LHR T5 to T3 transfer

I 'm planing an ex-DUB trip to SFO in June. First time I've tried this trick but the savings look impressive. I can get a flight to DUB the night before for £19.90 so seems a no brainer as I would normally stay a night at LHR anyway.

Going through Expedia/Ebookers all I can get for my dates is a 07.50 from DUB connecting to the 11.50 VS to SFO the same morning.

That gives me 2h50m transfer between T5 and T3. Is this enough time to enjoy the CH and avoid a sprint?

What's the best way to get between these terminals? The LHR website says 90 mins but that seems excessive.

If my DUB flight is delayed where do I stand - would VS put me on a later flight?

The Itinerary is BA from DUB to LHR and VS after that.

Thanks for advice.

[honey lamb]

Transfer between T5 to T3 is via the Heathrow Express and is relatively quick. However, if you want to avoid an overnight in DUB and overnight at LHR instead then when booking your flight, input the day before the date of the SFO flight as your departure date and that should throw up late afternoon/evening flights ex DUB

Good call there Honey Lamb - I never though of that..!

The transfer between T5 & T3 takes all of about 10 mins of the Heathrow Express. On the bus its about 30 mins... Plenty of time for a bit of CH action!

I do this route a lot and its very easy. I did a live trip report a while back. I've only ever done flight connections and its take 20-25 mins from leaving the BA plane door to sitting down in the clubhouse.

I've never tried the Heathrow Express between terminals so might try it if that might be a quicker route provided you catch the train at the right time!

As honey lamb suggests, do both the LHR-DUB and DUB-LHR sectors the day before (if time and price allow), and overnight at LHR. That way there's no need to take your luggage to DUB, you can just leave it at your LHR hotel while you hop across to Ireland and back. No worries about delays, missed connections and transfers and - most importantly - plenty of Clubhouse time!

As honey lamb suggests, do both the LHR-DUB and DUB-LHR sectors the day before (if time and price allow), and overnight at LHR. That way there's no need to take your luggage to DUB, you can just leave it at your LHR hotel while you hop across to Ireland and back. No worries about delays, missed connections and transfers and - most importantly - plenty of Clubhouse time!

Thanks but as I live close to BHX doesn't make any sense going down to LHR the day before. Aer Lingus quoting £19.95 for a single from BHX to DUB. Guess I could do BHX-DUB and DUB-LHR the night before? Always concerned that that may look a bit odd but guess the ex-EU trick is legal even though I don't plan to take my final return leg.

Oh ok, yes in that case I'd do BHX-DUB and DUB-LHR the night before.

Remember EI charge for checked baggage with their lowest fares though - between €25 and €40 depending on weight.

Doing about the same thing except next month and from MAN.

Was considering taxi-ing from T5 to T3 and doing DTCI, particularly if I can't get luggage checked through to SFO.

Thoughts?

As honey lamb suggests, do both the LHR-DUB and DUB-LHR sectors the day before (if time and price allow), and overnight at LHR. That way there's no need to take your luggage to DUB, you can just leave it at your LHR hotel while you hop across to Ireland and back. No worries about delays, missed connections and transfers and - most importantly - plenty of Clubhouse time!

Thanks but as I live close to BHX doesn't make any sense going down to LHR the day before. Aer Lingus quoting £19.95 for a single from BHX to DUB. Guess I could do BHX-DUB and DUB-LHR the night before? Always concerned that that may look a bit odd but guess the ex-EU trick is legal even though I don't plan to take my final return leg.

As gumshoe says, those fares won't include luggage. I also live closer to BHX and in my planning for the same trip in September found it easier to drive to LHR the day before (thus avoiding potential traffic issues) and leave the luggage in storage in T5 (£10 each case) before flying to DUB (hand luggage-only fare with BA) and spending the night there. At least our SFO flight is the 15:35 VS41, so hopefully plenty of time in the CH after landing at 10:10 with BA.

I guess you could play it by ear on the day: walk outside and see if there are any black cabs around (and if the queue isn't too long); if no cabs or a massive queue, hop on the Heathrow Express.

You could also use any of the taxi apps (check it when you land to see what the pick-up times are) to book a minicab and take you over to DTCI.

As honey lamb suggests, do both the LHR-DUB and DUB-LHR sectors the day before (if time and price allow), and overnight at LHR. That way there's no need to take your luggage to DUB, you can just leave it at your LHR hotel while you hop across to Ireland and back. No worries about delays, missed connections and transfers and - most importantly - plenty of Clubhouse time!

Thanks but as I live close to BHX doesn't make any sense going down to LHR the day before. Aer Lingus quoting £19.95 for a single from BHX to DUB. Guess I could do BHX-DUB and DUB-LHR the night before? Always concerned that that may look a bit odd but guess the ex-EU trick is legal even though I don't plan to take my final return leg.

As gumshoe says, those fares won't include luggage. I also live closer to BHX and in my planning for the same trip in September found it easier to drive to LHR the day before (thus avoiding potential traffic issues) and leave the luggage in storage in T5 (£10 each case) before flying to DUB (hand luggage-only fare with BA) and spending the night there. At least our SFO flight is the 15:35 VS41, so hopefully plenty of time in the CH after landing at 10:10 with BA.

Thanks all for the advice. I'm booked up now. Unfortunately the fare combination with the DUB-LHR leg the day before was >£1000 more expensive!
So I'm DUB -LHR at 7.45am connecting with VS19 @ 11.50 - gives me 2h50m which I hope would be OK.
Have booked return from LAX VS 24 as thought I'd try the new clubhouse (hopefully open by June?). Land back at 17.05 and have ensured the return DUB leg is not til the next day. Total of under £1300 which I find hard to believe!
Few of questions:
Will my bags be checked through from BA to VS for the first leg?
If the 1st DUB flight is delayed/cancelled will VS move me to the later SFO flight?
As my final leg is a day later will I have to ask at LAX that they don't check my bags through to DUB?

2'50" should be fine. Just follow the purple Flight Connections signs when you arrive off the DUB flight, you'll be bussed over to T3 where you'll reclear security. Make sure you check in at the VS transfer desk in T3 before you make your way to the Clubhouse (you'll pass it as you walk through).

In answer to your questions:

1) Yes
2) You'll be moved to another flight but not necessarily a VS one
3) Yes