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  3. Connecting flights

Covid-19 travel restrictions

It's important you check the latest travel restrictions in place at your connecting and final destination before you travel to the airport, including eligibility for entry and screening, and any health declarations you may be required to complete before arrival.

Travel requirements for Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays destinations

 

Before travelling to the UK

The UK government requires you to complete your travel details and contact information online before you arrive in the UK from any country 48 hours before arrival.

Find out more on gov.uk

Made a connecting stop on your return to the UK?

If you've made a connecting stop in the previous 14 days in any country that is not on the UK approved travel corridor list, you will be required to self isolate upon your arrival to the UK. The 14 days begins from the date you left the country you connected in.

Find out more on gov.uk

Airport Connections

To help you connect seamlessly onto your next flight, here is information about connections at our key airports.

Connecting flights guide by airport

London Heathrow has 5 airport terminals. To help you make your connection, we recommend that you allow the following minimum connection times:

  • 60 minutes for connections within the same terminal
  • Leave at least 90 minutes for connections that require travel between terminals
  • You will be required to go through security
  • If your connecting flight leaves from a different terminal, simply follow the purple ‘flight connections’ signs and take a free flight connections bus that will transfer you between terminals.
  • Please leave more time if you need to collect your bags

For more information on connections, please visit Heathrow Airport’s guide

Manchester’s 3 terminals are located conveniently close together, which means no need for trains or buses. We recommend that you allow the following minimum connection times:

  • 75 minutes for all connections
  • If your connecting flight leaves from a different terminal, simply follow the ‘flight transfer’ signs to your departure terminal
  • Please leave more time if you need to collect your bags

For more information on connections, please visit Manchester Airport’s guide

To help you make your connection, we recommend that you allow the following minimum connection times:

  • 70 minutes for connections within the same terminal
  • Leave at least 90 minutes for connections that require travel between terminals
  • You will be required to go through security
  • If your connecting flight leaves from a different terminal, simply follow the yellow ‘’transfer” signs
  • Please leave more time if you need to collect your bags

You can also visit the Air France transfer counter to get answers to all your questions, obtain boarding passes, change flights and seat.

For more information on connections, please visit Charles de Gaulle Airport’s guide

All gates are situated under one roof. Area 1 is dedicated to flights to and from Shengen (within the EU), which includes gate zones B, C and partly D. Areas 2, 3 and 4 are dedicated to non-Schengen flights and include gate zones G, F and E. This means no need for trains or busses, making connections quicker. To help you make your connection, we recommend that you allow the following minimum connection times:

·       40 minutes for flights within Europe

·       50 minutes for an intercontinental flight

·       Follow the transfer passenger signage

·       Please leave more time if you need to collect your bags

You can also visit the KLM transfer desk or self-service transfer kiosks to get answers to all of your questions, obtain boarding passes, change flights and seat.

For more information on connections, please visit Schipol Airport's transfer page

To help you make your connection, once you arrive you will need to clear immigration, collect your bags, check in with the next airline, clear security and head back to the departure area. We recommend that you allow the following minimum connection times:

  • 45 minutes for domestic to international connections
  • 90 minutes for connections international to domestic

Between Terminals 2 and 4:

·       Use Delta’s JFK Jitney free shuttle bus

·       Delta’s JFK Jitney makes three stops between Terminals 2 and 4, near gate C60 in Terminal 2 and near gates B54 and B18 in Terminal 4.

·       You will not have to go through TSA security again

Between all other Terminals:

·       Take the AirTrain which operates between all passenger terminals for free

·       To make your connection, follow signs for AirTrain

·       You will need to reclear TSA security once you arrive in your departure terminal

For more information on connections, please visit JFK's information page

Atlanta has a domestic and international terminal with concourses A to F and T. To help you make your connection, once you arrive you will need to clear immigration, collect your bags, check in with the next airline, clear security and head back to the departure area. We recommend that you allow the following minimum connection times:

  • 45 minutes for domestic to international connections
  • 90 minutes for connections international to domestic
  • A complimentary airport bus runs every 6-10 minutes between concourses T and F. Journey time is roughly 15-20 minutes, but may be more during busy periods.
  • Plane trains run between concourses, each with a journey time of roughly 10 minutes

You can also visit the airline transfer desk to get answers to all your questions, obtain boarding passes, change flights and seat.

