laustic

We'll be flying one way from London to Amsterdam on March 26th (Wednesday). I'd like to fly in the morning so we can get to Amsterdam at a good time. I'm just a bit worried about "rush hour" on the tube. Also, for the really early morning flights I'm not even sure the tube runs. In which case I guess we could hire a driver or taxi? Any advice is really appreciated.

These are all easyjet flights. I've flown Stansted before so I know it's a bit far out, but I remember it was really easy to get in and out of. Don't know anything about Luton.

Gatwick: 6:15a or 9:40a
Luton: 6:00a or 9:10a
Stansted: 7:00a

laustic

And I meant to include that we're staying in Chelsea near the Sloane Square station.

AAFrequentFlyer

I don't believe the underground will get you to any of the above mentioned airports. Your choices are rail, coach, private car service or taxi.

laustic

I wasn't clear enough. I knew I'd have to take a train to eventually get to these airport, but I'll have to take the tube to the train station. Can any one comment on the convenience factor of the various airports in the morning (using tube and train)? Or should we just arrange for a driver? If so which airport would you choose?

janisj

The only airport of those that makes much sense from Sloane Sq is Gatwick. A <u>very</u> short cab ride to Victoria Station and a fast train to LGW.

Or an even shorter tube ride to Victoria - but it wouldn't work for the 0615 flight.

Don't worry about the tube - rush hour runs later than you may be used to back home. For any of those flights you will need to be at the airport long before the tube/buses would start getting crowded.

laustic

Okay, forgive an ignorant Texas girl here, but if I was to need a cab that early in the morning would I just prearrange it? That's what I would do here in Austin, but I'm not sure of the protocol in London. I'm kind of an idiot when it comes to big city logistics.

AAFrequentFlyer

btw, I don't know how much is the easyjet ticket but you can fly BMI or BA out of Heathrow to AMS for ~50BP one way all in. Underground service is available to Heathrow.

janisj

You can easily hail one on on the street for the later flight. But if you opt for the 0615 flight - you'd want to pre-book the night before -- since you'd need to be at Victoria by 0400/0430 (much too early in my book - I definitely go for the 09:40 flight or even a bit later)

AllieNC

Ask your hotel concierge how much it will cost to have a mini-cab drive you all the way to Gatwick. Mini-cabs (which are not necessarily &quot;mini&quot have set prices to the airports and are a lot cheaper than regular taxis. And being driven to the airport is so much more relaxing than hauling your luggage up and down and up and down all the stairs in the tube stations. We were in and out of London twice last summer and after the first trip into town on the tube with our luggage, which was torturous, we happily paid to be driven the next three times. And I really hate to spend money.

janisj

nooooo! A car service to LGW makes no sense - it is a 30+ mile drive. The train will be MUCH faster. If you use a car service ( a mini cab - not &quot;mini&quot; cars -- just called that) you would have to leave much earlier than if you take the Gatwick Express.

janisj

AllieNC - you are obviously talking about LHR since you mention the tube. A car service to LHR does make sense -- but to LGW, nope.

WillTravel

I would choose Gatwick at 9:40 AM. If the price difference was really huge, then and only then would I consider Stansted or Luton at that time of the morning. Also look into the Heathrow option.

But at this late stage, the prices are likely to be increasing quickly. So choose something and book it.

laustic

Thanks everyone! I think I'll take your advice and do the 9:40 Gatwick and purchase tonight. We'll probably just do the tube since we're light packers.

AllieNC

oops, you're all right. I was thinking Heathrow . . . but typing Gatwick. Sorry.

AAFrequentFlyer

as posted by <b>laustic</b>

<i>We'll probably just do the tube since we're light packers.,

once again, there is no underground service to Gatwick.

The Gatwick Express from Victoria Station is $16.90BP per person and it takes 30 minutes.

The Southern Train is few BPs less and it takes about 35-40 minutes.


</i>

alanRow

&lt;&lt;&lt; The Southern Train is few BPs less &gt;&gt;&gt;

Try &pound;6 cheaper per person

laustic

Tube to Victoria! I never said tube to Gatwick!

AAFrequentFlyer

My point was/is that with the expensive tube/train ticket combo going to Gatwick, you may be better off flying out of Heathrow on BA or bmibaby. The Southern train will add ~11BPs to your journey and the Gatwick Express is ~17BPs per person, so unless the easyjet flight is less than ~40BPs then is it worth the hassle?

laustic

The easy jet flights are around 30GBP. We're flying into Gatwick from the US so I figure I can just get a round trip on the Southern...not sure if that saves us any money or not. I'll have to look into it.

WillTravel

When you buy your Southern tickets at Gatwick, you can also buy it in combination with a TravelCard for tube and bus use in London. This is what we did. Because the TravelCard was Zone 1-2, we only needed to buy the Southern ticket to/from Clapham Junction, thus saving a little bit more, because you are allowed to stay on the Southern train with the TravelCard Zone 1-2 after Clapham Junction. The staff at the kiosk will help you out with this.