Is there enough time with 3.5 hours before next flight to get from London heathrow

[Milo13]

Hi Folks,
panic stations here! I booked Edinburgh to orlando and didnt notice the flight was to LHR then left LGW! Is there enough time in 3.5 hours to get to Gatwick? Bearing in mind we have our bikes to pick up from LHR as well? :-(

But they've clearly messed up? Don't accept this!

How did they "clearly mess up"? It is a booking that BA sells and the OP accepted it. It's probably not a connection I would take but it is "legal" (you can book it yourself on the BA website). It stinks but it was up to the OP to look at the flight options she was given when she accepted it. Yes, the TA probably should have flagged it, but that's not a justifiable reason to "not accept this" - the OP already did accept it.

Not sure what you mean about the thread being ancient but useful to know about the possibility of insurance for missed connections. I hadnt heard of that

Well, in their eyes they haven't as I booked it knowing full well 😔

Agreed, Depending on sources it looks like the current advertised Minimum Connection time (MCT) LHR- LGW is either 3 hours or 3 1/2 …

If an individual or a TA try to make a booking involving a connection anything under MCT then as far as I’m aware booking system should automatically say no.

There hasn’t been a mess up at BAs end, or even perhaps by the TA, but whether it was it’s a great idea to accept the timings is another matter - some passengers would happily accept the risk.

I know, I messed up! 😞

Don't give up hope. If you're not flying until May, there is a pretty good chance that there will be changes in the flight times which would allow you to get new flight times for free.

It's unlikely, but you could try calling BA directly and asking for their help. I wouldn't approach is argumentatively, but honestly say that you're now really worried about the connection and could they possibly please do something to help with changing to something safer. Sorry, if I missed that you already called BA directly.

Worst case, it is legal and doable (though the bikes add a complication) - if too many people were missing the connection, BA would revise the MCT and not allow it. Not necessarily ideal and not much wiggle room, but not a lost cause.

BA think you can make it and are taking responsibility for it if you don’t. You haven’t messed up. If it were me though, I’d reconsider the bikes- do you really have to take them, and if yes can you send them ahead separately? I’ve used ‘Send My Bag’ before, not for a bike, but for other luggage and they were reasonable and it all arrived in one piece, and there’s definitely a bike option on their website. If you’re hand baggage only I think you’ll comfortably make it, unless there are significant delays to your first leg, but that’s a risk with any connection. You can also pay £5 pp for Fast Track security at Gatwick to shave off a bit more time.

Hi @Milo13 pp's have said that there are still BA flights from Glasgow to LGW, would you be cheaper to book a one-way and just write the EDI to LHR off?

If you call BA and book directly through them, letting them know the reasons for not using the EDI to LHR leg of your flights, I'm hoping they would be able to link your bookings so your luggage goes straight to Orlando.

Not sure if that's an option? You can only ask I suppose?

I think that's BS. The whole point of a travel agent is to not sell you a collection of unachievable flights and it's not like direct flights from Scotland to Orlando exist so they must be experienced. You're relying on their expertise. Different if they've clearly pointed out to you that it's high risk and you've now got cold feet.

What will it cost to bring your Edinburgh to Heathrow flight forward? Surely not £350? I would escalate that, that's taking the piss 6 months ahead. It would be easier to fly the night before and book a cheap hotel if it came to it.

It would be horribly stressful and a high chance of not making it even without outsize baggage. Change the first leg; or send the luggage ahead to Heathrow [not sure if you'd still have to pick it up and check it in for transatlantic].

I tried that but they say the whole second flight will be cancelled!

Wow! That's incredibly unreasonable of them... (assuming BA response rather than Travel Agent).

Was it just an online booking with your TA, rather than phone call etc? Really surprised they didn't make you aware there was a change of airport, the BA website has a disclaimer like this when you have to change airports (in red writing):

6 hr(s) 25 min(s) wait until your connecting flight
You will need to travel to a different airport to pick up your connecting flight. The cost of this is not included in your fare.

I think rather than considering perhaps nuking the booking (if you are) and losing the protection the connected status gives you it might be worth looking at how to give yourself the best chance of making what you’ve got work. Despite the pessimism (mine included) it is “doable”…though TBH there’s no way of avoid the fact it’s a darn site easier and less problematic without checked bags.

I think in your circumstances I’d kick into touch right now any thoughts of using the National Express coach, and instead investigate one of the car companies such as Addison Lee or Parker who are specialists at things like the LHR-LGW run…just make sure you tell them about the bike boxes before you book.

Their drivers would meet you as you exit T5(?) domestic, so having hooked up a quick lift/walk to car park, straight onto the M25 and (fingers X’d) in under an hour hopefully you roll directly into the relevant Terminal at Gatwick.

Using a car costs a lot but it avoids losing time hanging around at T5 waiting for the next NEX coach and then when it finally arrives there’s all the faff and time lost with the coach loading itself…that can cost you 30 minutes or more of your connection time.

Good Luck.

No, this was the TA who said this and BA said they can't do anything as it's booked through TA. 😣

I would be raging with the TA for booking these without drawing your attention to the airport change. Very unprofessional. Can you raise a dispute?

OP is this the company? www.travelup.com/en-gb/about-us who claim to take the faff out of arranging travel?! I don't think this is your fault if this is what they suggested, unless they explicitly warned you that it will be tight.

@dairydebris makes great suggestions especially about trying for the earlier EDI flight. ✈️ 🍀 🤞

I totally take the blame as didn't check but equally wasn't warned as well! I have raised an issue with resolver, telling them how stressful this is and although it is my fault for not checking, surely they have a duty of care to use? I asked for either earlier flight from Edinburgh or rebook free of charge. I'm actually not expecting anything due to the way they have conducted themselves so far but I have to try!
Thanks for all the helpful advise especially @dairydebris as it's been so stressful.

"If you are looking to make the changes to the airport than there will a charge of £225.00 change fee per person and plus any kind of fare and tax difference as well."

This was the response I got from them!
I have just made a complaint to resolver, so hopefully something might get done but they were so rude on the phone I highly doubt it!

Hi @Milo13

How did you book? Via searching the website yourself or did the TA search for flights and suggest this one?

Did anything they send you pre-booking show a change of airport was necessary?

Is it obvious on the TravelUp website that the arrival and departure airports are different? BA highlights this in red text. What does TravelUp do to draw your attention to this?

Shoddy service if you’ve dealt with a travel professional to book this.

If you’ve booked it yourself online, it should have been made clear. And I believe you normally get 24 hours to notice any errors. How soon did you notice?

BA offer Edinburgh - Heathrow - Gatwick - Orlando on their website with a 3 hour gap so as long as the TA bought a through flight and not two separate tickets the OP will be covered

British Airways - Flight Selection

3 hr(s) 10 min(s) wait until your connecting flight
You will need to travel to a different airport to pick up your connecting flight. The cost of this is not included in your fare.

Yes I have seen that a few times on the BA website (I’m in Scotland so always need a connection somewhere unfortunately).

personally, i would have immediately dismissed that flight due to the mismatch with the connection. BA make it obvious on their website. Just wondered what TravelUp did to alert the OP?