I’m doing my best to maximize my time in Istanbul, but I predict I am going to regret booking a 1-hour connection in London Heathrow. Frankly, I’m shocked United Airlines is even selling such a tight connection…
1-Hour Connection In LHR: Is This Even Possible?
I’ve enjoyed a fabulous stay at the Park Hyatt Istanbul and I do not want to have to rise before dawn to make the long journey to Istanbul Airport in order to make an early flight just so I can sit in London for several hours (it is nice to have access to five lounges there, but I’ve reviewed them all…).
In reviewing my flight options home, it looks like I am going to get started on my 2025 Premier 1K status with United…and the carrier is offering a rather questionable connection:
That’s right, one hour in London Heathrow to connect from the Turkish Airlines flight to the United Airlines flights. But this isn’t Frankfurt or Munich or even Paris. Here are my concerns:
- Turkish Airlines does not pad its schedules and it notoriously late – this flight is late almost every day into London
- I’ll be arriving in Terminal 2 and departing from Terminal 2, but it still will not be so straightforward: I will have to re-clear security and we know how strict the British are with inspecting carry-on bags
- Not only that, I’ll likely have to hustle from Terminal 2B all the way back to 2A to use the security checking, then back to 2B…that is well over a kilometer in length (there is a 2B to 2B security checkpoint, but I have never seen it open….)
So if the Turkish Airlines flight arrives late, I will be running my butt off to make a very tight connection.
Worthwhile to be able to sleep in and enjoy breakfast at the hotel before departing?
I guess we’ll find out…
CONCLUSION
United sold me a one-hour connection in London…but based on how late Turkish Airlines is each day, I fear that 60 minutes will become a 30-minute connection.
Booking a one-stop option would be ideal (and give me 70 minutes instead of 60 minutes for the connection), but LHR-LAX is full in business class…sorry, but I’m not going to fly home in economy class.
But I’m also fully expecting to be caught in London overnight (there are worse places to be stuck…). Any bets on whether I make my connection or am I just being plain plane stupid?
You should fly economy class home same-day if that’s an option after missing the flight to O’Hare
The question is how much do you want to get home? The chances you will have a hard time making to your UA flight in LHR are very high so plan accordingly if you miss that flight. And yes, British TSA makes US TSA a joke. If they don’t like the way your charging cables show on the x-Ray, you are done. They are a total pain.
I am debating the same on an upcoming trip to Europe where I will have 75 minutes to connect in AMS to a flight to Italy. AMS is good that you don’t have to take a train but there is a high chance my flight to Italy will be a bus from the gate to the plane. With 75 minutes between landing in AMS and taking off to Italy that will be very risky. Although there won’t be a need to clear security, I will have to clear immigration in AMS so that may be the killer.
I’m pretty sure you DO have to clear transit security at AMS? (Don’t even get me started on the useless PITA that is the whole concept of transit security to begin with…)
@MeanMeosh: I have been traveling through AMS for over 10 years every summer connecting to Italy, Spain, Greece, etc… and I never had to do security when coming from the US and connecting to another flight to Europe. You basically leave your plane coming from the US, walk through the terminal and get to the place you “enter in Europe” meaning you have to show your passports to get to the connecting gate. It has always been an easy process but they do not have electronic passport gates at that point so even having EU passport, I still need to talk to an agent before I am clear to go. I have never done security check at AMS when I did not leave the airport. Now, most of the times on the way back, I overnight at a hotel near AMS to get my flight to the US next morning. Now, that security check is a pain. The way to avoid hassle is to fly business class since you have a complete different access to the security line and that goes very fast. Last, the fact that AMS allows liquids of bigger sizes (including full bottles of water) to go through security makes your life so much easier.
Good to know, thanks. I may have been mistaking it with Europe-AMS-US connections.
I swear, I really don’t understand the thrill you get with running through airports to make avoidable risky connections…
Yes, this is a bad idea, and yes, you should plan to spend the night in London. Honestly, a 1 hour 45 minute international-to-domestic connection at ORD in the dead of winter isn’t any more sensible, though you’d luck out with the weather this time.
