# flying into Heathrow is 3 hrs long enough **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 6, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-heathrow-is-3-hrs-long-enough/612012 "2012-02-06T20:59:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nanjohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@Nanjohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanjohn)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-heathrow-is-3-hrs-long-enough/612012/1 "2012-02-06T20:59:25Z")
i am flying in from Canada and land at 6:35 and have a flight toCork Irealnd at 9:30, will I have enough time to go through security and customs and make my flight ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-heathrow-is-3-hrs-long-enough/612012/2 "2012-02-06T21:07:04Z")
You should be fine. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-heathrow-is-3-hrs-long-enough/612012/3 "2012-02-06T21:11:37Z")
I was going to say the same thing. Should be. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-heathrow-is-3-hrs-long-enough/612012/4 "2012-02-06T22:07:50Z")
Will you be able to check your baggage directly through to Cork? Do you have to change terminals? My best time at Heathrow for the security/customs/transfer to another terminal process is about 45 minutes, and that was after an early morning arrival. As others note, three hours should be more than sufficient. But it’s Heathrow, so there are no guarantees. ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-heathrow-is-3-hrs-long-enough/612012/5 "2012-02-06T22:17:01Z")
I agree that 3 hours is probably enough. But I would add that Heathrow is the worst airport in my experience for transfers. Transfers from one terminal to another (specifically from 4 to 1) mean waiting for a shuttle bus (or used to - maybe it’s improved). Flights to Ireland involve a long, long walk to the most far-flung satellite of terminal 1. You may wonder if you’re actually walking all the way to Cork. Also, passengers in transit end up going through security twice (whereas in other airports when you remain on airside you don’t go through security at all), and you will have to go through UK immigration even though you are en route to Ireland. But yeah, 3 hours will be okay, but don’t hang around. ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-heathrow-is-3-hrs-long-enough/612012/6 "2012-02-06T22:39:28Z")
Plenty of time! Immigration at Heathrow can be a bit crazy from time to time, but the longest I’ve ever had to wait is about 45 minutes. You should be fine. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-heathrow-is-3-hrs-long-enough/612012/7 "2012-02-07T00:15:37Z")
> [@hibernicus](#): > > I agree that 3 hours is probably enough. But I would add that Heathrow is the worst airport in my experience for transfers. Transfers from one terminal to another (specifically from 4 to 1) mean waiting for a shuttle bus (or used to - maybe it’s improved). > > Flights to Ireland involve a long, long walk to the most far-flung satellite of terminal 1. You may wonder if you’re actually walking all the way to Cork. > > Also, passengers in transit end up going through security twice (whereas in other airports when you remain on airside you don’t go through security at all), and you will have to go through UK immigration even though you are en route to Ireland. > > But yeah, 3 hours will be okay, but don’t hang around. Based on my experience (US citizen flying into Heathrow from Europe but not EU) I will agree with you. It was an unpleasant experience all around, but the part relevant to this thread is that it took 1.5 to 2 hours to get through for some reason. Long and slow lines. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-heathrow-is-3-hrs-long-enough/612012/8 "2012-02-07T07:36:52Z")
Heathrow is horrible for transfers. (Heathrow is horrible for everything, actually.) I will always prefer a scheduling option which does not involve a transfer at Heathrow over one which does. You will probably have enough time, but don’t hang around. Don’t even think about stopping for breakfast. There will be less pressure if you have an EU passport, since that should get you into the quicker lines in the immigration hall. If your connection has been scheduled by the airline flying you in from Canada, then they will take care of you if you are too late for your flight to Cork.