Work flight in October from DFW to Toulouse. Best option is through LHR and layover time skips from 1 hour 25 minutes to several hours. I think you have to change from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5. What say you?

You have to take a bus that takes you from one terminal to the next…probably 20-30 min. Then you have to go back through security 10-20 min. Then 10-20 min walk to gate. Plus getting off the plane to board the bus is about 10 min. So you are 50 min - 80 min on the change. So if your flight is on time you will make it but it will be stressful. I've done it several times in the last year or so.

that is tight, doable if everything goes according to plan (i.e. on time arrival, timely exit from inbound aircraft, security lines manageable, minimal lines for transfer bus, etc. etc.).

I'll just highlight this - if 10 drops of rain fall from the sky, DFW backs up quickly. And October is the 2nd wettest month of the year on average in DFW. So doable, but a gamble.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

bthotugigem05 said:

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If you're on AA and then BA (which I'd bet you are, from the terminals you mentioned), there is a new process from DFW where you no longer have to go through security checks at LHR. Will be tight and not much room for delays but the Heathrow connection is much easier than it used to be.

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Yes I remember this now when we went DFW - LHR - PRG about 6 years ago. Granted, we had lounge access at LHR but I don't remember going through security again. We also checked bags.

It was different back then, you absolutely cleared security again at T5. The OSS program between American, CBP, and the UK's CBP equivalent, only came online earlier this year.

I booked the flight, so will report back on how it went in a couple of months.

you know... I don't think we had to change terminals actually.

It took us a little over an hour to change terminals at Heathrow last year. We took a bus to the other terminal and then had to go back though security. You'll be cutting it close but I think you'll be fine IMO.

Just be sure to proclaim loudly you're American and this is B.S. and they'll let you through quicker.

It all depends on whether you need to change terminals for your connecting flight. Just google which terminal each airline uses to find out. If they are the same they you should have plenty of time barring a late arrival. If they are different then count on an hour all in to take the bus to change terminals. I'm currently on the bus changing from terminal 4 to terminal 2 and we are stuck waiting to cross the runway because the tunnel is closed…typical of the delays that can happen.