LHR or LGW
#3
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,307
Sore point for some of us in the UK.
Tax goes to the government and is essentially the same for all departure points at the moment. (There are a few oddities).
Airport charges are what makes the difference and this money doesn't go to the government.
From Amadeus:
UK Passenger Service Charge (UB) – A charge imposed by airlines to cover costs they pay to airports for the passenger to use the airport’s amenities and services. This amount varies from airport to airport.
Tax goes to the government and is essentially the same for all departure points at the moment. (There are a few oddities).
Airport charges are what makes the difference and this money doesn't go to the government.
From Amadeus:
UK Passenger Service Charge (UB) – A charge imposed by airlines to cover costs they pay to airports for the passenger to use the airport’s amenities and services. This amount varies from airport to airport.
#5
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,273
Agree, i have doen both and now prefer LGW. Overall a much better experience than the zoo that LHR is.
LGW is a bit less accessible (of course no problem if you qualify for CD), but not really a problem as there are lots of trains. Don't take the Gatwick Express, it's a ripoff.
LGW is a bit less accessible (of course no problem if you qualify for CD), but not really a problem as there are lots of trains. Don't take the Gatwick Express, it's a ripoff.
#6
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Manchester/London
Programs: Skywards Plat, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,226
Agree, i have doen both and now prefer LGW. Overall a much better experience than the zoo that LHR is.
LGW is a bit less accessible (of course no problem if you qualify for CD), but not really a problem as there are lots of trains. Don't take the Gatwick Express, it's a ripoff.
LGW is a bit less accessible (of course no problem if you qualify for CD), but not really a problem as there are lots of trains. Don't take the Gatwick Express, it's a ripoff.
#7
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,613
Which is just rubbing the OPs nose in it as he's in Y
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: Etihad Gold, Emirates Gold, SPG Gold, Accor Platinum
Posts: 579
Heathrow:
Pros:
- Much closer to Central London in terms of time, don't just look at the distance.
- Better shopping in LHR T3.
- More flights in case of IRROPS.
- Staff at the airport are a bit more geared to business travellers and are a bit more welcoming.
- Heathrow Express 15 mins to Paddington if that is applicable to you.
Cons:
- Queues to take off, and other delays that can be attributed to a busy airport, but you're more likely to get stuck in traffic in South London or the M25 on your way to Gatwick, which could be much worse.
- Terminal can be busier at certain times, i.e. during security.
LGW
Pros:
- Quieter and overall less congested than LHR.
- Less delays in landing/take off
- If its cheaper than LHR for your tickets that's a good enough reason.
Cons:
- Further than LHR from pretty much anywhere other than the Brighton area.
- EK share a terminal with Easyjet at LGW, I that speaks volumes about some of the people you have to deal with when sharing the terminal.
- I've found immigration & other staff to be ruder than at LHR. Less exposure I'd attribute it to.
So yeah, for me LHR is the better choice, but if LGW is cheaper and you don't need to shop at the airport, and you're planning to get to the airport early LGW is good enough.
On the other hand, if you want to get to the airport anything less than 2 hours before departure, want to shop at the airport, more people in the terminal don't bother you, and you value ground staff with a more global outlook LHR might be worth the extra fare to you.
I've flown from both and I live 14 miles from LHR and 43 miles from LGW (ok you can cut it down to 30 miles via South London rather than the M25 but that takes longer). For me its LHR every time, but that's just because its so much closer to me.
Pros:
- Much closer to Central London in terms of time, don't just look at the distance.
- Better shopping in LHR T3.
- More flights in case of IRROPS.
- Staff at the airport are a bit more geared to business travellers and are a bit more welcoming.
- Heathrow Express 15 mins to Paddington if that is applicable to you.
Cons:
- Queues to take off, and other delays that can be attributed to a busy airport, but you're more likely to get stuck in traffic in South London or the M25 on your way to Gatwick, which could be much worse.
- Terminal can be busier at certain times, i.e. during security.
LGW
Pros:
- Quieter and overall less congested than LHR.
- Less delays in landing/take off
- If its cheaper than LHR for your tickets that's a good enough reason.
Cons:
- Further than LHR from pretty much anywhere other than the Brighton area.
