Airport changes/tight transfer times/solo travel - London Forum - Tripadvisor

Airport changes/tight transfer times/solo travel

Aberdeen, United...
Level Contributor
64 posts
10 reviews
30 helpful votes
Airport changes/tight transfer times/solo travel

Hi All

Hoping for some help!

I am currently booked to travel from Aberdeen to Heathrow (T5) with BA, and then from Heathrow (T4) to Kuala Lumpar with Malaysia Airlines on 29th May. I wasn’t paying too much attention when I booked and I’ve just noticed that I only have 2 hours from landing to taking off again. In this time I will have to collect luggage, change terminals, check in, go through security etc and it’s feeling really tight!!

It might be doable at a push however my last BA flight to Heathrow last month was delayed for over an hour and I’ve heard a lot of people making similar complaints with BA recently so I’m panicking a little!

I’m now considering flying in to Gatwick and transferring to Heathrow via National Express however the only flight I’m able to get is with easyJet and it lands at 5.20pm so I’m concerned that it’s rush hour and there may be delays due to traffic/roadworks etc.

For info, the Gatwick flight would land 4 hours before my KL flight is due to depart from Heathrow.

Can anyone give me any advice on the best thing to do in this situation? Travelling the day before/earlier in the day isn’t an option unfortunately and I’m travelling solo for the first time so I’m feeling a little out of my depth!

Thanks in advance 😃

3 replies to this topic
Carmarthen, United...
Destination Expert
for London
Level Contributor
25,885 posts
37 reviews
11 helpful votes
1. Re: Airport changes/tight transfer times/solo travel

It's not clear from your post but have you booked the flights via LHR on one booking/ticket or two separate tickets?

Vancouver, Canada
Destination Expert
for London
Level Contributor
71,446 posts
11 reviews
89 helpful votes
2. Re: Airport changes/tight transfer times/solo travel

Without knowing the flight numbers and arrival and departure times, much is speculation.

'Travelling the day before/earlier in the day isn’t an option unfortunately' and yet you've said you're thinking of flying to LGW, arriving there four hours before the MH departure. With that, I'm not sure why you'd not take an earlier flight from ABZ to LHR.

Start again please and let us know the flight details. If you have two hours between arrival from ABZ and departure to KUL then yes, there is a risk that you may miss conformance for the MH flight, especially as you will have baggage to collect.

Terminals 5 and 4 are at opposite ends of Heathrow. It's not complicated to travel between the two but it's not a five minute trip either. With separate tickets I'd want at least four hours, but I'd not want to start from LGW and have to face the M23 and M25.

Let us know more please.

London, United...
Level Contributor
7,177 posts
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
3. Re: Airport changes/tight transfer times/solo travel

Might an early train be better? Four hours is transfer between airports is possible but any delays and you'll miss the second plane. But without knowing the time of the second plane, its hard to advise

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