1. Help centre
  2. Security and passport control
  3. Connecting flights

Checklist for your connecting journey

Travel requirementsTravel requirements

Don’t forget to check the requirements for your whole journey well in advance

Consider all the Countries you will be travelling through. For example, if you are transiting through the USA you will still need an ESTA or visa. You may also need to complete covid tests or documentation.

 

Travel requirements for Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays destinations

Travel requirements for other destinations

 

Travelling with a SkyTeam partner?

Find links and more for our SkyTeam partners here.

Check travel requirements on the SkyTeam Travel Requirements map

Bag dropCheck in and bag drop

Virgin Atlantic online check in opens 24hrs before flight departure

If Virgin Atlantic is operating the first flight sector in your itinerary, you’ll be able to check in online here 24hrs before your flight departs. If your first flight is with a different airline, please visit their website.

You’ll need a Boarding Pass for each flight segment in your itinerary and your bag(s) may also be checked through to your final destination. Our agents will advise you what to expect at the Bag Drop counter, and you can also check whether you'll need to collect your bags here.

If you are unable to check in online, please see an agent at the airport who will assist you.

Find out more about Check in and Baggage allowances

Check carry-on allowances with the SkyTeam carry-on calculator

Airport experienceAirport and transfer experience

Plan your connection and make sure you have enough time

Check which Terminals your flights arrive into and depart from and whether you need to collect your luggage.

Some countries require you to collect your bag at the first airport on arrival into that country, for example the USA. The check in agent will advise you of this when you drop off your bag.

 

Connecting at Heathrow

Do I need to collect my bag?

 

For more information on Connecting through specific Airports see our Airports guide below

 

 

Airport experienceAirport and transfer experience

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

Connecting flights guide by airport

London Heathrow has five airport terminals, and Virgin Atlantic arrive and depart from Terminal 3. To help you make your connection, here are some important things to keep in mind:

 

  • Minimum connection times: allow at least 60 minutes for connections within the same terminal, and at least 90 minutes for connections that require travel between terminals. You'll need to allow extra time if you need to collect your bags and go through security

  • After landing follow the purple ‘flight connections’ signs to the transfer area and check the screens for Departure Gate information

  • If your connecting flight is with Virgin Atlantic, visit the Terminal 3 transfer area and see one of our team to verify your documentation for your connecting flight

  • 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

 

For more information on connecting at London Heathrow, please visit Heathrow Airport’s guide

Which terminal? How do I connect at Heathrow?

Virgin Atlantic to Virgin Atlantic

Terminal 3 to Terminal 3

All Virgin Atlantic flights arrive and depart at Terminal 3.

 

After landing follow the purple signs to Flight Connections. Go to the Virgin Atlantic desks in the transfer area so the team can check you in for your connecting flight.

 

If you're in a hurry, there is also a quick route through the transfer area to the departure gates, but please expect walking times of up to 20 mins.

Virgin Atlantic to Delta

Terminal 3 to Terminal 3

All Virgin Atlantic flights and Delta flights arrive and depart at Terminal 3.

 

After landing follow the purple signs to Flight Connections. Go to the Virgin Atlantic desks in the transfer area so the team can check you in for your connecting flight.

 

If you're in a hurry, there is also a quick route through the transfer area to the departures gates, but please expect walking times of 20 mins.

Virgin Atlantic to Air France / KLM

Terminal 3 to Terminal 4

All Virgin Atlantic flights arrive and depart at Terminal 3 and Air France / KLM flights arrive and depart at Terminal 4.

 

After landing follow the purple signs to Flight Connections and take a free flight connections bus that will transfer you between terminals. Please ensure you leave extra time between flights (at least 90 mins) and this should be longer if you need to collect your bags.

 

Visit the Air France/KLM desk in in the transfer area to verify your documentation for your connecting flight.

Other airline to Virgin Atlantic

Any other terminal to Terminal 3

After landing follow the purple signs to Flight Connections  and take a free flight connections bus that will transfer you between terminals. Buses leave every 10 minutes.

 

When the bus arrives continue to follow the purple signs to flight connections.

 

Visit the Virgin Atlantic transfer desk in in the transfer area to verify your documentation for your connecting flight.

