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Original poster

Transfer from Gatwick to Heathrow

117 replies

Onlyrainbows · 30/01/2022 17:59

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?

OP posts:
rookiemere · 31/01/2022 10:20

When does your flight get into Phoenix and when do you meet your new boss ?
If you've got a night to catch up then take Boots sleepeze for the night you arrive and you should be fine on the Monday morning sleep wise.

helpfulperson · 31/01/2022 10:25

This is one of the complications of WFH. if her office was in Cornwall then yes work should allow time for travel to London but as it her choice to be in Cornwall there is no reason why they should.

Shambleseya · 31/01/2022 10:32

I think that's plenty of time to get to Heathrow, but I don't think you'd make the bus so I'd book a taxi.

EileenGC · 31/01/2022 10:56

Would they allow you start work early on the Friday (eg 6am) so you finish a few hours early and can make the last evening train?

I may be offering solutions that don’t work for you, but that’s just because in my job frequent travel is a must (multiple times per month), and we must also alter our normal working / waking and sleeping / childcare hours as required. It’s a pain sometimes but travel is the priority so we’re very used to it…

Is this a one off trip or will you be expected to do it fairly regularly? In which case, a better plan needs to be put in place for this particular journey in the future, so you don’t run into this same issue very often.

Flipflopblowout · 31/01/2022 11:19

Get a couple of taxi quotes. One that springs to mind is batransfers. It should cost about £60-70.

Original poster
Onlyrainbows · 31/01/2022 11:26

I'm only supposed to travel on a quarterly basis (and to the US probably twice at most). In the future, I'd just upgrade my DHs car and that would solve it! I've already called the airline and they said it takes about 30mins to get my luggage (at most). All flights are landing about 15 mins early. I think it's 50/50 I'll catch the bus, but I still have 4 hours before departure to make it from Gatwick to Heathrow, which seems by all means within reason.

OP posts:
EileenGC · 31/01/2022 11:32

I’d chance the flight connection myself, as I said early on LGW-LHR is doable within 4 hours, luggage collection/check in included.

The only thing that I would make sure to have, is a plan B. In case the first flight is delayed or outright cancelled, can you jump into a car straight away and make it to LHR by midday. Or would company cover extra costs of rebooking. That’s the only thing I’d want to clarify before agreeing to the flights.

Original poster
Onlyrainbows · 31/01/2022 11:50

That plan B is to get to Newquay as early as possible (around 7) in case anything changes. If we leave Newquay by say around 8, I should be able to get into Heathrow around 12ish..Not enough time but not much else I can do.

OP posts:
EileenGC · 31/01/2022 12:08

I would definitely try it then, you have a solid back up plan in driving to LHR if something happens.

Luggage won’t take ages at LGW and then I would judge next step of action once out of the terminal. There’s bus, trains into central, or a taxi, depending on what time you leave the terminal.

Are you flying economy or business to Phoenix? If economy, I would be tempted to buy a fast-track pass for security (£5-10) just to make sure you can breeze through after dropping off your bags. Business will most likely include fast track. I assume you’ll fly out of T5 and I have never experienced long check in queues there, plus they will always give you priority if your flight is about to close. What takes long at T5 is getting to the gate once you’re past security, the actual check in process goes fast.

User2638483 · 31/01/2022 12:45

I think I’d do it but only with hand luggage. Is that an option or do you have to have a bigger bag?

notimagain · 31/01/2022 12:54

@Onlyrainbows

TBH it all sounds tight…”doable” on a good day with no probs on arrival at LGS, on the M25 etc but potentially stressful.

Bear in mind at LHR you need to have checked in hold bags and have gone through conformance at T5 (prior to security, point where you scan boarding pass at the start of the security screening zone)..no less than 35 minutes prior to departure.

If I had to do this I’d do it with carry on bag(s) only and pre-book a car.

notimagain · 31/01/2022 12:55

LGS=LGW!!!

Original poster
Onlyrainbows · 31/01/2022 12:56

There's no way I could do this with just a carry on .. I'm supposed to pack a cocktail dress!!