About a decade ago I had a weird situation with AA. After arriving in Europe I was looking at my return flight and realized AA screwed up the time difference which I didn’t think possible. I kept checking it, checked with some travel people and had to call AA several times before one lady agreed that the time difference was incorrect and I would be unlikely to make my flight connection and fortunately there was a later connecting flight to take with same class of service.
Most things in life now requires you to be proactive. Personally I wouldn’t take a 1 hr connection in Europe but I don’t fly as often as you do and I don’t like stress.
Now I did roll the dice on our moving flight. We had to deal with movers and wanted to fly out that night but the best flight had a 45 minute connection in DFW and I was told by a lot of people it would be unlikely to work. I booked a hotel with points in case we had to stay over since it would be late at night.
Fortunately we lucked out and the flight arrived 20 minutes early and using their “train” system moving to the other gate was easy and we had time to kill. So you never know.
“Frankly, I’m shocked United Airlines is even selling such a tight connection…”
To be fair to UA, they do flag it as a *risky* connection. And you elected to choose it anyway, so if there’s a broken connection, that was your decision. Yes, it is risky. Could you make it? Perhaps.
If I were you, I’d be looking warily at that connection at ORD too. You have to clear immigration/customs in T5, then transfer to T1 for your flight to LAX. Also quire risky….
And don’t forget that sometimes the walk from the lounge at LHR to your gate is a trip by itself. I had flights where the gate was 25 minutes walking from the lounge. It is a pain.
Agreed – the ORD customs clearance is likely to be very bit as big an issue as LHR security.
Just a head-up… there is actually a security checkpoint at Terminal 2-B and unless you are caught up with one of those Air Canada’s India arrival flights, you should be fine.
Adrian
I’ve never seen it open. Have you?
@Matthew, I’ve always been directed to T2A, so yeah, I’ve never seen T2B open, either.
I’ll just pile in and say that you’ll probably miss the UA flight. Honestly, this almost reminds me of OMAAT Ben’s ridiculous trip a while back when he deliberately booked separate tickets via LHR with 2 hours (or so) between flights. IIRC, it ended up being a fiasco trying to rebook/buy a new ticket. At least you’re very aware of the risks and it’s a single ticket.
Does UK261 apply in this case? Not sure because you’re only connecting in the UK…
EU 261 does NOT apply to IST-LHR on TK. It would apply to BA in both directions (the UK effectively still uses EU261 legislation, I believe) as BA is British but TK is a non-EU airline. However, the rules do apply to flights for any airline leaving the UK?
Simple, really LOL
EU 261 does NOT apply to IST-LHR on TK. It would apply to BA in both directions (the UK effectively still uses EU261 legislation, I believe) as BA is British but TK is a non-EU airline. However, the rules do apply to flights for any airline leaving the UK.
Simple, really LOL
It wouldn’t apply on a through ticket like this where neither the origin nor the destination are 261 jurisdictions.
Matt – hate to be ‘that guy’ but you are going to miss this connection, 100%, unless LHR-ORD is delayed. I’m in T2 at least twice a month and it really is that simple.
I bet he makes it if everything is on time
AF and DL sell hour long connections at CDG, which is even more absurd. I hade it from Gate 40 in Terminal 3 (as far away as you can possibly be from the bus) on the bus and through passport scan and security in Terminal 5 in 40 minutes a couple weeks ago. I pack zero liquids now. Those little toothpastes you get in Biz pass through the detectors fine without being in the little baggies they love to give you. You can also use the Fast Track lanes at LHR if you have the AMEX Centurion.
I recently had a one hour connection TUN-CDG-AMS and was quite nervous. I was in business class and cleared customs and security in less than 5 mins. I expected to be running or miss my connection, but I actually had about 30 mins to grab a bite and glass of champagne in the lounge. So it IS possible!
Future LALF story:
“I Missed My Connection From LHR to ORD…A Cautionary Tale.”
