Transfer from Gatwick to Heathrow

[Onlyrainbows]

I'm starting to feel a bit paranoid about connecting from Gatwick to Heathrow. Plane lands in Gatwick at 945, that gives me 30mins to get to the National Express stop to take the bus to Heathrow, if I miss that one I need to wait an hour. My international flight is at 215, that should be enough time, but what if there isn't? Shall I take an Uber/taxi instead?

That’s very tight. I’d book a later flight for the second leg.

There's only one daily flight for each leg. The only real option is to take the sleeper train.

Can you do the first leg the night before, and then stay at a cheapo Premier Inn at Heathrow? (there are a couple of cheap ones, about £30 a night)

No I couldn't fly the day before, there's only one daily flight (morning) and I still have to work on Friday, do school runs, etc...

That's loads of time if you keep moving.

You'll never make it on time on that time frame, sorry.,

Book a taxi to take you direct. Should be under £100.

Are you booked on one ticket so the airline is taking responsibility for you making it or have you booked the 2 legs separately meaning you’re basically fucked if you get delayed? Honestly I’d look at a different routing and connect elsewhere tbh as it sounds like a recipe for disaster. But if you are really adamant you’re going to attempt this then hand baggage only, check in online and definitely get a taxi and not the coach.

I'd get an Uber. Depending on traffic, it should be between 45 mins and 1.5 hours so you could get to Heathrow by 12 for sure (presuming you land on time). Coach is a lot slower and you risk missing it and then making it super tight.

If you don't miss the bus, it is probably fine, but that assumes the M25 is fine and dandy.

I would make alternative plans, personally, as I am not much of a risk taker.

I don't really think a taxi is going to save you more than 5 or 10 minutes.

Can you fly into LHR?

Can you check in online for the second flight, do you have luggage to check in?

If you make the National Express you'll be fine. If you don't you should get an uber, unless you have no luggage, in which case you'll be fine on the next NX service.

Gatwick is huge. Depending whether you land north or south it could take one hour to get to the train station or national express station! Taxi may be your best bet and pray for no traffic.

I live near Gatwick and got a Bolt taxi from Heathrow and it cost £60 which wasn't too bad and took around 40 mins

Cab/Uber will not necessarily be faster, and it will cost a fortune.

Book a private hire car to take you. Hopefully you have hand luggage only and your boarding passes so you don't wait around at Heathrow. But a warning that the M25/M23 between the two can be a complete PITA, so there is a risk you won't make it

Is it all on one ticket, and will you and your luggage be checked through from the start to your final destination? Or will you have to pick up bags at Gatwick and check in again at Heathrow?

On the face of it, google maps says it's 39 minutes' drive from Gatwick to Heathrow so if you don't have to pick up luggage and check in again you should have loads of time. But there are a lot of things (flight delays, traffic on M25) that could go wrong.

If you miss the first bus I would get an uber.

I would definitely do a pre-booked cab. You’ll know it’s there whatever time to arrive and whisk you straight there. They nearly all use waze so will be able to take the quickest route if there are any delays.

My company wouldn't let me boon any alternative routes... I have to be on the flight from Heathrow, it's the only one allowed. All flights are landing at the north terminal in Gatwick. I will have checked in luggage, and I can check in online for the transatlantic flight.

To be fair, you can do it in 1.5 hours on the train(s) with the wind behind you - Gatwick express (30 mins), tube to Paddington (20 mins, Heathrow express (15 mins) plus some waiting time. If the traffic is bad that day, I'd do that.

I think you're unlikely to make the bus but it should be fine to get there by private transfer.

@mynameiscalypso

To be fair, you can do it in 1.5 hours on the train(s) with the wind behind you - Gatwick express (30 mins), tube to Paddington (20 mins, Heathrow express (15 mins) plus some waiting time. If the traffic is bad that day, I'd do that.

That's a lot of changes, it seems doable. but if even a single one goes wrong, the whole thing is buggered.

Gatwick express isn't running BTW it's either that bus or a taxi!

@ChardonnaysPetDragon Yeah, the Express lines are normally pretty reliable though and there are a number of routes between Victoria and Paddington (plus normal trains as well). I wouldn't do it myself if I could avoid it especially with luggage but I also hate coaches with a passion so would always choose it over that!

The Gatwick express might not be running but there are trains running from Gatwick to London that take about five minutes longer than the express. I usually then just take the tube from Victoria than bothering with the Heathrow express which is in the wrong place for 90% of travellers!

@Onlyrainbows

My company wouldn't let me boon any alternative routes... I have to be on the flight from Heathrow, it's the only one allowed. All flights are landing at the north terminal in Gatwick. I will have checked in luggage, and I can check in online for the transatlantic flight.

I used to be a corporate travel head and this is completely ridiculous. I’d honestly be astounded if you make this with checked luggage in tow given you’ll have to a) wait for it at Gatwick and b) will have to arrive earlier at Heathrow to allow time for bag drop. Do you know how it’s booked and whether it’s one through ticket or separate tickets? As in are they airline confident you will make it? And what’s their policy if when you get stranded because you’ve missed the onward flight? And will they pay for the taxi?