I will be arriving in Heathrow from Munich on a British Airways flight and will have about an hour and a half layover before I depart on an American flight to LAX. Having never been to Heathrow I'm not sure what to expect concerning baggage transfer. I understand I will need to retrieve my luggage from the British Airways flight and then check it again for the American flight. Can any of you help me with how baggage claim works when you arrive at Heathrow from a European city. I also am concerned about the time it will take because I'm using two different airlines. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks!

My wife and I just flew from Rome to Heathrow on BA and then from Heathrow to NYC on American. In Rome, the BA ticket agent checked our bags all the way to NY and put special transfer tags on it to show that it needed to go to American Airlines. So we didn't have to deal with our bags in London. Also, when we got off the plane in London, there was an American Airlines agent there to meet us and take us to the American Airlines terminal. For us, this all happened within the span of 15 minutes. I don't know if American normally does this or not. Even if you don't have a gate agent meet you, ask a BA agent where the bus is to transfer terminals - assuming your baggage is checked all the way to LA

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Thank you GSR. I would be so relieved if BA did this when I boarded in Munich. I will keep my fingers crossed!<BR>Chris

In March we flew Rome - Heathrow - Baltimore, both flights were BA. I'm pretty sure our bags were checked all the way through to Baltimore. But I was surprised at how long it took us to get through Heathrow. We had an approx 1.5 hour layover, and it took the whole time to get from plane to plane. When we arrived at Heathrow, they had us walk to the main terminal and go through security again, and then walk to the gate for our next flight--and this was a transfer on the same airline. There was a long line at security. It seemed like we walked for miles, although there were a good number of moving sidewalks. They were calling our flight to Baltimore as we reached the gate. If you have any kind of disability, arrange for a wheelchair.

Traveler,<BR>I have heard that Heathrow is huge and your message confirms it! Thank goodness they speak English and I will at least be able to communicate with someone who can hopefully help me when I'm there. Thanks, Chris

DEFINITELY try to get BA to check your bags through to the AA flight. If not you will have a VERY difficult time making the connection in just 90 minutes.<BR><BR>Your two flights will most likely be in different terminals - there are 4 terminals at LHR and many BA flights use terminal 4 which is very remote from the other three. Retrieving your bags can take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes or sometimes more. then you would have to go to the other terminal, check-in and check your bags, go through security and get to another gate.<BR><BR>This will be very difficult - almost impossible. Most transatlantic flights out of LHR have a 2 or 3 hour advance check in. <BR><BR>So - it is VERY important to check your bags through if you can.

Janis,<BR>Thanks for your comments. Sounds like if BA doesn't check my bags through to American, I'm toast!<BR>Chris

Your British Airways flight from Munich should arrive at Terminal 1...now I think that Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are actually pretty close together. As was previously mentioned it is Terminal 4 which is on the other side of the airport complex. Your AA flight will depart from Terminal 3. I think you need to contact your ticketing agent to clarify the situation. Do let us know how you get on when you get back to the States!

BA and American are part of the oneworld alliance so they have baggage agreements to transfer all bags. There are buses between terminals that do not leave the secure area so just try to follow the signs. I've accidentally missed a sign and left the secure area.

if myraLambChop is correct about your BA flight arriving at term 1 (BA uses 1 and 3) then you are slightly better off - but you still need to check your bags through. Your AA flight will definitely leave from terminal 3.<BR><BR>If they are checked through you will have no problems (probably - there can always be SOME problem). If you do not need to retrieve your bags you can transfer between the terminals without going through external security and re-checking you them. <BR><BR>As mikey says, AA and BA are both OneWorld so you should be able to check them through - but post 9-11 some of that was discontinued because it made it easier to get luggage on a plane w/o a corresponding passenger. But LHR has used bag-matching for years so you probably can still check your bags through.<BR><BR>retrieving and re-checking bags will take up to an hour on a good day.

OOPS - I meant to say that BA uses terminals 1 and *4* -- not 1 and 3.

DONT WORRY <BR><BR>Your bags will be checked to your final destination from Munich. Simply follow signs for the flight connection centre which in Terminal 1 (where you will arrive from Munich) is up an escalator just watch for the signs. From there the flight connections staff will make sure you get to your American Flight. If you Munich Flight is late the AA staff will come and collect you so again DONT WORRY.<BR><BR>With an hour and a half to transfer you have lots of time, you may even get a look in the shops.<BR><BR>Enjoy your trip.

Thanks for all the good advice! Now all I have to do is wait for August and I'm on my way!<BR>Chris