Transfer Heathrow/Gatwick
 

I'm sure this has been asked before BUT here it goes again...I want to fly BA from Montréal to Venice this fall and the flight schedule includes a transfer from Heathrow to Gatwick. We are schedule to land at LHR at 9:05AM and our flight to Venice leaves at 1:00PM out of Gatwick does this leave us enough time? If we miss the connection will they put us on the later flight, which leaves at 6:00PM, anybody ever done this?
Thanks
Julie

If you do a search above there are several threads with details - and all sorts of opinions on this.

But - as you know - the key factor is whether or not your initial flight lands on time - so as a first step I would check out the flight's on-time record. (That is a fairly late flight from NA - the earliest flights landing at 6-7am usually have good on-time records - not sure about ones that late.)

http://www.britishairways.com/travel...lgw/public/en_

That sure would be cutting it close even if your flight is on time. BA says to allow 3 hr minimum for the transfer..AFTER picking up your luggage, going thru Immigration,purchasing your bus ticket and catching the bus. The bus takes at least 60-75 minutes, then you have to recheck your bags and get a boarding pass if you don't already have one.
BA does not pay for the bus and your luggage cannot be checked all the way to your final destination.

Have a look at the website for National Express, you can book tickets online. 50% discount for over age 60.

Lots of people do the transfer LHR/LGW w/o any problems. If your LHR flight is on time or nearly so, and you only have carry-ons then you shouldn't have any problems. I try to allow a minimum of 4 hours and you will have almost that much time. But it could be very tight if you have checked luggage. Of course, you won't know until the day if you will land on time.

If you do have checked bags, all bets are off. You might get your luggage in a few minutes but it could also easily be 30 - 45 minutes or more, and then you will be up a creek . . . . .

And yes - they will put you on the later flight -- IF there are seats . . . . .

Last time I did this (although my flight from Gatwick was not until the next morning) the bus broke down on the highway. . . .that added about 45 minutes to the bus trip between Heathrow and Gatwick.