LHR Connections

IORFA

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Feb 7, 2003
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People pi$$ and moan about connections at LHR, but I read that the bus to/from T5 to T3 no longer makes you go through security again. Is this correct? If so, that takes away a big deterrent to connecting to/from BA-AA at LHR. I also read today in American Way that Sept. 1st AA/BA started a connections bus in ORD to the International Terminal so you don't have to take the train and re-clear security to make a BA connection. Sounds like they are trying to make the process a little more palatable and more user friendly. Does anyone have anymore insight or have you used any of the services?
 
People pi$$ and moan about connections at LHR, but I read that the bus to/from T5 to T3 no longer makes you go through security again. Is this correct? If so, that takes away a big deterrent to connecting to/from BA-AA at LHR. I also read today in American Way that Sept. 1st AA/BA started a connections bus in ORD to the International Terminal so you don't have to take the train and re-clear security to make a BA connection. Sounds like they are trying to make the process a little more palatable and more user friendly. Does anyone have anymore insight or have you used any of the services?

To access the T-3<>T-5 connections at LHR you DO need to go through security at T-5. Upon arrival at T-5 you ascend about two stories, have your docs checked, proceed up another set of escalators. There are many lanes but in the early AM there is often long line. Fortunately I haven't done this since May (I now fly BA to and through LHR thanks to the JBV) so I avoid the whole circus of taking the shuttle and going to T-3.

Not sure about ORD, only done T-5>T-3 connections on inbound AA international arrivals.

Josh
 
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My bad, I found it again and it is only about ORD. I got confused with all the T3 and T5 talk going on in the article. Well, in ORD it gets a little better on the way back to LHR.
 
I'd like some more information about this as well. I heard by word of mouth last month (Sept.) that this bus service was available from gates K-19 and G-20 to Terminal 5. If this is true, the company sure hasn't advertised this service or even notified the flight crews. This subject came up when our inbound domestic flight was delayed into ORD and PAX were asking about the fastest way to get to T-5. To make matters worse, this was about 11 PM. Are shuttle buses even running at that time if they are running at all? It would be nice to have concrete information to give PAX.
 
Interesting for ORD. I avoided AA on my last trip because of the T3->T5 connect at ORD (and also avoid AA to LHR in general because of the T3-T5 transfer).

Now they just need to do the same ar JFK between T7 and T9, especially for those who show up at the wrong terminal...

The LHR connection is as Josh described it. The transit security in T5 is poorly designed.. too many choke points in the queuing setup between the initial "queue to see the BA transit agent" and then the upstairs queue to go thru screening. Spent 45 minutes last time I transited. Yet when I flew thru FRA last week, there was no secondary security screening checkpoint. Just a document check.
 
Interesting for ORD. I avoided AA on my last trip because of the T3->T5 connect at ORD (and also avoid AA to LHR in general because of the T3-T5 transfer).

Now they just need to do the same ar JFK between T7 and T9, especially for those who show up at the wrong terminal...

The LHR connection is as Josh described it. The transit security in T5 is poorly designed.. too many choke points in the queuing setup between the initial "queue to see the BA transit agent" and then the upstairs queue to go thru screening. Spent 45 minutes last time I transited. Yet when I flew thru FRA last week, there was no secondary security screening checkpoint. Just a document check.

Once they go BK or get the unions to capitulate..they can finish the terminal and have ALL Oneworld members under one roof!
 
Once they go BK or get the unions to capitulate..they can finish the terminal and have ALL Oneworld members under one roof!

What would Bob Owens say? The existing JFK terminal was made possible from concessions so he says. Will the expanded terminal be double concessions or concessions squared?

Josh
 
Yet when I flew thru FRA last week, there was no secondary security screening checkpoint. Just a document check.

Were you connecting in FRA from an AA flight?
Was this your port of entry to the EU?
I always have to go through both there.
It would be nice if we did not have to do this, but I just cannot see how that's possible.
 
Were you connecting in FRA from an AA flight?
Was this your port of entry to the EU?
I always have to go through both there.
It would be nice if we did not have to do this, but I just cannot see how that's possible.

It was a LH to LH connection, all on the A concourse. It's the only place I've seen in Europe where you can do a non-Schengen -> Schengen connection without needing to re-clear security. But there's also no guarantee that booking a connection there will be all on the A concourse -- if departing from one of the other concourses, you have to re-clear security.
 
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American and British Airways launched the Customer Bus Transfer at Chicago O’Hare to enhance the oneworld Global Support center. Now, BA customers arriving on American or Eagle flights in Terminal 3 can transit to International Terminal 5 via the transfer bus without having to leave the secured area.

Here is the quote from some Joint Business Update. I did see the hours it operated somewhere, but can't find it. I think it was 1:30pm to around 10 or 11pm. Depends on when the last BA flight is. Do they have anything after 11pm? Also, I think it was gate K20 and G17?.
 
American and British Airways launched the Customer Bus Transfer at Chicago O’Hare to enhance the oneworld Global Support center. Now, BA customers arriving on American or Eagle flights in Terminal 3 can transit to International Terminal 5 via the transfer bus without having to leave the secured area.

Here is the quote from some Joint Business Update. I did see the hours it operated somewhere, but can't find it. I think it was 1:30pm to around 10 or 11pm. Depends on when the last BA flight is. Do they have anything after 11pm? Also, I think it was gate K20 and G17?.

The PAX I mentioned in my earlier post were connecting to Turkish Airways. This bus is for BA PAX only?
 
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The way they wrote it, it does. Seems stupid to leave Royal Jordanian out though. I would assume it is for oneworld pax. Turkish is in Star Alliance, so they probably wouldn't be allowed to use it.
 
If they're an AA customer inbound, I don't see why they'd be excluded from using the bus for a different airline's flight.
 

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