STD to LHR transfers
 

Hello!
I'm trying to get information on the fastest (albeit economical) way to get from Stansted airport to LHR.
We arrive in STD at 12:15 and depart LHR at 4:15pm. I understand that it is approx. 1hr 15mins. between the two airports, which, after claiming our baggage at STD, leaves us about 2 hours to check in prior to departure. Can anyone tell me if this is sufficient time for check in on an international flight? We are flying Air New Zealand out of Terminal 2 (didn't know if this info would be helpful or not http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ft...orum/smile.gif). Also, would like input from anyone familiar with Ryanair as it pertains to claiming luggage, ie; how long does it realistically take after landing to get your bags?
Appreciate any info on this!!
Thank you!!
Oh!! Almost forgot,....can anyone recommend a decent hotel close to the Stansted airport?
Thanks again!

Val


[This message has been edited by VAS (edited 02-28-2002).]

Since it's FR you're flying and if you're connecting to NZ on a restricted ticket, I'd have to advise flying into London the day before. 4'15" isn't that much time to get from STN to LHR and I'd say it'll be tight even if your FR flight arrives on time.

While FR is fairly reliable, delays are not unknown and they will not reaccomodate or do anything for you in the event of a severe flight delay/cancellation ("you look after youself in return for low fares" is their customer service policy). Since they have tight turnaround times, any delays will cause delays for that aircraft's flight all through the rest of the day.

Fastest way, if the M-11 and M-25 are not clogged up is by bus but these are not all that frequent.

Other ways would be to take Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale (25 mins), change to the Victoria line 22 mins) there and change at Kings Cross for a Piccadilly Line train to LHR (40-55 mins). Train time would be nearly 2 hrs, not including waiting.

Not much faster and more expensive would be Stansted Express all the way to Liverpool Street (45 mins), Circle or Hammersmith & City line to Paddington (20-25 mins) and then Heathrow Express to LHR (15 mins).

See www.baa.co.uk for your options.

Note Air NZ operates from Terminal 3 at Heathrow, not Terminal 2.

That connection is too tight. It's a long way (65 miles by road) from Stansted to Heathrow. Easiest way is the non-stop bus between the two. It goes every hour, leaving Stansted at 05 minutes past each hour, and is scheduled to take 1 hour 20 minutes. You are unlikely to get to Heathrow quicker by making two changes of train across Central London. Bus operator is Jetlink, full details on www.gobycoach.com

For hotel at Stansted try Hilton National Stansted, who do transfers to/from the terminal. They are on the web.

Ryanair (who are Southwest without the peanuts) schedule their aircraft to have 20-30 minute turnarounds all day, so the old "late planes get later" adage applies. However, for many the reduced fares make it worthwhile. Baggage delivery at Stansted is about a mile away from where the aircraft park - enough said!

terenz,
Thanks so much for your input. I'm afraid the tickets are already purchased therefore coming into London the day before isn't an option. I guess we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best. I had hoped to avoid using a private car but it looks as though that is our only choice. What do you think our chances are going this route?
Thanks again,
Valencia

WHBM,
Thanks for the correction on the NZ terminal,...of course you are correct http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ft...orum/smile.gif Terminal 2 is where we fly into at LAX.

What is your opinion on using a hired car? Do you think we would have better luck making the connection (provided of course, everything goes as planned)? Our flight is the first one offered for that day (although I assume there has to be one prior coming FROM Stansted)so hopefully it will be relatively on time <fingers crossed>.

You have truly brought me upright with the info on the baggage claim for Ryanair!! Is it really a mile away?? Not that I doubt you, I simply had to repeat it in order to process it! Do they have a shuttle or something? And if we use a hired car, do you know where they pick their passengers up, ie; at baggage claim or at Arrivals Hall? And if at Arrivals Hall, I assume they would drive one to baggage claim (Lord, I hope so!). I'm lol at the how this must sound to you, "the epitome of lazy", and there may be some truth to that http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ft...forum/wink.gif, but I also have a rather severe back injury at the moment and the thought of accomplishing that trek (and in a rush) is more than a little unappealing.
Thank you for the hotel recommendation! It will be a huge help for the first leg of our trip!
Much appreciation!!!
Valencia

It might be well worth your while (and peace of mind) to toss the FR ticket and buy a new one (it may be cheaper to buy r/t than o/w on FR) for the day before. FR apparently will let you change flights for a GBP 15/EUR25 change fee + difference in fare if any (no refund if it's lower).

FR uses a remote terminal so you'll have to take a tram to the main terminal. It may not be a mile but it's far away.

A chauffeured car is going to run at least GBP 50 (that's the rate into/our of the City/financial district).

May I ask where you're flying from and on what dates? It'll help us FTers sugges alternatives.

VAS

To explain, Stansted is one of those airports, like Atlanta, which have a central terminal and remote "satellites" out on the airfield. Ryanair use the south satellite. From the aircraft you go up steps to the top level, then walk a distance to a whole string of escalators that take you down, down and down again into the basement where there is a shuttle train, every few minutes, to the main terminal. This is where you go through immigration, move on to collect your bags, clear customs, and are then out into the main terminal. The buses are outside the exit doors.

I really only mention the distance because the bags have to make the same journey by truck after being offloaded from the aircraft and that seems to govern how long they take to come through. Ryanair are a very cost-conscious airline and if several aircraft have arrived just beforehand, the ground crew will just be working them all in turn.

A rental car to Heathrow would probably be slower. The bus is non-stop, from terminal door to terminal door; it's just the question of waiting for the next departure. It would take a good while to rent at Stansted, but will take much longer to drop the car at Heathrow, where all the rental depots are outside the airport (yes, I'm into miles again); they transfer you, slowly, by van shuttle. If I was already committed and a visitor from overseas not familiar with the M25 motorway round London I would rely on the bus for this one.

terenz,
So much for creative flying, huh? I'd sure hate to toss the already purchased tickets but am beginning to think that may be the solution. I'm curious, why do you think r/t would be less expensive than o/w?

How much time would you estimate it will take upon landing to retrieve our luggage and be on the road if we hired a car and driver? The price I've been quoted so far for a hired car is £69-£84, depending on luggage, so it may well be worth tossing the old tickets and just taking our time with the rail or bus system to get to LHR.

We are flying from Rome on July 4th...thanks so much for your help!! http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ft...orum/smile.gif

WHBM:
Thank you for the explanation of Stansted and Ryanair...my heart just hit my feet http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ft...forum/wink.gif It seems we should have done a bit more research before making these reservations.

The prospect of a rental car is REALLY not on the list of alternatives,...dislike that experience even when I'm not in a time crunch! What I meant in my last post was hiring a car a driver....I guess I did a poor job of communicating that http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ft...orum/smile.gif

In your opinion,...is it possible to accomplish this feat without tossing our current tickets and flying in the night before? ..and how long does it take to get checked in at LHR for an international flight these days?
Thanks again!
Valencia

Hi Vas

I did the exact same thing as you (arrived in Stansted, connected to LHR for a flight on Air New Zealand to LAX) except I arrived on Go, not Ryanair. 4 hours is a bit tight, but it should be ok provided Ryanair doesn't arrive too late. You will probably get to LHR about 1.5 hours before departure, which is fine. There will be a queue for check-in, but of course once you've joined the queue they are not going to leave without you, as they are only checking people in for that one flight. I wouldn't bother with a car, just take the bus as it will get you there around the same time, for less and with less hassle. If you hadn't already booked the tickets I would probably say go the day before, but since that's not an option just keep your booking as it is, and find out in advance when the bus will be leaving. Enjoy your flight on AirNZ!

Cheers, Zac

P.S. when will you be flying? I'm on that same flight on March 19th
P.P.S. if Ryanair are going to be late, give AirNZ a call and explain your situation. They might be able to leave one of the check-in desks open a bit longer for you, they are usually quite accommodating in situations like these

Hi Zac,

Thanks so much for your response and for the tips about AirNZ! Very helpful, and will certainly encourage my use of them in the future.
I'm relieved to hear that the connection is possible, albeit tight http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ft...orum/smile.gif
There are 3 of us traveling so it may be an even swap cost wise between using the bus-vs-car.....will definately look into it though. I am still on the fence about tossing the tickets and buying some for a day earlier, but I hate to cut yet another day off the trip. I think I'll go with your input and "live on the edge"....worst case, I guess we take the next NZ flight? It sounds as if you use NZ frequently? It will be my first experience with them and have heard many good things.

Thanks again for all the helpful input!
Valencia

P.S. the "problem" flight is on July 4th...perhaps this is a "sign"?...lol
Hope your flight/trip is a good one http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ft...orum/smile.gif

Dear VAS

You can check out "Richard's Stansted Airport website", produced by an enthusiast but with a lot of worthwhile information. It has links to the airport arrival board (so you can get a feel for what punctuality is like here), photos of the airport, and links to all the ground transport options we have been discussing. It's on www.fly.to/LondonStansted/

If you did decide to come back from Italy to the UK a day early there is no need to toss the tickets already bought; the Ryanair website explains the flight change procedure, although you can't actually do it over the web and you have to call the phone number they quote. Do it now because their fares can rise in the few days before travel and you get charged the fare applying at the time you rebook it.

I have found Air NZ long haul to be similar to British Airways, and that is a compliment to two good airlines.

Dear WHBM,

Thank you so much for the link to "Richard's Stansted Airport website", I found it very helpful to actually see what flight punctuality is like arriving into the airport. I will definately spend more time scanning the other links available too....I may actually have this all worked out by the time June arrives,...lol.

As for the already purchased Ryanair tickets, I know I can exchange them, however, I believe I paid less than £15 (the exchange fee) per o/w ticket, so it may not be worthwhile,...unless we exchange r/t....hmmmm. Something else to look into http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ft...orum/smile.gif

I'm glad to hear more positive input from another experienced traveler regarding AirNZ, as this will be my first travel with them. I can't thank you enough for your continued assistance,...it is greatly appreciated http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ft...orum/smile.gif
Sincerely,
Valencia