Heathrow Express
 

Just thought I would let you all know I tried the new Heathrow Express rail-link earlier this week.

It was great.

It takes 15mins to get you to/from Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3. And an extra 5 minutes to/from T4.

The train is great with video screens showing the latest BBC news, and there is loads of room.

The train arrives at Paddington. Cost is single £10 (Express Class) £20 (First Class), which is a bit steep, but well worth it for the time saved.

You can buy your ticket from machines which accept foreign currency as well as sterling or on-board.

My advice, if you are arriving/leaving central London for Heathrow give it a try. It is a nice relaxing and QUICK way to get to the airport.
MF

You now use the heathrow express to get between terminals 1, 2 & 3 and terminal 4. Its a bit of a walk, but is better and less cramped than the bus. The other advantage if you are staying at the Hilton, is that the lift up from the platform brings you out at the entrance to the link bridge.

Thanks Tim, I didn't know there was a lift to the Hilton, the lift I got brought me out at the BA Ticket Sales/First Class Check-in area, which I thought was pretty good.

But direct access to the Hilton as well is even better.

Perhaps we should add that the connection between terminals 1,2,3 and T4 is obviously free.
MF

I may not have been very clear, but you are right, the lift brings you out infront of the BA first class area, and beside the entrance to the Hilton link bridge. However, you do still have a short (ish) walk to the hotel.

One problem I found with using the express between 1 and 4, was that the entrance to the platforms were near one end of each platform, but at opposite ends between T1 and T4. i.e. you got onto one end of the train at say T1 because the entrance was at that end of the platform, but when you got off at T4 the exit was at the other end and hence had to walk the length of the plaform first.

Watch out for those lifts - they break often! I was stranded in one for 35 minutes on Nov. 4th, fortunately having just arrived at Heathrow rather than having a plane to catch. Plenty of air, 9 other people to talk to, and a bloke on the intercom who kept reassuring us that someone would be there "soon" to free us. Use the escalators if you can manage it. You can leave your luggage cart and one end and find another when you get off.

When I got out I asked the Heathrow Express person for free tickets as compensation. She said "sure!" and gave me one free ride plus one free upgrade to first. IMHO, first is nice but definitely not worth the £10 extra cost. It's not like they give you a cup of tea or anything. Standard class, though, is now the best way to get to London.

As for the Hilton bridge - about a quarter mile, flat, free luggage carts at both ends. Great place to stay if you have an early morning flight from T4. Pretty nice otherwise too. Not as good if you have a car, since the lot is run by a separate firm & is expensive, probably to keep airport parkers from filling it. Avoid the Brasserie restaurant - they think they serve fine continental food, but the chefs aren't up to it.

Terrific TIp Merry Flyer... I'm also wondering if cost wise it matches the nice
old fashioned cabs that go from Heathrow to
London?

B-A should give miles for riding the train!
Even if it's 10 or 50!

I don't remember what it cost me by cab from Heathrow to central London. The last two times I went to London I took it as a day trip by the train from Paris. Love the Underground... it's crowded yes but people are less pushy than a certain city's train system. Also love the Transit museum!
CATMAN

What is the difference between Express Class and First Class?

phil

Heathrow Hilton has a special rate of 120GBP including 14 days parking if you are using the airport. 500 HHoners point only however.

Catman - I can't tell you exactly how much a cab from Heathrow to central London would cost (see my posting in the BA section), but a 2 mile cab ride from my local tube station to my (then) home generally cost up to £5 - the Heathrow express will be a LOT cheaper than any cab ride from the airport into London!

That's what I wanted to know Baobab. I can use the money I save on a cab to buy a friend or two a London souvenier (or another two or three big Harrod's shopping bags with cats all over them for me! GOT TWO ALREADY!)

Or I can go to a pub and have a real English ale!

Thanks for the info Baobab! CATMAN

I used the Heathrow Express last March when it wasn't finished yet. You had to take a bus from the terminal to the station about a mile outside of the airport. After that you were on the high speed train to Paddington. Even with the bus segment it was fantastic. Now that it is completed I'm sure it's the "Only Way To Fly!"