OP posts:
HundredMilesAnHour · 31/01/2022 12:56

Is your 2nd flight (the Heathrow one) with BA? If yes, you will need to meet 'conformance'. That means you have to be through security 35 mins before your flight is scheduled to depart - or no flight!

Are there further international flights you can be booked on that day if you miss it, or is it the only flight?

Things are going to be very tight, especially since you've confirmed you'll have checked in luggage (so will have to wait for this at Gatwick). Is there no way you can take hand baggage only?

User2638483 · 31/01/2022 12:57

@Onlyrainbows

There's no way I could do this with just a carry on .. I'm supposed to pack a cocktail dress!!
Wear it on the plane? 😆
HundredMilesAnHour · 31/01/2022 13:07

Also, be aware that there are reportedly long queues for check-in for US flights at Heathrow because of the extra checks on documentation for the US/Covid. I'm flying to California tomorrow and even with my docs approved by Verifly today and online check-in completed, they'll still need to be checked at the airport again.

Verifly speeds things up so make sure you use it (if you're not already) and there are specific Verifly desks which I'm told are quicker than normal check-in desks.

notimagain · 31/01/2022 13:14

@Onlyrainbows

There's no way I could do this with just a carry on .. I'm supposed to pack a cocktail dress!!
Not for me to give packing tips but I’ve seen that and similar done within the constraints of the BA carry on allowance…it’s not easy and depends what else you need to take with you/what you can get away with by wearing on the flights…

I guess however the carry-on for the domestic sector is not as generous as the BA one, so that might clobber that idea anyway.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 31/01/2022 13:19

It depends … it should be enough time but the m25 is a mare at the best of times so it’s reliant on it being ok 🤞

londonmummy1966 · 31/01/2022 13:30

Could you hire a cocktail dress over there and have it delivered to the hotel. Would that then allow you to take carry on? If the Newquay flight is not very busy you could try asking if there is any chance that your luggage could go in the cabin if the case is not huge.

RandomQuest · 31/01/2022 13:36

Pick your cocktail dress wisely? You don’t need some big puffy thing!

HowDOyouspellIt · 31/01/2022 13:41

Could you not do an overnight bus from Newquay to LHR? Wouldn't be the most comfortable journey, but at least you're just in one place for the duration.

Spellfish · 31/01/2022 13:56

Download Citymapper, so that when you switch your phone back on at LGW, you have real time information on how the buses / trains / taxis are running. That way, you can make your decision on route with the best information. It will factor traffic in to the taxi times, I think.

Alternatively, the 18.16 on Friday night from Plymouth (or the later 18.48, if you’re up for changing at Bristol) would get you in to Paddington in time to get the train to Heathrow and stay in a cheap hotel overnight.

JassyRadlett · 31/01/2022 14:09

Oh OP it’s tricky!

In your shoes I think I’d stay in a Premier Inn in Exeter on the Friday night and get the early train up to London.

Backup plan being last train to Paddington and hotel at Paddington rather than Heathrow.

I generally love sleepers but they can be so touch and go in terms of sleep, especially when you r got another overnighter.

Original poster
Onlyrainbows · 31/01/2022 14:14

I live more than one hour away from Plymouth realistically at those time I'd have to leave home around 4 to make it, which doesn't give me enough time to do a "handover" with my DH. Travelling through the afternoon/evening to sleep at Heathrow seems like an overcomplication when the sleeper train exists.

OP posts:
Needdoughnuts · 31/01/2022 14:54

@JassyRadlett

Oh OP it’s tricky!

In your shoes I think I’d stay in a Premier Inn in Exeter on the Friday night and get the early train up to London.

Backup plan being last train to Paddington and hotel at Paddington rather than Heathrow.

I generally love sleepers but they can be so touch and go in terms of sleep, especially when you r got another overnighter.

I agree with this. Dh and family take you to Premier Inn at Exeter St David's Friday evening, have dinner together, you stay overnight and get a train to Paddington in the morning to get in for 10.30 ish. Transfer to Heathrow takes about 20 minutes by train. Hopefully arrive by midday, no stress