Heathrow help please....

[vipralf]

My mother (who is 75 years old) is making her yearly trip to Thailand and decided to fly east through GB then to Thailand. She has a 90 minute layover between flights in Heathrow. Is this enough time to get from International terminal 4 to International terminal 3...remember she is a 75 year old woman who has never been to England. Thanks in advance. 

[Beerburgerbonk]

Yes

 

http://www.heathrowairport.com/

[Billyboy294]

I  have been a few times flying into Terminal 3 and transfer by bus to Terminal 5.(and vice versa) If you are talking about 90 min between estimated arrival times and departure times I would say No as normally they like you  be in departure lounge1 hour before take-off. The distances to walk at both terminals seems like miles and you have hugh queues at customs and security checks and for the bus...

 

It helps if you are business class but I would say your only hope is if she seems a bit frail is to ask for "Wheelchair Assist" and perhaps carry a walking stick to help justify it. I did this when i had just had a knee replacement and they give priority at the queue for the transfer bus and security etc. It also helps in walking the long distances..It made a very big difference  in time and effort. It also helps if you have already have a Boarding Pass for the onward flight.

 

One problem with Wheelchair Assist is if you are in Economy sometimes they like to let all the other passengers off first so that wastes more time. I was in Business so no problem.

 

However I have no knowledge of Terminal 4

[kansuwan]

Perhaps not. 90 minutes is the standard transfer time, too tight for an elderly lady unless facilitation is arranged in advance? (Assuming that bags have been checked through to BKK).

 

http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-guide/flight-connections/terminal-4-international-connecting-to-terminal-3-international

[par47]

Heathrow's website says 20 minutes travel between 3 & 4, including waiting time. In reality I expect it will take a little longer than that.

 

Does you mother have a connecting flight (ie bags etc will be automatically transferred, no need to check in again) or two seperate flights? If it is the latter I think she will be pushed for time and should play the "old and infirm" card and seek assistance.

 

Full guide for connecting flights:

http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-guide/flight-connections/terminal-4-international-connecting-to-terminal-3-international

[kansuwan]

Heathrow's website says 20 minutes travel between 3 & 4, including waiting time.

Actually, for travel from T4 to T3 it says this:

 

Terminal 4 International Connecting to Terminal 3 International Connection time: 90 minutes

 

Link in my post above.

[vipralf]

I have passed all your comments on to her... She is now more nervous than ever. Thanks for the input. 

[Billyboy294]

 

Assuming the arrival flight is on time, it looks like she could arrive at the departure lounge just as the plane is taking off. (again assuming it departs on time)

 

As I said before , the advantage of "Wheelchair Assist" (which is free) you get priority on getting on the bus, at hand luggage check. and security screening and the guy  with the wheel chair will walk a lot faster then an elderly lady. (they also put you on a buggy) and at Term. 3 and 5 long distances are involved. and always big queues on the four times I used LHR.

 

She should check again with her ticket agency and ask what happens if she should miss her flight.. Can she get someone to print out her Boarding Pass in advance otherwise that is another big Q..If it is the same Airline for both legs they might give Boarding pass for second leg. Not sure if LHR have print-out Kiosks like in Amsterdam..

[thinkingallowed]

Perhaps not. 90 minutes is the standard transfer time, too tight for an elderly lady unless facilitation is arranged in advance? (Assuming that bags have been checked through to BKK).

 

http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-guide/flight-connections/terminal-4-international-connecting-to-terminal-3-international

I believe the info in the link says it is the standard minimum connection time as set by the IATA, which basically means tickets should not be sold with less than 90 mins connection between aeroplanes. Therefore, most of the time, they expect passengers to make it within the 90 mins.

[diceman]

The Piccadilly Line tube runs from T4 to T3 and it's one stop. Allow 20 - 30 mins as the train can be slow to depart from T4 and she is 75. She would also have to queue for a tube ticket at T4. A black cab might be quicker and more practical but not sure what she might be charged, perhaps £10? However, what about the time for clearing immigration at T4 and then checking in at T3? As somebody else pointed out, a lot of walking involved in the terminals.

