jelane

Mostly I am one of those travelers that just accepts that there will be hiccups in the system. My bags were lost on a long haul in January for 24 days, lost again last week on the same long haul, recovered in less than week....so you can understand that I am a bit worried about the upcoming trip to CDG and transfer from 4 to 5. Perhaps I should be more worried about myself getting from T4 to T5 in two hours than my luggage. Anyone made this journey transfer with BA lately and if so do you have any advice?

flanneruk

I haven't - but in a country whose press can think of nothing more enjoyable than moaning about thge teeniest Heathrow screwup they can find, there've been no stories about luggage going astray since mid-April.

If your bags are through-checked, you just follow the transfer signs for T5. BA still have several flights a day to Paris, so if the transfer goes wrong there'll be another flight soon. Getting yourself to T5 will be a doddle.

If you're arriving at T4 on a non-One World airline like Air Lanka, it's possible your bag won't be through-checked (though in practice this is more likely in reverse) In which case, go through immigration, grab your bag, get the free train (NOT tube) to T1-3 and the connecting train to T5. And keep your skates on, because this will be TIGHT.

jelane

It is BA and I have not changed terminals at Heathrow in awhile, and have not been to T5 yet, but thought if you change terminals you would surely have to go through security. Perhaps there will be some instructions upon leaving 1st leg city. Thanks

flanneruk

Well, obviously, anyone arriving at a British airport from <b> anywhere</b> has to go through security again before being allowed onto another plane. Surely you don't think we've avoided terrorist outrages for so long by trusting foreigners' security systems?

The step by step's at the Heathrow website, in the BA inflight magazine, repeated by the flight atendants and is pretty clearly signposted.

yk

If you go to BAA Heathrow website, it has information about flight connections. It will give you a step-by-step guide on T4-T5 transfer and you can print the instructions out and carry it with you. Couple of months ago I had to do a T1-T3 transfer and the instruction sheet helped.

MomDDTravel

great information - I will follow the advice to print out. Our family is flying into LHR on December 23 and transfering to a BA flight onto Paris... We have about 6 hours though if all goes well.

jelane

great idea yk, There is a bit of a time crunch so knowing the layout will hopefully help. Thanks

nytraveler

The last time I went through - about a month ago - ANY transfer involving T5 had a minimum time of 120 minutes. We did it - but it involved carry-ons only and our jogging part of the way. I don't know if luggage would have made it or not.

But as long as this is all on one ticket you are protected it you miss the on-going flight.

My advice is to move as quickly as possible - jog if you can - since there are aspects you can't control:

When plan actually lands

If there is a jetway available immediately

How long it will take plane to unload

How long you will wait to get a bus to the other terminal

How long the security line will be at T5

How far you gate will be from security entry point