Catman--cost comparison depends upon how many in your party. Cost was 10 pounds per person into Paddington, and then Cab to final destination. We were at MayFair inter-Continental, which cost us about another 8 pounds (4 people with luggage). So, done that way, it cost about 50 pounds for 4 of us.
When all 4 of us took cab from MayFair to Heathrow to return, it cost us 45 pounds with tip, but we were very cramped into a cab for 45 minutes or so. The train was great,clean and lots of room. Would probably do the train next time both ways, with enough time.

The very cheapest way for you to get from Heathrow to the Mayfair InterContinental would have been the tube: the Piccadilly line runs from Heathrow through Green Park station (among others) The InterContinental is around the corner (about 100m) from Green Park station.

Probably not a great idea if you have much luggage, though... and definitely avoid the Piccadilly line during rush hour.

our decision on that nov-weekend-trip was the tube:

- we had only handluggage
- arriving Saturday / leaving Sunday: no workday-rush hour
- the workday from 9AM valid ticket (go as you please) is 24 hours valid on weekends (for follow up sightseeings), I think it was about 6£ for 2 days from LHR-zone (including riding unlimited doubledecker-buses on the top - for me the even better thrill than the tipical London taxi.
- reminding me of my 9 months as a student trainee in London in 1963
- gets you right into the real London local feeling
- direct Piccadilly line/stop to our Knigthsbridge hotel (Connaught).

Rudi, amen. As a suburbanite in the US I find it a real treat to ride the tube in London, warts and all. Last time I was in London (for my Concorde adventure) I rode the tube out to LHR and stopped at Hammersmith Tube station on the way---did a quick shop at Tesco to get rid of my last few GBP on tea, sweets, etc.

Baobab--the tube was indeed the easiest way to get around London, but was not really feasible with four of us and LOTS of luggage. MayFair was fantastic, especially as Six Continents club members.

Just got back from London, Brussels, Paris, and Antwerp. (only stayed 27.5 hours) It was pouring out, and were tired when we arrived back in London:

We had gone

MSN - ORD U*
ORD - LHR UA 929
LHR - BRUSSELS BD

In Brussels our friends picked us up, went o Gent, had lunch, and then went to pick up the new BMW M5 (A WONDERFUL CAR!!!)

Drove the car from ANTWERP - PARIS
Dinner in Paris (Taillvent) A WONDERFUL resteraunt. 3*** Michelin guide.

Then flew CDG - LHR that night. BD
Took taxi from LHR - MAYFAIR INTERCONTINENTAL (35 pounds plus 5 pound tip)

Next morning:

Took HEATHROW EXPRESS 17 dollars a person?? Who are they kidding? For the inconvenience -- we too only had hand luggage -- I'd take a taxi.
LHR - ORD UA 929
ORD - MSN UA EXPRES 5559

UA great service -- got upgraded to F class from C class because of the crowded flight. Some luck 1K's got an upgrade to C class on a V class ticket. They were an old couple.

Well, That is my two cents worth on LHR Express.

Phil

I agree, if there are three or more people and you can fit into one cab, that's the way to go - except at rush hour when the train still goes full speed! For one person, the train is much less expensive, somewhat less convenient, and probably a bit faster. It also depends somewhat on where you're going in London, relative to Paddington, the tube, and the train-coordinated buses.

A warning on cabs, by the way - if you're going to someplace near Heathrow, vs. into London, a London metered cab can be VERY expensive because it's off the meter. DO NOT set foot in one until you have agreed on a price to your destination. I paid £40 to Egham last month - an expensive lesson, but I had no other way to get there quickly.

Less expensive, if you have the time, is a shuttle to any nearby hotel and a local taxi from there. I have not done this myself, but it was recommended by someone who should know. Can anyone comment?

Yes the shuttles are a great deal for less than 15 pounds you get there as fast as a cab. YOu need to place a reservation at least a day in advance.

