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?

City to Gatwick is civilised. DLR to Canning Town, Jubilee to London Brodge then train to Gatwick. Trains from Gatwick are at least every 15 mins and take half an hour. It won't route you there online because they want to route everyone via the Gatwick Express which is an expensive waste of money in my opinion as you can gets normal train from Victoria or London Bridge which only takes 5 mins more and is much cheaper.

If you can't face too much public transport you could cab to London Bridge.

Thanks @Zippedydoodahday we will also need to do the journey on return leg so maybe I will try each airport and see how it goes !

@chipsandpeas unfortunately only one BA flight per day to Glasgow, would have been perfect on the way out but not for the way back, so would create another logistical challenge of getting across to Glasgow airport that early on public transport.

easyJet fly to Gatwick too. I'm Edinburgh too and only recently realised BA had stopped all edi-gatwick flights. My friend flew in the evening to LGW and stayed in a hotel.

There's a flight at 7pm and 9.15pm daily to Gatwick if you want post work and several flights back during the day depending on day of the week

@Musicaltheatremum yes that's another option, but I would be a bit worried if we flew same day with Easyjet then any delays or issues and we wouldn't be covered for the next flight, plus we would need to pay for it instead of the Avios points and free companion flights.

@rookiemere my above post should say easyJet flights. I quoted a wrong post

I get you....you'd be best to fly the night before. Not sure why edi have stopped their flights to LGW. We are looking at Antigua which flies from LGW so same problem....sympathies!

@Musicaltheatremum hark at us with our First World problems !

I checked to see if there was any price or points difference flying from London instead of Edinburgh but it's exactly the same which means the Edinburgh- London flights are effectively free, so I guess we go night before and book a Premier Inn at Gatwick.

Coming back is less of an issue as there are more flights so I guess if we miss one they could put us on the next one.

@rookiemere . Lol at first world problems. But it's about feeling we are in control of things isn't it?!
Decreasing the worry level.
My brother works for BA. must ask why they don't fly EDI-LGW anymore. ! Hope you get sorted. Travelling across London is no fun! We think the city bypass is bad!

BA haven't flown that route since the pandemic. We were due to fly it in 2020. They withdrew most domestic flights from LGW but have reinstated a few.

@Musicaltheatremum actually having checked the price of the coach from Heathrow to Gatwick am now debating the Easyjet option. £16 minimum per person each way but if I got the flights as soon as they came out maybe £80 return to cut out a lot of hassle

You could also price up the journey via Luton to see if the timings and pricing work out better.

EDI-LTN with Easyjet. Then direct train from Luton Airport Parkway to Gatwick Airport takes 1 hour 18 min - tickets from £16).

No way can you land at Heathrow, collect your bags, find a taxi/coach, survive the man-made hell that is the M25 and be in Gatwick in time for check-in in just 3 hours, never mind making a flight that takes off 3 hours after you land at Heathrow. Whichever route you use to get to Gatwick, your best option is to get there the night before your flight and have a good sleep and a leisurely breakfast before doing battle with Gatwick Airport.

Used to do Gatwick<>Heathrow connecting a lot. I’d agree with the comment that 3 hours is very very tight…it actually is “doable” but it relies on everything meshing perfectly, no delays anywhere.

Frankly it was sometimes horribly stressful and not to be recommended - I was glad when I didn’t have to do it anymore

I too don't think it's doable. I live on the M25, it took me 1 hour to get ds1 home from Heathrow. And it took us just under 1.5 hours to get to Gatwick. It's too tight for check in and to get through customs.

That might be viable and less hassle. Or EJ to LGW, there is usually an early morning flight so depends on time of your connection.

Hi so we either can get free BA flights e.g. no extra Avios points or tax to Heathrow or City or we could buy Easyjet to Gatwick.
I think if we were paying for the flights it's only worth doing if they are to Gatwick, but thanks for the Luton suggestion.