Need Advice on Transportation to Heathrow

[Ladylethal 12]

Hello all!

I'm going on a trip to Europe with my mom in May, and the last few days of the trip I'll be staying in London (most likely near St. Pancreas and King's Cross stations). I do have a problem though. I leave on May 25th from Heathrow, and my flight leaves at 6 am, which means I must be at the airport no later than 5 am.

Anyone have any good ideas or tips on how I could get to Heathrow so early in the morning (without being driven there as I don't know anyone in London).

I hear trains don't start until 6 am so I'm wondering if I'll have to go on the last train and spend the night at the airport or if there are any bus services this early that I could trust.

Also hear taxis would cost me an arm and a leg.

Any help would be mostly appreciated.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I would probably stay at a hotel near Heathrow, to be honest. And I would be at the airport a lot sooner than 5am - that would really be pushing it for a 6am flight.

[Boiler 43,599]

Agree

[Ladylethal 12]

My flight leaves precisely at 6:30 am. My mom and sis-in-law leave that same day at night, so we already have a room booked. I guess I can just go the night before to the airport as late as possible and stay in the VIP room for Amex (platinum card holder). I'd rather not pay one more hotel for me alone for very few hours.

[SunDrop 59]

Use www.tfl.gov.uk for their journey planner. I looked for you quickly and it would involve 2 buses and some walking (that's inevitable in London and Heathrow! lol) Any bus with an N in front of its number is a night bus, which means fewer stops usually.

Agreed, international check-ins, especially at LHR are supposed to be 3 hours, 2 if you're pushing it. If your flight leaves at 6.30, boarding will be around 5.40am and the lines at check-in can be long, even that early in the morning. I usually aim to get there for 2 1/2 hours before departure, that's with priority boarding as a frequent flyer and always sat near the front of cattle-class. Traffic, road works, engineering works all add to the unpredictability and so the advice to head out to the airport and stay in a hotel/ Amex suite is a good one.

If I were planning this same trip, I would have you all staying at a hotel near the airport the night before. As for the rest of your party not traveling until later in the day you can usually request a late check-out, and the duty free shopping is out of this world. You can literally spend all day quite happily browsing (or buying!) and it's all tax-free once you're past security. There's lots of charging stations and wifi access too, if they want to entertain themselves via laptops etc

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

if you've already booked your hotel room I'd probably pay for a mini cab, which you will need to book in advance (you can't hail one). It will be much cheaper than a black cab, but still cost around 35-40 pounds. Your hotel will be able to help you identify a reputable firm nearby to book through. I was in a similar situation after Christmas and this was what I did - more expensive than the bus but far less hassle and well worth the money.

Some other options:

http://www.skyshuttle.co.uk/

I have no idea if this service is good or not - just know that it exists

The N9 bus from Trafalgar Square

http://www.londonbusroutes.net/times/N009.htm

If you took the bus from your hotel in Kings Cross, this will probably wind up being an epic journey of about 90 minutes. Personally, I'd rather fork out the cash for a minicab than do that, but obviously your call.

Just to warn you, when I flew back to the US from Heathrow in January you had to pass 2 security points - the regular airport security and one for the additional procedures for flights to the US. The line for the second security point was very long. Granted, that was about 2 weeks after the christmas underwear bomber, but you really do need at the very minimum to be there 2 hours before your flight. Heathrow is the worlds busiest airport, and it can also take you considerable time to get from check-in to your gate.

[Justine+David 218]

I sleep in the airport I'm too cheap!

[Ladylethal 12]

So given that I'd have to be there that early anyway I might as well end my last day in London early, sleep a bit till say, 9-10 pm and go to Heathrow before trains stop. That way I can probably go through security earlier and sit near my gate.

Oh, about the Duty Free and all that, my flight actually goes through Frankfurt. I booked a free ticket with my miles program so I'm flying Lufthansa, London - Frankfurt - Miami. I guess the hassle security check in for the US will probably take place in Frankfurt?

And it's only 'cus the ticket was free that it's booked that early in the morning or else I'd go late in the day to be able to enjoy my last trip day better (first time in Europe!)

I sleep in the airport I'm too cheap!

Or as you say, skip the nap early at the hotel and wait to crash in the plane!

Edited March 10, 2010 by Ladylethal

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

if you are going via Frankfurt, you won't have to go through the additional security in London.

[h1a1 5]

I stayed at a hotel near Heathrow when I had an early flight to Rome a few years ago. It meant I got a reasonable nights sleep and wasn't too tired after the flight to enjoy my first day there.

[Justine+David 218]

Or as you say, skip the nap early at the hotel and wait to crash in the plane!

Haha! yes! Actually, it's great. One of the times I was on the plane and I woke up and we landed at Dulles. I had no recollection of the entire flight. Then again, I'm a small person so I can sort of curl up like a cat and sleep pretty well.

[SunDrop 59]

So given that I'd have to be there that early anyway I might as well end my last day in London early, sleep a bit till say, 9-10 pm and go to Heathrow before trains stop. That way I can probably go through security earlier and sit near my gate.

Even if you took the last train (which will be sometime between 11 and midnight), you might not be able to check in until 3-4 hours before the flight. You should be able to check your bags through, so you won't need to mess with them at Frankfurt. You won't want to be sitting at your gate for 6 hours, considering you'll probably be pretty much by yourself overnight. Better to stay in the duty free area.

Walks to the gates for European flights aren't as long as trans-atlantic flights, but the Amex lounge sounds nice if you can use this, as they'll probably have coffee and comfier chairs

[*Snowdrop* 603]

If you are flying from Terminal 4 then Yotel is a good option where you can book in for 4 hours sleep at a time.

https://www.yotel.com/default.aspx

Late at night it will cost about 30-40GBP to book a cabin for 4 hours though so not that much different in price from booking a mini-cab taxi to take you to Heathrow.

[TracyTN 237]

if you've already booked your hotel room I'd probably pay for a mini cab, which you will need to book in advance (you can't hail one). It will be much cheaper than a black cab, but still cost around 35-40 pounds. Your hotel will be able to help you identify a reputable firm nearby to book through. I was in a similar situation after Christmas and this was what I did - more expensive than the bus but far less hassle and well worth the money.

Some other options:

http://www.skyshuttle.co.uk/

I have no idea if this service is good or not - just know that it exists

The N9 bus from Trafalgar Square

http://www.londonbusroutes.net/times/N009.htm

If you took the bus from your hotel in Kings Cross, this will probably wind up being an epic journey of about 90 minutes. Personally, I'd rather fork out the cash for a minicab than do that, but obviously your call.

Just to warn you, when I flew back to the US from Heathrow in January you had to pass 2 security points - the regular airport security and one for the additional procedures for flights to the US. The line for the second security point was very long. Granted, that was about 2 weeks after the christmas underwear bomber, but you really do need at the very minimum to be there 2 hours before your flight. Heathrow is the worlds busiest airport, and it can also take you considerable time to get from check-in to your gate.

For what it's worth, my husband used to work for a mini cab company that services Heathrow if you'd like to use them. Empire Cars in Hayes.

020 8848 8888

Hope that helps!

[Ladylethal 12]

Thanks a lot for all the good tips, guys! Either way even if I stay overnight at the airport it's not like I haven't done it before, last year to Brasil going on these free milleage tickets I flew all over the place for about 2 days before getting to Brasil. I know I can survive, was just trying to make it the least painful possible!