Manchester to LHR - best way?
Discussion
A family member needs to fly out from London Heathrow in February and is wondering what the best way to get to LHR is from Manchester.
I suggested getting the train from Piccadilly to Euston and then the Underground to LHR. He was wondering whether it would be easier to fly from MAN direct to LHR. Apparently the client will reimburse "reasonable" expenses (whatever that means) so he's trying to keep the costs to a minimum.
Any advice/tips gratefully received
I suggested getting the train from Piccadilly to Euston and then the Underground to LHR. He was wondering whether it would be easier to fly from MAN direct to LHR. Apparently the client will reimburse "reasonable" expenses (whatever that means) so he's trying to keep the costs to a minimum.
Any advice/tips gratefully received
Wilmslowboy said:
Flying has to be the best option (an hour)
A few years ago wife and I got a driver in an E-class (£350)
Dont you need to add an hour on for security checks and stuff? I could be wrong but I thought you needed to be at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight departs, and then there's the 1 hour flight so you're looking at 3 hours total. Which is roughly what it would take on the Train to Euston and then Underground to Heathrow. Plus he wouldnt have the faff of checking in his luggage twice.A few years ago wife and I got a driver in an E-class (£350)
Prolex-UK said:
Avanti are not that reliable.
Also £100 return is optimistic at any where near peak times.
Drive down & stay in a hotel with parking included
Have a nice nights sleep
Off you go in the morning
I use Avanti regularly - agree with the reliability comment but, given that there's usually one every 20 minutes, this shouldn't be a huge issue. It will be on a Sunday morning when prices aren't as horrific.Also £100 return is optimistic at any where near peak times.
Drive down & stay in a hotel with parking included
Have a nice nights sleep
Off you go in the morning
As mentioned above he'd rather not have a 5 hour drive (both at the beginning of his trip and at the end) - he'd much prefer the flight or the train both will take less time and hopefully be less stressful. The hotel just means an additional expense and I assume there would be an extra charge for 10 days parking?
psi310398 said:
If he s doing BA, or OneWorld more generally, through ticketing from Manchester can be very cost-effective and he would get his baggage sorted at the start of the journey, so that s time saved at LHR.
That said, I wouldn t wish Manchester Airport on my worst enemy s dog.
That's his preferred option i think - we travel through MAN regularly, I dont think it's that bad (but I love airports in general)That said, I wouldn t wish Manchester Airport on my worst enemy s dog.
Countdown said:
Dont you need to add an hour on for security checks and stuff? I could be wrong but I thought you needed to be at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight departs, and then there's the 1 hour flight so you're looking at 3 hours total. Which is roughly what it would take on the Train to Euston and then Underground to Heathrow. Plus he wouldnt have the faff of checking in his luggage twice.
1 hour domestic. Always worked for us, all over the world. But, 2 hours is super safe.Countdown said:
Unfortunately that's what his contract says. I believe it's the first time he's worked for this client so doesn't want to upset any applecarts.
Is the transatlantic flight already booked? If not, just book the complete trip from MAN.
I used to go to the US quite a bit from Manchester - sometimes using the BA shuttle to LHR and sometimes flying from MAN to an airport in the US and changing there.
Flying out pretty well always worked OK. Coming back to LHR I had a few late arrivals which always seemed to fall when there was a 2hr gap so it was annoying to think I could have driven home quicker.
Sheepshanks said:
Is the transatlantic flight already booked?
If not, just book the complete trip from MAN.
I used to go to the US quite a bit from Manchester - sometimes using the BA shuttle to LHR and sometimes flying from MAN to an airport in the US and changing there.
Flying out pretty well always worked OK. Coming back to LHR I had a few late arrivals which always seemed to fall when there was a 2hr gap so it was annoying to think I could have driven home quicker.
There don't seem to be any direct flights from MAN in February. There are quite a few indirect but he'd rather not have the hassle of transfers somewhere abroad. I think it's just a personal preference thing.If not, just book the complete trip from MAN.
I used to go to the US quite a bit from Manchester - sometimes using the BA shuttle to LHR and sometimes flying from MAN to an airport in the US and changing there.
