Short term parking at Heathrow...

[puggit]

Part of my new job is going to involve commuting out of Heathrow on 7am flights (Glasgow tomorrow, Helsinki on Tuesday).

My options are:

1) RailAir from Reading station direct to T1. Price £18.50.
Pros: No effort involved once on coach
Cons: 15 min walk from home to Reading station, service is only every 30mins, at the whim of a coach driver... I've missed planes thanks to these useless automons.

2) Drive to office (Stockley Park, just north of M4 jc4) and take a taxi
Pros: In charge of your own destiny for much of the route, possibly cheapest option
Cons: Will a taxi driver be waiting at 6am!?

3) Use Short Term parking at T1
Pros: Door to door
Cons: Explaining £42 per day cost to boss, will there be a space?

4) Business Parking - just off the concorde roundabout, coach every 5 mins.
Pros: Almost door to door, cheapish
Cons: Will there be space? Anyone have experience?

So I ask the PH collective what's best - anyone experience of option 4 as I'm favouring this one...

[anonymous-user]

When I flew to Fairford for the airshow, I parked at Hatton Cross tube station.

It was about £5 for the day, that was a Saturday though.

[Dakkon]

Parking Express is 15 quid a day if you turn up at the gate

[speedchick]

Is it still £16 a day at the long stay car park? that may be better, and you just hop on a bus from the car park and it takes ya to whatever terminal you want.

[puggit]

Problem with the long stay carparks is the busses are every 15mins and the transit time is around 15 mins

It's all about maximum time in bed when it's a 7am flight!

>> Edited by puggit on Sunday 11th December 20:49

[UpTheIron]

Radisson Hotel (Bath Road) is £10/day...cross the road and take a bus to the terminal.

Don't pay for the 'Hotel Hoppa' service from any of the hotels - regular public transport is free along that section of the A4 to the airport. Bus stops are at Harlington Corner or outside the Rennaissance Hotel, should be a bus along every few minutes.

[bmwdrivernigel]

Cheapskates!!! get picked up from your door and driven there in style!!! Reading to LHR £35 each way in a BMW 7. chauffeurdriveltd.com

[mybrainhurts]

Cripes...that's cheap for 30 miles....

[RossMac]

bmwdrivernigel said:

Cheapskates!!! get picked up from your door and driven there in style!!! Reading to LHR £35 each way in a BMW 7. chauffeurdriveltd.com

agree, taxi always for me. Extra time in bed

well, except today when got lift with wife and kids for flight to Alanta

[Extra 300 Driver]

When ever I travel for my company I always do the best thing for me, I mean you are going out of your way to do something that you wouldnt normally do.

If you boss argues about the cost, say you wont go again!

[themaskedavenger]

Driving home tired after a long flight.....

never! have a nice man with a board with your name on it waiting at arrivals to whisk you off!

Trouble with fligths its its early mornings and late nights and driving asleep is as bad as drink driving so Taxi's it is

[tobeee]

Park1 (Business Parking) for me every time on work trips (when I can claim expenses!). £26/day if I recall correctly.

I've always travelled on the early flights, and always loads of space when I arrive. The minibus drivers look out for new arrivals and are generally at my side as I'm getting my gear out of the car. They use the VERY narrow tunnels beside the main tunnel, so no traffic hold ups, and drop you at the door. When you arrive back at Heathrow there are always a couple of minibuses waiting at the same drop-off point, and take you straight to your car in a few mins.

Hope that helps.

[tvrforever]

Purple Parking - collect your car at the drop off area and return it to you when your flight arrives, not sure what it costs as work pay directly

Pink Elephant - £20 per night, small bus, works well and used it 100s of times..

[Plotloss]

I would have thought your travel expenses, taxis, flights, hotels etc will be passed onto the customer site you are working at (if thats the deal) so I wouldnt worry about £42 daily parking charges.