Phil

beware at LHR, though, because of the "Heathrow Hoppa" which charges GBP3 (as I recall) to get to the nearby hotels)

as a Sic Continents Club member you can get Limousine transfer from/to InterConti hotels (but I prefer the tube) from/to LHR for £43

Churchill InterConti
Hotel InterConti London
May Fair InterConti
Forum Hotel London

Well, I'm supposed to go to LONDON 2-11 to 2-15 to visit the local cable operations out there. And I'm taking time just to have some fun.

So I'm going to give the Heathrow express a try.

Book at the Hilton London Kensington (actually this is where my company put me) and if my map reading skills are correct the hotel's near (not too near) Paddington Station (where the express goes I believe.)

So the money I'll save on a cab from the airport I'll put to the hotel bill.

Any views, advice? As always, appreciated!
CATMAN

[This message has been edited by Catman (edited 01-24-99).]

Catman, be sure to check around the United counter, RCC, or Arrival by United lounge for free First Class upgrade certs on the Heathrow Express. They had them there when we were there last week. For the short 15 minute trip I certainly wouldn't pay for First, but it is nice and if you can get it for free...what the heck.

PremEx... thanks for the great tip. I am known at the local JERZEE supermarkets as "THE KING OF COUPONS!" If I can get one of these upgrades, it's worth it. Just hope I can find it when I get off the plane!

I've planned to take the Heathrow Express anyway but this could make the trip even better! THanks! CATMAN

Catman: Register at the Heathrow Express web-site

www.heathrowexpress.co.uk

and they will send you an First Class upgrade certificate. The site says the offer expires in August 1998, but I understand they are still issuing the certificates.

You can also buy tickets on-line.
Nick

Thank you too Merry Flyer! I will give the site a shot and have a report for you all little later.

That's what I really like about FlyerTalk. We are all willing to help each other. Unless some places I have to deal with! (I'm not saying names, I just feel in a very CATTY
mood today!) CATMAN

Well, I went to www.heathrowexpress.co.uk
and I kept getting this message "You need to download this special plug-in" to go on this site, followed by another message "JAVA Alert : downloading this plug-in is HIGH RISK."

So I passed.

Thanks anyway for the info Merry. I guess I can buy tixs when I get to Heathrow.

My traveling companions insist on taking the cab. Fine. They'll be in traffic when I'm back at the hotel, checked in and ready to go to the first meeting. CATMAN

Thanks for the tip, Merry. I went to the website and filled out the form for a free upgrade. Just in time for my UK trip between 2/11 and 2/15.

Catman,

If you are going to the Kensington Hilton, you are best to take the Airbus (bus route A1), as this is cheaper than the express, and drops off at the door of the Hilton (first drop). It goes every 30 mins.

Check out www.airbus.co.uk for more details

I don't know about "best" to take the Airbus, it is certainly a cheaper alternative.

If you get the Express and then the 'hotel shuttle' from Paddington it should be quicker.

There is twice the frequenty with the Express and Hotel Shuttle to the Airbus.
MF


[This message has been edited by Merry (edited 01-26-99).]

The Heathrow Express gets FOUR BIG PAWS UP, WAY UP from the CATMAN!!!

What a great idea!!! Runs like clockwork every 15 minutes. (Personally you don't need to go first class for such a short trip... the regular section is fine.)

LOTS AND LOTS OF ADS promoting this service all over Heathrow. Yet MY work colleages chose to take the taxi saying they never heard of this service and didn't want to take a chance. They took about 45 minutes to get to the hotel. My trip: 22 minutes from Heathrow to hotel!)

I was able to get a round trip ticket. Saved me a LOT of time.

There are plenty of ticket machines to get the machines, and to my surprise you can pay for tickets in several currencies (the Pound of course, plus U-S dollar and Yen, etc.) Also can buy tickets on train. One thing: If you pay with credit card on board, you have to wait for an agent with the machine to pay up.

Comfortable seats, fast moving trains, friendly staff. One minor gripe: I was tired after the 15th showing of the little mini-doc about White OWLS and how their one enemy was barn conversions.

So I paid 10 pounds each way, plus five each way for the taxi from Paddington Station to the Hilton and back.

15 pounds vs an average of 56 pounds. I'll take the Heathrow Express. CATMAN


[This message has been edited by Catman (edited 02-15-99).]