Is 90 minutes enough for a layover in Heathrow?

So that airline suggests that 90 minutes will work, but don't delay getting off the plane, thru immigration/passport control, then thru security, and on to the other terminal. Again, look for an airport official if you need help.



A 90-minute layover at London Heathrow (LHR) is generally considered "sufficient but tight." In 2026, if your flights are on a single ticket and arriving/departing from the same terminal (e.g., Terminal 5 with British Airways), 90 minutes is usually plenty of time to clear flight connections security and reach your next gate. However, if you have to switch terminals (e.g., from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5), 90 minutes is the "Minimum Connection Time" and leaves almost no room for delays. You will have to take a shuttle bus between terminals and clear security again, which can take 45–60 minutes alone. A high-value tip is to follow the purple "Flight Connections" signs and avoid clearing immigration. If you are on a single ticket and miss the connection due to a delay, the airline is legally required to rebook you, but for a stress-free trip, a 2-to-3-hour window is much more advisable.

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Minimum connecting times We recommend that you allow the following times when connecting between terminals: Within Terminal 3: 60 minutes. Between Terminal 3 and Terminal 5: 90 minutes. Within Terminal 5 (UK domestic and international flights): 60 minutes.

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The Heathrow website has a layover link that will tell you if your time is reasonable or not. 90 minutes is usually ok but tight unless it is not on the same flight code. If you are taking a flight with a different airline on a separate ticket, then any delay would likely void your connecting flight ticket.

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Allowing yourself at least a 60-minute layover for domestic flights and a two-hour layover time for international flights can often be a much more comfortable and stress-free journey than booking a flight with a very tight connection.

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We recommend that you allow the following minimum connection times: 1 hour for connections within the same Heathrow terminal. 1 hour 30 minutes for connections that require travel between terminals at Heathrow.

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For international layover flights booked on one airline, two hours is often recommended to make your connection. For international flights on different airlines, the connection time will need to be even greater as you may have to change terminals between the two flights.

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CONNECTING FLIGHTS If your baggage is checked through to your final destination, that's where you clear customs. If you're collecting your baggage and checking in to your next flight yourself, you need to pass through customs at Heathrow.

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Minimum connecting times We recommend that you allow the following times when connecting between terminals: Within Terminal 3: 60 minutes. Between Terminal 3 and Terminal 5: 90 minutes. Within Terminal 5 (UK domestic and international flights): 60 minutes.

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We recommend that you allow the following minimum connection times: 1 hour for connections within the same Heathrow terminal. 1 hour 30 minutes for connections that require travel between terminals at Heathrow.

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Long-haul AA flights arrive in Terminal 3 (https://www.heathrow-airport-guide.co.uk). All BA flights operate out of Terminal 5. To get from Terminal 3 to 5, you need to take the Heathrow Express train service.

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If the missed connection is the airline's fault (a delayed initial flight due to mechanical problems, for example), the airline should rebook you on the next available flight. If the next outbound flight is the following morning, the airline should either book you on another airline or provide accommodations and meals.

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Do connecting flights wait for delayed passengers? Most airlines will try to accommodate passengers from a delayed inbound flight, but it's not guaranteed. Flight attendants might notify the ground crew of connecting passengers, but airlines typically won't delay a departure for a small group.

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Free London Underground services and shuttle trains (Elizabeth Line and Heathrow Express) are available for inter-terminal transfers between Heathrow Terminals 2&3 and Heathrow Terminal 5.

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So 2 hours should be ok - unless you run into really long lines at the connection center. Also no passport control and no customs. A second option is: immigration / customs in T1, walk through the tunnel to T3, security at T3.

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My normal arrival time is 1:30 and after de-boarding, the 15 minute walk to immigration, a short wait and processing and then the walk through customs and into the arrival area takes around an additional 15/25 minutes. The walk to the Express takes 5/10 minutes followed by as much as a 15 minute wait.

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' No. Has the person who told you this ever been to Heathrow? Not only is the concept of precheck rarely to never seen outside the States, it's not in use at UK airports, period.

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Use the eGates for quicker entry a national of an EU country, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the USA.

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What is a good connection time? Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.

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Customs and immigration are usually required at the connecting airport for international flights. You don't always have to for domestic flights. In most cases, passengers on layover flights must clear customs and immigration at the first point of entry.

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