Escape from LHR - how long?

[numtumfutunch]

Hi

The answer to this probably involves pain, misery and boredom but if anyone has any bright ideas Id love to hear

Im arriving at Heathrow from Melbourne at 550AM on a Friday in a few weeks

The trip is self funded and so Id like to keep costs reasonable within reason

I plan to take the train down and this bits all fine, Ive just booked an advance single ticket at a very good rate, the not fine bit is how to get back

Clearly if I buy a walk on ticket at Kings Cross I will get rinsed, the difference is approx £100 which would annoy me

On the other hand FR suggests the connection from Doha arrives on time with just a single 30 min delay posted in the last few weeks

The question then is how long is 'safe' to get off the plane and through the airport to the tube station?

If I get it wrong then my ticket is worthless, although if I wait too long I'll be jet lagged and bored at Kings Cross killing time

Thanks in advance, I cant drive which is my preferred option as the missus needs the car whilst Im away

Cheers

[cliffords]

Will your flight arrive on time?

[Alickadoo]

Where are you going on the train?

[Voldemort]

[numtumfutunch]

Yes

Leeds

You're not wrong

Thanks

[LivLL]

numtumfutunch said:

Hi

The answer to this probably involves pain, misery and boredom but if anyone has any bright ideas Id love to hear

Im arriving at Heathrow from Melbourne at 550AM on a Friday in a few weeks

The trip is self funded and so Id like to keep costs reasonable within reason

I plan to take the train down and this bits all fine, Ive just booked an advance single ticket at a very good rate, the not fine bit is how to get back

Clearly if I buy a walk on ticket at Kings Cross I will get rinsed, the difference is approx £100 which would annoy me

On the other hand FR suggests the connection from Doha arrives on time with just a single 30 min delay posted in the last few weeks

The question then is how long is 'safe' to get off the plane and through the airport to the tube station?

If I get it wrong then my ticket is worthless, although if I wait too long I'll be jet lagged and bored at Kings Cross killing time

Thanks in advance, I cant drive which is my preferred option as the missus needs the car whilst Im away

Cheers

Can someone translate what the OP's plan is I'm so confused.

You're getting the train down - from where to where? If you're flying into Heathrow from Melbourne ( I assume Australia) that's no where near Kings Cross.

Once you land at Heathrow, where are you going to?

[Boringvolvodriver]

We have done that journey on one occasion several years ago and had a similar dilemma.

IIRC we landed at 6ish and booked a 1100 train booked from Kings Cross. We might have made an earlier one although could have been tight if any delays.

To keep costs down, then a pre booked ticket would be best although I would personally allow at least 4 hours from time of landing to KX. Better to be relaxed rather than be rushing.

[Voldemort]

If you book a standard 2nd class return from Leeds to KX the return portion is open. You can get any train.

[Mastodon2]

I've flown into LHR loads of times, I'd usually say that from the point of touching down on the runway, if there was no other delay such as waiting to disembark etc, I'd be through the airport and in my rental car heading home in about 45 minutes.

The above however, includes me getting through passport control quickly with my UK passport, having no checked luggage to wait for and landing in terminal 5, which is pretty quick to get out of. I've landed at terminal 3 a few times and it's a longer walk to the exit.

If you land at a terminal other than T5, have checked luggage to collect, need to wait in the international passport queue, don't know you way around etc, then you probably need at least an hour to be safe. The more of the above factors apply, the longer you probably need.

[numtumfutunch]

Voldemort said:

If you book a standard 2nd class return from Leeds to KX the return portion is open. You can get any train.

Thanks, should have added that I considered this however unless I pay a premium I cant leave London terminals till just after 10AM with that ticket option

I'll probably buy a ticket on the 9AM which is probably safe and keep everything crossed

[omniflow]

Could you not buy a ticket on the Trainline App once you're on the Elizabeth line. Google maps will give you a pretty accurate ETA for Kings Cross and whilst you might not get the absolute cheapest ticket, it will probably be a significant saving over buying one at the station.

[Voldemort]

numtumfutunch said:

Voldemort said:

If you book a standard 2nd class return from Leeds to KX the return portion is open. You can get any train.

Thanks, should have added that I considered this however unless I pay a premium I cant leave London terminals till just after 10AM with that ticket option

I'll probably buy a ticket on the 9AM which is probably safe and keep everything crossed

Pay the premium. Get the first train you can. You won't regret it in the grand scheme of things.

[stinkyspanner]

I don't even understand the question

[eliot]

Voldemort said:

Pay the premium. Get the first train you can. You won't regret it in the grand scheme of things.

indeed - I dont even book specific train tickets when traveling in the UK, let along arriving from the other side of the world.

