Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

AIBU to think this couldn’t be possible?

27 replies

Bloodless · 25/08/2019 16:08

So I’m looking at flights for next July on Skyscanner, there is BA one that involves a change of airport in London.

Belfast - Heathrow - Gatwick to USA

The stopover time is exactly 3 hours, is it possible to do that in 3 hours? Assuming bags would have to be collected at Heathrow and checked in at Gatwick.

Has anybody done this before?

OP posts:

Ihatesundays · 25/08/2019 16:13

I’ve no advice but this route comes up a lot for me. My local airports only fly to Heathrow. We end up going to Amsterdam to change instead.
I think I remember once reading there is a specific bus service between the 2. However I am assuming you have to pick up your luggage and then check in again for the flight - all adding lots of time on!

Is Dublin not a better option for you. Means you go through homeland security there too which is super quick.

ViaSacra · 25/08/2019 16:15

I would also have thought that flying straight from Dublin would be easier and probably cheaper.

Zackly · 25/08/2019 16:15

I’ve done Gatwick to Heathrow once, they bus you over. Unhelpfully, I no longer have any idea how long it took. It was a bit stressful but all ran smoothly.

ViaSacra · 25/08/2019 16:16

Where in the US are you flying to?

Original poster

Bloodless · 25/08/2019 16:21

Unfortunately & surprisingly flying from Dublin it seems to be twice the price & I'm trying to do it on a budget. Flying to Orlando 😁

OP posts:

Divebar · 25/08/2019 16:22

Nope I don’t think that’s possible or it would be extremely risky. How would you be transferring between the 2 airports? The M25 between those 2 airports can be extremely slow not only around junction 15 where Heathrow is but junction 12. You could do it in 45 minutes to an hour or it could be an hour and a half. Maybe if it was the middle of the night it might work.You’ve got to add in time for collecting your bags at Heathrow and getting outside which would presumably be 30mins at least I would imagine The other problem is that security at Gatwick is extremely slow. All this relies on your flight being on time in the first place.... I’d be having kittens if I’d be doing that journey. I would want 5 hours myself to do that.

Merryoldgoat · 25/08/2019 16:23

It will be fine if there are no delays, but if there are you’ll be screwed. I wouldn’t do it.

barrelohflaughs · 25/08/2019 16:25

That does seem tight. We flew from Gatwick last year and traffic was a nightmare.

Could you get a cheap flight to London and stay over for the flight from Gatwick?

WhatTiggersDoBest · 25/08/2019 16:38

In all honesty that doesn't sound like enough time on a stopover, I'd want at least 4 hours. Is there a later flight (sometimes Skyscanner has multiple options on the same flight) from Gatwick with the same Belfast-Heathrow? Is there another airport with a direct flight to Gatwick or a better-timed flight to Heathrow (I live in NI so I usually drive to Dublin for flights but I see you've said that would cost more)?

Elementalillusions · 25/08/2019 16:46

I have done the Belfast-Heathrow then had to get to. Gatwick for another flight.

We had just over five hours between landing at Heathrow and out departure time at Gatwick and it was massively stressful.
Traffic was a nightmare, the bus was late arriving and took nearly two hours to get to Gatwick.
There were delays getting through security and it was just very stressful.
I would never do it again, after that we always chose to fly into London the night before and fly out the following day.

And our flights were in March so I dread to think what it would be like in summer.

amylou8 · 25/08/2019 16:59

I wouldn't. With just hand luggage and no traffic or other hold ups you should do it, but risky. Add collecting and checking in bags, no way is that long enough.

Ihatesundays · 25/08/2019 17:03

I found kayak better for flights than skyscanner.
When is it you go? We are going next May to Orlando and we have paid £1100 for 3 changing at Amsterdam.

Thatsnotmyname4291 · 25/08/2019 17:05

I wouldn’t. The M25 is a bugger at the best of times.

ToPlanZ · 25/08/2019 17:15

I wouldn't. I've done Leeds Heathrow Gatwick Orlando. I looked at the transfer time and decided to overnight at Gatwick. Good job I did. The BA flight from Leeds was delayed slightly and the traffic between airports was awful. We would have missed the plane and many people did miss their onwards connections. Fortunately as we had decided to fly the day after for the second leg we were ok. The luggage wasn't through checked between airports either despite flying with BA on all flights. For me a 3 hour window is just too tight.

Oh and we got stuck in a lift in Gatwick, quite an eventful start to the holiday!

Callaird · 25/08/2019 17:16

I drive from junction junction 10 to junction 12 at 10:45 on Wednesday morning and it took 70 minutes. No accidents or breakdowns as far as I could tell. It’s just the sheer weight of traffic and cars bullying other cars to let them switch lanes so the can get 2 car spaces ahead of where they were!! I everyone got in the right lane and stuck to it the flow would be so much freer.

Junction 7 is Gatwick.
Junction 14 is Heathrow.

bridgetreilly · 25/08/2019 17:23

I would not risk that. If your first flight is even ten minutes late, or there's an accident on the M25, you'll be screwed.

rookiemere · 25/08/2019 17:58

They come up with crazy options. Looking to go to San Jose next summer and the recommended flights Edinburgh to Heathrow then Heathrow to San Jose allow 1hr5 for the transfer which is ridiculous. I'd never risk Gatwick to Heathrow in 3 hrs - could you do a separate flight the day before when they Easyjet flights come out if they do that route ?

Smurf123 · 25/08/2019 18:02

@Bloodless why not do Belfast to Orlando with virgin... They may not have released the flights yet but they do fly direct..
I've done Belfast - Gatwick - Orlando but it means 2 bookings and even then the stopover on the way home can be difficult when you are knackered and jetlagged

mashpot · 25/08/2019 18:04

Not a chance I would book that, far too tight. If it’s so much cheaper could you do the Belfast to London leg, travel to Gatwick and stay in an airport hotel and fly out if Gatwick the next day?

Original poster

Bloodless · 25/08/2019 18:13

Thanks everyone that’s what I thought.... it’s even on BA’s own website, so not just some random configuration from sky scanner.

I see there are trains between the 2, is that an option? Or are reliable?

OP posts:

NavyBlueHue · 25/08/2019 18:31

Quick Google. I work in travel and I wouldn’t risk booking it.

AIBU to think this couldn’t be possible?

Badassmama · 25/08/2019 18:33

@Bloodless could you look at flying into Tampa as an alternative? Might be a longer drive in the hire car but could give you more options.

AnnaDine · 25/08/2019 18:34

The train option is Heathrow express to Paddington (15 mins) - then either a cab or the tube to Victoria (could take 20 - 30 minutes all being well) then get the Gatwick Express (30 minutes)

If you’re lucky and no disruption!

AvengerDanvers95 · 25/08/2019 18:35

Can you not just fly direct to Gatwick with easy jet then fly BA to Orlando separately?

AnnaDine · 25/08/2019 18:35

Can you do hand luggage only?

Flip

1 2