 

Perhaps I have misunderstood, but is there not also a requirement to check in 3 hrs before an international flight, in this case at T3? (Maybe, this does not apply if transiting through, if so, excuse my ignorance.)  I would still be inclined to say 'No', not enough time, thinking about the unpredictable possible delays at immigration as she will have to come landside to transfer. Also, it is not possible to walk from T4 to T3. They are on different sides of the airport and southern Runway. Hope this helps.  

[MastG]

if she is 'in transit' her bags will be transferred for her.

there are transit busses between terminals _ negating the need for immigration etc.

90 mins sounds tight but once her bags are on board the plane they will wait for a few minutes for transferring

passengers.

[whitespider - RIP]

Contact the airline and ask for "assisted passage". At her age it should be given but only if requested directly or they will be unaware. Some airlines do this free of charge, others charge but as far as I am aware all will offer it.

 

Also try talking to the agent she made the booking with as they should have information and also should have been aware of the issues involved.

[diceman]

if she is 'in transit' her bags will be transferred for her.

there are transit busses between terminals _ negating the need for immigration etc.

90 mins sounds tight but once her bags are on board the plane they will wait for a few minutes for transferring

passengers.

 

Please excuse my ignorance on that point. Was unaware of that. (ie, buses that transfer passengers, effectively, airside.) Hope it all goes well.

[Smutt]

Get assitance to be safe!!

[vipralf]

Thanks for the input everyone. She is going to give it a shot. I dont think she will have enough time personally, but she has read all the comments and thinks she can do it. She usually flies west and stops in Hawaii for a few days. She says she always wanted to visit England anyway (then she asks me what language do they speak there...sigh)  Thanks again everyone for inputs.

[diceman]

There are some nice hotels in the LHR area if she misses her connection. Good luck to her with her trip.

[Squid66]

"She says she always wanted to visit England anyway"

 

"There are some nice hotels in the LHR area if she misses her connection"

 

errrrrrr  a "nice" hotel at LHR is NOT a visit to England

[Tuna58]

My mother (80 years old) just asks for wheelchair assist when she boards the plane and makes them

aware of the time constraints. She as never had a problem. This is what she does for all flights

with transfers. Not sure about this particular connection. 

[baggy67]

Hi,I've worked "airside" at Heathrow for 25 years.90 mins between flights should be plenty of time as it is a short airside transfer by bus.About 10 minutes.Just get to the transfer bus asap after getting off the plane & get her to ask as many staff to help or direct her as possible.There are plenty of security people there doing sod all frankly.They have "ambassadors" dressed in purple who will help her.DO NOT,no way ask for "wheelchair assist" they are totally useless.The company that operates it at Heathrow are a disgrace.Passengers who have had to wait an hour for a wheelchair,ranting at the staff who are woefully undermanned is a daily occurance.Disorientated pensioners sometimes sit there in tears,not knowing what the hell is going on & the minimum wage staff don't care.Various queues can be pretty long sometimes,but if you are in danger of missing a flight,you will be high priority & airline staff will be shouting out flight numbers & should get her through.

[CityTripper]

Yeah, Baggy is correct, DO NOT book the Wheelchair Assistance as I have experienced how rubbish their service is as a former Heathrow staff! There's the Heathrow Express train which is free between terminals every 15 minutes.The best bet will be to impress on her airline how important it is to get her connecting flight, in which case they will be able to get her on the airside bus. Now this is important, if it is a single booking, then they will ensure she makes it or rebook her on a different flight. If the flights were booked separately, then it won't be possible to go through all formalities and make the flight.

[Ru4Real]

She says she always wanted to visit England anyway (then she asks me what language do they speak there...sigh) 

 

 Classic 

[Cfarrell]

My mother (who is 75 years old) is making her yearly trip to Thailand and decided to fly east through GB then to Thailand. She has a 90 minute layover between flights in Heathrow. Is this enough time to get from International terminal 4 to International terminal 3...remember she is a 75 year old woman who has never been to England. Thanks in advance. 

 

Is the Booking on the same ticket ??  If it is then the Airline considers 90 minutes is fine  ?

On the other hand if its not an Alliance ticket then you risk having entire ticket cancelled for a no show if not on time ?