Heathrow Terminal 3 opened in 1961, under the original name of The Oceanic. | It was later refurbished and reopened under the name Terminal 3 by 1970 and included the UK’s first moving walkway. | Today, it is used by 20 airlines and approximately 19.5 million passengers. | Terminal 3 mainly operates long-haul flights, although some are to European destinations. | Check-In and Flight Arrivals are located on the ground floor at the front of the building and Flight Departures are above check-in on the first floor. | It goes without saying that you should give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport and check-in.
Heathrow Check-In
Travelling with a group or maybe an anxious traveller? Don’t add extra stress by not leaving enough time to get to your flight! We suggest giving yourself the below amount of time to check-in, get through security and have some time to relax before the plane leaves;
Self Service Check-In
Self-service check-in is available with some airlines; it is simple and safe to use and can save you a lot of time at the airport.Self-service check-in is available both online and via the kiosks located at the airport. Terminal 3 has kiosks near the standard check-in desks. It is best to check with your airline to see if you are able to check-in online as not all airlines offer this service. Some airlines have dedicated apps that allow you to check-in and download your boarding pass.
Heathrow Terminal 3 Arrivals
Arrivals is located on the left at the north end of the building on the ground floor. Check Heathrow Flight Arrivals for information on scheduled times and destinations, details of delays and cancellations, and find out which terminal to use. International connections do not require going through Immigrations or Customs but all International to Domestic connections do. Domestic to International connecting passengers can use special Immigration checkpoints if baggage is through-checked.
Which airlines fly from Terminal 3 Heathrow?
Terminal 3 mainly deals with long-haul flights to the US, South America, Asia and some flights to Europe. Due to the ongoing coronavirus situation, all flights are currently operated from Terminals 2 and 5 only.
- American Airlines
- Cathay Pacific
- Delta Airlines
- Emirates
- Finnair
- Hainan Airlines
- Iberia Express
- Iran Air
- Japan Airlines
- LATAM Airlines
- LOT Polish Airlines
- MEA Middle East Airlines
- Pakistan International Airlines
- Philippine Airlines
- Qantas
- Royal Jordanian
- Sri Lankan Airlines
- Tianjin Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- Vueling
This information is subject to change. If you are not sure which terminal you need, check with your airline and look
at our Heathrow Flight Departures page.
Heathrow Meeting Points
The meeting point is located in the Arrivals on the Ground Floor – near the seating area next to the Tourist Services.
Heathrow Terminal 3 information desk
There are six information points spread along the Departure Lounge Concourse. There is a Help Point in Baggage Reclaim and an information point near the Chauffeur Services in Arrivals.
Transfer between terminals
Getting between the terminals couldn’t be any more simple – see below for a quick guide on how to get to the others from
Terminal 3;
- Terminal 2: Use the pedestrian underpass to walk directly to T2. If you have mobility difficulties,
contact the special assistance desk for help.
Journey Time: 10 minutes
- Terminal 4: Jump on one of the free shuttle buses that run between T3 and T4; there are four trains
an hour.
Journey Time: 20 minutes
- Terminal 5: Use the Heathrow Express train from Heathrow Central Station
Journey Time: 20 minutes
Heathrow Terminal 3 – Lounges and Hotels
Please visit the dedicated pages below for both airport lounges and hotels to find the best deals suited to your trip.
For general information on the below facilities within Terminal 3, please follow the links to their dedicated pages.
FAQs
For outgoing flights, all passengers are funnelled through the same immigration lines, usually the desks are well staffed, but sometimes not, you might spend 45 minutes to an hour, sometimes longer at peak holiday times. My flight is landing at 8 pm (Heathrow terminal 3) and my bus is at 11 pm (Victoria station).
How much time do you need between connecting flights at Heathrow? ›
Minimum connecting times
We recommend that you allow the following times when connecting between terminals: Within Terminal 3: 75 minutes. Between Terminal 3 and Terminal 5: 90 minutes. Within Terminal 5 (UK domestic and international flights): 75 minutes.