 

For more information on connecting at London Heathrow, please visit Heathrow Airport’s guide

Manchester Airport's three terminals are located conveniently close to one another and you can walk between terminals. 

Virgin Atlantic flights arrive into Terminal 2. Transferring from Terminal 2 to either Terminal 1 or 3 should take no more than 5 to 15 minutes, with moving walkways throughout the terminal buildings. Meanwhile, T1 and T3 are an easy two minute walk from one another.

If your connecting flight leaves from a different terminal, simply follow the yellow ‘flight transfer’ signs to your departure terminal once you have passed through immigration and customs.

If you are arriving into Terminal 2 on a Virgin Atlantic flight and connecting onto another flight, then your bags will be checked through to your final destination, and there is no need to collect your bags.

We reccommend that you allow the following minimum connection times:

  • 75 minutes for all connections. 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 buses, 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

All Virgin Atlantic and Delta flights depart and arrive into Terminal 4

International to domestic connections Allow at least 1 hour and 40 minutes connection time. When 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. You can use ‘Quick Connect’ if you show your onward boarding pass/ticket to one of the T4 agents in the customs hall.  You must collect your bags.  Once you exit the customs hall if you are travelling with Delta, you can recheck your bags (recheck area in on the left as you exit) then proceed to TSA Security.  For all other carriers, please proceed to carrier designated terminal/check-in area.
Domestic to International connections When you arrive check the departures screens for your gate number and head straight to the gate. Allow at least 45 minutes connection time and please remember to check in online before you arrive. Per UK regulations, we will need to scan you passport again before you board so please see a Virgin Atlantic team member at the gate.
If you need to connect between 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

Connecting in Atlanta

Virgin Atlantic to Domestic US connection

If you have an onward boarding card and your bags have been tagged to your final destination:

 

  • Clear immigration and claim bags.
  • Proceed toward exit hall but turn left for connections. Bags will be surrendered to the transfer bag attendant, and passengers will proceed through the security to connecting flight terminals.
  • Trains will transport them between the 7 terminals.

 

If you have not yet checked in with your connecting airline:

 

  • If your connecting flight is with Delta Airlines, proceed to the Delta desk in the connections / transfer area

 

For all other airlines:

 

  • Proceed to the check-in desk for your connecting airline
  • Domestic carriers are located in the domestic terminal. To travel to the domestic terminal, proceed to the exit, board the domestic transport bus to the domestic terminal. Bus ride is approximately 15 minutes. Buses run every 20 minutes.
Virgin Atlantic to international connections

When you departed the UK, our team will have tagged your bag with a purple ITI (international to international) tag, which means there is no need to collect your bag.

 

Simply proceed to immigration, check screens for your departing flight information and then follow proceed to your connecting flight

Other airport guides

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

FAQs 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 visit the airline desk at the airport.

If you've booked separate tickets (more than one Booking Reference)

If you’ve booked two or more flights separately, you will need to pick up your checked bags at baggage claim, 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 are 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, where 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.

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

You will need to collect your bag, and then 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 at 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.

 

Connecting through Heathrow and my bag tag shows the final destination

Great news! You won’t need to collect your bag.

 

Check the requirements for these and other destinations here

Many countries will still require you to have a visa, even if you are transiting.

Make sure you consider all the countries you will be travelling through and understand whether you will be ‘in transit’ (where you don’t need to clear immigration) or whether you will be entering that country (where you do pass through immigration).

For example if you’re transiting through the USA to another country, you will still need an ESTA or visa. You may also need to complete covid tests or documentation.

 

Travel requirements for Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays destinations

Travel requirements for other destinations

 

Direct Airside Transit Visa UK

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

 

Stopping overnight before your connection in the UK?

  • 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

 

Entry requirements for the UK are changing. From November 2023, some passengers will require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK, including when transiting.

Find out more on the government website

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.

Find out more about Special Assistance and how to request it

More information on our Special Assistance page

If you booked separate tickets (more than one Booking Reference)

The connecting airline is not responsible, and you will need to contact the airline you are due to fly with. You may need to purchase a new ticket.

 

If you have been issued a single ticket for your whole journey (one booking reference)

If you have missed your connection before travel has started, then contact the airline or travel agency you booked through.

 

If you miss your connection during your journey, then visit the desk of the airline you flew with to rebook.

app iconTravel easy, with 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