Panic!! Connecting between Heathrow to Gatwick

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Hello

I booked a package holiday through British airways which includes a connecting flight and hotel etc.

I land at Heathrow at 08.35 and need to get to Gatwick for my next flight which leaves at 12 with check in/ bag drop off closing at 11.

Having always flown direct from Scotland I’ve never done this before. And I assumed BA’s system wouldn’t let you book something that wasn’t feasible.

So exchanging cash for my trip next month at a different travel company and the travel agent asked about my holiday. She was of the opinion that the connection time is a bit unrealistic.

We will have checked in luggage to collect and have arranged private transfers from Heathrow to Gatwick.

Started to panic so called BA holidays to be told we only have two options 1) we take our chances and hope we make it.
2)we can pay over £900 for our family to get on the earlier flight.

And that if our Glasgow flight was delayed which causes us to miss our connecting flight then BA would then take responsibility.

But if we were delayed by say bagged delays/road works etc we would need to pay for new flights to Punta Cana ourselves.

Please someone reassure me this is doable?

I'd say it was extremely tight. It might be theoretically possible, but any delay anywhere in the chain, even just a bit of heavy traffic...

What's your insurance like?

Definitely tight. If you didn't have checked luggage it would be fine.

How are you travelling between the two airports?

is it orlando you are flying too by chance? as i was getting the same option from BA flying from Glasgow. I didnt want to take the risk, as its tight on timings

Honestly, I wouldn't risk it. We landed at Heathrow at 7.30am and didn't get our luggage/out to the car park until gone 9.15am. It was painfully slow as it was rush hour with all the overnight flights coming in from the US (we came from NYC).

No, that's too tight, with baggage claim, travel and dropping of bags then through security.

Even with the direct transfer I dont think you would make it

Impossible. Takes ages to collect baggage, get out of Heathrow and travel to Gatwick. The fastest transfer to Gatwick is 50 mins.

We have travel insurance through our banks.

Having to connect as there is no BA flight from Glasgow to Heathrow on a Wednesday. There are now BA partners flights available but when I booked the holiday last year these weren’t available.

think we are going to have to pay the £900 ahhh

Sorry that’s should say there is no Glasgow to Gatwick flight on a Wednesday

Sorry OP but no chance. We've just driven that and it's taken nearly two houts, there's always, always delays on that stretch of M25.

If you didn't have to pick up luggage you could have had a chance but I think it's just too much having to wait for bags.

Is it a weekday or a weekend? If it’s a weekday, it could be tight especially if you’re late landing at Heathrow (which is notorious for late landings due to the sheer volume of flights). Make sure you have very good travel insurance!

We have booked a private mini bus

Surely it would be cheaper to get train and hotel for the night before than £900. That's so much!

Yeah not really likely.

if all the stars align then maybe, but honestly I reckon average time from landing to car in either Gatwick or Heathrow is 2 to 3 hours.

and then you’ve got to do the m25 as well.

i think we are going to have to pay the £900 for the earlier flight. Guess it’s my own fault for not doing my research but assumed as it’s all booked as a package we’d be safe.

Could you fly in the day before, collect luggage, stay overnight at Gatwick and get that flight? Surely that would be cheaper than the £900?

Last week it took us an hour to do a 15 minute journey to Heathrow so honestly I wouldn’t risk it

Yes but sounds like the OP has booked Glasgow - Punta Cana on one ticket (PNR) with BA so if they don’t take the Glasgow-Heathrow starting leg, the remaining Gatwick-Punta Cana flights will be cancelled by BA.

Surely if you miss the flight due to traffic then this is what travel insurance covers? I got stuck in an accident tailback once and missed a flight and my insurance paid for the new flight. It would depend on your insurance though as my Mum had rubbish insurance and hers didn't cover it.

I had 3 hours to get across NY from JFK to Newark last year, I booked with AA. Another travel agent told me that it was impossible, but we had plenty of time including checked baggage to collect.

Alternatively, you could book cheap flights domestically and get to London earlier.

Is there a cheaper option for you to get a flight or train the night before? Then stay in a hotel overnight

But if they don't get on the first leg, BA will cancel the rest of their flights.

Go hand baggage only, if it’s an all inclusive hotel they will have a laundry service that will cost a hell of a lot less than £900. That speeds up the process so you should easily make it unless your flight from Glasgow is delayed but if it is then that’s BA’s responsibility. As an insurance policy though make sure you all have valid ESTAs so should the worst happen you have the option of being rerouted through the US with their partner airline American.

It definitely sounds like you’re booked all on one ticket/PNR so ignore any advice suggesting you book your own flight down to London the day before, or get the train or anything like that - if you no show for the first flight then your onward travel will automatically be cancelled. If you’re going to book an earlier flight then you must change your original reservation through BA.

So make sure they have travel insurance that covers if they get stuck in traffic. No way would I be paying £900 to change my flights.

You can send your luggage direct to Gatwick so you don't have to wait at Heathrow. But it still could be tight if the plane is delayed at all or there is traffic on the motorways.

There is a national express shuttle that runs between the two. It exists for these types of itineraries. You have to pay though.

If it is a through ticket IE one PNR for all flights then BA will re - route you if you are delayed, which might lead to a mega journey but you will get there. Just keep evidence etc. Travel insurance is the back up. But BA would lose any cedr / mcol claim (arbitration/ money claim online small claims court) if they refused to re book on a through ticket.

If you skip the first leg, then you MUST speak to BA in advance otherwise they will cancel the long haul portion to protect the ticket.

Travel industry professional here! Pay the £900, it’s likely if you miss your onward flight due to baggage reclaim that your insurer won’t cover you. It’s also likely you won’t get out of the airport before 10am which doesn’t leave you with much time to reach the next airport. Pay the £900!