Airport-to-airport transfers: planning a connection
A change of airport needs enough time for two airport processes and the journey between them. Before booking the car, check the arriving and departing airports, the flight dates, the terminals and the onward airline’s check-in deadline. Then establish what happens to your luggage.
A driving estimate covers only the road section. It cannot tell you whether a connection is realistic for your particular flights.
First check how your flights are booked
Ask the airline or travel organiser whether you have a protected connecting itinerary or separate tickets. Confirm where you need to collect baggage and where it must be checked in again. If your transfer requires entering the UK, check the entry requirements that apply to you before buying the journey.
At Heathrow, the process for a through connection differs from a self-connection on separate tickets. Some passengers can follow an airside transfer route; others need to pass through arrivals and check in again. Heathrow’s connection guidance explains the distinction. If both flights use Heathrow, check that guidance before arranging a road transfer between terminals.
Build the connection in stages
Write down the next flight’s check-in or bag-drop deadline, not just its departure time. Then account for each part of the trip:
- Leaving the aircraft and reaching any passport checks.
- Collecting luggage and completing the arrival process.
- Reaching the agreed collection point.
- Travelling between airports, with an allowance for traffic or disruption.
- Unloading, reaching the next airline’s check-in area and completing security.
Leave room for uncertainty where you cannot control the timing. If the plan works only when every stage runs at its shortest possible duration, discuss another itinerary with your airline or travel organiser. We cannot give a universal minimum that makes every cross-airport connection safe.
Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton
Heathrow lists coach connections to Gatwick, Stansted and Luton as alternatives to travel by car. Check current departure points, timetables and ticket conditions for the day of your journey. Rail routes between airports may involve changes, so compare the complete itinerary. Heathrow’s travel-between-airports guide.
The airport details also matter. Gatwick has North and South terminals, while Luton Airport Parkway station is separate from the airport terminal. Heathrow has Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. Use the precise endpoints when checking a route; a station or a different terminal may add another stage.
Our guides cover Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City. Read the arrival airport’s guide for collection planning and the departure airport’s guide for the onward leg.
The details to send when arranging a transfer
Give both flight numbers, both airports, the travel date and the terminals shown on your itinerary. Include the passenger count, full luggage load and any child seat or accessibility requirements. Tell us that you are connecting to another flight and share its check-in deadline.
Choose a lead passenger who can be contacted during the transfer. If someone else is booking for the group, the travellers still need the booking reference, meeting instructions and contact details.
If the arriving flight is delayed
Contact the onward airline or travel organiser as well as us. The airline can explain your flight options; we need to know how the change affects your collection. Keep the booking reference and new flight details in the same message so the correct journey can be identified.
Ask what changes to the transfer are possible under your booking terms. A revised pickup time does not extend the next airline’s check-in deadline. If the connection is no longer practical, settle the onward travel plan before arranging a replacement car journey.
Would an overnight stay help?
If the itinerary leaves little room for delay, compare a hotel stay or a later onward flight before committing. Check the hotel’s exact location and the transport needed to the departure terminal. Our hotel transfer guide covers the address, arrival and morning collection details to confirm.