I have to choose my flight options, and I need to know if 2.5 hours is enough time to connect flights at Heathrow. I would have to go through customs, and most likely change terminals to catch the flight to Manchester.
Would it just be better to connect here in the US, then fly directly into Manchester??? I can do either one, without changing the price of the ticket.
I have been through some BIG airports in my life, but isn’t LHR one of the biggest in the world? I don’t want to get stuck there without enough time to make my connection.
LHR is indeed big, but 2.5 hours should be enough. You go through customs, take the tube to the other terminal (which takes 10 minutes), and go to your connecting gate.
I’d say anything under 1.5 hours would be pushing it, though. But 2.5 hours is fine.
While 2.5 hours should be enough, I would prefer to change in the US. That way, there is no danger of customs or immigration delays causing you to miss a flight. Also, I’d prefer to minimize the amount of travel needed after the overnight flight to England - I always just want to fall into a taxi and be delivered to my hotel.
I think I’d be with amarone on this one for a couple of reasons.
Ariving from the US is not like flying in from Schipol, 'cause Dutchmen just have to wave their IDs and whisk past the passport guy in a flash. Also, clog boys (and other assorted euros) breeze through the blue customs slot.
Coming from the US, the situation is different. Passports have to be checked and stamped (which can take a looooonnnnnggggg time) and luggage has to be checked through customs. You’ll have to get your bags stick on a trolley (at least UK ones are free), go through customs, re-check the bags and pick them up a second time on arrival. If this is the case, flights can easily be missed.
This in itself is not a really big deal, as there are plenty of flights up to Manchester - and US West Coast flights generally arrive early in the morning. But it would be hassle. Not good when getting of a 12 hour flight.
So, it would problably be a little bit less stressful to change in JFK or wherever. Your baggage would be checked right through to Manchester and the passport queues there are normally a lot shorter.
Hope I don’t get in trouble for disagreeing with a mod
Well, it’s just that this mod has also flown LAX-LHR-AMS, so I do believe I’m quaified to make the call.
FTR, on that trip, my layover time was about 1.5 hours. Granted, I did not have to change terminals, but the whole luggage/customs thing isn’t a huge deal. A big airport also means lots of customs booths, et cetera. Still, yeah, there is something to be said for changing planes in the US. Of course, then you’d encounter the OP’s scenario on the trip home, so YMMV.
Well, I’ve flown into Heathrow on a US passport manys a time and never found the delay at Immigration to be that extensive. And I don’t think beckwall will have to get his/her luggage out and check it back in again. I’ve never had to do that when I’ve had a connecting flight from Heathrow.
Why not fly back MAN/LHR/LAX and win both ways? That way you put any potential problems at the end of each flight and not the middle.
And at least no-one is trying to change planes in Ashgabd. Now they have some interesting customs. One time I’ve had to write “bribe” on my expenses sheet :eek:
