Lastest you can get to Heathrow for long haul flight?

[70proof]

This, hand luggage only, checkin online, but a fast pass for security and park as close to terminal as possible, then 1hr should suffice.

[GT03ROB]

fat80b said:

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

I think I have spent too much time in airports..... but I do like the free champagne in the lounges

[Tampon]

So the reason I am considering this is that direct flight is £424 and gets me in to see the family on saturday afternoon at 2pm ( after taxi etc)

I can get a later flight for £299 with a long stop off which gets me in at on sunday at 1am and I will be battered so not really with family til late sunday morning.

The next day direct flight is £700ish and gets me there for sunday 2pm.

I get an extra to sleep all evening on the direct flight so arrive fresh and get an extra afternoon, evening and morning with family (whole day). Wrst case I am late away from work, traffic is a nightmare and security is fked, i will swallow the £700, catch the direct the next day sleep all the way and be there sunday afternoon and happy. Rather than still do friday night journey, 7 hr stop over at 5 in the morning and be there Sunday at mid day (after I sleep more in the morning).

That is my thinking.

Seems I will most likely be there 2hrs before if one thing goes wrong (work or traffic) and hour half if two things do. I can minimise the work thing and ask for help if there is a situation but depends on the situation.

Feels like it is doable to be honest with the people who fly these flights.

Seems worth the risk.

[Buster73]

Rather be there an hour early than a minute late.

Think the op is inviting unnecessary stress and hassle to journey, half a day off work leisurely trip up , check in and through security with an hour to spare before boarding is what I aim for everytime.

[steveo3002]

will the next day flight still be £700 less than 24hrs before departure? good risk its sold out and cant go

[Monkeylegend]

Flying first class buys you a 40 min before departure check in time but it does come at a cost.

[Tampon]

Buster73 said:

Rather be there an hour early than a minute late.

Think the op is inviting unnecessary stress and hassle to journey, half a day off work leisurely trip up , check in and through security with an hour to spare before boarding is what I aim for everytime.

Me too, seems like I should be there and doing that.

Cannot take half day off as explained. Not a choice just the way it is.

All things go well I will be there out of school 3pm, 2 half hour drive there for 5.30pm. Leave work later, be there for 6.15pm, traffic be there between 7-7.30pm. Leave 30 mins getting car parked and to airport. Terrorist incident and massive security, I am fked, shut the M3, I am fked, i break down, i am fked.

So based on the people who do this stuff ( many thanks for advise) I am going to book it, should be there in plenty of time. Should be ok if one things goes wrong, should be close if work and traffic go wrong but still more than likely.

Fast track security will be booked and close by parking.

Seems like a fair calculated risk to take. If the next flight costs a packet then so be it. Worth the very likely chance of an extra day with the family.

Thanks guys

Edited by Tampon on Saturday 18th November 11:18

[768]

Sounds doable, sometimes no accounting for traffic helps and heading towards London is probably better than away from it in a Friday afternoon.

It's not often I'd suggest a train but if you can go hand luggage only they seem to run twice an hour from Poole and take a painful but perhaps more predictable ~3 hours?

[Tampon]

768 said:

Sounds doable, sometimes no accounting for traffic helps and heading towards London is probably better than away from it in a Friday afternoon.

It's not often I'd suggest a train but if you can go hand luggage only they seem to run twice an hour from Poole and take a painful but perhaps more predictable ~3 hours?

Thought that but need to get family back at the end.

[ikarl]

Would it not be quicker and easier and less stressful getting a train?

Quick look shows Gillingham 15:51 gets you to the airport for 18:34

Not sure if that's close to where you are, I just searched Dorset.

[pitlane]

I spend half my life flying (occupational hazard! ) and what you are suggesting sounds run of the mill, I would have no hesitation booking that.

Yes you might break down / terror threat etc but in reality the chances are slim. If you are unlucky enough to get stuck in a road closure for example and it's right to the wire, explain the situation to somebody as soon as you get there (politely and calmly), showing boarding card with departure time and often they will arrange to escort you through security.

If the whatsit really hits the fan and you miss flight, once again explain to airline desk situation super politely and calmly (it's not their fault you missed the flight) and they will often get you on the next one for no/minimal cost.

Booking it right thing to do

[C70R]

bhstewie said:

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?

My thoughts exactly. Weird thread.
You can comfortably get from arrival at the terminal to your gate in 45min or less. People really make such a fuss about flying...

[WestyCarl]

The risk getting delayed on the way to the airport.

If, for example you arrive with only 45 mins to go, either call the airline 10mins before you arrive or find some staff on arrival and they will guide you through the queues.

[HustleRussell]

C70R said:

bhstewie said:

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?

My thoughts exactly. Weird thread.
You can comfortably get from arrival at the terminal to your gate in 45min or less. People really make such a fuss about flying...

Neither of you have read the part where the OP explained that he works with autistic children and wouldn't want to upset their routine then.

[StevieBee]

Tampon said:

Fast track security will be booked and close by parking.

You can't buy fast-track security from Heathrow like you can at other airports (I have no idea why!) - but you can book separately with some airline so check on the airline's website. If you can't rarely does it take longer than 10 to 15 minutes to get through - it seems longer than it is half the time.

I'd also suggest booking short-term parking. If you book early enough, it's not that much more expensive and you can walk from your car to the terminal.

[TeeRev]

Have you considered Valet Parking, rock up at the terminal, hand keys to a chap who takes your car to a car park, matter of minutes so much time saved on a tight schedule, also has the advantage of removing the hassle of getting entire family to the car park on the incoming flight.

[768]

Tampon said:

Thought that but need to get family back at the end.

Hire car?

[p1stonhead]

Never EVER underestimate how crap that particular bit of the M25 and surrounding roads are, especially on a Friday.

[hairyben]

Dunno how often you get here but the entire western side of the M25 + assoc mways which heathrow sits in the middle of is a carpark most of the time these days, journey times can be very unpredictable

[LHRFlightman]

T3 will be busy. From around 2000 most of our departing flights are long haul, so allow yourself some time for that. The M3 will be slow, from junction 3 to M25 at a minimum.

Personally speaking I'd Get a local taxi to your train station and do it that way.