I'm wondering if other shomer shabbat FTers have personal hashkafa/policies on how late you allow yourselves to fly on Friday afternoons. Or any horror stories of getting stranded/close to getting stranded for shabbat?

While I'm fortunate enough I can usually avoid travelling Friday afternoons, this time it looks like I'll be cutting rather close with only 2hrs between my flight landing at LHR from Milan (6:55pm) and shabbat (9:00pm). Usually my real door-to-door transfer time is just over an hour as it takes me no more than 30min to zap through Heathrow (I have only carry-on and I use Iris) and I live only 15min from Paddington. On the other hands, odds against me is Heathrow congestion, and Italian (Alitalia of all airlines!) punctuality.

Fortunately, I'm travelling with another person, so can probably use him as a shabbat goy (well, for the lack of any more PC word). LOR also advised I should hire a car service as a back-up.

Any other things I need to consider? Staying over shabbat at LHR or Milan is not really a viable option...