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How early should I get to LHR?

London Heathrow Airport, London, United Kingdom · Checked Oct 25, 2026

The short answer

Heathrow recommends arriving three hours before your flight if you are travelling internationally (long-haul)

Those are blanket rules. Your real number depends on your terminal, the time of day, passport control and whether you're checking a bag. Leave By works out your exact leave time.

Source: heathrow.com

Passport control on the way out

The UK has no exit passport control, so no border officer checks you on the way out. Routine embarkation checks at airports ended in 1998. Since April 2015, exit checks work through passport data your airline sends to the Home Office (Advance Passenger Information). If you fly British Airways long-haul from Terminal 3 or 5 with hand baggage only, BA says it must check your passport and visa before security, so go to an Assistance desk first. Heathrow is not a US preclearance airport, so you clear US immigration and customs after you land.

More on exit checks, the EU's Entry/Exit System and US preclearance: how early for an international flight.

Security lines at LHR

Heathrow's published figures show average security queues under five minutes at every terminal, though they leave out time walking through the queue area. In a Which? member survey (April 2025, published May 2026), passengers estimated about 17 minutes at T5, 18 at T3, 19 at T2 and 23 at T4. The Heathrow app shows live security times.

Terminals and checkpoints

Terminal 2 (The Queen's Terminal)

United, JetBlue

Departures securityHeathrow sells Fast Track security from £12.99 per person, booked in one-hour arrival windows, 06:00-21:00 daily. Premium cabins and some frequent flyers may already have it; check with your airline.
  • Mainly Star Alliance airlines, including United
  • Terminals 2 and 3 share one rail station and are within walking distance of each other
  • Heathrow Express from Paddington takes about 15 minutes to Terminals 2 & 3

Terminal 3

American, Delta, Virgin Atlantic, Alaska, British Airways (some flights)

Departures securityFast Track security can be booked from £12.99 per person, 06:00-21:00 daily.
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class WingPrivate security channel for Virgin Atlantic Upper Class passengers.
  • Heathrow lists American, Delta, Virgin Atlantic and Alaska in T3; British Airways operates from both T3 and T5, so check your booking
  • Virgin Atlantic: arrive in Zone A and follow signs to its bag drop
  • BA overnight bag drop at T3 runs 16:00-21:30 for flights leaving before 10:00 the next day

Terminal 4

  • Heathrow lists no US airline at T4, and this research found no nonstop US flights from it; SkyTeam's Air France uses T4 if you fly home via Paris
  • Heathrow Express does not stop at T4; ride it to Terminals 2 & 3 and change to the free Elizabeth line (about 4 more minutes)
  • The T4 multi-storey car park closed on 23 June 2026 for redevelopment; parking is now in Zone A of the T4 Park & Ride, with free shuttles every five minutes

Terminal 5

British Airways

Departures securityFast Track security can be booked from £12.99 per person, 06:00-21:00 daily; BA premium cabins and some status holders may have it included.
  • British Airways' main Heathrow hub
  • Gates in satellites B and C are reached by an underground people mover (the Transit) after security
  • BA overnight bag drop at T5 runs 16:00-22:00 for flights leaving before 10:00 the next day
  • Heathrow Express from Paddington takes about 21 minutes to T5

Between terminals: Terminals 2 and 3 are a short walk apart. Heathrow Express is free between Terminals 2 & 3 and Terminal 5 (get a free ticket at the platform machines or tap in with contactless or Oyster). The Elizabeth line is free from Terminals 2 & 3 to Terminal 4. Airside transfer buses are for connecting passengers only.

Getting to LHR

Rideshare and taxi: Taxis to central London take at least an hour, depending on traffic. Every car that enters a terminal drop-off area pays a £7 charge per visit (raised from £6 on 1 January 2026). Pay online or by phone by midnight the next day; unpaid charges lead to an £80 penalty.

Transit: Heathrow Express runs non-stop from London Paddington every 15 minutes: about 15 minutes to Terminals 2 & 3 and 21 minutes to Terminal 5 (no T4 stop). The Elizabeth line serves Terminals 2 & 3 (6 trains an hour), Terminal 4 (4 an hour) and Terminal 5 (2 an hour); fares through Zone 1 start at £13.90. The Piccadilly line (Underground) stops at Terminals 2 & 3, 4 and 5, runs about every 10 minutes and takes under an hour from central London; fares from £5.50.

Driving and parking: Drop-off at the terminal costs £7 per visit. Drop-off is free at Heathrow's Park & Ride car parks, with a free bus to the terminal. Terminal 4 parking moved to Park & Ride Zone A in June 2026.

Construction and changes in 2026

  • Terminal 4 redevelopment: the T4 multi-storey car park closed on 23 June 2026. Plans include a replacement car park, a reconfigured drop-off area and upgraded facilities. T4 stays open, and drop-off continues as normal for now.

Checking a bag

British Airways: check-in closes 60 minutes before long-haul departures at Heathrow (90 minutes for some destinations; check Manage My Booking). Virgin Atlantic: check-in opens four hours and closes one hour before departure. American: 60 minutes for check-in and bags on flights from outside the US. Delta: check in at least 1 hour before departure. United: generally at least 1 hour before international departures.

LHR tips first-timers miss

  • Heathrow's new scanners let you keep liquids in containers up to 2 litres, and laptops, in your bag at Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. Empty metal or insulated bottles before security.
  • Check your terminal before you leave: United and JetBlue use T2; American, Delta, Virgin Atlantic and Alaska use T3; British Airways uses T5 and some T3.
  • Flying BA long-haul from T3 or T5 with hand baggage only? Go to a BA Assistance desk for a passport and visa check before security.
  • Being dropped off by car? Pay the £7 drop-off charge online by midnight the next day, or use the free drop-off at a Park & Ride car park.
  • Use the Heathrow app for live security times. Fast Track security costs from £12.99 and runs 06:00-21:00.

Leaving for LHR?

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Questions travelers ask

How early should I get to Heathrow for a flight to the US?

Heathrow recommends arriving three hours before an international flight. Most airlines' bag drop closes 60 minutes before departure for US flights, so do not cut it closer than that.

Do I go through passport control when leaving the UK?

No. The UK has no exit passport control. Your airline sends your passport details to the Home Office, and BA checks documents for hand-baggage-only long-haul passengers at an Assistance desk.

Which Heathrow terminal is my flight to the US from?

United and JetBlue fly from Terminal 2. American, Delta, Virgin Atlantic and Alaska fly from Terminal 3. British Airways flies mainly from Terminal 5, with some flights from Terminal 3.

Can I take liquids over 100ml through Heathrow security?

Yes. Containers up to 2 litres can stay in your cabin bag at Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. Many other airports still have a 100ml limit.

What is the fastest way from central London to Heathrow?

Heathrow Express from Paddington, about 15 minutes to Terminals 2 & 3 and 21 minutes to Terminal 5, every 15 minutes. For Terminal 4, change to the free Elizabeth line at Terminals 2 & 3.

Sources

Airport conditions change. Always follow your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines.

Other airport guides

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