Options for self-transfer (BA -> BA) at LHR T5

[joshmcr]

Hi folks, it looks like I need to do a self-transfer at LHR T5 between BA flights and I’d like advice from those who have found themselves in a similar situation and what steps they took, or challenges they experienced as this is my first time…

I’m undertaking a business trip with a colleague, booked through BA on BA flight codes. As it’s a big trip, I have luggage and already pre-booked seats for all sectors

MAN > DUB > EWR (via Aer Lingus for pre-clearance on a BA flight number, Econ)
returning a week later
PHL > LHR (BA 66, in PE, arriving 0655) > MAN

However, I now need to get to Milan on a personal trip, on my day of arrival by no later than 1600 local time. The best option seems to be:

0915 LHR > MXP

with a last ditch option for later.

I had already budgeted 2 hours for the Manchester transfer based on previous experiencing rushing across LHR T5 and clearing security.

Calling the BA US call centre, they advised me I could split my booking and travel on to MXP solo but for the princely sum of $3,000. The alternatives they suggested (which I had already researched) were:

1. Ask at LHR to retrieve bags and state I would not be boarding my onward flight to MAN. Buy a ticket to MXP at airport.
2. Ask to short-check bags at PHL, exit LHR T5 arrivals and re-enter departures with bags dropped. I guess I could also ask to retrieve bags.
3. Buy a ticket LHR -> MXP and ask at PHL to check bags through. This is not something I thought could be done.

I know short-checking bags has been considered a risk/unreliable for ex-EU flights but this is a domestic connection onto another BA flight.

Is option 3 likely at all?
Is option 2 much too tight?

And where do I ask to retrieve bags? If I recall correctly, domestic connections at T5 require you to go through security so presumably at a point before that.

Thanks for the advice!

[ChrisBCN]

Option 3 would be the best outcome, but you are reliant on one person on one day to allow something which is mostly against the rules, I consider that to be very risky!

Is your work flight booked through your corporate travel agent (if you have one)? If yes, you should be able to get them to amend to end at LHR. If not, then I’ve no idea what you can do!

[ChrisC]

It is very unlikely your bags would be short checked to LHR. It goes against BA policy. US outstations are strict on this.

It’s also against BA policy to interline bags on separate tickets. Again US outstations appear to be strict about this as well. It does happen on occasion but it’s not something to rely on.

And whilst a 6.55 arrival from PHL and 9.15 departure to MXP looks like a good amount of time – 2 hrs 20 mins – in reality only have 1hr 35 mins due to the 45 mins check in close time for your MXP. Given how slow bags can be at T5 at the moment I wouldn’t rely on a manual extraction from the system being speedy.

[ChrisC]

One option that’s just occurred to me is to try and rebook MXP for MAN once you have flown the outbound as the trip would be repriced on historic rather than current pricing.

But if this is a work booked trip you would need to check with them if this is OK as often mixing work and personal trips is verboten

[TGLoyalty]

Get the lHR to man transfer changed to +many hours if not 24 then ask for it to be short checked. Likely they’ll do it, if not you can ask for it at LHR.

[SamG]

TGLoyalty wrote:

Get the lHR to man transfer changed to +many hours if not 24 then ask for it to be short checked. Likely they’ll do it, if not you can ask for it at LHR.

That is what I would do. Even better if you can get on the LCY or LGW flight (depends on the day you land if the schedule works or not )

You may need to change this once you’ve flown the first sector if they’re quoting you silly money in advance

You can buy the 09:15 as a plus fare. If you’re going to miss it then you can same day change to the later flight up to 1hr before ( do not check in so that you can do this online)