Lastest you can get to Heathrow for long haul flight?

[Tampon]

Trying to sort my family holiday to Sri Lanka next summer.

Looking at flights now.

Wife is going out for an extra week before hand with MiL and FiL to help with the kids so I get to flight on my tod (bliss!) a week later.

Now I can get a direct flight from Heathrow at 9.30pm.

I will finish work around 3-4pm in Dorset. Takes about 3ish hours to get there but it is a friday afternoon so could throw a spanner in there and toy with me. Should be there between 6-6.45pm but could be there at 8pm.

If I went Hand luggage only, checked in online 24 hrs before, what time could I get there and still get on the flight?

Everywhere say three hours before but they are talking check in. Can't find any info on rocking up.already checked in.

I know this is a little close but means if it is possible I can spend an extra day with the family on a beach.

Any ideas.

P.S. I know this is a slight risk but trying to find out how much of one.

Cheers

[HustleRussell]

A recipe for a very stressful Friday IMO. Little holdup at work, bit of traffic, slight delay parking and you've missed it.

ETA: get out of work early?

[steveo3002]

just madness trying to rock up at the last second , cant you take the day off unpaid or something and have a relaxed time

[bitchstewie]

You're having to plan now if you can leave work a few hours early in 8-9 months time?

What do you do for a living?

[CoolC]

Which terminal?

[windymissile]

It will all depend on the queue at security. If you're hand luggage only, parking close to the terminal. Walk in, straight through security and to the gate, 8pm should be fine.

WM

[Monkeylegend]

In my past working life I had customers who would arrive an hour before departure and still get their flight but also some who missed their flights. I would say you need to be there at least 90 mins before departure but ideally 2 hours to be sure and avoid stressing yourself out.

[Perik Omo]

Slight delay at security/passport check and you'll be stuffed. The mrs took over 2 hours last time through Heathrow T3 but don't know if that was exceptional but she said it was heaving at 7pm.

[Tampon]

Edited to add, thanks for the replies and info guys, really helps.

Special Needs Teacher at a residential school for children with severe needs so no chance of leaving early or taking the day off. Could be out of the door at 3.05pm but one incident and have to restrain a student or one absconds and that is 45 mins of forms to fill out/ searching.

So if I can get there at 7.30pm for a 9.30pm flight I should be ok if I have already checked in and have carry on? 8pm will be squeeky bum time? 8.30pm I might as well sit and have a beer and contemplate the cost of the next flight.

Flight should be from terminal 3.

I am 75% certain I can be there for 7.30pm, 90% for 8pm.

Don't mind taking a risk just need to understand the risk I am taking. Seems it is security that will be the wait? about an hour sound right (depends on the day I know)

I haven't booked the flights yet, trying to understand which would be better.

Edited by Tampon on Saturday 18th November 10:37

[anonymous-user]

Fast track security will help a little, worth the few quid it costs in this scenario

[Tampon]

JPJPJP said:

Fast track security will help a little, worth the few quid it costs in this scenario

Ohh that sounds good, do you do that with the airport or the flight company?

Normally how long before do you have to book that? (i.e could that be done sat in traffic if it came to it? Or not fk about and get it.

Actually stupid question it is going to be stressful anyways I should just get that.

[Mr Pointy]

Surely just because you have checked in doesn't mean you have a boarding card? Don't you have to stand in the web check-in line to get one? This would add more more delay as many people check in online.

[f1nn]

You're turning what should be a pleasurable experience in to a stress unnecassarily.

Counting on traffic being sensible around Heathrow being sensible at any time is a recipe for disaster.

Take a half day off work and take the pressure off.

[bitchstewie]

I would be doing everything I could to simply avoid any hassle.

I'm going on an hour long flight where I think I can turn up half an hour before departure. All I've got to do to get to the airport is get a train from the station 10 minutes walk away.

I'll still be making sure I'm at the airport with more time to spare than you're planning on allowing.

Easy for me to say as I don't know how your job works (and kudos for doing something I would never be capable of doing) but honestly, I wouldn't be risking fking up a family holiday for the sake of half a days leave.

[Tampon]

Thanks again for the advise.

Cannot finish work early or take day off, just not possible. Autistic kids cannot handle change, end of term (3 weeks summer holidays as families can't handle these kids for more really), so big day for them any way. Their teacher leaving half way or not being there is just not fair.

Check in and boarding pass via company app on phone/ do online at work and print at work (no bags to check)

I have just moved from Egham to Dorset and grew up in Uxbridge and ran a business round Heathrow area, even worked at the Crown Plaza at Heathrow as a lad going through sixth form so know the traffic situation and back roads.

[Gargamel]

Mr Pointy said:

Surely just because you have checked in doesn't mean you have a boarding card? Don't you have to stand in the web check-in line to get one? This would add more more delay as many people check in online.

No, you get the boarding card on your phone.

Depends which carrier you are on. BA will close the security gates for check in, IE the FIRST time you scan your boarding card before security 1 hour before the flight leaves. However if you are T 3 then you aren't BA.

check what time is the latest. Also where are you parking? you need enough time to park and get to the terminal. Usually 20-25 minutes from the T3 long stay.

I would say 1:15 mins is minimum for long haul. I fly regularly, Usually security is 15 mins on a Friday, rare for it to be more... fast track a good idea.

Doable ... but traffic is a big variable here.

[steveo3002]

then its always going to be a maybe ..if everything goes well then yes you make it , if not then can you afford to miss the flight /rebook it etc

[GT03ROB]

Tampon said:

So if I can get there at 7.30pm for a 9.30pm flight I should be ok if I have already checked in and have carry on? 8pm will be squeeky bum time? 8.30pm I might as well sit and have a beer and contemplate the cost of the next flight.

Hand baggage only, online check in, with boarding pass in hand..... an hour before will be fine. Double check with your airline, they'll tell you though.

[fat80b]

bhstewie said:

I would be doing everything I could to simply avoid any hassle.

True but I think people are being over cautious.

Pay for short stay parking so you can walk to the terminal, ideally fast track it through security and you don’t need much time at the airport and you probably need 45 mins at T3. There’s no stupid train to catch.

This week I left home 2 hours before a flight with an hour drive to the airport and still ended up sat at the gate eating breakfast....

There is a saying at work that “if you’ve never missed a flight then you’ve clearly spent too much time in airports”.

[irc]

Depends on queues. However as the downside for missing a flight is big I'd be attempting to get there early allowing for worst case traffic and security/check in queues.