What is Terminal 3 used for at Heathrow? ›
The main presence in Terminal 3 is Virgin Atlantic. American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Iberia, and Qantas are the other major users of the terminal. This terminal is mainly reserved for long haul flights.
Do I need to go through border control for a connecting flight at Heathrow? ›
If you're a connecting passenger from overseas you'll have to pass through UK border controls to get to your hotel, so please ensure you have any required visa to enter the UK.
Can US citizens use eGates at Heathrow? ›
Use the eGates for quicker entry
a British citizen. a national of an EU country, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the USA. a member of the Registered Traveller Service.
How long before my flight should I arrive at Heathrow Terminal 3? ›
Get your timings right
Make sure you arrive at the airport: at least 2 hours before a short-haul flight. 3 hours before a long-haul flight.
Do I have to go through security again for connecting an international flight? ›
Most (but again, not all) airports connect international terminals airside. When you're connecting from an international flight to a domestic one, you'll always have to exit and reenter security as you'll need to go through customs and immigration (unless you have gone through preclearance aboard, which is rare).
Do I have to go through security again for connecting flight at LHR? ›
Arriving at Heathrow requires going thru immigration control, then security as soon as you land, before you can get to the next flight, whether in a different terminal or even in the same terminal.
Do I need to go through customs for a connecting flight? ›
Customs and immigration are usually required at the connecting airport for international flights. You don't always have to for domestic flights. In most cases, passengers on layover flights must clear customs and immigration at the first point of entry.
Which airlines arrive in Terminal 3 Heathrow? ›
Heathrow Terminal 3
Some airlines operating from Terminal 3 include Cathay Pacific, Delta Airlines, Emirates, Finn Air, Oman Air and Virgin Atlantic. Terminal 3 can be accessed on foot via a pedestrian underpass that links it to Terminal 2.
Terminal 3 is one large building, with long piers where the aircraft park. Check-in and arrivals are both on the ground floor, with zones A – G in the check-in area. The departures area (security) is on the first floor upstairs from the check-in zones.
How many gates does Heathrow T3 have? ›
Terminal 3 is just one building with long piers where the aircraft park. It has Gates numbered from 1-42. After landing at Heathrow your pilot will be told where to park the aircraft.
Do I have to pick up my luggage on a connecting international flight Heathrow? ›
If you booked your flights separately to create your own flight connection, you'll have to pick up your baggage at Heathrow and check in again for your next flight.
Do I have to pick up my luggage on a connecting international flight? ›
Here's what you're expected to encounter: If you checked a bag, you'll have to collect it from baggage claim from the international flight. You'll need to clear customs and immigration. Next, you'll recheck your luggage for the domestic flight.
How to get through Heathrow customs quickly? ›
To help things go smoothly at passport control, here are a few useful tips:
- Take your passport out of its cover and flip to the photo page.
- Remove any hats, headphones, or sunglasses.
- Put away your mobile phones or tablets when it's time to see an officer.
so we are talking anywhere from 75 minutest to 90. If me I would allow 2 hours from the time of getting off the plane. After you arrive from your long journey one must first pass the physical test and the cognitive test (walking the long 15 min. and following the signs -with other passengers running past you ).
How to get through Heathrow immigration faster? ›
Arriving at Heathrow
To help things go smoothly at passport control, here are a few useful tips: Take your passport out of its cover and flip to the photo page. Remove any hats, headphones, or sunglasses. Put away your mobile phones or tablets when it's time to see an officer.
Why does immigration take so long at Heathrow? ›
Delays at Heathrow, the Daily Mail also reported, have been due to extensions in Border Force shift hours to cope with the increased arrival numbers. Some staff are now forced to work 12 hours each day which has caused an increase in staff calling in sick due to exhaustion.
How long does it take to clear security at Heathrow? ›
Check-in closes 60 minutes before long-haul flights depart and 45 minutes before short-haul flights depart. Pass through security at least 35 minutes before your flight departs. Be at the boarding gate at least 20 minutes before your flight departs.
