Gatwick-Heathrow transfer covered by airline?
 

Ok, this may classify as a stupid question, but if American airlines has me changing airports in London on my way to Berlin, do they provide transportation between Gatwick and Heathrow, or is that up to me? Here is my itinerary:

SLC>DFW 11:55am-3:25pm
DFW>LGW 5:05pm-8:05am
LHR>TXL 12:50pm-3:35pm

It was all booked on American's website, so the final leg which is operated by British Airways is part of my AA flight.

PS - I kind of booked this flight by mistake. I was looking at a different one that simply connected through Heathrow, but then accidentally had my mom book the one above.

The fun? is all on you. You will need to go through immigration and passport control, take the bus to Heathrow--clear across town, and go through security again, but you have over four hours so enjoy! Heathrow makes most U.S. airports look tiny.

It's £19 by very frequent (every 15 minutes) National Express coaches.

And whilst you have over 4 hours to transfer, don't hang around at Gatwick having breakfast as from landing ay Gatwick to arriving at Heathrow is going to be a minimum of 2h30m and you still have to check in and go through security

And don't forget to collect your luggage at Gatwick, it's NOT checked through

I am not sure alanRow is posting is correct. We have done this twice and both times the luggage was checked through and transferred without us claiming it. Double check at check in.

Alan Row is 100% correct.

It's at least five years since through-checking of bags betwen Heathrow and Gatwick was abolished. And the last people on earth I'd ever ask advice from on an issue like this would be check in staff in the US.

Every single time I've caught a flight out of the US requiring a plane change in a different country, the check in staff have given me wrong information about through-checking bags. Their lamentable level of training is the single most reliable aspect of flying in America.

In March of 03 we flew Denver to Madrid on United and change from HR to G for the Madrid leg. Luggage was check through on both outbound and return.

The main point is that it does not happen any more. What happened in 2003 has no bearing on the info the OP is seeking.

http://www.britishairways.com/travel...w/public/en_gb

Connecting between Heathrow and Gatwick

* When you arrive at either Heathrow or Gatwick airports, please follow signs to Arrivals and Baggage Reclaim.
* You must collect all your bags and take them on the bus with you to the next airport.



AA - http://tinyurl.com/25lnys

Important Note - Gatwick / Heathrow Airport Transfers - If your itinerary has a connection requiring a change-of-airports in London (for example, the inbound flight arrives at Gatwick but the connection departs from Heathrow), you must clear U.K. Customs/Immigration and personally transfer yourself and your baggage between airports.

I am also looking at some flights that do this...if anyone has done it and can comment on time needed etc that would be most appreciated!

<i>I am also looking at some flights that do this...if anyone has done it and can comment on time needed etc that would be most appreciated!</i>

Pretty well answered above, frankly.

The airlines set a minimum of 3 hours, and in my experience that's too little. I wouldn't do it with less than 4 hours, and would be nervous even then.

It very much depends on time of day, day of week, local traffic conditions, whether your incoming flight is delayed, etc. etc. Any way you cut it, it's a huge pain.

Thanks gardy, 3-4 hours I will be sure...does seem like a pain but those tix are $300+ cheaper than other airlines where I would only connect once in the U.S., so I'll have to weigh it out...

If you are concerned about the time you have to transfer from Gatwick to Heathrow you may consider hiring a car to drive you rather than using the shuttel. If you do this, 4 hours is so much time, believe me I have done this just last June - Actually Heathrow to Gatwick. We picked up luggage went through customes and at Heathrow and then drove to Gatwick. When we got to Gatwick we had leasurely breakfast and sat around for at least 1 hour or more. I change airports on most trips to Europe in London and even to Stanstead 4 hours was more time than necessary. A driver is the way to go they know the traffic patterns and keep ahead of the buses and the shuttles.

alanRow is providing up-to-date accurate information. What is unclear????

5 hours is *probably* fine for a LGW/LHR transfer.

If you were delayed for any reason - inbound flights, road traffic during the transfer etc - then it's not going to be an issue to rebook on a later flight to Berlin. There is also a much lower chance of your bags going astray!

I've done LGW/LHR transfers twice this year. Both been painless and 5 hours would have been effortlessly comfortable. You even get a small discount on the coach fare if you show your onward LHR/LGW boarding pass, which is marvellous. Taking a private car or taxi is not going to save you that much time and will largely succedd in ripping you off.

If it's a life and death situation, the LHR/LGW connection must be avoided at all costs. If you can sacrifice a few hours, I'd think nothing of it.

One more thing....European airports have big restriction on carry-ons. Only one!!! That one could be your pocketbook (if a woman) or your briefcase, camera bag, etc. So do not buy dutyfree on the US to Heathrow leg or that bag will count.

Thanks all, and Elainee-I appreciate that tidbit very much, Leigh-everything is clear to me, just trying to decide what works best for my schedule, if nothing postive to contribute, why the nasty comments.