joethekay

Any one know how long the lines are for immigration/passport control at LHR are? I am arrriving from ORD on BA continuing on to Rome on BA. I have a 2 hour window to make my flight. Will this be enough?

zeppole

If you have any doubt you are going to make the connection, you should find a ticket agent and have them escort you to the head of the line at immigration. I was at CDG this morning at 5am, and that's what other people with tight connections were doing (getting ahead of me!)

flanneruk

You shouldn't be going through immigration at all.

yk

Wouldn't the OP be only transiting and won't be going through immigration/customs?

zeppole

I was only transiting at CDG to Italy and I had to go through immigration. I did in Dublin as well. Security, too.

But the UK has it's own rules, I guess. Maybe?

yk

BTW, both your flights (arrival and departure) will be using T5, so you won't even need to change terminals. 2 hours is plenty of time.

joethekay

I guess I was confused, as the last time I transited, I needed to change terminals and went thru control. In this case I am on an all BA itinerary in and out of the new T-5 and I assume, therefore, I will go thru passport control at FCO. Right?
Also, are there any smoking lounges at T-5 or is all banned. My DW is an inveterate smoker and will be dying for a "fix" by then, so is it possible to exit out and puff and reenter all in 2 hours? Is this even possible?

yk

You can check the terminal map for T5 to see if there's a designated smoking area/room.

hetismij

zeppole you went through immigration as CDG was your point of entry into the Schengen zone.

joethekay you will go through security again, which can take a long time. Remember that any duty free your bought in ORD can't be taken onto the flight to Italy.
No smoking allowed, and without going through immigration and getting outside then going through it again to get back in no chance of a smoke. I suggest nicotine patches or gum to keep her going till they get to Italy.

Underhill

We were on a connecting flight through Heathrow last December, which involved changing terminals. We went through a maze of corridors and then arrived at an exit door, where security people led us onto a bus to the next terminal. Once there we continued through more corridors until we ended up on the other side of security. So no Immigration when you're in transit--only if you're going to be leaving the airport.