CODC10 From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 2166 posts, RR: 8 Posted (5 years 8 months 6 hours ago) and read 1495 times:
Just a quick question for those of you with some more experience than I:
I am going to have to make a run to Belgrade, Serbia in a few weeks, and am planning on dovetailing it into a trip to London I already have planned. My question concerns the return trip, where I will be making a same-day connection from BEG to my return flight on VS LHR-EWR.
For roughly the same price and timing, I can do BA BEG-LHR, come into T4, and make the connection to VS at T3. Alternatively, I could do JU into T2, which I know would be a more convenient transfer, but I have never flown Jat so I'm not sure what to expect.
A few important things to remember:
-I will have checked luggage
-I will more than likely be traveling in Y
-My layover time is in excess of four hours, as I do plan on spending some time at the VS Clubhouse, so a tight connection isn't really an issue
-I have never made an interline connection at LHR, in fact, the only connections I have made there are on BA T4-T4 so I'm not familiar with the transfer options between that building and the main terminal complex
-The JU flight is a 737-300/400, the BA flight is an A319
So, overall, I'm looking for ease of transfer, minimal risk of operational issues (beyond normal considerations), and quality of product. Your help will be greatly appreciated in pointing me in the right direction! Thanks in advance...
VikingA346 From Sweden, joined Oct 2006, 499 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (5 years 8 months 6 hours ago) and read 1480 times:
As a member of the BA team, I am a bit biased, however; I would go with BA. I can't say I've ever heard anything about JU, but in terms of safety and service, you can't go wrong with BA. If your connection was shorter I would have said go with JU simply because of the risk of BA losing your luggage. Four hours, however, shouldn't pose a problem for the baggage handlers at LHR to get your luggage to T-3.
T-4 to T-3 isn't that bad of a commute - especially with four hours under your belt.
Go with BA, you can't go wrong.
Viking
...you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you shall return
CODC10 From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 2166 posts, RR: 8 Reply 4, posted (5 years 8 months 3 hours ago) and read 1394 times:
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 3): Do you really have to transfer at LHR? I would really advise against chaging planes in LHR if it can be avoided. The airport is a mess.
Yes, my return on VS is already purchased and the window for the Belgrade trip falls on the dates I will be in London for business. As a rule I avoid European connections entirely, and have only transferred at LHR out of necessity on three separate occasions during a time when I was traveling across the Atlantic quite extensively. This is just something that needs to be done so I want to do it as painlessly as I can.
Rdwootty From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2005, 900 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (5 years 8 months 3 hours ago) and read 1381 times:
Just a thought...if you fly JU the aircraft actually leaves for its journey from Belgrade and is therefore less likely to have a delay .In addition the proportion of lost bags at Terminal 4 is a national disgrace and even if you had to collect your bags in Terminal 2 and trundell it to Terminal 3 it would be better. In addition the flight times are better with less of a time problem on JU so that would be my choice. You also will be able to transit terminal 2 before it is demolished.
I have to agree with both of you. BA is definitely above JU in terms of service, but having flown the route with both airlines, it comes down to whether you want a Boeing or an Airbus Its your typical, boring European flight.
Quoting Rdwootty (Reply 5): .if you fly JU the aircraft actually leaves for its journey from Belgrade and is therefore less likely to have a delay .
BA's performance to and from BEG is excellent so I wouldn't worry there. Go BA!
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24889 posts, RR: 60 Reply 7, posted (5 years 8 months 2 hours ago) and read 1355 times:
Quoting VikingA346 (Reply 1): but in terms of safety and service, you can't go wrong with BA
You cant go wrong with JAT either .
Quoting Rdwootty (Reply 5): if you fly JU the aircraft actually leaves for its journey from Belgrade and is therefore less likely to have a delay
Exactly. I would choose JAT. Something different and they will thru check bags from BEG. Whenever I have been checking in at BEG there have been many passsengers going onwards to USA and Canada and all had their bags tagged to final destination.
JU are average but I have never had a bad flight on them and always enjoyed my flights. I have never been delayed either. Go with JU and add another carrier to your flown list!!! For more info check out www.jatlondon.com
What ever way you fly enjoy Belgrade , one of my favourite cities in Europe.
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
AIR MALTA From Malta, joined Sep 2001, 2362 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (5 years 8 months 2 hours ago) and read 1339 times:
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 3): Do you really have to transfer at LHR? I would really advise against chaging planes in LHR if it can be avoided. The airport is a mess.
FRA, MXP, CDG aren't better.
And if LHR can be difficult you would then use BA to compensate!!! They are really good.
I have flown JU from VIE to BEG on an ATR72. The airplane was old and looked tired. I was disappointed wth the flight attendants which only cared about Serbian speaking passengers.
Rivet42 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 817 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (5 years 7 months 4 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1279 times:
Quoting VikingA346 (Reply 1): because of the risk of BA losing your luggage. Four hours, however, shouldn't pose a problem for the baggage handlers at LHR to get your luggage to T-3.
Ha, ha, ha, are you kidding??? Your bag is more likely to end up in a truck heading for Milan than on the carousel in T4....!!!
Frankly, people I know (and a lot of business people in The City that I don't know) do not allow BA to handle their luggage, because they want to see it at the same destination as their flight, on the same day (and preferably on the same plane...).
But if you are a gambling man, then at least T4 to T3 - with or without your luggage - is a simple free ride on the Heathrow Express. To avoid walking further than necessary, though, stay at the back of the train (closest to you) when you get on at T4, as this end is closest to T3 when the train stops at the central station.
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