Option 1: A connection at Heathrow with a 2 hour layover. It's in a separate terminal and I'd need to go through customs and baggage claim before going to the other terminal to check in again. Would arrive at Cologne at 4:30pm. Moderate liklihood I will miss the flight due to tight connection time / Heathrow's natural charm.
Option 2: An 8 hour layover at Heathrow. Won't get to Cologne until 10:30pm, but a 100% chance of making the flight.
What would you do?
@cardassianvole I would probably go with option 2 unless there's a substantial price difference, but I try to build extra time into my travel plans for exactly this sort of layover.
The last time I flew out of Heathrow I was heading toward the security area and as I was about to get into the line a security guy called me over, asked if I was an American, and then let me just bypass all the gate security, but I was hitting the gate at a slow time so I wouldn't count on that.
@neal Yeah, I am probably going with that option if only because I don't want to be stressed about it. It has taken me 90-120 minutes to clear customs at LHR before.