BA at London-Gatwick 2019
Dec 1, 2018, 12:01 pm
#121
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Secondly so long as you have 2 hr 15m you can just about make the connection. There isn't conformance at LGW (as I found out when I recently managed to to enter security 20 minutes before a LGW departure and still get pre-boarded for a flight that left on time). If we are looking at the last possible time you could make it, using, let's say, an enthusiastic taxi driver, then you could probably push that down to 90 minutes, though if you knew that in advance you wouldn't risk breakfast beforehand.
I'd only seek out BA at LHR if (a) the App changed OR (b) you were below 2h 15m / 90 minutes depending on risk levels.
If you actually had 3 hours and you wanted to save money, personally I'd take the tube and train, so long as both were working OK'ishly. It takes me about 100 minutes that route and I get change of a tenner. I use that route up to about 2h 20m from T5 landside.
Dec 1, 2018, 12:34 pm
#122
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Not in my lifetime, but a proper LHR-LGW direct rail connection (Maglev or whatever) would strangle traffic on BAFT! The pain of connecting between the 2 hubs, and the various options, clearly hasn’t impacted on the Minister of Transport or whomever. Stuff HS2 and connect the bloody main London airports!!
Dec 1, 2018, 2:19 pm
#123
Join Date: Nov 2017
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Not in my lifetime, but a proper LHR-LGW direct rail connection (Maglev or whatever) would strangle traffic on BAFT! The pain of connecting between the 2 hubs, and the various options, clearly hasn’t impacted on the Minister of Transport or whomever. Stuff HS2 and connect the bloody main London airports!!
Dec 1, 2018, 11:03 pm
#124
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@Confus remember that train well as having a voyager at BTN station kinda stood out. One of #SouthernFail's predecessors, I forget which, also did a Brighton - Rugby service but that was killed off long ago.
The difference is @T8191 was saying a "direct" link ie LGW-LHR like the Gatwick Express of old which was LGW-London Vic and nothing in between ( variants now stopping all over the place and going as far down as Brighton) and there in the detail lies the problem. Whilst no spring chicken myself being in my 40s I don't see it happening in my own life time either. Technically possible - yes. Financially viable - more than likely. Politically and environmentally/ tree hugger friendly - not a bloody chance.
But we're going OT here
The difference is @T8191 was saying a "direct" link ie LGW-LHR like the Gatwick Express of old which was LGW-London Vic and nothing in between ( variants now stopping all over the place and going as far down as Brighton) and there in the detail lies the problem. Whilst no spring chicken myself being in my 40s I don't see it happening in my own life time either. Technically possible - yes. Financially viable - more than likely. Politically and environmentally/ tree hugger friendly - not a bloody chance.
But we're going OT here
Dec 2, 2018, 1:19 am
#126
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Dec 2, 2018, 1:48 am
#127
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I find it quite interesting how BA have turned things around LGW. About 5 years ago (or maybe it was longer), it was a basket case and there were rumblings that it would be closed as a BA base completely.
It seems the cost cutting has had the desired effect and made it a nice little earner again.
It seems the cost cutting has had the desired effect and made it a nice little earner again.
Dec 2, 2018, 2:05 am
#128
Join Date: Feb 2018
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It actually wouldn’t be very hard to do, even using existing railways. Older readers may remember a Virgin CrossCountry service that used to route North West > Brum > Reading > Olympia > Brighton... which became a parliamentary train (over the GWML/Olympia junction) for a while before eventually being killed off formally. It wouldn’t take much to resurrect if it were deemed a suitable use of capacity.
Dec 2, 2018, 2:12 am
#129
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@Confus remember that train well as having a voyager at BTN station kinda stood out. One of #SouthernFail's predecessors, I forget which, also did a Brighton - Rugby service but that was killed off long ago.
But we're going OT here
But we're going OT here
Dec 2, 2018, 2:12 am
#130
Join Date: Nov 2014
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It's only a short gap, but nonetheless a gap. But a shame, I would certainly appreciate the direct service.
Dec 2, 2018, 4:26 am
#131
Join Date: Aug 2011
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Firstly I would get familiar with the BA App if you haven't already, since if this is on one booking a module called Reaccom will kick in at some point and rebook you anyway. Make sure you know how to refresh data so that you're not looking at cached data.
Secondly so long as you have 2 hr 15m you can just about make the connection. There isn't conformance at LGW (as I found out when I recently managed to to enter security 20 minutes before a LGW departure and still get pre-boarded for a flight that left on time). If we are looking at the last possible time you could make it, using, let's say, an enthusiastic taxi driver, then you could probably push that down to 90 minutes, though if you knew that in advance you wouldn't risk breakfast beforehand.
I'd only seek out BA at LHR if (a) the App changed OR (b) you were below 2h 15m / 90 minutes depending on risk levels.
If you actually had 3 hours and you wanted to save money, personally I'd take the tube and train, so long as both were working OK'ishly. It takes me about 100 minutes that route and I get change of a tenner. I use that route up to about 2h 20m from T5 landside.
Secondly so long as you have 2 hr 15m you can just about make the connection. There isn't conformance at LGW (as I found out when I recently managed to to enter security 20 minutes before a LGW departure and still get pre-boarded for a flight that left on time). If we are looking at the last possible time you could make it, using, let's say, an enthusiastic taxi driver, then you could probably push that down to 90 minutes, though if you knew that in advance you wouldn't risk breakfast beforehand.
I'd only seek out BA at LHR if (a) the App changed OR (b) you were below 2h 15m / 90 minutes depending on risk levels.
If you actually had 3 hours and you wanted to save money, personally I'd take the tube and train, so long as both were working OK'ishly. It takes me about 100 minutes that route and I get change of a tenner. I use that route up to about 2h 20m from T5 landside.
Dec 2, 2018, 4:31 am
#132
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Does anyone know if the previously announced south terminal improvements for 2019 allowing domestic / channel islands flight connections have been given the go-ahead? Is there as start/completion date for the works?
Dec 2, 2018, 10:49 am
#134
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The issues I have with all the wonderful options for connecting LHR/LGW is the mysteries of TfL for non-residents (like this Oyster thingy!) and for we members of the NOT-HBO community the concept of dragging luggage through rail stations and buses ... which are NOT designed for People Of Luggage!
MY link will have luggage space, and flat floors, so that the POL can actually get their cases from A to B. Large/oversized roll-aboards are welcome to come too!
Dec 2, 2018, 11:00 am
#135
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 582
Yep Uncle T , completely agree
Ps TWCLAM, in your 40s, not a spring chicken? Ok off topic, apologies. Have a look at 102 year old Sylvia in channel 4 programme about pensioners and 4 year olds. If I do live to that age, I hope I'll be as fit and astute as she is at 102! Love her giggle!
Ps TWCLAM, in your 40s, not a spring chicken? Ok off topic, apologies. Have a look at 102 year old Sylvia in channel 4 programme about pensioners and 4 year olds. If I do live to that age, I hope I'll be as fit and astute as she is at 102! Love her giggle!