[omniflow]

One other point to make - DON'T get the Piccadilly line - i.e. Tube. I know it's straight to Kings X with no changes, but it really drags. It is the most tedious journey. Get the Elizabeth Line to Farringdon, then it's 1 stop to Kings X

[BlackTails]

LivLL said:

numtumfutunch said:

Hi

The answer to this probably involves pain, misery and boredom but if anyone has any bright ideas Id love to hear

Im arriving at Heathrow from Melbourne at 550AM on a Friday in a few weeks

The trip is self funded and so Id like to keep costs reasonable within reason

I plan to take the train down and this bits all fine, Ive just booked an advance single ticket at a very good rate, the not fine bit is how to get back

Clearly if I buy a walk on ticket at Kings Cross I will get rinsed, the difference is approx £100 which would annoy me

On the other hand FR suggests the connection from Doha arrives on time with just a single 30 min delay posted in the last few weeks

The question then is how long is 'safe' to get off the plane and through the airport to the tube station?

If I get it wrong then my ticket is worthless, although if I wait too long I'll be jet lagged and bored at Kings Cross killing time

Thanks in advance, I cant drive which is my preferred option as the missus needs the car whilst Im away

Cheers

Can someone translate what the OP's plan is I'm so confused.

You're getting the train down - from where to where? If you're flying into Heathrow from Melbourne ( I assume Australia) that's no where near Kings Cross.

Once you land at Heathrow, where are you going to?

Not just me then. This is one of the most incoherent posts I’ve read in a while.

Piecing together some of the OP’s other posts with it, and trying a few alternative ideas until one fits:

The OP is starting from Leeds. He is travelling from there to Heathrow, then flying to Melbourne.

His question is about his trip home: he will land at Heathrow close to on time (that’s the Delphic reference to Doha) and wants to know how long it will take to get form the plane doors to Kings Cross; because he would like to buy a cheap train ticket in advance rather than an expensive one at KX. But he doesn’t want to have to wait too long at KX.

Option 1: fly to Leeds from Heathrow.

Option 2: allow 60 mins from the time the plane gets on stand to being on the Heathrow train station platform, assuming you have hold luggage to collect. Then add the time to get from Heathrow to KX by train (as above, Elizabeth line, not Piccadilly), and add a further 30 mins as buffer.

[djc206]

BlackTails said:

Not just me then. This is one of the most incoherent posts I’ve read in a while.

Piecing together some of the OP’s other posts with it, and trying a few alternative ideas until one fits:

The OP is starting from Leeds. He is travelling from there to Heathrow, then flying to Melbourne.

His question is about his trip home: he will land at Heathrow close to on time (that’s the Delphic reference to Doha) and wants to know how long it will take to get form the plane doors to Kings Cross; because he would like to buy a cheap train ticket in advance rather than an expensive one at KX. But he doesn’t want to have to wait too long at KX.

Option 1: fly to Leeds from Heathrow.

Option 2: allow 60 mins from the time the plane gets on stand to being on the Heathrow train station platform, assuming you have hold luggage to collect. Then add the time to get from Heathrow to KX by train (as above, Elizabeth line, not Piccadilly), and add a further 30 mins as buffer.

There are no flights between LBA and LHR so that option is out.

[LivLL]

Thanks for the translation.

There are trains every half hour from Kings Cross to Leeds. Don't worry OP, you won't have to spend hours there regardless of what time you turn up.

[Batfoy]

numtumfutunch said:

Hi

The answer to this probably involves pain, misery and boredom but if anyone has any bright ideas Id love to hear

Im arriving at Heathrow from Melbourne at 550AM on a Friday in a few weeks

The trip is self funded and so Id like to keep costs reasonable within reason

I plan to take the train down and this bits all fine, Ive just booked an advance single ticket at a very good rate, the not fine bit is how to get back

Clearly if I buy a walk on ticket at Kings Cross I will get rinsed, the difference is approx £100 which would annoy me

On the other hand FR suggests the connection from Doha arrives on time with just a single 30 min delay posted in the last few weeks

The question then is how long is 'safe' to get off the plane and through the airport to the tube station?

If I get it wrong then my ticket is worthless, although if I wait too long I'll be jet lagged and bored at Kings Cross killing time

Thanks in advance, I cant drive which is my preferred option as the missus needs the car whilst Im away

Cheers

Thursday.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

numtumfutunch said:

Clearly if I buy a walk on ticket at Kings Cross I will get rinsed, the difference is approx £100 which would annoy me

I often take very short notice train journeys. I find with apps like Trainline and Trainpal, I can buy a ticket 5 mins before the train leaves for hardly any more money than buying it 2 weeks in advance. Sometimes it's actually cheaper.