YWIA 😉
you seem to enjoy this mess but if I were you, I would just fly direct with TK. Most trans atlantic flights are boring for me, except from LON to NYC, BOS, or SQ 5th freedom flights but just thinking about the rest makes me sick. German and Swiss airports are good for transiting but I hate LH for their sloppy service and ancient hard product ( and the demeaning attitude of their agents). Not a big fan of Swiss either, although they are not as bad as LH. Anyway, cutting transatlantic flight into two always makes it really tiring because it is not long enough to be cut and you go through the security and wait at the transit airport for two hours, which is about 20-30% of your direct flight already…
I’ve done the TK flight in economy…it is pretty brutal.
https://liveandletsfly.com/review-turkish-airlines-777-300-economy-class/
I’d do in business…but with my booked iteanrry I was able to upgrade LHR-ORD-LAX, both flights which have lie-flat seats and thus I get a business class seat for the price of economy class and I can somehow justify my 1K status.
You describe TK economy as brutal in that article but it seemed quite nice to me but hey, I’m accustomed to riding in steerage. The food wasn’t to your taste, the bread a bit processed, but it looked like a pretty solid meal compared to some of the muck I have been served on United. The seats, IFE, amenity package, drinks, towels seem like a solid product.
My only gripe with Turkish is the hike in IST to transfer from the two terminals on the far end. No walkways (at the time) and limited and poor food selections at the new airport at the time. Perhaps it’s better now. Would have preferred they kept the old airport.
As an aside, just so you know, my 89 year old father-in-law is doing well in Odessa and didn’t mind the huge hike (he’s in good physical shape) through IST to transfer when he transited IST about 5 years ago.
Glad your FIL is doing well!
Thanks for your concern.
I’m reminded of the scene in Terminal where Viktor is asked to say he’s worried about his safety to go home and he responds: “Is home. I am not afraid from my home.”
For my father-in-law who lived through genocide in the 1930’s, there’s not a lot that shakes him. I want to make a video of him talking about his experience for posterity. His apartment building is blocked from the view of the sea by one that went up after he bought his unit. He hated it at the time for blocking his view, but he’s safer for it now. The trams still run. For him, he has his daily routine and likes to go buy bread daily and feel independent so I think that helps his general mental and physical well being. If we brought him to our suburban home, he’d be bored.
Been there and done that Matthew in Dec 2023.. I had a 65min connection flying from IST-LHR-DFW and we were delayed out of IST due to runway delays for 45mins.. ended up missing the connection and got rebooked via AA. Was a win for me as I arrived DFW 4hrs later than scheduled which entitled me to 600 euros x 3 passengers. Also ended up getting LP to my AA account despite booking an award ticket :).
EVERYTHING. Everything could go wrong…
It’s fine. Even enough time to squeeze in two lounge reviews and promenade after. Don’t forget to gather a few duty free gifts for Heidi.
Don’t forget that LHR has some silly rules in place stopping pax from going through security within (I think) 35 minutes of your departure time. Not sure whether connections are exempt, T2 isn’t really set up for them so I wouldn’t be surprised if you got there in time to catch your UA flight and were still turned away.
There is a UA LHR-LAX non stop UA935 at 15.20 – ten mins later than your ORD connection. You never know they might re protect you on that if you run like help
Heathrow is so bad I will do anything to avoid it. I will be taveling from PHL to Edinburgh and have been building up a staph of Aer Lingus Avios which I will use to fly to Dublin and on to Edinburgh. I refuse to board a bus again on the tarmac and be taken to the “front door” to go through hell again to enter the terminal-‘only to miss my connection due to an hour+ check in experience.
BA has recently changed their LHR MCT to 70 minutes from 60 minutes and I think that’s a bit sporty too, especially when traveling longhaul. The change just went into effect. The fantasy of simply walking off one flight and on to another directly, from a schedule standpoint is long dead.
