how long does it take to get out of heathrow airport?

[polkaday]

Trying to decide what time to book onward bus tickets for. (Cannot believe how expensive getting the train is - about £100 per person each way!). Flight gets in about 8am to terminal 4, how long would it take to get to the bus? Not sure if 9.45 is shaving it fine, but next option is about 1pm :(

Have you looked at trains to other cities that are cheaper?

For example Leicester to London open return is now £193 (which is fucking ridiculous for a 1 Hr train). Rugby to London or Market Harborough to London open return is £66 and then I can get a train, bus or drive to my home from there.

Hi everyone. Don’t really want to say where I live but it is about 2.5-3hrs away from London. Options are National express (which if we get the change&go is doubling the fare about £30pp just for one way) mega bus is cheaper but not at t4 and there’s waiting around, also don’t know what happens if you miss the bus. There is also Flixbus which I think we will take for getting there. Anyone know what happens if you miss your return on Flixbus? They only have two services I think it was about 9.30 but very cheap and a different terminal.

I think cheapest is Flixbus (10) + National express (30) x 2 = £80.
Or parking there for about £135 was the cheapest.
If we risk it with Flixbus it would be £40rtn for two which is very good.

My DD flies a lot and in general most flights are on time. Only time she's booked a coach, her flight was late. Couldn't get on next coach as it was fully booked. I'd allow extra time, you can always have a potter around airport, go for a coffee/some lunch.

I would look at using tube into Victoria and taking bus or train from there? Or train from main station? It’s often cheaper and more options than from Heathrow, but it depends whether your going north/ south/ west etc as to which central
station would be better

Flixbus is great, easy to change your ticket via the app/phone if you are going to miss your bus.

You can't rely on comparing it to connecting flights. You don't have to clear immigration or collect baggage. Last time I arrived at Heathrow (a couple of months ago) it was very nearly 2 hours before we had cleared immigration and had our luggage and that was the standard, no immigration issues, no lost luggage etc

Terminal 2 is usually quick, the others not so much. Book national express with the add on to be able to change buses. Dd usually leaves 2 hours plus the £5 to be able to change it

National express stops at terminal 4

Flix bus is ok but more unreliable in my experience, megabus is usually late here

Ps I always use my Tesco vouchers for national express from Heathrow, it's quicker than the train for us as it's direct from the airport to where our local bus leaves from in 2 hours

In your situation I'd make my way to central London (tube is cheapest or Elizabeth line is quicker but slightly dearer). There will be a greater choice of buses and trains and usually cheaper than going direct from Heathrow.
The 9:45 option might be fine or it might not. It's so hard to say as it depends on how quickly you can get off the plane (you may have to wait for air bridge connection or bus transfer to terminal), pass immigration, collect bags and then make your way to the bus station. Sometimes you could do all of the above in under an hour, other times it could take 2 or 3 x as long.

Have you checked the split ticket sites for train fares? Often having a straight from the airport ticket really bumps up the cost, compared with tube plus ticket from London terminal.

Anytime I’ve used heathrow I’ve got through really quickly. I’d do it.

@Willmafrockfit How last min can you change on flixbus? to be honest its only £10pp! Cheaper than buying an upgraded ticket on national express + paying £5each for change&go... the risk is more if we miss the flixbus, alternatives then may be very pricy

I have just done this - I am sitting waiting for my coach now. Our flight touched down at 6.50am at terminal 4. It's a long walk to passport control then we had a bit of a wait for luggage. You then have to get the train to Terminal 2 - it only runs every 30 minutes so if you just miss one that will add to your time. Then there's a long walk and a queue for the lifts down to the bus station.

I nearly booked the 8.30am bus but in the end went for the 9.45am fortunately as it was 8.45am when we got to the bus station. You might make the 9.45am but if you don't want the stress, I'd book the later one (or you can book a flexible ticket which costs a bit more but does give you the option to take a later or earlier coach)

@Caspianberg oh yes, didnt think of that! about £8 to get from victoria. wonder how much it is from t4 to victoria on the day...

@jay55 thank you just chekced this out, its still coming to £100+ pp unfortunately. I will bare splitting sites in mind for next time though.

@99victoria this is great, thank you. So basically it took you 2 hrs from landing to bus at t2. But could be 2.5hrs if you just miss the t4 to t2 transfer. Could I ask what time you think youd be ready for a bus at t4? probably 1.5-2hrs?

Is parking an option ? All sounds like a pain after a 12 hour flight ?

Thanks for asking this, OP - we will be in a similar situation in June, but arriving really late at night and needing to get back to NW England! Taking notes...

You're coming off a 12 hour flight, parking is £135 and you're considering fucking about with coaches after a 2 hour trek through the airport all the while wondering if you'll make it in time?

Just why?

@polkaday - tube from Heathrow to Victoria should be £5.50. So if you can get train/ coach for £8 from Victoria that sounds cheap

Yes, if you caught the coach at T4 1.5 hours should be plenty of time. They don't run as frequently from T4 though (at least they don't to where I live)

Most people wouldn't want to drive after a 12 hour flight. We've been travelling for over 24 hours from door to door and have only dozed during that time. Then you have the jetlag ....

"Most people wouldn't want to drive after a 12 hour flight. We've been travelling for over 24 hours from door to door and have only dozed during that time. Then you have the jetlag ...."

It's a night flight and they live 2.5 hours away. I think most do drive looking at the always full car parks.

Yeah- I would drive. BUT if money a consideration do not get lured by Terminal 2/3 "business" parking as it actually takes longer to get to terminal or carpark than the cheaper, normal long stay as there are hardly any buses and the ones they have are tiny. Had to wait 50 mins at terminal 2 for the carpark transfer at the weekend. Honestly, the sooner Chat GBT and its mates take over Heathrow, the better