ok.. we have a 2 and 1/2 hour connection time at Heathrow.. we change from T3 I believe to T2, go through flight connections, security (not immigration as our bags are checked through) and get our boarding pass. Does anyone know if there is an Alitalia desk at Flight Connections in Heathrow.. I understand that we cannot enter the second terminal without having a boarding pass..

Also who has checked in after the 2 hour requirement?? Did they let you on the plane or tell you "sorry" the plane leaves in an hour but you missed the cutoff! Anyone with any experiences they want to share? We are coming in from Chicago in March.. so I can pretty much count on being delayed anyway.. no I was not drunk when I purchased the ticket..

That 2 hours isn't a cut off, it's a recommendation so that half the plane doesn't try to check in 5 minutes before checkin closes

But why can't you get your boarding card where you are leaving from - after all your luggage is checked through

2.5hrs should be fine for T3-T2 transfer with luggages cheecked thru assuming no major delays. You still have to take the shuttle bus from T2 to Connection Centre.

Alitalia doesn't operate a 2 hour cutoff. Its checkin limit at LHR is 40 mins, though it advises you to be there 2 hrs before takeoff because of Heathrow's security systems.

Others may have more recent direct experience, but Heathrow's new, tougher, security checks don't seem to be causing problems with passengers transitting airside through the Flight Connection Centre (FCC)

There is a desk in the FCC which issues AZ boarding passes, though FCC desks are rarely operated by the relevant airline.

Don't be confused by Alan's post. Many non-partner airlines will happily through-check bags to your final destination via Heathrow. BA are absolute pigs about this, and are Heathrow's largest user, so the myth is getting about that you can only through-check betwen partner airlines (who generally issue each other's boarding passes).

2.5 hours should be fine, even if you're running an hour or so late. If it's a "legal" connection on one ticket, all that'll happen if your incoming flight is seriously delayed is that you'll be spending longer shopping in T2 waiting for the next AZ flight.

Actually I was wondering why they could check through their luggage but not themselves.

I've had that happen to me precisely once in 25 years because there was a system problem preventing them issuing boarding cards for the 2nd flight

alanRow - The OP is switching airlines at LHR, as Alitalia certainly doesn't operate ORD-LHR. None of the following airlines - AA, UA or BA - will issue AZ boarding passes.

Luggage is a seperate issue. Airlines around the world have interline baggage agreement for decades, and they remain today. <b>Except for BA</b> which doesn't forward bags at LHR for other airlines.

So, AA &amp; UA fine. BA not good, as the OP needs to go through immigration and baggage claim and then use the AZ check-in in the landside, instead of transfer desk.

Thank you so much.. I am assuming that we are the OP and Alitalia is AZ? We were told no immigration only security because our bags are checked through and yes we are unable to get boarding passes for the Alitalia flight in Chicago from the AA agents..