Transfer times

[ujpest doza]

WE're looking at doing indirect BA flights from Newcastle via Heathrow and Gatwick.
As there isn't a connecting flight to Gatwick from Newcastle we have to pay for a transfer from Heathrow to Gatwick.

We've been told it's best to have a 3 hour window between landing at Heathrow and flying from Gatwick.

Anyone any experience of doing this? Is a 3 hour window enough or should we give ourselves a bit more time (there being 2 daily flights from LGW to MCO)?

[msmiff]

Lovely 'scenic' run around the M25 - not fun even at the best of times...
A 3 hour window would be IMHO a minimum....
Depends pretty much on what time of day you intend to 'hit' the M25...
7:30 to about 9:30am it's quite often solid but OK (ish) later during the day....
This snippet from Trip Adviser:-
Connection times:
Three hours is the minimum time to allow between Gatwick and Heathrow and vice-versa if using an airport connection car hire service. Give another hour if you are travelling by coach. This allows one hour for customs and check-in at each airport and another hour or so for collecting luggage etc. and the journey between the airports. (Typically a 45-50 minute car journey plus loading).
WARNING: IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING ON A MONDAY MORNING, FRIDAY or SUNDAY AFTERNOON / EVENING, ADD AT LEAST ANOTHER HOUR TO YOUR JOURNEY TIME, MAKING A MINIMUM OF FOUR HOURS!

[Bigblue35]

What about flying from Manchester? I know it's a bit away from Newcastle but would it be easier to get to?

[ujpest doza]

What about flying from Manchester? I know it's a bit away from Newcastle but would it be easier to get to?

It's considerably cheaper to use BA from NCL via LHR/LGW than to fly from Manchester or direct on a charter from Newcastle.

[ujpest doza]

Lovely 'scenic' run around the M25 - not fun even at the best of times...
A 3 hour window would be IMHO a minimum....
Depends pretty much on what time of day you intend to 'hit' the M25...
7:30 to about 9:30am it's quite often solid but OK (ish) later during the day....
This snippet from Trip Adviser:-
Connection times:
Three hours is the minimum time to allow between Gatwick and Heathrow and vice-versa if using an airport connection car hire service. Give another hour if you are travelling by coach. This allows one hour for customs and check-in at each airport and another hour or so for collecting luggage etc. and the journey between the airports. (Typically a 45-50 minute car journey plus loading).
WARNING: IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING ON A MONDAY MORNING, FRIDAY or SUNDAY AFTERNOON / EVENING, ADD AT LEAST ANOTHER HOUR TO YOUR JOURNEY TIME, MAKING A MINIMUM OF FOUR HOURS!

Cheers, upon further checking we'll have 3hrs 55 minutes outbound on a Friday morning and 3 hours exactly on the return on a Saturday morning which I'd expect to be pretty quiet.

[Val]

Don't worry sometimes indirect times can be easier even though Atlanta is a large airport, but Orlando airport can sometimes be a nightmare we once waited five hours to clear customs the queues were so long and not many booths open
Val

[Madabouttigger]

We have booked through Virgin - Manchester - Miami (Via Atlanta) then Orlando - Manchester, for next March. A couple of weeks ago I logged onto the Virgin web site to find a message stating our outward flights had been cancelled and rebooked for the next day!! I rang Virgin and complained, they have now booked us Manchester - Heathrow (with BA) Heathrow - Miami with Virgin. The changeover at Heathrow is only 1hour 10 mins, shame - I was looking forward to another complementary visit to the Virgin Club Lounge