I am new at this so please bear with me. I am sure this question has been asked many times but I would like to hear from someone who has travelled recently.
I will be arriving at Terminal 4 with Malaysian Airlines in early May 2010, ETA 16:15. I will be travelling on to Dublin with either Air Lingus or BMI, both of whom depart from Terminal 1. I will not be able to forward my luggage on from my departure origin & will have to collect it at Terminal 4 & lodge it with the carrier at Terminal 1.
How long should I allow to connect comfortably without putting any pressure on myself? There are flights at 19:10, 20:10 & 21:10.
I have not traveled frequently through Heathrow, but do know from experience that it is not a fast process. Distances between the arrival gates and the terminals are long (they often feel interminable) - as are the lines at passport control. I don't think I've ever gotten through that process in less than 30-45 minutes. Then, if you are not checking luggage through to Dublin, you will have to retrieve your baggage and go through customs - I would allow another 30 minutes for that process, just to be on the safe side.
This page from the Heathrow Airport website has a map of the terminals, and this page describes how to get between terminals. I would allow about 30 minutes for the transfer, after which you will need to check in at terminal 1 and go through what is now heightened security processing.
If it were me, I would aim for the 20:10 flight, rather than stressing about making the earlier flight. But some of our British members may have other thoughts.
TourMama
Posts: 3899 | Location: Berkeley, CA | Registered: 22 March 2005
I'd agree with TourMama. Give yourself plenty of time and some extra. Terminal 4 is fairly quiet but Terminal 1 is always busy - check in queues are long and slow. Security can take an age.
20.10 flight should give you plenty of time. I always tend to be over cautious and personally would go for the 21.10 flight. This gives you plenty of time to relax, get something to eat and use the toilet (you can even get queues for these...)
Having had some pretty hairy experiences trying to do a tight connection between T4 and T1 (especially the one when I went galloping to the BMI gate just as the agent literally slammed it shut in my face and mouthed,"So sorry"), I totally agree with giving yourself time. If you have to pick up your bags at T4, go through immigration and customs, travel to T1 (which you can do via Heathrow Express/Connect but otherwise it's busses for which, as Eleanor says, there are often painfully slow long lines). Once you have collected your bags at T4,and gone through customs, go down to Heathrow Express (free to T1) and take the lift up to arrivals as though you are just coming to depart rather than connecting. The transit should take about half an hour total but airlines do ask you to allow 75 minutes between connections at Heathrow.
Slow Travel Talk 
