V-Flyer

After reading the topic Getting to Gatwick http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=27893 I was wondering what is the best way to get to LHR, national express coach, train to london and then heathrow express or taxi?

It depends on where you are coming from. You didn't say.[?]

quote:Originally posted by Jeffers555
It depends on where you are coming from. You didn't say.[?]


Guildford, I can get a train to Woking and then a coach but there might be a lot of traffic as im going on a weekday morning.

Best way to get to LHR : a J or a D ticket [y][:w]

quote:Originally posted by preiffer
Best way to get to LHR : a J or a D ticket [y][:w]


[ii] I wish! I've only got a Z ticket but I might have enough miles after my outward flight and hotel stay to get a chauffeur car on my return.

unfortunately not with a z ticket. Reward cars are only availble on reward bookings I'm afraid...

quote:Originally posted by GodAtum
[quote]Originally posted by preiffer
Best way to get to LHR : a J or a D ticket [y][:w]


[ii] I wish! I've only got a Z ticket but I might have enough miles after my outward flight and hotel stay to get a chauffeur car on my return.


Remember, you can't book a CDC with miles if you are on a Z ticket. The only way you can spend 12.5k miles for a CDC is if you are travelling on a G ticket (whether a full reward or upgraded from a Econ/PE fare).

Neil

So even if I earn enough miles I still cant book a car because I've got the wrong type of ticket?

Paul should be pleased that Neil has affirmed his opinion.

GJ

Neil should be pleased that he got it right... [;)]

And no, sorry - Z ticket means no virgin CDC under any circumstances.

ANd Neil should be please.....oh can't go there...Yes both Paul and Neil are correct, you have to be on a reward flight to book a CDC.

quote:Originally posted by preiffer
Best way to get to LHR : a J or a D ticket [y][:w]


LOL - but true! Better than that though is your own chauffeur [:w]

Have you thought about staying overnight at a LHR hotel the night before instead? The Railair link from Woking would be the other sensible option.

quote:Originally posted by DragonLady
Have you thought about staying overnight at a LHR hotel the night before instead? The Railair link from Woking would be the other sensible option.


What hotel would you recommend?

Well as I also live in Guildford thought I would give my two cents worth.

Option that I have used before is to get the train to Woking and then transfer onto the Railair coach. You are only on the M25 for about 1 junction so if you do get caught it up it *shouldn't* railair be that bad. Having said that I believe the bus, operates like the Airline coach service from Oxford, that being when the m25 is backed up they detour via local roads.

Another option is just to get the train to Waterloo then round to Paddington and jump on the HEX.

Another option I have pondered is train to Clapham and then train it round to Hounslow. Where you go at Hounslow I have never worked out as Hounslow rail, ISTBC, is not linked to any tube station so am not sure how you transfer to LHR.

Having said all of that, my number one preferred choice is the car. I got to LHR from Burpham last weekend in under 30 minutes. For all the hassle of having to get to Guildford station, getting off at Woking, waiting for the bus etc etc (and the price) it is much easier to drive. Of course you have to factor in airport parking but there are some excellent deals around (Q Park, or whatever it is called now, is a good one). Although if you have a friendly neighbour I am sure they will run you round for a tenner (if not I am sure Willd Taxi service could come to the rescue!).

Personally, I'd look for a hotel/parking offer, especially if it's a weekend as you can get some great deals. Try Holidayextras.co.uk

Nothing worse than landing after a trip and having to wait around to trains, buses etc. Just get in the car and drive.

Be VERY careful with overnight 'parking packages' at LHR.

Firstly, a lot of the hotels only have access to the terminal by hotel hoppa, an extra cost of around 10 quid I think, return.
Secondly, the hoppa buses (and hotel buses for that matter) are NOT that frequent when you land back tired and just want to get in your car to drive home.


For me, it's one hop/step/task too many. Stick to prepaid airport parking.

quote:Originally posted by willd
Well as I also live in Guildford thought I would give my two cents worth.

