Time window LHR TO CDG
 

A small dilemma...need to book a connecting flight from London to Paris. Our flight from the states is scheduled to arrive in London at 9:15. Next flight to Paris departs at 10:45. This is a tight window, but the next flight won't leave until 2pm ish. We will be tired and want to get to Paris asap rather than hang out at cdg for hours. If the connecting flight is missed, is it easy enough to get on the next flight to Paris? British Airways will be the carrier.

I posted but lost my connection so will try again . . .

You could make the earlier flight but you won't be protected since they are separate tix. The 2PM would be best - that is what I'd book even if there wasn't an earlier flight (assuming separate bookings).

That will leave you about 2.5 hours after deplaning and before they call your next gate.

Thanks, Janis...and I meant we won't want to hang at Heathrow for hours...

I"m not sure I understand you, but I think you meant you don't want to hang out at LHR for hours, not CDG. Are you sure about those flights to Paris? Because BA usually has another one in there if you are willing to go to ORY. If Paris is the destination, I don't know why that would matter, in fact, ORY is closer to Paris and more convenient in that regard. They have a flight at 12:40 to ORY.

However, as with all delays, I think it is unpredictable as to how booked a particular flight will be in advance. Sometimes they are completely full depending on the time and date, and others, it wouldn't be a problem.

Are you doing the whole trip from the US to France on one ticket or not?

<i> Our flight from the states is scheduled to arrive in London at 9:15. Next flight to Paris departs at 10:45.</i>

90 minutes is not a lot of time for a change at Heathrow.

<i>We will be tired and want to get to Paris asap rather than hang out at cdg for hours.</i>

Yes, hanging out at CDG sucks because it is a dump. But you will be hanging out at LHR and that's a lot better. Plus, if you have hours for a layover, you can use this: http://www.smartertravel.com/photo-g...44&photo=27205

<i> If the connecting flight is missed, is it easy enough to get on the next flight to Paris?</i>

You're not just catching the next train, you know.

If you are on ONE ticket from US to CDG thru LHR via the 10:45 flight, then BA will have to put you on the next AVAILABLE flight if you miss the connection. If the 2 pm flight is not available because it is sold out, you will wait longer.

If you're booking the connection separately (US to LHR on one ticket, LHR to CDG on a separate ticket) then BA is under no obligation to help you if you miss the LHR to CDG flight.

>>Are you doing the whole trip from the US to France on one ticket or not?<<

It is my understanding they already have their flights to LHR and have now decided to fly directly to Paris instead of taking the Eurostar

Janis is correct...the trip from London to Paris is a separate booking. I need to digest everyone's comments...

>>You're not just catching the next train, you know. << . . . And in this case the next available train is the Eurostar . . . which presents the same sort of 'miss it you are out of luck' issues, only it is all the way across town.

But if I'm booked with British Airways for a flight from London to Paris at a certain time, and miss the flight because of a late incoming British Airways flight, they're still obligated to get me on the next available flight, aren't they? Available being the key word...

>>. . . they're still obligated to get me on the next available flight, aren't they?<<

Nope. Only IF they are all on one reservation that BA set up as a 'legal' connection. The first flight -- they are only obligated to get you to THAT destination.

No they aren't because they are not a single ticket. If you had booked through to Paris via LHR then yes they would be, since they would only allow you to book a "legal connection" but in this case it's two tickets so it is up to you to be there on time for your second flight. If you aren't you will have to buy new tickets for the next available flight.

<i>But if I'm booked with British Airways for a flight from London to Paris at a certain time, and miss the flight because of a late incoming British Airways flight, they're still obligated to get me on the next available flight, aren't they? </i>

Seriously, what did I say before? IF IT IS NOT ON ONE TICKET THEN BA HAS NO RESPONSIBILITY. As Janis and h2 said, if BA didn't book this on one ticket and you're putting flights together a la carte, you are screwed if the first flight is late.

And this is why you don't cut it close . . .

All of the same applies to your first idea of using the Eurostar (it is pretty likely that all Eurostar seats are booked up and you wouldn't be able to get on another train for several hours/days)

Book the 2PM flight . . . or an even later one.

oh, this is a separate ticket, I thought the OP was just deciding which of several time choices to book for the connecting flight, didn't realize it had already been bought as one ticket. What was the purpose of that, anyway. Well, too late now, then why book BA if it isn't even on the same ticket? I mean, I would think that would be a pretty expensive flight, one way on BA as a separate ticket.

You can book Easyjet from Gatwick to CDG for only 44 pounds, although it is at 2:45 pm also, so you don't save time, just thought it might be cheaper. And you have the same issues of having to get there, although there is an airport transport bus, I've taken it. If BA isn't that expensive, then yes, you should use BA from LHR, with plenty of time leeway.

If these are separate tickets and you miss that flight - perfectly possible, perhaps even likely - then you are a no show. You will then have to buy a new ticket to paris at the walk up price and hope that they have seats available.

The airline has no responsibility here.

And what about your luggage? Unless you are doing only carry-on - will they check through on 2 separate tickets?

My questions have been answered, so one more round of thanks to all advice given. Better to play it safe and book a later flight with BA. And for those who haven't been following my saga, I was originally planning to take the Eurostar to Paris after a night's rest. No loss financially in booking these flight tickets at around $100 per person, it's not costing any more than it would if we had flown directly to Paris or from London to Paris on one ticket.

Christina, I appreciate the suggetions, but would rather not have the complication of arranging transport to Gatwick, especially after an all-night flight. The purpose in booking these flights from LHR to CDG is to cut out extra travel arrangements.

