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I booked my Christmas trip through United as a single ticket, but only now realized that my connection time in LHR is only 1 hour.

It looks like my flight from Vienna arrives at terminal 2 and the departing flight also goes from T2. Nonetheless one still has to go through security and document check (since it's a USA-bound flight).

So my questions:

  1. Is it reasonable to expect to make my flight to IAH with just 1 hour connection time? United sells it so I guess they see it as feasible.
  2. Would I be eligible for monetary compensation if my VIE-LHR flight is delayed and I arrive to Houston late? There are plenty of flights to Houston so I can be re-booked no problem. enter image description here
Franck Dernoncourt
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Ozzy
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2 Answers2

5

On the topic of compensation:

  • The stop in London has no influence: the whole trip from Vienna to Houston is considered as a single trip, and since it departs from the EU, it’s covered under EC261
  • This means that in case of disruption, they have to rebook you (which they would do anyway, but the requirements are stronger), they have to take care of you if there are extended waits (meals, hotels, etc.), and they may owe you compensation.
  • Compensation is based on the delay at the final destination and the total distance from origin to destination.

Note however that compensation is not owed in case of extraordinary circumstances, which may include weather-related delays.

jcaron
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4

It might be pretty tight, but if United sold you this ticket they'll take care of you if you miss the flight. My experience with LHR is that it may occasionally get crowded in transfer security checks, and it's something difficult to anticipate. 1 hour is very risky, and any delay of the incoming flight will eat into your very slim time margins. You're right that there's additional security checks at the gate on top of the airport security, but I don't think United will close the gate while there are still people in the queue, so as long as you get to the gate on time you should be good.

Refer to the answer by @jcaron re compensation.

oh whatever
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