Option that I have used before is to get the train to Woking and then transfer onto the Railair coach. You are only on the M25 for about 1 junction so if you do get caught it up it *shouldn't* railair be that bad. Having said that I believe the bus, operates like the Airline coach service from Oxford, that being when the m25 is backed up they detour via local roads.

Another option is just to get the train to Waterloo then round to Paddington and jump on the HEX.


How long would it take to go to Paddington to get the HEX from Guildford? Unfortuntely I dont have a car so it would have to be coach, train or taxi.

Yes, the Hoppa can be a tad unreliable timewise. I believe the Premier Travel Inn uses Quality Parking next door.

You can catch the regular bus to Central Bus Station for free but they can be very busy at times.

quote:Originally posted by GodAtum
[quote]Originally posted by willd
Well as I also live in Guildford thought I would give my two cents worth.

Option that I have used before is to get the train to Woking and then transfer onto the Railair coach. You are only on the M25 for about 1 junction so if you do get caught it up it *shouldn't* railair be that bad. Having said that I believe the bus, operates like the Airline coach service from Oxford, that being when the m25 is backed up they detour via local roads.

Another option is just to get the train to Waterloo then round to Paddington and jump on the HEX.


How long would it take to go to Paddington to get the HEX from Guildford? Unfortuntely I dont have a car so it would have to be coach, train or taxi.


Trainline.com shows it as between 40 mins and 70 mins Guildford to Waterloo depending on the particular service. Then, continuing on public transport, you'd have to get the Bakerloo from Waterloo to Paddington - see tfl.gov.uk - about 15 mins, then the HEX.

Interesting if you put Guildford to Heathrow into Trainline it gives a time of between an hour and an hour and a half (depending on the time of day) using the airport bus from Woking..

I guess there may be other intermediate stations on the way into Waterloo that could provide a better connection onto the Picadilly line ?

From the M40 corridor, either take the Airline from the Thornhill P&R in Oxford (free parking), or take the train from High Wycombe / Bicester to Marylebone, switch there to Bakerloo for two stops to Paddington and then back out on HEX.

Since I live down Oxford way, I work it out on total cost - bus rides, timing, convenience on both out and return, how much it would cost either way, and then make a decision based on that. The Airline tends to win out. It runs down the M40 to the M25, but there has that 4 mile stretch to the M4 or the T5 junction which can be a right nightmare. If the M25 becomes chocka on the T5 run, they'll reverse the route and go down the M4 towards the tunnel on the spur, and then get onto the main road (A30?) back to T5. Speeds things up I find.

S.

quote:Originally posted by GodAtum
[quote]Originally posted by willd
Well as I also live in Guildford thought I would give my two cents worth.

Option that I have used before is to get the train to Woking and then transfer onto the Railair coach. You are only on the M25 for about 1 junction so if you do get caught it up it *shouldn't* railair be that bad. Having said that I believe the bus, operates like the Airline coach service from Oxford, that being when the m25 is backed up they detour via local roads.

Another option is just to get the train to Waterloo then round to Paddington and jump on the HEX.


How long would it take to go to Paddington to get the HEX from Guildford? Unfortuntely I dont have a car so it would have to be coach, train or taxi.


Well its 35-45 minutes to Waterloo, then would imagine about 20/25 on the tube. On a good run I would say you could be door to door in around 2 hours, that takes into account any waiting around etc.

The best option without a car is the railair bus!

Many thanks for all the advice. How long do you think the Railair coach will take on a weekday morning around 9am. On the national express website it says around 1 hour but I'm not sure if that includes rush hour traffic?

I never use the Hoppa when staying at an airport hotel, preffering to use a very reliable local cab company that I've used numerous times. The Railair journey shouldn't take that long even in the morning rush hour -I used to live in Woking and a 'normal ' journey from Woking to LHR took nowhere near an hour.
DL

GodAtum, the Railair coach tends to be fairly on time, but if you are concerned about your timings, add an extra 20 minutes to be safe. If you are early, then you can trundle along to T3, not rush.



S.