Heathrow questions
 

Help Loyal Fodorites!

Just booked a Danube River cruise 6/30 to 7/14. I am traveling solo, female 59, and not a seasoned traveler.

Will arrive Heathrow from SFO in Terminal 5, connecting to Vienna at Terminal 3. I have an hour 40 minutes between flights. Is it easy/self-explanatory to get to and from terminals?

Also, I travel light (1 suitcase); shall I carry-on or check?

THANK YOU!

This guide on their website should help you out:

http://www.heathrowairport.com/heath...onal-departure

Can you pack only a 1-quart baggie for your 3.4 oz. max sized liquids and gels? If that's not a problem or too restrictive for your toiletries and cosmetics, and your suitcase is of a size and weight you can carry-on, AND you can easily roll and lift it yourself... by all means, do.

OK sorry that last wasn't very clear. For myself for a two week boat cruise, I'd probably want to have a slightly larger bag than what carry-on restrictions allow and somewhat more toiletries. I also only take 1 suitcase and pack fairly light, but it's more likely a 22-24" duffle not the 19-21" carry-on allowance. Besides the size limit, you need to check weight limit with your specific airline.

Assuming this is all-BA, just follow the "Flight connections" signs to the coach for T3

As far as catching the flight's concerned (and again, only if this is all-BA), check your bags in. There's a fair amount of walking involved (though for most people under normal circs, about the right amount to get the circulation going after an overnight flight) and normally bags get to planes faster than passengers.

This screamingly obvious fact will undoubtedly provoke hysteria from someone whose bag went missing once in Lima in 1832. It's certainly true that BA's baggage system collapsed when T5 first opened (though probs are now almost non-existent).

But I've always been interested on this forum by the strange coincidence that it's always Americans who complain about long walks at big airports like Heathrow, and it's always Americans who have the fetish about carrying their bags onto planes, even if they're heavier or bigger than airline regulations.

A quaint national quirk that almost guarantees intense discomfort. A gentle stroll almost invariably becomes a route march if you're carrying (or pulling) 15 kg more than you're used to.

I've flown SFO to Heathrow many times and connected there as well. It's very easy and well marked. There are usually people around to give you directions if you need them. If you can check your bag through, then I would do it. Sometimes I can carry something on the first leg that they make me check the second so I wish I had just checked it at the start!

Have a GREAT trip!

check your bags through.

I assume you bought the two flights adnd the boat as one contract.

My only concern would be that if the Atlantic crossing gets badly held up then with the single contract they should move you onto a later Venice flight.

Thank you all! I will check my bag. Yay, can bring more toiletries ;-)