Heathrow "Boutique"
 

Has anyone used this service before? Apparently, you can reserve items in a lot of shops in Heathrow and pick them up before you fly. Doesn't seem to be any charge for it, but there must be a downside I'm not seeing.

There may not be a charge but, apart from maybe shaving gel in Boots, there's little I've seen on sale at Heathrow that doesn't attract a healthy markup.

True although I have my eye on a camera in Dixon's Travel that is proving impossible to get elsewhere. Gotta be worth a shot, I guess, but I have visions of a disinterested shop assistant trying to rummage in the back for 'my order' while they call last boarding on my flight...

You could say the same about any sort of 'click and collect' service.

My local Waitrose does click and collect for John Lewis and the staff have to go to the store room to get the packages (they don't keep them at the service desk) so wherever you go you'll always have to wait a couple of minutes.

THe 'collect on return' service could be an option - depending on your travel plans of course

I'm flying ORK-LHR-ORK, so will only be in T2 arrivals on way over. I'll probably give it a go for the return journey, just in case it's something they have to 'get in' from one of their other branches. At least that way, I can allow a bit of extra time on getting to LHR.