Panic!! Connecting between Heathrow to Gatwick

[Freehugs]

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?

Ask then to change first leg to day before and stay in cheap Gatwick airport hotel.

You don't want to be rushing and panicking while stuck in an m25 jam

BA sold almost all their Scotland Gatwick slots to Easyjet and have never bought them back- but at the same time has massively ramped up its flights out of Gatwick. Its really disadvantage to Scottish customers- I regularly email to remind them!

It is a massive risk- if we have to fly from Gatwick we travel down the night before. Is the last flight the evening before also £900 more. There is a Premier Inn right beside the terminals at Gatwick.

I wouldn't drive across London unless absolutely essential. Lizzie line from Heathrow to Farringdon then fast train to Gatwick would give you a fighting chance if stars align.

Too risky to bet on a fighting chance. Change to the evening before to Heathrow or City and then public transport down to Gatwick. You can then have a relaxing morning.

Thanks everyone for your messages, I don’t want the stress of worrying so going to pay the £900 and suck it up.
I did try and plead my case to BA earlier but they weren’t budging saying that the minimum connection time is 3hrs and I will have 3hrs 25.

Why don't you see what the night before is- that an a hotel might be a lot cheaper than £900 and saves a very early start and a morning rush hour transfer.

We do this.

I was thinking this! I’d be looking at trains and a cheap hotel for the night before.

That is tight but IME of flying (regularly) domestically into Heathrow the baggage claim and exit process is much faster than landing there internationally.

Is there a later option to Punta Cana that you could move to rather than an earlier in from Scotland?

Is there a later option to Punta Cana that you could move to rather than an earlier in from Scotland?

I suspect highly unlikey with BA.

I'm not even sure they do a daily PUJ (they certainly didn't used to) so the OP really needs ro ensure they make the connection.

I think it’s possible if you fly with hand luggage only. Otherwise I agree with everyone else, too risky and stressful. It does seem ridiculous that BA have sold you this package.

3 hours is fine if you travel hand luggage only, albeit still a bit stressful if there’s an increase in traffic. With hold luggage, I’d be super nervous.

I used to connect a lot between LHR and LGW and agree that with handbaggage only, especially on a domestic into T5, the BA recommendation of three hours minimum connection would work most days.

I think the problem is the three hour cutoff is maybe applied as a universal figure by BA/agents, reason being there will be people quite happy to rush and they would be quite hacked off if BA said "no we can't sell you that, three hours is too tight".

OTOH it's way too tight for many travellers..

Drive down and park at LHR. Would cost way less than £900.

If it is a package BA will take the hit if you miss the flight. They ought to be able to fast track any luggage etc.

But maybe look into flying direct to Gatwick with easyJet - might be cheaper than £900.

If it is a package BA will take the hit if you miss the flight. They ought to be able to fast track any luggage etc.

That may be true to some extent but in practice, in terms of bags etc they are effectively two flights from two separate airports, so for example the OP is required to collect own bags at LHR before heading around the M25 (BA T&Cs).

The other issue from a practical POV is if the OP or even just their bags miss the connection at Gatwick it might be a day or two before the next BA service..

They might get comp/rerouting or whatever but it's whether it's worth the risk.

Is it no possible even to move the flight night before and pay for hotel? I would probably be doing that, but then I am a massive worrier

£900! No way would I pay that
take the easyjet the previous day and stay in a hotel. But tell ba to cancel your first leg as otherwise you risk them cancelling the flight to punta Cana

In that case, I'd risk it. They say it's doable and it's their responsibility to put you on the next flight if you don't make the connection.

It sounds like you don't need to collect your luggage and they'll transfer it?

Just make sure you have swimwear and a change of clothes in your hand luggage.

I would phone BA holidays and speak to them - ask their advice and ask what they will do for you before being out of pocket.

BA do not transfer baggage between LHR and LGW, it's do it yourself.

This idea/comment of just taking the next flight keeps popping up but not everywhere has multiple flights a day or even daily...as I recall it BA used to do maybe two or three Punta Cana's a week.....if the OP missed their connection it's going to mean a long wait and/or a major reroute possibly using multiple flights.

Would it work out possible or cheaper than the £900, to cancel and rebook with different flight times?

Regardless, the BA website should have given you a warning when booking. It does for example if you fly out of Gatwick and back to Heathrow. I would also put in a complaint to BA that they have sold the impossible.

It’s a bit ridiculous that ba do this as an option for holidays. We also fly from Scotland as well. and I have noticed this often comes up in searches. It must be such a stressful start to a holiday. The journey between Gatwick and Heathrow is really not straightforward at all and so frought with potential delays

@StarlightLady

Regardless, the BA website should have given you a warning when booking. It does for example if you fly out of Gatwick and back to Heathrow.

If you do a dummy GLA -PUJ booking on ba.com you will see you get notified of the connection time and a note: "you will need to travel to a different airport to pick up your connecting flight".

would also put in a complaint to BA that they have sold the impossible.

But have they?...I wouldn't dream of doing the described connection with checked bags for holiday reasons but some people, certainly some travelling HBO might be willing to take the risk.

Should be ok but I’d check and see if you can pick up a flight with easyJet direct to Gatwick. Failing that pay for priority luggage if possible (your travel agent may be able to sort free). The standard advice is 5 hours between landing at Heathrow and taking off at Gatwick.

might be worth calling ba directly if you booked through an agent, they may be willing to transfer you onto a flight the day before free of charge, you can then book a cheap hotel at Gatwick knowing you are there!