Qantas Terminal 3 to BA Terminal 5 transfer at Heathrow

Hello all. I would appreciate your advice on a transfer between Terminal 3 to 5 in Heathrow. I arrive on QF9 at 5.05am and have 3.45 hours to transfer to terminal 5 to catch a flight to Edinburgh using BA. The flights are bought on separate bookings. I have only carry-on luggage. I’m also QF P1 – so I can use priority lanes etc. I’m travelling business on both legs.

I have plenty of time, but I am always keen to avoid long queues. A few questions:

1) Will QANTAS issue me with a boarding pass for the BA flight even though it’s on a different booking – and booked through BA?

2) Is it easier to goe through immigration etc, exit terminal 3, get the tube and enter terminal 5 via the first-class entry?

3) Or, do I get the connecting bus airside?

Sorry, many details here – but some advice would be helpful.

The connecting bus is fairly easy to use and transits directly to T5 without stopping, I don’t think you’ll get a separate BA boarding pass from QF, but what i would recommend is using the BA smartphone app and loading your boarding pass electronically. I’m pretty sure it will work for all domestic and EU flights (not an exhaustive list!) from Heathrow.

I entered the (UK) at T3 off a QF flight four weeks ago. The queues were horrific but with an express pass got through the immigration fast lane in about 20 to 25 minutes. However I have previously experienced delays of over an hour, and that was in the express lane! On the most recent time I also had to transfer to T5, but this was to collect a rental car, rather than connect with another flight. It probably took 20 minutes from bag collection to arriving at T5 on the Heathrow train.

I would take the transfer bus. I’ve taken it before when travelling with just carry-on connecting from a non-OW carrier to a BA flight on separate bookings. After taking the bus you can use the priority lane at T5 to go through security.

You will have plenty of time but I agree that the transfer bus is a fast way to go. Exiting immigration, going down to the Tube, catching a train and then back through immigration again is a pain, especially by the time you get there is will be start of morning peak for T5. QF won't give you a BA boarding pass but get the BA app on your smartphone, get the boarding pass on this and you will be fine. And don't get too worried about any queues, you will have enough time, just relax and don't let yourself get too stressed.

Thanks everyone. Very helpful suggestions. I will get the internal bus and download the App.

I did it the other day of QF9 which get in close to 4.30 then 5 and at that hour the queues in terminal five for immigration are quite short (five people in front of me). Use immigration in terminal five than terminal three and make sure you do it as you are not automatically channelled to it as international flights use the same space. There is facial recognition used as you board so you wold be caught out at boarding if you tried it.

Good point.

Hello ... Not sure how you made your booking but Qantas will issue you with a boarding pass if one of your bookings is a redemption booking with points and the other is a paid booking or vice versa. If this is the case then the best way to do this is to check in at the airport, have a copy of your connecting BA flight details so that the QF staff can add it and then you should be set with your BA boarding pass as well.

All the transit tips given above. One thing to note is that the lounges at T5 are packed. Last couple of times I gave up on the T5 main lounges and made my way to the smaller lounge at T5B. Much quieter and great showers are what is needed after that long flight up form Perth. Enjoy

As the OP is connecting to a UK Domestic flight access to T5B is not an option.

Also 6am to 7 am is not really busy for T5 Lounges

Providing Qantas arrives at the scheduled time i.e 5 minutes after Heathrow opens there will be very few Domestic Connections at T5 so Airside lines will be minimal. Plus of course there is the unique UK system where there are no Customs at LHR for UK Domestic connections. Also unlikely to be any at EDI.

Just the messy photograph situation.

So 3 lines

1] Conformance and Photograph

2] Immigration

3] Fastrack Security

Definitely use the bus connection for flight connections. As a P1, the BA first lounge is upstairs at the southern end of terminal 5A - although access is from the lower level. The lounge at the northern end is similar to a domestic Qantas Club.

For those who are already landside and need to change terminals - don't use the tube as you will need to pay, go to the Heathrow Express station / platofrm, and you can transfer between T1,2,3 and T4 or T5 for free. Trains normally run every 15 mins on this line

The Heathrow app is very helpful, because it can calculate transfer times between terminals. You just plug in your flight details and it recommends the best transfer method.

I hope some of the respondents check this - but just to say thanks for your helpful advice.

Have done this three times in the last year via QF1 each time transferring to UK flights including Edinburgh all of which resulted in lengthy delays at Immigration . NOTE they channel you to a specific area for UK flights that does not have a priority lane ! last time it took 90 minutes to clear