from IAH to PMO and the options are limited (and expensive!). Current itinerary says both flights are in/out of D at Heathrow.

I was ignoring this option completely because of the tight connection time until I read the responses here.

Agree with the security screening, make sure you have all your liquids separated in a bag and take everything out that they want you to. They will search every bag that has a hint of anything they don't allow.

Pack carry on bags with change of clothes for a day or 2. Heathrow is known for baggage delays. We had ours delayed 2 days last time.

I have not checked an outbound bag since having no luggage in South Africa for four days back 11 years ago. It was a real CF, but I did learn that the checked luggage tag numbers are reused after a few days - at least that was one of their excuses for sending the suitcase to Rome instead of Capetown on the third day of the fiasco.

BA just emailed gate change and will now arrive and leave both in Terminal 5. You folks know how to pull strings! Thanks.