ali_fafa

We bought flights separately with different airlines. The connection is at London Heathrow for 2 hours. Based on what I've read, we most likely will need to claim our bags, then go through the whole check-in/customs process again to catch our connecting flight. Is 2 hours enough to do this?

HappyTrvlr

No, you need more time.

janisj

OK -- this is getting confusing -- I thought you were trying to decide between an 8+ hour lay over at Stansted, or a 4 hour connection at LHR. Is this a different trip?

Give us more info. Which airlines (that makes a difference)? Which terminal(s) (this makes a difference)? Where are you flying in from and out to? (This also makes a big difference)?

But in general NO that is not enough time for separate bookings.

aggiegirl

Not enough time. Planes are often late, disembarking can take forever particularly if you are having to go off the plane by stairs and then catch a bus. Then, immigration can take a long time. I've had lines at LHR last an hour and a half. Then, you collect your bag, go to your new airline, check bags, go through security and be in boarding area in accordance with airline rules. I'm afraid you'd need a miracle.

janisj

>>Then, immigration can take a long time.<<

Sure can -- BUT we don't know if that is relevant -- if it is a domestic flight in to LHR there is no immigration.

Agree this is most likely not enough time, but we don't have enough info to help the OP.


(Since the tix are already purchased its a bit late to be asking)

ali_fafa

The 1st flight is from Shannon Ireland to London Heathrow . The 2nd flight is from London Heathrow to Reykjavik.

Scratch the Stansted plan -- we decided the layover was too long. Now,we have the opposite problem with the layover being too short. If need be, I will pay the extra charge to change flights.

Odin

Which terminal is your arrival flight?
Which terminal is your departure flight from?
Which airline are you arriving on?
Which airline are you departing on?

janisj

I asked that too . . . to help, we do need to know that.


>>If need be, I will pay the extra charge to change flights.<<

​​​​​​​Rescheduling is often more than merely paying a change fee. One usually has to also pay the difference in fares.

ali_fafa

Flight 1. Aer Lingus. Arriving in Terminal 2 LHR
layover 2 hr 15 min
Flight. Icelandair. Departing from Terminal 2 LHR.

ToujoursVoyager

Is there any way you would consider flying with carry on only? It would save time.

Macross

Carry on only but if it is a small plane a 20 inch might not fit in the overhead. I took an aer lingus to EDI and was fine with carry on bag but we had a very small plane on return to Dub and had to check and pay for bag.

ali_fafa

i saved about $80 by buying separate tickets. i thought i was beating the system but in hindsight, this was a mistake. a good lesson learned. an expensive lesson learned.
the good news is we arrive and depart from terminal 2 but i understand there's no guarantees.
if you were me, would you:
A: spend the extra $ to change flights and try to a longer connection (i can potentially get one with a 4 hr layover)
B: keep the flights as is but buy carry-on approved bags and pack super lightly? we'd be packing for a total of 10 days for both ireland and iceland. it can be done and at worst, we'd do some laundry halfway into the trip.

janisj

Carry on only and both in T-2 in 2 hours is doable for sure. However - that is only IF you land on time. If your incoming flight is delayed for any reason they owe you nothing. Mechanical issues at Shannon, weather, not getting a gate immediately (happens all the times at LHR) . . . anything.

Doing carry on only is not difficult -- I always do that no matter the length of trip - 2 days, 2 weeks, 2 months - but that won't necessarily solve your problem. If you are delayed for any reason you will have to pay the full walk up fare - IF there are seats available.

(Water under the bridge now but there are direct flights from to Iceland from Dublin)

Odin

I've done short connections like this on separate tickets but for the connection ticket, I rarely take the absolute cheapest fare which mostly is non changeable non refundable. I take the next fare level up if the fare rules allow a change by paying a fee, but as janisj said already, even then you'll have to pay a fare differential as well as the change fee but at least it's better (most of the time) than a ticket which cannot be changed. Only once have I had to change the connection ticket due to late incoming flight.

suze

My concern - that has already been mentioned above - is often planes wait to get a gate at Heathrow. So the "arrival time" when you are actually bodily off the plane could well be 30-45 mins. later than your scheduled landing.

BigRuss

Think about this: you saved $80. Now you're getting more than $100 of trouble. The concept is theoretically possible, especially because you'll be in the same terminal (although I don't know if T2 is as ridiculous as T3 regarding distances between gates). But you need the wheels to roll smoothly.

ali_fafa

Thanks for the advice, everyone! We decided to change the first flight (Aer Lingus) so that we arrive at LHR at around 9am. We will use the 12 hr layover to see some of London.
We are taking lemons and making lemonade

UNCalum

I flew from Barcelona to the U.S. a few months ago with a two hour connection at Heathrow. Since the flight to London arrived several minutes early, I was super comfortable that the connection would be smooth, especially since both flights were in the same terminal, Wrong!

The security line was huge and moving slowly, as were the security people. A few kind travelers allowed me to go ahead of them as time for my connection grew closer. In the end, I sprinted to the gate and just made it!

I would strongly suggest you not risk a connect shorter than 3 hours.

Dukey1

You made the right decision. Yesterday I landed at LHR once again (Terminal 3) and even with a rolling carry-on "the walk" seemed like forever and then there was a back-up for the shuttle to Terminal 5 which out-Disneyed Disney and then Security at 5 altho we did have Fasttrak (this is fast???) Busy airport and all that goes with it...enjoy your time in London.

TPAYT

Heathrow immigration line on June 9,2018 took 1-1/2 hrs.