For more information on connections, please visit Atlanta's information page

Other Airports Connections

You can find out more about other airports in our Airport Guides section

 

Travel easy, the Virgin Atlantic Mobile App

Why not download our Virgin Atlantic Mobile App which includes interactive airport maps to make travel easy and help you find your away around the airport.

Download app

 

Things to know about connections

For each flight in your journey you will receive a boarding pass. If you do not have a boarding pass for a flight in your journey, you should contact the airline or visit the airline desk.

Contact us

Booked separate flights

If you’ve booked two or more flights separately, you will need to pick up your checked bags at baggage claim and check-in and then proceed to check in with the airline for the next flight. Give yourself some extra time to do this.

 

If you have been issued a single ticket and flying with us or on one of our trusted partners including Air France – KLM and Delta

Great news! Your bag will be automatically transferred to your connecting flight.

 

Except in the United States, you will need to pick them up at baggage claim at your first point of arrival in the US. Give yourself some extra time to do this.

If you have been issued a multi-ticket

You will need to collect the baggage at baggage claim and then proceed to check in with the airline for the next flight. Give yourself some extra time to do this.

 

Connecting in the US and my bag tag shows the final destination

You will need to collect your bag and check in your bag for your next flight. For example, say you’re flying from Heathrow to New York to Los Angeles. When you check your bag in Heathrow, the bag will show as being tagged all the way to Los Angeles. Despite this, you will have to collect the bag in New York, and then have to check it again in New York after you clear immigration. The bag won’t need to be tagged again, since the baggage tag already indicates your final destination.

 

Connection with Worldwide by easyJet

You will need to collect the baggage at baggage claim and then proceed to check in with the airline for the next flight. Give yourself some extra time to do this.

UK – Heathrow and Manchester

International to domestic connection

 If connecting to a UK domestic or Republic of Ireland flight you will need to present your passport at Passport Control. Then, security will take a facial biometric picture before you go through security screening.

UK – Heathrow and Manchester

Domestic to International connection

 You have already cleared UK security at your originating airport, and you are able to reach the departure gate.

Paris - Charles de Gaulle

Entering and leaving between Non-Schengen and Schengen countries

 You must pass through passport control and comply with entry & visa requirements.

Paris - Charles de Gaulle

Travelling between Non-Schengen countries

 You do not need to pass through passport control and no visa is needed.

Amsterdam - Schiphol Airport

Entering and leaving between Non-Schengen and Schengen countries

 You must pass through passport control and comply with entry & visa requirements.

Amsterdam - Schiphol Airport

Travelling between Non-Schengen countries

 You do not need to pass through passport control and no visa is needed.

US Airports

International to domestic connection

 You will have to go through customs and immigration at your first airport of arrival. This is where your ESTA (or visa) will come into play. You will need to fill in a customs form, either on the plane, or using a dedicated automatic desk at the airport. 

US Airports

Domestic to international connection

 You have to clear security, but there’s no  Immigration to clear. 

You might need a Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) if you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland and you:

  • will be changing flights in the UK on your way to another country
  • will not go through UK border control

Check if you need a transit visa before you apply

  • If you’re stopping over in the UK and would like a hotel for the night, you can apply for a 24-hour visa upon arrival if required
  • Your passport must allow you entry to the UK and you must have a booking for onward travel
  • Visas are granted upon the immigration officer’s discretion

If you have a connecting flight on another airline, including our partner Delta Air Lines, you'll also need to add your Known Traveller Number (KTN) to your booking with them.

More information on our Special Assistance page

Want to know more about our joint venture partners and where our extended network can take you? Find out more here on our partner airlines page

Missed my connecting flight What happens now?
I booked separate tickets on different airlines? The connecting airline is not responsible, you will need to contact the airline you are due to fly with. You may need to purchase a new ticket. 
Missed connection on the same airline You will need to contact the airline or the travel agency you booked your travel through. Fees or pentalities may apply, see your terms and conditions
Missed my connection onto another airline You will need to contact the airline or the travel agency you booked your travel through. Fees or pentalities may apply, see your terms and conditions.
I booked my flights with Worldwide by easyJet If your flight is delayed causing a missed connection please contact Dohop Connect and do not rebook any flights before you've spoken to them as your insurance might become invalid.
COVID-19 negative PCR test results to support onward travel It is your responsibility to ensure you consider any covid-19 government health restrictions that are in place and factor this into the connection time. If you miss your connection due to Covid-19 restrictions, you may incur additional costs.

More information about connections between easyJet and Virgin Atlantic

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