- EK share a terminal with Easyjet at LGW, I that speaks volumes about some of the people you have to deal with when sharing the terminal.
- I've found immigration & other staff to be ruder than at LHR. Less exposure I'd attribute it to.
So yeah, for me LHR is the better choice, but if LGW is cheaper and you don't need to shop at the airport, and you're planning to get to the airport early LGW is good enough.
On the other hand, if you want to get to the airport anything less than 2 hours before departure, want to shop at the airport, more people in the terminal don't bother you, and you value ground staff with a more global outlook LHR might be worth the extra fare to you.
I've flown from both and I live 14 miles from LHR and 43 miles from LGW (ok you can cut it down to 30 miles via South London rather than the M25 but that takes longer). For me its LHR every time, but that's just because its so much closer to me.
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,600
I disagree that Heathrow is closer in time than Gatwick from Central London unless you class Paddington station as being the basis for central London
From Victoria the train journey to Gatwick takes 30 minutes and from London Bridge it is 29 minutes
This is slower than the Heathrow Express from paddington at 15 minutes ( cost GBP25 ) but not faster than the Connect service at 32 minutes ( cost GBP10.30 )
With only 15 minutes in the train journey time, location in Central London can easily offset that saving.
Seriously - that Easyjet uses Gatwick makes it worse?
I would take Gatwick every time over Heathrow - that it is cheaper is a bonus. That was able to fly into LGW was a reason for picking EK on last trip
From Victoria the train journey to Gatwick takes 30 minutes and from London Bridge it is 29 minutes
This is slower than the Heathrow Express from paddington at 15 minutes ( cost GBP25 ) but not faster than the Connect service at 32 minutes ( cost GBP10.30 )
With only 15 minutes in the train journey time, location in Central London can easily offset that saving.
Seriously - that Easyjet uses Gatwick makes it worse?
I would take Gatwick every time over Heathrow - that it is cheaper is a bonus. That was able to fly into LGW was a reason for picking EK on last trip
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: Etihad Gold, Emirates Gold, SPG Gold, Accor Platinum
Posts: 579
I disagree that Heathrow is closer in time than Gatwick from Central London unless you class Paddington station as being the basis for central London
From Victoria the train journey to Gatwick takes 30 minutes and from London Bridge it is 29 minutes
This is slower than the Heathrow Express from paddington at 15 minutes ( cost GBP25 ) but not faster than the Connect service at 32 minutes ( cost GBP10.30 )
With only 15 minutes in the train journey time, location in Central London can easily offset that saving.
Seriously - that Easyjet uses Gatwick makes it worse?
I would take Gatwick every time over Heathrow - that it is cheaper is a bonus. That was able to fly into LGW was a reason for picking EK on last trip
From Victoria the train journey to Gatwick takes 30 minutes and from London Bridge it is 29 minutes
This is slower than the Heathrow Express from paddington at 15 minutes ( cost GBP25 ) but not faster than the Connect service at 32 minutes ( cost GBP10.30 )
With only 15 minutes in the train journey time, location in Central London can easily offset that saving.
Seriously - that Easyjet uses Gatwick makes it worse?
I would take Gatwick every time over Heathrow - that it is cheaper is a bonus. That was able to fly into LGW was a reason for picking EK on last trip
Birmingham is an hour and ten minutes from Euston station, not a huge amount of time in the grand scale of things, but from out here in the western part of central London, using only trains, it would take me another 30-40 minutes to get to Euston, and the trains to Birmingham run only every hour, so in a best case scenario we would be waiting at Euston for say 20 mins till the next train. Making Birmingham in fact (using exclusively trains) take circa 2 hours plus. By car I don't think many people would assume Central London to the centre of Birmingham takes less than 2.5 hours.
Central London is also indeed a very west centric term, and don't forget Heathrow is in West London. Kensington/White City/Chelsea/Fulham/Notting Hill etc. etc. are all considered to be Central London, although theoretically West London.
Hop in a black cab from Harrods, between 10am and 3pm most weekdays and unless something drastically goes wrong, you will be at Heathrow in less than 30 minutes I guarantee you.