Flying out pretty well always worked OK. Coming back to LHR I had a few late arrivals which always seemed to fall when there was a 2hr gap so it was annoying to think I could have driven home quicker.
Countdown said:
There don't seem to be any direct flights from MAN in February. There are quite a few indirect but he'd rather not have the hassle of transfers somewhere abroad. I think it's just a personal preference thing.
I guessed it was unlikely there would be a direct flight hence I said fly to the US and change there.I'm not nervous of flying itself but always had a level of anxiety that something would go wrong with the arrangements. But I was far happier to fly to the US first and change there as there's usually a lot more options if things go wrong. I especially wouldn't want to book completely separate tickets for the MAN to LHR and the transatlantic leg as you'd be stuffed if you didn't make it to LHR on time.
Sheepshanks said:
I guessed it was unlikely there would be a direct flight hence I said fly to the US and change there.
I'm not nervous of flying itself but always had a level of anxiety that something would go wrong with the arrangements. But I was far happier to fly to the US first and change there as there's usually a lot more options if things go wrong. I especially wouldn't want to book completely separate tickets for the MAN to LHR and the transatlantic leg as you'd be stuffed if you didn't make it to LHR on time.
I think that's another reason why they want to fly down - to have just one combined booking. I believe if something goes wrong on the MAN-LHR part of the trip then BA will have to sort things out.I'm not nervous of flying itself but always had a level of anxiety that something would go wrong with the arrangements. But I was far happier to fly to the US first and change there as there's usually a lot more options if things go wrong. I especially wouldn't want to book completely separate tickets for the MAN to LHR and the transatlantic leg as you'd be stuffed if you didn't make it to LHR on time.
Countdown said:
From Manchester? He wont fancy a 5 hour drive at the start of an 11 hour flight, plus he'd need to park at Heathrow for 10 days - whereas Avanti West Coast will be 2 hours and £100 return
Except it won't be 'just' 2hrs as that's only the Manchester to Euston leg. As above I'd add at least another hour to get to LHR and then the time to enter the airport and go through security. From memory if you fly the shuttle you can check your bag in a Manchester and they should be able to direct it to your onward flight without you seeing it at LHR - check whether this is only same carrier only. You then should be able to transit through LHR in the sterile area without the faff of security again.
Normally I'd say avoid Manchester airport at all cost given it's the worst airport in the country; dirty, dingy and run by an outfit that seek to eek as much money as they can from users and will only spend money on upgrading when they are forced to, usually just before the deadline. It's a s
t hole.I'm presuming the employer is paying for the onward ticket in which case why didn't they ask that the journey started and finished in Manchester?
ETA: If you want to keep costs to a minimum then you can get a bus (coach?) from Manchester direct to LHR for around £40 which takes between 5-7hrs.
Edited by Armitage.Shanks on Saturday 6th December 23:19
Armitage.Shanks said:
Normally I'd say avoid Manchester airport at all cost given it's the worst airport in the country; dirty, dingy and run by an outfit that seek to eek as much money as they can from users and will only spend money on upgrading when they are forced to, usually just before the deadline. It's a st hole.
Bit harsh - they're spending £1.3B on the place. We flew out and back through T2 a few weeks ago and it was absolutely fine.t hole.Sheepshanks said:
Armitage.Shanks said:
Normally I'd say avoid Manchester airport at all cost given it's the worst airport in the country; dirty, dingy and run by an outfit that seek to eek as much money as they can from users and will only spend money on upgrading when they are forced to, usually just before the deadline. It's a st hole.
Bit harsh - they're spending £1.3B on the place. We flew out and back through T2 a few weeks ago and it was absolutely fine.t hole.MarkJS said:
It s not harsh at all. I use MAN very frequently (just because there is no other option) and it s horrible in every way.
Is it terminal specific? Pre-covid I was flying quite a bit but we're going back 5 years now. Revamped T2 was fine - no queues out or back. Aren't they closing one of the other terminals?For us, living near Chester, it's annoying that access by train is awkward. But we use a local taxi company so it's an easy trip. Travelling for work I just used one of the multi-storey car parks.
We had fast track security as part of our deal - few people in front of us, but no queue at all in the plebs line.
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