It’s really too bad LHR is set up the way it is – I think is is totally unnecessary when stepping off fights from the USA or Western Europe…but I know that’s the way the infrastructure is set up.
Are there any circumstances where one doesn’t have to clear security when transiting LHR? It’s a big black eye on the airport if so, especially since most hubs in the EU no longer require a transit security check when connecting from the US or EU.
By the way, is this being offered as a cash ticket? Presume I0X0 on the THY flight means there’s no award availability in either class.
Correct. Was a $760 cash ticket.
I’m a bit surprised it’s being sold like that- it’s not a codeshare and TK obviously flies to both ORD and LAX.
Security at LHR is a royal pain in the arse. It’s one of the reason I usually transit back home via FRA. That wasn’t an option this time unfortunately.
My bet is that Matthew will make it to the UA flight direct to LAX 🙂
Believe me, if that flight wasn’t filled with a deep upgrade waitlist, I’d do everything in my power to get on it…
Premium Plus?
A casual search for MCT and I found an article that BA will increase its MCT 15 minutes – 60 to 75 minutes. I know you are not in the back of the airplane – which adds time in your egress. 60 minutes in T2 would only be challenging if you weren’t in biz class on your inbound flight. Connecting customers to UA are monitored by a behind the scenes connection specialist. Depending on status, you might get a fast car to take you from one gate to another. I’ve even seen checked luggage make this type of connection – not thru FRA tho! Sorry LH!
Would I book a :60 minute connection via LHR – hell no!
On another note: Clearing IST 3 stops into the Türkiye to US gate areas takes longer than :60
I’m seated in coach on the Turkish segment. Upgrade was $499. Too much for a regional business class.
I suspect that you have a decent chance at an opup, they frequently oversell Y and upgrade *Gs. I have never bought a TK business class ticket within Europe, but I have been upgraded quite a few times, including on widebodies.
If LHR security act in their normal way, you will not make it. I’d recommend a Plan B.
If you’re going to go through the rigmarole of connecting at LHR you ought at least to arrange to start from within the EU, so you get the compensation when you misconnect. What about a LCC from IST to say, ATH and start from there?
When are you doing this? Please report back. I used to be a travel agent and basically, if the airline approved of a connection and allowed us to ticket it as a “married” connection, they were responsible for getting the passenger from point a to point b, even if he had to be overnighted.
I haven’t been an agent since 1995, but have booked all my personal travel since then. I assume the rules and obligations haven’t changed very much.
This seems like a very poor plan for someone as experienced as you.
It is possible to catch the flight but as you say if TK is late, you’re screwed. I can think of a few things that might save you
1. If I recall you are 1K. Maybe UA will will send an agent to meet your at the gate to escort you through or at least hold the flight if they think you have a chance. More likely if you were GS.
2. There is a 320pm direct to LAX so they could switch you to that but it’s only 10 min later
I would never do this because I am always using PP to upgrade and don’t want to risk losing the upgrade
Otherwise you end up overnighting and you end up wasting even more time at those 5 lounges.
However, if your ultimate goal was to not have to get up early and your didn’t care when your get home, I guess it’s a good plan
I don’t know what you’re worrying about. TK1931 has only been over an hour late once in the last week, it averages 40 minutes 😉
I wouldn’t worry, if a connection is tight, UA ground staff tend to be pretty proactive and they are usually at the incoming aircraft door to help expedite your way through LHR not that you are excused things like security clearance but once you are in their care, the connection is safe.
Just did ORD-LHR on UA and then LHR-LIS on BA I had a one hour connection and went from T2 to T5 and made it on the plane in 40 minutes. I didn’t run but walked with purpose and hoped for the best. It was all one itinerary due to AA and UA irrops, thankfully it worked, but TBH this is the first time in 5 or 6 transits in a year that it all worked as it should.
Good luck to you, my goal is to avoid LHR at all costs , but on the last few trips, it was forced due to irrops or just crappy luck.
I would say if it’s possible you should book special assistant like that you’ll have a better chance…
Well? Did you make it?