Summary
- British Airways has increased the minimum connection time at London Heathrow by 15 minutes.
- Passengers switching between Terminals 3 and 5 will still have a minimum connection time of 90 minutes due to the need for a bus transfer.
While London Heathrow Airport is an important gateway for passengers flying into the United Kingdom, it also serves as a significant hub for many connecting passengers. And from today, the airport’s largest airline, British Airways, will see its minimum connection time increased by 15 minutes to reduce the instances of missed flights and a more relaxed passenger experience.
Minimum connection time increased
From January 9, British Airways passengers with flight connections at London Heathrow will have 15 additional minutes (increased from 60 to 75 minutes) to catch their onward flights. The change was announced last year with the aim of reducing the instances of missed connections for passengers.
Photo: Jarek Kilian | Shutterstock
London Heathrow is Europe’s busiest airport and the fourth busiest in the world. Last year, its capacity increased by 23% year-on-year as it continues to handle an increasing number of passengers after the COVID-19 pandemic.
All departments at Heathrow are busy handling various operations, whether it’s immigration, security, or baggage handling, among others. British Airways made the decision to increase the minimum connection time from 60 minutes to 75 for a more stress-free connecting experience for passengers and also to reduce the financial burden that comes with a missed flight.
Which Airlines Have The Biggest Operations At London Heathrow?
The largest UK-based carriers have the most movements at LHR.
However, passengers requiring to switch between Terminals 3 and 5 will still have a minimum connection time of 90 minutes as they need a bus to take them from one terminal to the other, requiring around 10 minutes. British Airways has also contacted passengers who made the booking before the connection time change and offered them a new connection.
How will passengers react?
While British Airways may have done this to make transferring through Heathrow a less stressful experience, many are wondering how the longer wait at the airport will be received by passengers. One can expect passengers to post their experiences on social media in the coming days to assess whether this has been a hit or a miss.
Photo: bodorka | Shutterstock
But some believe that British Airways’ decision could put it at a disadvantage compared to other European hub airlines. The Independent compared the international-to-international connection time at other major airports in Europe, and all of them were less than what British Airways is currently offering.
Amsterdam has a minimum connection time of 50 minutes; Frankfurt, 45 minutes; Paris CDG, 60 minutes; Vienna, 25 minutes; and Zurich has 40 minutes. The report also quotes the editor of frequent-flyer website Head for Points, Rob Burgess, as saying,
“It would make more sense to tackle the root of the problem at Heathrow, however, rather than simply enforce longer connecting times. When Zurich can guarantee a connection in 40 minutes and Frankfurt in 45 minutes, BA is simply making itself less attractive to transit passengers.”
Connecting at Heathrow
Heathrow has four terminals – 2, 3, 4, and 5. British Airways largely operates out of Terminal 5, but it also has many flights out of Terminal 3. Those with a connection within the same terminal spend less time between flights, but commuting between different terminals takes longer. Simple Flying has explained in detail all that one needs to know for transiting through the airport in the following article.
Connecting Between London Heathrow Airport’s Terminals: A Brief Guide
Heathrow provides airside connections, landside you need to use public transport.
What do you feel about British Airways’ change in connection time? Please leave a comment below.