TJinSOMA

I am traveling from Florence back to the US through Heathrow. The issue is getting to Rome for the Heathrow flight connection requires a very early departure versus a flight from Florence which is more reasonable but requires changing airports in the UK. I'm curious on what others would recommend (or choose) as I think both work I'm just having an internal debate on which I want to book:

Option 1: Florence to FCO on the 6:50am train which arrives at 9:25am. BA flight from FCO to LHR at 11:25am which arrives at 1:10pm. BA flight from LHR to SFO departing at 3pm.

Option 2: Flight from Florence to London City airport at 11am which arrives at 12:10pm. Car service from London City to Heathrow (estimated time shows 1 hour ten minutes). BA flight from LHR to SFO departing at 3pm.

The 3pm SFO flight is not movable and we're not worried about cost (we also don't want to spend the last night in Rome as we're traveling with some people who want to end in Florence). I tend to avoid ever changing airports in the UK but it seems like option 2 may be less running around/time in this instance. Thoughts?

sandralist

I don't think either option is realistic for getting back to the US. You need more lead time at FCO, even if the train arrives on time. And just so you know: I transited through Heathrow last month (going the other way, West Coast>LHR>Rome) and I missed my connection due to (a) plane sitting on tarmac at LHR waiting for gate to be free + (b) hang ups getting through security line at LHR, even though I was Fast Track.

If yo are ticketed all the way through, then obviously you are guaranteed a flight back if your Rome flight is delayed and you miss the plane. However, if your Florenc train to FCO is delayed and you miss that flight -- tough luck.

As for your second option, I don't think landing at 12.10 pm give you enough time to get into your taxi and be at LHR in time to get through security for a 3pm flight -- even if your Rome departure is on time.

Have you checked out flying out of Florence or Bologna or Pisa (Milan?) to another European airport and then to SFO? Again, you need to be ticketed all the way through -- plus unless you can find a flight from Florence, consider enjoying a long lunch with your friends your final day and then going to the city of your actual departure airport.

sandralist

It appears there is a BA flight from Florence at 11am that lands at LHR at 12.10. Why not take that?

nytraveler

You are not laving enough time at Heathrow for a flight to the US in either case. Check with your airline on how far in advance you are required to check in.

In the first case you have very little time at either FCO or at LHR. If there is any delay - in trains or in the first flight - you won;t make the flight out of LHR.

And assuming you can get from London city to LHR in that time is foolhardy. And what if that flight is even 30 minutes late.

You really need to look for other options. I would opt for a flight into LHR since getting across London during the day can be a complete bear.

janisj

>>Car service from London City to Heathrow (estimated time shows 1 hour ten minutes)<<

In your dreams -- unless maybe by any chance this is a Sunday?? Even on a Sunday it would be close.

Neither option is viable IMO/IME

Have you already purchased your flight out of LHR? If so -- You don't want to hear this but you really should fly to LHR the evening before.

janisj

Meant to add -- in the middle of the day like this (again - unless it happens to be a Sunday) LCY to LHR T-5 could take 2 or 2.5 hours or even more.

TJinSOMA

Thanks for the thoughts all. Sandralist - the Florence to London flight lands LCY not LHR but janisj voiced my concerns that London traffic is a wildcard getting between the airports. We are going to stick with the 650am train from Florence to Rome which gets us to FCO 2 hours before our flight. Given that we will have checked in the night before and only have carry on luggage, I'm comfortable we can make that flight without a problem.

Regarding the comments on the LHR connection of one hour and 50 minutes being too short, both flights (FCO to LHR and LHR to SFO) are on BA who only requires a one hour connection time at Heathrow. I've connected through T5 at Heathrow three times in the last 12 months with no issues on connection times much shorter than the current one being discussed.

While I don't do the run through airports anymore, I also am not someone to arrive at the airport three hours early as think that's extreme. We also have Fastrak and status on BA which helps clear through quickly. Thanks all for the thoughts and I'll just make an earlier night of it in Florence so we don't miss that early train.

DonTopaz

The 1:50 connection at LHR is a legal connection. Because you don't have to change terminals (just go through security), you'd be ok if the flight from Rome is on time, or even 30-45 mins late. However, that 11:25am flight appears to be notoriously late -- on-time only 22% of the time.

If you really need to be sure that you'll make the 3:00 flight to SFO, your best option is probably to fly into London the previous day and enjoy a half-day in London. Alternatively, if you wanted to stay in Italy, you could head up to Milan the previous day, then take an 11:20 BA flight from Malpensa that arrives at LHR at 12:20 (and has a 71% on-time history).

janisj

I 100% agree w/ DonTopaz. If you absotively/posilutely MUST be on the 3PM flight, you should fly to LHR the night before.

If BA will link the two flights then you are protected -- but only to get you on the next available flight.

sandralist

Sorry I didn't notice that the BA Florence>London flight lands at LCY, and it sounds like you are committed to your plan, but:

1. Having Fast Track at LHR doesn't mean you will actually go fast through security checks. I had Fast Track a month ago, and heading to make my connection, I was stopped at the entrance to the security area and told to go back to the ticket windows to book a later flight because I would not reach the gate in time to make the flight I had a ticket for. They would not let me even try to go to the gate, even if I was willing to run.

2. Not only do you run the risks that DonTopaz outlined regarding flight delays out of Rome, but you have little reason to think that (a) your train from Florence to Rome will be on schedule and (b) two hours is sufficient for getting through security at FCO even if your train does arrive on time.

Going to bed early is not going make any difference to these risks. Just posting this for somebody else who might read the thread and is open to re-thinking.

Mimar

Travel in Italy is prone to interruptions: strikes, construction, traffic jams, weather problems. Once we had to change our route because of a suicide on the train tracks.

What happens if you miss your flight at FCO?

I agree. Fly to LHR the day before. Or look for an alternate gateway airport, like Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam.