Star Alliance flies from Heathrow T2

When Heathrow's new Terminal 2 opened in 2014, the airlines did not move in together. Heathrow staggered the transfer across twenty-three Star Alliance carriers over several months, specifically to avoid a repeat of the Terminal 5 opening, where a same-day switch produced queues, lost baggage and cancelled flights. The last airlines to arrive were South African Airways, Air New Zealand, TAP and Asiana, and the approach worked: the move finished without any serious disruption.

The result is still in place. Terminal 2, the Queen's Terminal, is the exclusive London base for Star Alliance airlines, so if you are flying Lufthansa, United, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, Turkish or another member, that is almost certainly where you are going.

It is worth knowing which alliance your airline belongs to when you book a transfer, because it is a reliable shortcut to the right terminal. We still ask for the terminal directly rather than inferring it, since airlines do occasionally move, but if the two disagree it is worth a check with the airline before travel.

Written by Airports Transfer in September 2026 for passengers travelling to and from London airports.