Heathrow to Port

Hi all,

How long is taking from international plane arrival to exiting customs in Heathrow? We are arriving a day earlier for our cruise and don't have any idea on what time to allow to tell the car service. Also, recommendations for a car service to the ports? Thanks in advance

Took less than an hr with a full flight going mainly through non-EU passport/customs. Once it took 30min, another it took 45min max.

As to car service, we’ve used Smith airport UK which worked fine.

But another option is the National Express bus system. Much cheaper; just as quick. Very nice buses with free internet. Once we stayed in a nice B&B in Southampton, the next time we stayed a few days in Winchester, about 15mi north of Southampton. Loved it. Got a local taxi from Winchester to the port.

Lots of options. enjoy!

Den

Took less than an hr with a full flight going mainly through non-EU passport/customs. Once it took 30min, another it took 45min max.

 

As to car service, we’ve used Smith airport UK which worked fine.

 

But another option is the National Express bus system. Much cheaper; just as quick. Very nice buses with free internet. Once we stayed in a nice B&B in Southampton, the next time we stayed a few days in Winchester, about 15mi north of Southampton. Loved it. Got a local taxi from Winchester to the port.

 

Lots of options. enjoy!

 

Den

Thank you Den! This is great information!

Thanks for coming back so soon. Hope more posters give you options too. Always good to have more info.

Den

I think that 1 hour is a safe projection. As is common of other airports there are many variables that could affect your processing. I've gotten through in less than 20 minutes but have also taken over an hour.

Variables are which terminal you will be arriving, Nationality Mixture (if mostly EU passengers you may be processed very quickly), also what other flights land at the same time. I once got stuck behind an Air Nairobi flight an they were taking forever to process the passengers in front of us.

Hi all,

 

How long is taking from international plane arrival to exiting customs in Heathrow? We are arriving a day earlier for our cruise and don't have any idea on what time to allow to tell the car service. Also, recommendations for a car service to the ports? Thanks in advance

Are you spending the first night in London ?

Heading to Southhampton on Cruise Day ?

Dennis & Sue

As long as the car service know your flight number there will be no need to worry about transit times through the airport. They are used to the typical times involved and any delays that may occur. It should not impact on the price of the service unless they are charging for car parking time at LHR separately from the trip cost.

I can highly recommend also Smiths for airports --

http://www.smithsairportcars.co.uk/

they monitor the flights, and u can also send them an email, asking for how much time to allow from landing to exit.

The last time we went through Heathrow (2015) it took us almost 3 hours to get through passport control. The place was mobbed.

We had arrangements with English Rose for a car to take us to Southampton, and at some point we made a call to them, they were already aware of the delays and said not to worry, the driver would be there. He was holding a sign with our name, and two nice big cold bottles of water!

We've flown there before, and it's never taken less than 90 minutes.