BA flight connection

[BrianN]

Hi

I was considering booking a flight which includes a domestic connection but the connection time is tight.

For example. International destination to Gatwick. Arrives 9.00am. Gatwick to Glasgow departs 10.20am.

So the connecting time is only 80 mins but does meet BA’s minimum time of 75 mins.

If I missed my connecting flight simply because I couldn’t get through security etc quick enough would I have any rights?

Would BA at least book me on another flight for free?

Or would it simply be my fault I missed it and I would need to pay for another flight?

This is under a scenario where my international flight landed on time.

Thanks

[John]

Yes, if both flights are on one ticket you would be rebooked

[BrianN]

Thanks for the reply.

Any idea what would happen to the checked bags?

They would be checked the way through from my international flight.

Would they still be on the domestic connection I missed and stored for me in Glasgow?

Or would they be removed from the flight and moved to my rebooked flight?

If there wasn’t a flight to be rebooked on that same day who would be responsible for the cost of a hotel under this scenario?

I guess missing the connection wouldn’t be BA’s fault so I’m guessing me?

There are later flights that day from Heathrow not Gatwick. I guess if the baggage was removed I could in theory travel between airports if I got rebooked from there. Just seems like it could get complicated.

[e14]

BrianN wrote:

Thanks for the reply.

Any idea what would happen to the checked bags?

They would be checked the way through from my international flight.

Yes, they would be checked to your domestic destination

BrianN wrote:

Would they still be on the domestic connection I missed and stored for me in Glasgow?

Or would they be removed from the flight and moved to my rebooked flight?

They are likely to be removed if you did not make the connection taken back to baggage to await retagging

BrianN wrote:

If there wasn’t a flight to be rebooked on that same day who would be responsible for the cost of a hotel under this scenario?

I guess missing the connection wouldn’t be BA’s fault so I’m guessing me?

BA has the duty of care if they make you miss the connection and will provide a hotel, obviously if you miss the connection through your own fault then there is no onus on BA.

BrianN wrote:

There are later flights that day from Heathrow not Gatwick. I guess if the baggage was removed I could in theory travel between airports if I got rebooked from there. Just seems like it could get complicated.

It could but why are you worrying about this. Get some AirTags so you can track your luggage and don’t put anything valuable or required in them – if they turn up a couple of days later after you so be it (it’s nice to walk out of an airport knowing someone will bring your bags along later !)

[SamG]

In this specific scenario you’d almost certainly be rebooked out of Heathrow or London City as there is only one flight per day to Glasgow

If it’s a longhaul flight the rebooking will likely automatically happen once you’ve taken off from your origin. Either check using wifi or once you land.

In that case you should ask about your bags in the baggage hall and get them back before proceeding to the new airport (likely via Uber that you can claim back afterwards but check with the ground staff) . If you need a hotel then you can either ask them to assist or book yourself and claim back via their website.

If there hasn’t been a rebooking then if you definitely missed it then I’d also get my bags back and then go upstairs to the check in area for assistance. If you ran for the gate and missed it you’d need to be escorted out and they take you back to the baggage hall as well

[BrianN]

Hi thanks for the replies.

Yeh the scenario I’m talking about is one where the international flight landed on time or thereabouts.

We rushed through security passport control etc but just due to queues or whatever else missed the domestic connecting flight.

So the reason for the questions was I was viewing this as not BA’s fault at all so just trying to check what may happen under such a scenario.

Normally I wouldn’t book such a tight connection but as mentioned only one flight a day from Gatwick.

Considering whether to take a punt on the Gatwick connection or just suck it up and take the inconvenience of changing airports and flying home from another London airport later in the day.

I haven’t booked yet hence the pre booking questions. Thanks

[Froggee]

Oh – totally book the connection as if it goes to plan you are back home on time and if it goes badly then you would end up doing what you are talking about booking because you are nervous about the connection!

I don’t know what would happen if, say, you had an 11 year old child that spent an hour in the toilet on landing and this caused you to miss your flight but if it is not your fault then BA will fix it.

But my top tip if there is a big queue at security is to tell someone in a Gatwick vest that you are on a tight connection, could you please go to the front of the queue. They won’t care. Then, ever so politely, go to the front of the queue. Don’t be passive!

The main purpose of the Glasgow flight is for connecting leisure passengers so BA aren’t in the business of misconnecting everyone!