to/from Heathrow
 

My 4 friends and I are going to London for 11 days and will probably be flying in and out of LHR. I have been gleaning some info on a current thread on airliners.net on the problems at LHR. I know some of these are colored by bad experiences at LHR.

What has been your experience flying in and out of LHR. How much time should we give ourselves, particularly on the return trip with lines and waiting? If we fly on AA, we will probably be arriving and departing from T3.

Would suggest that you check-in online before leaving for the airport (assuming you can do this with AA.

I was at Heathrow the week before last checking it at T3 for a transatlantic - I messed up a bit and did not leave myself enough time. I tried to check in online the night before but thought I had not been successful. Luckily I had checked in - made things a little easier when I arrived at the check-in desk (to check my bag) at 33minutes before the departure time. Would not recomend cutting it that fine but I had no problem ( though did have access to the fask track through security)

Check in online if you can, only bring ONE carry-on, arrive a couple hours before your flight, plan on a typically unpleasant airport experience. Nothing special really.

If we plan on returning on the 2:30 flight from LHR, would getting to the airport around 11:00 give us enough time?

be sure you understand the 1-item rule. You are only allowed one item through security (not one bag plus a "personal item" but one only)

However that is only for passing through security. After you are airside you can remove your handbag from the carry on and have it plus anything you buy at duty free

Also all of the biggies (Harrods, Liberty, Chanel, etc etc are in the departure lounge so if the lines aren't bad - you'll find plenty to fill the time.

Considering the last 2 times I went through Heathrow were

a) Gate Gourmet fiasco
b) 11th August security alert

In the former the flight was with British Mediterranean from T4 and I was assured that the flight was still on right up to the point I was interviewed by Channel 4 News. I then drove all the way back to Cambridge and eventually got a flight with Tarom via Bucharest

The 11th August problems meant that my connecting flight to LHR was cancelled and I had to travel to London 12 hours earlier than intended at my own expense (refund took several weeks to process)

Cabin luggage became a plastic bag with wallet, passport and flight tickets s everything else had to be checked.

Checkin took 90 minutes, security checks took another 90 minutes giving 10 minutes to get to the gate and onboard plane where we then sat for 2 hours.

Arrived in Madrid 90 minutes late - and 30 minutes before my next flight at the other end of T4S. This flight also took off 90 minutes late. Finally arrived in Havana but my luggage didn't so we had to spend our first day in the clothes we stood in with not even a toothbrush between us.

Coming back we were informed that the one plastic bag rule INTO the UK still applied and so we didn't even buy duty free.

I think I've had my lifetime's fill of Heathrow problems - until T5 opens.

Just in case anyone is worried that lightening will strike thrice, well this year I'm avoiding long distance travel until September and I'm intending to inflict myself on CDG as the fare is £200 cheaper from Edinburgh via CDG.

<i>If we plan on returning on the 2:30 flight from LHR, would getting to the airport around 11:00 give us enough time?</i>

Should be fine.