I've posted this on the Europe Board, but I'm taking the liberty of posting here too, because of the timelines involved, and in the hope that experienced travellers can respond. We have an hour and twenty minutes to get from London Heathrow's Terminal 4 to Terminal 1 (in from Toronto and connecting flight to Dublin). Is this too short a time? Is there a reasonable expectation that if we do make the flight, our bags will accompany us? We have to book by 1800hrs EDT today, so any immediate responses would be very much appreciated. Sorry for the intrusion.

www.baa.co.uk/main/airports/heathrow/

Check out this website. You will probably get some info about connections between terminals.

You will have plenty of time. You will be shuttled from T4 to T1 on a bus -- you will stand on the bus. Just follow all of the people. There are signs and airport personnel there to direct you.

Thanks, both. The website indicates that I'll need evry bit of the time available to get from 4 to 1, and Leslie says "plenty of time." Ah, decisions, decisions...Incidentally no response on the Euroboard yet. Thanks again.

A legal connection is 55 minutes. If you were able to buy a ticket, and it has 2 legs to it, you have a legal connection.

Your bags will be tagged from the origination point through to your final destination if you are on any of the major airlines, therefore, you won't have to worry about your luggage.

Thanks, Leslie. I guess I thought that the concept of a "legal" connection involved a determination that beyond the stated time there was no reasonable expectation that you could make the second flight, amd that therefore, ticketers couldn't offer the connection for sale (at least without mentioning the fact that it wasn't "legal"). No? In other words, the fact of "legality" doesn't by itself give you a lot of assurance. I can think of a lot of 55-minute connections I'd hate to have to make (in Dallas ot Atlanta, for instance). Thanks again.

David, if you are uncomfortable with the connection time, by all means take a later flight. The last thing that you want to do is be tense, and not enjoy the beginning of your vacation because you are worrying about connection times.

I have flown into Heathrow and connected with flights over a dozen times. I have yet to miss a flight, and at one point I was on crutches, so you can imagine how much more time I would have needed for a connection.

You will have to weigh the pros and cons. Before you even buy the ticket, if you want some comfort level, call the airline and speak to a reservationist. Are both segments of your ticket on the same airline? If you don't book the flight with the 80 minute connection, when would the next flight depart. If its only a couple of hours, that's not a big deal, but if you have to wait 4 or more hours, think of how frustrated you will be in the airport if you choose to take the later flight but realize that you had plenty of time to catch the one that had the 80 minute connection.

The worst case scenario, if you do miss the flight with the 80 minute connection is that the airline will put you on the next flight.