ZULMEG Posted January 26, 2023 #1 Share Posted January 26, 2023 Heed help, ship docking at 7am Southampton, flight at 2pm. What should we do a private transport or will NationalExpress at 9AM get us to Heathrow in time. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John Bull Posted January 26, 2023 #2 Share Posted January 26, 2023 For a more-accurate idea of how much wiggle-time you'll have, come back with your LHR terminal. If that's unknown, your airline JB 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZULMEG Posted January 26, 2023 Author #3 Share Posted January 26, 2023 Thank you JB. It's Terminal 2 at Heathrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gumshoe958 Posted January 26, 2023 #4 Share Posted January 26, 2023 (edited) That coach is due into Heathrow Central at 11am, so it should be fine barring any massive hold-ups on the M3 or M25 motorways. From the bus station at Heathrow it’s about a 5-10 minute walk to T2 via an underground walkway. Edited January 26, 2023 by gumshoe958 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senga Posted January 27, 2023 #5 Share Posted January 27, 2023 When checking, it says to allow 4 hours for check in at LHR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gumshoe958 Posted January 28, 2023 #6 Share Posted January 28, 2023 11 hours ago, Senga said: When checking, it says to allow 4 hours for check in at LHR. Most airlines close check in and bag drop an hour before departure. For international flights they recommend 2-3 hours. The nightmare queues at security that were widely reported last year are long gone. National Express, perhaps understandably, are playing it safe and recommending 4 hours in case of traffic delays. But for a 2pm flight I wouldn’t think twice about booking a coach that’s due to arrive at 11am. You’ve still got at least 90 minutes of wiggle room. YMMV though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good42n Posted February 15, 2023 #7 Share Posted February 15, 2023 So, I may be cutting it close, but we are docking at 6:00, flying out of LHR @12:50. I’m assuming it’s T5, since it’s an international on BA. Am I okay? Am I okay with th Princess transfer, or should we book a private car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cotswold Eagle Posted February 15, 2023 #8 Share Posted February 15, 2023 (edited) 3 hours ago, good42n said: I’m assuming it’s T5, since it’s an international on BA. Don’t assume. BA also flies from T3. Edited February 15, 2023 by Cotswold Eagle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gumshoe958 Posted February 15, 2023 #9 Share Posted February 15, 2023 You’ll want to be at Heathrow by 10 or 10.30 and it’s about a 90 minute drive in good traffic, longer if it’s busy. I’d be minded to use a private transfer as you never quite know how long the cruise line buses will take to load or when they’ll leave. As long as you’re off the ship by 8 you should be fine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John Bull Posted February 15, 2023 #10 Share Posted February 15, 2023 On 1/27/2023 at 9:01 PM, Senga said: When checking, it says to allow 4 hours for check in at LHR. Airports tend to be well over-cautious, and Nat Express follow suit. Perhaps they - and their sensible passengers - both allow for delays en-route to the airport, or the airports are trying to provide custom for the shops, cafes & restaurants which pay high rents at the airport, or they are covering their own backsides in the event of an unlikely lengthy delay. On the other hand, altho airlines check-ins mainly close an hour before international flights that's a significant risk - many's the time I've witnessed staff patrolled long lines at check-in asking for passengers on Flight XXX. to come forward (BA and many other airlines operate with all check-ins for all flights using a single line and multiple desks). 2 to 2.5 hrs should be fine, 90 minutes would be pushing it. Excluding unusual delays ZULMEG will be at T2 or T3 three hours ahead of their flight time - that's wiggle-room of an hour or more. JB 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John Bull Posted February 15, 2023 #11 Share Posted February 15, 2023 9 hours ago, good42n said: So, I may be cutting it close, but we are docking at 6:00, flying out of LHR @12:50. I’m assuming it’s T5, since it’s an international on BA. Am I okay? Am I okay with th Princess transfer, or should we book a private car? The first Princess coaches leave the cruise terminal at about 8am, journey time in a coach about 2 hours on a weekday assuming no more delays than usual. Coaches are each assigned to a single airport terminal - no scenic tour of the airport terminals, and unlike Nat Express buses they go to the terminal, not to central bus station, for Ts 2 & 3. Cruise lines advise (but check whether that's up-to-date) their passengers not to rely on their transfers for flights before 12.30 or 1.00pm. That might be over-cautious, certainly over-cautious on a saturday or sunday In a private car the journey time will be about 15 - 20 minutes quicker, more importantly with unassisted disembarkation (haul your own bags from your cabin) you can be off the ship at about 7am. A private transfer will cost somewhere between £120 and £140 for the car, Princess transfers I think are still around $60 per person. It's difficult to advise whether to choose coach or car JB 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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