We are traveling later this month from BNA to LHR. We decided after booking this flight that we wanted to go to Edinburgh so we have a separate ticket. Both flights are on BA so arriving and departing from T5. We have 2:30 minutes between flights and are in first class so I think that makes customs faster. I am trying to understand if we check bags will we have to leave and go back out to the check in terminal and go through security or can we do that after customs somehow and connect to our other flight? If we have to go out and back through security for the EDI flight is 2:30 enough time? Or would it just be easier to do carry on luggage? I know we can fit our bags into the overheads no problem flying over in first class just not sure about the domestic planes and their size limits. Is it like in the US where if you get to the gate and the bags won't fit they check them plane side? Thanks for the help.

It is always easier to do carry on - but you won't have any problem making your flight (assuming your in bound isn't more than 1 or even 1.5 hours late). You are flying First Class so everything should run very smoothly.

>>so I think that makes customs faster.<<

Customs isn't an issue really -- in 99.99% of the time one simply walks through the green 'nothing to declare' portal.

And Immigration will be nothing for you either - timewise. Since you are flying at the front of the plane you will be expedited through. And your bags will come out first too, if you have to collect them. There is no way to avoid security at LHR but there is a special entrance for premium passengers, and it is usually very fast.

You can always ask BA to check your bag through even being on separate tix -- they likely will but even if they don't, you will have plenty of time. Possibly even time to use the Arrivals Lounge for a bit.

JUST do make sure that both flights use T-5 . . . some BA flights use T-3.

I almost never have carry-on, I like to get rid of my luggage at bag drop and board unencumbered. And in first class, you'll have a very generous allowance. BA might not thru check your luggage unless the LHREDI booking was added to the same booking as the BNALHR ie they might only thru check if you have separate tickets issued from the same booking. If they don't thru check, your luggage should be off first, as first class luggage usually has a priority tag and of course, you'll be off the plane first.

Thanks to both of you for the information. Hopefully it will all run smoothly and both flights are in T5 so that is good.

You're flying business class; BA doesn't offer F on their Nashville flight. You'll be able to use Fast Track at LHR, but LHR immigration is often a zoo. I've waited 50 or 60 minutes to get through, even w/Fast Track. That said. you'll have plenty of time. And you are always better off with carry-ons -- eliminates the chance of lost luggage, plus gives you much more flexibility in case of delayed or canceled flights.

Americans always advocate carry-ons and that is understandable as US carriers and especially US domestic flights are pretty unreliable when it comes to checked luggage. Flights to/from the US are therefore a boarding nightmare with everyone having carry-on. Luckily you are in business class so you won’t have to shoehorn your carryon into an already full overhead. On airlines such as BA luggage not arriving or being delayed etc is much less likely. Luggage being truly “lost” and never recovered is almost unheard of these days. I travel very frequently and delayed luggage has been extremely rare for me. Your main delay will be getting thru immigration as the lines are usually very long.

If if you do have to go landslide to drop luggage at T5, it’s mostly self service, you’ll have to print and tag your own bags using self service machines & this needs to be done no later than 45mins before departure.

Not true. By that, I mean your statement is 100% false, egregiously so. European airlines have a markedly higher rate of mishandled luggage compared to US airlines.

Fortunately, the trend globally is toward a reduction in mishandled luggage, but European airlines have most definitely lagged US and Asian airlines in this area.

Americans always advocate carry-ons

I am American. I do not advocate this. My luggage has never been misplaced.