Guess we'll have to entertain ourselves for awhile at LHR. Maybe napping on an uncomfortable airport seat will fill the hours...

And we'll only have carry-ons. Traveling light.

BigRuss, I just checked your link. Nap rooms...not a bad idea! Can a hub & wife share one sleeping room? Ha ha.

If you book separate tickets then you'll have to go through UK passport control which makes it unpredictable especially for morning flights. Once it took me 1.5 hrs (but that was not typical). Then time to collect luggage & check in for CDG flight. Eurostar is actually a good option time & money-wise. London-Paris Eurostar RT starts at £69. There is direct subway from LHR to Kings Cross which is walking distance to St.Pancras station from where Eurostar departs. So it'll take may be 4 hrs from LHR to Paris center.

Okay, this entire plan was to avoid the hassle of landing in London and then taking Eurostar to Paris. My flights are already booked RT from the US to LHR. I was thinking since I'm flying into LHR on British Airways and then catching another BA flight to Paris, I wouldn't have to hassle with passport control since I'm not deboarding until I get to Paris. Sheesh, going around in circles...

Second opinions? Is hkto correct?

That didn't make sense. Of course I'm deboarding; I meant not leaving the airport.

>>If you book separate tickets then you'll have to go through UK passport control <<

No you wouldn't . . . you'd go through flight connections just like everyone else . . .

>>you'd go through flight connections just like everyone else connecting to other flights . . .

As long as you are not entering the UK at that point you would stay airside not have to go through Immigration. However, you need to be careful to stay airside and you may well have to go through security again.

There should be plenty of shops and restaurants to while away a few hours.

Thanks for the the clarification, janisj and nytraveler. I guess having never been to London, just being in the airport will be interesting in itself--as you said, looking at shops, etc. Hopefully running on a good dose of adrenaline.

We flew earlier this year from Phoenix to LHR and then on to Marseille on BA. The gates for the flights were in different terminals and there was a huge amount of construction. We had to take a bus. It took quite a while. The terminal we went to to wait for the flight to Marseille had lots of duty free shops, including Harrods, and places to eat. It wasn't hard to spend a few hours there.

Both BA flights use T-5 which is a massive shopping mall w/ cafes, shops, pubs -- even a Gordon Ramsay restaurant.

If you guys keep it up, I might actually get excited about a few hours at the airport. I do feel better about it. Thanks a bunch.

Does no one else think the 12:40 to ORY is a good idea? When I read it above, I thought it sounded good.

I'll look into ORY flights. Appreciate the tip.

janisj - I get that if you're connecting on the same ticket you don't need to go through immigration, but what about the need to claim and re-check checked bags if you're on separate tickets? Is there baggage claim airside?

zoobie - if you are checking luggage be sure when you check in that you ask that it be tagged all the way to Paris. If they tag it only to London you will have to go through immigration to claim your bag, then go through re-check in for the flight to Paris, then re-clear security. Be sure you have your ticket details for London- Paris with you at initial check in so they know how to tag the bags to your final destination.

What I'd suggest before you book your London-Paris ticket is to call BA and explain what you want to do, ask what is the best way to proceed. At minimum they can link the PNRs, which is not the same a having all flights on the same reservation but does help.

BTW, I also think the flight to ORY is a good option - much smaller and easier to navigate than CDG, closer to town.

>>janisj - I get that if you're connecting on the same ticket you don't need to go through immigration, but what about the need to claim and re-check checked bags if you're on separate tickets? Is there baggage claim airside?<<

First of all the OP said they are carry-on only.

But since both flights are on BA - even though they are different tix it is almost certain the airline would check through.

Could you not call BA and add the second flight to the existing ticket so that it is all one reservation?

If you're only carry-on, then just relax in the terminal. There are far worse airports to have to blow 4+ hours than LHR (CDG is definitely near the top of that list).

And yeah, the nap rooms have twins and singles. You can wipe out jointly or your hubby can crash in a single while you shop the terminal mall, or vice versa (there's enough duty free hooch and other "sin" items [cigars, cigarettes, etc] at LHR to satisfy anyone).

jamikins beat me to it--check with BA, they might well add your connecting flight, problem solved.

I would choose the 12-ish flight into Orly, a very good suggestion.

"..But since both flights are on BA - even though they are different tix it is almost certain the airline would check through."

From a security perspective they may not, as the airline would have no guarantee that the passenger would follow the luggage to Paris. The airline is only obligated to get the luggage to London in accordance with the first ticket being used for that leg of the journey.

"they might well add your connecting flight, problem solved."

They might, but wouldn't they charge a change fee?

Change fee? I don't know and neither will the OP unless she ssks. To me it just seems the most obvious and direct next step.

Why would they charge a change fee? They aren't changing the existing flights. They are adding a flight to an existing reservation. I can't see a problem with that...but the likely have to call and ask BA to do it.

BA might add the second flight to the first, or they may not.

Why ? If the second BA flight was purchased through a discounter or wholesaler or some Agent other than directly from BA, it may have been purchased at a price, or terms and conditions of flight/refund that are different than BA's for that same BA flight. BA's T&Cs for that flight might be more generous (such as covering you for the second flight if the first gets you in late) and therefore they would charge more, hence a change fee or even a price differential top-up.
There might also be an issue with ticket and price coding on the BA system for the second flight that wasn't purchased directly from them.

I would think that the OP has a better chance of putting both flights on one ticket if both flights were bought (separately) directly from BA. In any case, good luck.