If I choose an American Airlines flight to Amsterdam (have vouchers), we will be routed through Heathrow for a 2-hour connection time (in/out of Heathrow).

1. our luggage should be checked through to Amsterdam, and therefore we will not need to pass through a)passport control b)customs in Heathrow?

2. will it be necessary to obtain pounds from an ATM for refreshments, or do the small vendors accept a debit/credit card? (snacks, sandwich, drinks, etc).

3. if the connecting gate is easy/quick to reach, then would we perhaps have time for a shower? has anyone used the shower facilities - if so, how much cost and what was it like? and again, would we need pounds(cash) or do they accept debit/credit card?

I've found the terminal maps on Heathrowairport.com....

Thank you.

1) You will not pass through passport or customs, you will pass through security which means that duty free bottle of booze you bought goes in the bin (see the Heathrow Airport website)

2) They'll take any major currency - or cards

3) Which terminals will be involved - there have been lots of reports about delays getting through security even airside. I personally would head for the security checks as soon as you arrive and then worry about showers / shopping

1) You do pass thru a security check-point but not customs. Depending on how many flights arrive at once it may be short or fairly substantial (line winds around one of the ribboned type mazes).

2) I don't know if you'd have to, but I got ~$40USD worth in GBP from an airport ATM machine for airport expenses

3) Yes I have taken a shower. There is one near the entrance to Term 1/2 just to the right. It cost 6 GBP & the clerk wanted exact change (I don't know if they took credit cards). You got a nice private white tile room, with a shower, sink, toilet, bench. Also a towel and soap packets, which were optional but included in the price I said above. This was 2 years ago.

There are other shower locations you can find on a map of Heathrow.

Do you have elite status with American Air -- if so, you can eat, drink, and shower for free in a oneworld lounge in the departures terminal. The British Airways lounge is pretty good, but I forget which terminal it's in.

Chances are great that you will departing from some other terminal than Terminal 3 where AA arrives. If your onward connection is on British Airways then your onward plane will be from Terminal 4, in which case you will need every single minute of those 2 hours to transfer terminals and go through security. If your plane is late arriving (and congestion at LHR can be significant in the morning) then you may need to hustle along. Look for "flight connections" when you get off the AA flight and don't even think about showers or duty free until you get to your connecting terminal/gate and can see how the time looks.

I believe the vendors will accept credit cards but cannot for the life of me remember clearly.

Your luggage <i>ought</i> to be checked through - but if BA is involved you must double-check this when you check in for your transatlantic flight. If you are forced to reclaim it and then transfer to T4 you should look at a later connection.

No memberships in any clubs and we're not there long enough to pay temporary membership but sounds nice ...
I definitely agree and plan to pass thru the necessary checkpoints -first- before bothering with any of the 'niceties'. I think I will most likely just want a good cup of coffee while we wait. Our carryon won't have anything that hasn't already gone thru a security check so no losses!

OK, I found this info on transferring from Terminal 3 (AA lands there from Chicago) to Terminal 4 (BA departs there for Amsterdam):

&quot;...Connecting from Terminal 3 to Terminal 4
Your <b>connection will take approximately 60 minutes</b>, from landing to departure gate. There are coaches that will take you from Terminal 3 to Terminal 4. Once in the terminal, go through security and customs and then pass by our airline desks en route to our departure gate...&quot;

So next question - is 2 hours realistic? (this would be a 6:50am arrival, 8:40am departure).

oops, posted at same time, Gardyloo.
Coffee may have to wait!

Another thing to know about Heathrow is they often do not post gates numbers for flights until ~30 mins. before the flight time. So you need to be near to where you expect your departure gate to be, cluster around the monitors with everyone else, and be ready to MOVE at the last minute(!)

I'm looking at an April flight:
Virgin JFK to LHR, arrive 7:45am
Alitalia depart LHR to Rome 9:35

Is that too short a connection time?