Programs: UA 1K MM, BA Silver, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Hertz 5Star, Avis First
Posts: 637
Rental car return at LHR with lots of bags
Hello!
My wife and are flying out of LHR on Thursday and we will arrive by rental car. We have a 2 year old and lots of bags. I have been through LHR many times, but never returning a car (in this case to Europecar). Does a none have advice as to whether I should drive right to Terminal 1 and drop off my wife, daughter, and the bags before returning the car or go right to the car return and all take the bus together? We really do have a LOT of bags, so it may be easiest to drop off everyone and our stuff--but I am also worried they will be on their own for a long time if the car return is far away and/or takes a long time. Does anyone have any insights or advice?
With a 2yr old and a lot of bags, you'll want to park the car up in the short stay car park at T1, get them into the airport - and probably check in.
Only after that do you want to leave them for the 20 mins or whatever, otherwise your wife will have her hands more than full trying to move all the bags plus your daughter from the drop off zone to the terminal itself.
We've dropped cars off several times at LHR.....although with Enterprise rather than Europcar. Like you we usually have lots of luggage although we don't have a kid in tow.
What we found easiest was to return the car the day before we flew out then take a cab to the airport the next day from the hotel......the hire company usually take you back to the hotel if you ask.
If you aren't staying nearby then even with lots of luggage there shouldn't be any problem dropping the car off the same day as your flight. The hire companies are well geared up for carrying luggage. We have done that as well without any problem. It's a lot easier than faffing about leaving the family at the airport whilst you take the car back. We've always had very pleasant experiences with hire cars at LHR...the staff have been very pleasant.
Programs: UA 1K MM, BA Silver, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Hertz 5Star, Avis First
Posts: 637
Thanks again, everyone. Just to wrap this up so future searches yield good information, we ended up parking at T1. The advice here was helpful. We parked, found luggage carts, checked in, did the VAT, and then parted ways. My wife took our daughter to the *A lounge and I then returned the car. The return was quick, other that finding a gas station. I presumed there would be one on the perimeter road, but there wasn't. For anyone doing this in the future, once you leave T1 go through the tunnel and take the first left. The car returns are on this road, but the petrol is on the next road over. Anyhow, it all worked out well and I recommend this approach for those with lots of luggage...
For the avoidance of doubt, I assume the OP is talking about the petrol station opposite the Renaissance hotel on the A4/Bath Road.
If memory serves correctly, get there by following signs for A4 East out of the central terminal area - you go West once out the tunnel then loop round to traffic lights on the A4.
(there's probably a decent enough reason for not putting a petrol station on a road that's just over 100m from the active runway.....)