Say the same, even if you're in Waterloo/Victoria/London Bridge (anywhere in Central London 'closer' to Gatwick), how long do you think you would be reaching Gatwick in by taxi?
Not to forget the area between Earls Court and Hounslow is a city onto itself otherwise known as West London, with big corporate offices (Brentford area), decent roads, and several sizeable commercial centres like Richmond, Kingston, Hammersmith and more on the way. I don't think you can say the same for the swath of South London between the Thames and Gatwick, sure there's Brixton and Croydon even the smallest of western suburbs dwarfs them in economic importance. Yes I know Croydon is big but it isn't exactly thriving.
Victoria vs Paddington, well you can walk to Oxford Street from Paddington and you can walk to Westminster from Victoria, so yes both are equally well located I agree there.
But honestly, have you ever driven from Central London to Gatwick? Is that really a comparison to a quick cruise along the M4?
And yes I've used Easyjet, but I won't say their passengers are all pleasant. I'd use Easyjet again, but if I'm flying long haul EK my expectations would be a tad higher. Why put yourself through that when you don't have to.
Oh and whilst trains can work out for short European hops, I think the luggage entailed with long haul travel usually makes trains impractical, so whilst YMMV I think taxis/chauffeur drive is the more logical choice here. I get it someone might fly in from Dubai to London for two days, take the HEX, stay in W1, be at meetings throughout and take the HEX straight back to Heathrow. I can't really imagine the same traveller doing that through LGW. Like sure hedge funds in Mayfair (who will invariably prefer LHR), but with the City in the state that its in, two days in and out of London through Gatwick (convent perhaps for EC4 not so much W1)? That sounds like 2005 not 2017 to me. Or some people just travel very light, and good for them if they do.
Last edited by akalra1187; Sep 1, 2017 at 8:22 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: QR Privilege Club Platinum, EK Skywards Gold, IHG Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 141
I disagree that Heathrow is closer in time than Gatwick from Central London unless you class Paddington station as being the basis for central London
From Victoria the train journey to Gatwick takes 30 minutes and from London Bridge it is 29 minutes
This is slower than the Heathrow Express from paddington at 15 minutes ( cost GBP25 ) but not faster than the Connect service at 32 minutes ( cost GBP10.30 )
With only 15 minutes in the train journey time, location in Central London can easily offset that saving.
Seriously - that Easyjet uses Gatwick makes it worse?
I would take Gatwick every time over Heathrow - that it is cheaper is a bonus. That was able to fly into LGW was a reason for picking EK on last trip
From Victoria the train journey to Gatwick takes 30 minutes and from London Bridge it is 29 minutes
This is slower than the Heathrow Express from paddington at 15 minutes ( cost GBP25 ) but not faster than the Connect service at 32 minutes ( cost GBP10.30 )
With only 15 minutes in the train journey time, location in Central London can easily offset that saving.
Seriously - that Easyjet uses Gatwick makes it worse?
I would take Gatwick every time over Heathrow - that it is cheaper is a bonus. That was able to fly into LGW was a reason for picking EK on last trip
Mind you when Crossrail opens all this will likely become moot. Actually it will be interesting to see it EK will be able to maintain its LGW loads post 2020.
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: Etihad Gold, Emirates Gold, SPG Gold, Accor Platinum
Posts: 579
Agree, there are swathes of London such as the area around Farrigdon where LGW is a lot more convenient and quicker to reach by train.
Mind you when Crossrail opens all this will likely become moot. Actually it will be interesting to see it EK will be able to maintain its LGW loads post 2020.
Mind you when Crossrail opens all this will likely become moot. Actually it will be interesting to see it EK will be able to maintain its LGW loads post 2020.
And people are going to Farringdon en mass for what exactly? To be hipsters? People live everywhere I realise that, but if we are considering a London airport we might consider proximity to Mayfair or Knightsbridge or even Westminster. Proximity to Farringdon? That's almost like comparing proximity to Nottingham...
I digress, who are these travellers flying long haul that want to take their suitcases on trains?
#15
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: BA Emirates
Posts: 73
This is why most of my long haul is from Manchester (free chauffeur drive with EK and a better J product) or KLM from Leeds/Bradford. Increasingly BA should call themselves London Airways as their offerings do not suit those of us living in the provinces.