Travel time Heathrow to Gatwick ?

[rookiemere]

Hi
I'm looking to use my BA companion voucher. One of the options involves flying from our local airport to Heathrow, then from Gatwick to final destination.
The BA flight arrives in at 8.05am and the Gatwick one leaves at 11.05 am, I'm thinking that even with luggage checked in 3 hrs seems tight to do that trip and be there for check in. Does anyone have any experience please?

How would you travel between, when and are you arriving internationally? Travel time can be anything between 45 minutes and two hours!

That's the minimum time they allow, I personally would choose to have more or fly down the night before. National Express do a bus between the two airports.

I don't think that's doable.

Yes I didn't think it was feasible so I think we will go down night before, strange that they offered it as an option.

Absolute no way that's possible. Stay the night before.

We had a connecting flight just after Christmas and had to get from Gatwick airport to Heathrow in order to get home. We’d assumed it would be a quick journey between the two airports on National Express coaches (which were excellent by the way) however the M25 was chockablock 90% of the way and it took way over 2 hours to arrive. I think you’re cutting it fine time wise if I’m honest.

Yeah and I'm thinking we would be travelling in peak rush hour, so it does seem like a gamble particularly as the international flight is only 3 x per week.

Trains with (with 1 / 2 changes) run between heathrow and gatwick but the timings might be tight still for that trip especially if theres any hold ups or train delays/ strikes. Then depending how long it takes to get out and in etc.

Also, currently there are major road works on the m25 effecting gatwick and heathrow and i was reading at times full closures with longer diversions etc but not too sure if the future dates for these are out yet.

Also check the planned M25 closures if you're travelling over a weekend. A stretch of the M25 between Heathrow and Gatwick is closed this weekend, and there are 4 more closures planned over the next few months.

Thanks for the updates.
It won't be until next year but we'll definitely go night before. I'm now wondering if London City to Gatwick would be be better, I think it took longer but by train possibly so may be more reliable.

Just googled that journey- think I will stick with Heathrow to Gatwick!

It’s doable but incredibly tight. I’d only do it by taxi and with no checked luggage or kids, and be aware that a 10 minute delay could be fatal.

Say 20 mins to get out of Heathrow, 5 mins to find taxi, 1 hour in the car, so arriving at Gatwick 90 mins before departure.

@UneTasse I'm guessing that the cost of a taxi between the two airports could also seriously erode any savings we have made on the flights

Yep no way. I live near Gatwick and it's a two hour bus ride. I prefer the bus to a car as the traffic around Heathrow is just unmoving at times and very unpredictable. Far too stressful your blood pressure would be through the roof trying to make that.

It isnt doable-
Go onto BA FlyerTalk for advice
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1734568-heathrow-gatwick-transport-options-pictorial-guide-19.html

Thanks i hadn't realised there was a tube/gatwick express option

The tube to Victoria is really slow though. City to LGW is probably 90 minutes max.

I looked into this and we realised it was a safer bet to drive to Gatwick from our home - a 5 hour journey. It was too unpredictable to do the changeover.

We have todo the Lhr to gatw transfer a lot. It’s always worth comparing taxi transfer with coach price. Last time we did this we got a taxi transfer and it wasn’t much more expensive than the coach, and it saved getting to the coach station at Heathrow. If there’s more than 2 of you it’s probably definitely cheaper/less hassle with bags.

But in any That’s too tight a transfer to be comfortable you’ll have to go the night before.

@BarrelOfOtters how much was the taxi please between the two airports, just to give me an idea?

There used to be an option of staying the night before in a reasonable-ish hotel near to Gatwick, leaving the car there whilst away (allowed, part of the deal) and getting a shuttle bus to the terminal.
Would that be an option?
I've just done a transatlantic flight with a slightly-too-tight transfer window and I spent so much time stressing about it. Don't underestimate this.

We actually live in Edinburgh so I think we'll just get the last flight to either City or Heathrow the night before to avoid taking more time off work and head across to Gatwick that evening.

At least £100, depending on the taxi company.
I live near Heathrow and used to travel a lot, I do not think 3 hours transfer time is a feasible option between these two airports. Heathrow is huge and you would need to arrive at least 2 hours prior to your flight, 3 for long haul.
I second suggestions of staying in a hotel overnight.

look into flying from glasgow to gatwick

ive had to do it, im outside edinburgh and flying to orlando later in the year using a BA Amex voucher and have to go glasgow-gatwick then orlando

Ah thank you @chipsandpeas hadn't considered Glasgow and didn't realise BA flew to Gatwick from there.