drwook

I think there are two types of flyers; A/ those that just want to get settled and de-risk everything, who read the "turn up 3hrs before longhaul/2hrs before shorthaul" and treat those as minimums and B/ those that prefer to minimise airport time and roll through security like Indiana Jones 35 minutes before departure.

As a 'type A' I'd fly out of LHR (or LGW) by preference as lurking around city for any length of time is rather dull; type B's would likely prefer LCY in general. Assuming timings work.

JD1905

I’m a big fan of the LGW - BHD route that Easyjet started.

Would love to see EI return on the route or BA to start it up. I managed a few door to door’s from Belfast to SW London in well under 2 hours back when EI operated it.

speedbird66

For a Eurostar connection, LGW wins for me any day because there are frequent, direct Thameslink trains to St Pancras. LCY and LHR are both a faff for getting to St Pancras, especially LCY at the moment with the Northern Line branch via Bank closed until mid-May.

Oxon Flyer

Don’t forget the frequent, direct Piccadilly Line tube trains to St Pancras from LHR. Typical journey times are 56 minutes from LGW on Thameslink, and 58 mins from LHR T5 on the tube. Timewise, there’s really nothing in it. LHR wins on frequency and price.

Rail would normally win over tube for comfort, but not those ironing-board seats on Thameslink ….

speedbird66

Sorry, late to the party on replying! I think Thameslink still swings it for me, and I say that as a Thameslink commuter who suffers those seats for a good few hours each week. Although as a declaration of interests, my day job is for the mainline railway... Yes the seats are pretty firm and upright, but at least there's plenty of space for people and luggage. I always feel quite claustrophobic on the deep-level tube lines, and there's few things I hate more than traipsing around the Underground with hold luggage getting in everyone's way. In know in reality the journey times are similar, but there's also something psychological about the constant stop/start on the Piccadilly line that on the one occasion I used it to/from Heathrow made me worried I was going to die of old age before I got there. Gatwick/St Pancras transfers from plane to train to Eurostar are also more straightforward by Thameslink. It's quite a walk from the Piccadilly line platforms at KGX/STP to the Eurostar check in.

Top tip for anyone who does take the Thameslink - the first-class area at the very rear of the train is always available for use by standard class ticket holders, so you can luxuriate in (relative) comfort. Regular travellers know this, but GTR don't go out of their way to advertise it so you'll often find space in there.

Noppasit

Many people have gone off topic. There's currently no flight from LGW the date I'm flying.