Change to our itinerary
Apr 5th, 2015, 05:00 PM
#1
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Change to our itinerary
My wife and kids are traveling to London and Paris in July. Originally, the plan was to fly to London (Heathrow) and take the Eurostar to Paris. After a few days in Paris, return to London via the Eurostar and fly back to the U.S. from Heathrow.
We've noticed that Eurostar tickets, however, for this timeframe are selling out and prices are going up. Looking into alternative methods of travel to Paris, we've found it to be less expensive to fly from Heathrow to CDG in Paris.
We've already booked their flights in and out of Heathrow for travel from and to the United States, so this wouldn't be a connecting flight but rather a separate flight. How long is necessary to account for immigration upon landing in London before being ready to fly to Paris? It will all be the same day, but with their flight landing in London at 10am (if on time), I don't want to book them on a flight to Paris at 11am if immigration will take too long. By the same token, I'd rather not have them sitting in the airport all day by booking their Paris flight too late in the day.
In a nutshell, would a 1pm flight be realistic? 3pm? Should we consider an alternative method of travel? She has NO interest in driving in a foreign country, so renting a vehicle is out of the question. Were I traveling with them, it may have been an option.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
We've noticed that Eurostar tickets, however, for this timeframe are selling out and prices are going up. Looking into alternative methods of travel to Paris, we've found it to be less expensive to fly from Heathrow to CDG in Paris.
We've already booked their flights in and out of Heathrow for travel from and to the United States, so this wouldn't be a connecting flight but rather a separate flight. How long is necessary to account for immigration upon landing in London before being ready to fly to Paris? It will all be the same day, but with their flight landing in London at 10am (if on time), I don't want to book them on a flight to Paris at 11am if immigration will take too long. By the same token, I'd rather not have them sitting in the airport all day by booking their Paris flight too late in the day.
In a nutshell, would a 1pm flight be realistic? 3pm? Should we consider an alternative method of travel? She has NO interest in driving in a foreign country, so renting a vehicle is out of the question. Were I traveling with them, it may have been an option.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Apr 5th, 2015, 05:02 PM
#2
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In case I wasn't clear, they'll land in London and travel immediately to Paris for a few days. After Paris, they'll board the Eurostar to London where they'll stay for the remainder of their time. Getting back to London is not a great concern as they have more flexibility on the timing of the Eurostar, it's simply in booking the flight from Heathrow to CDG for the day they land in London.
Apr 5th, 2015, 06:30 PM
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Is touring London first and then Paris an option? That way you don't have to worry about rail or flight connections right after trans-Atlantic flight, and just take the Eurostar back to London the night before flight back to the states.
Apr 5th, 2015, 10:35 PM
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"How long is necessary to account for immigration upon landing in London before being ready to fly to Paris? "
At least four hours, if you're doing what you appear to be proposing. You should be asking a different question.
Just two airlines (BA and Air France) fly from Heathrow to Paris. So if you're crossing the Atlantic on BA or American (for an onward BA flight) or on Delta or Virgin (for an onward AF flight), you ought to be able to buy a ticket now which will allow your luggage to be through-checked to Paris, allow you to go straight to the onward departure gate, through security, without going through immigration, and offer you protection if your transatlantic flight is delayed.
If you can't do that (and if you're using another transatlantic airline, it's worth checking to see if they DO have interline agreements at LHR with BA or AF), then your big problem isn't so much immigration (rarely more than an hour: we don't treat arriving Americans as disgracefully as you allow your indolent bureaucrats to treat us) but:
- the need to retrieve your bags, transfer landside several miles to T4 or T5, recheck your bags, then go through the lengthy process of landside to airside security, and
- if your incoming flight's delayed too long, the high risk of your losing your booking and forfeiting what you've paid.
If you're not on an airline that offers interline facilities to BA or AF, the four hours you need to travel halfway round SE England is merely enough to deal with the logistics of an on-time arrival. They won't be enough to insure you against a delayed plane.
At least four hours, if you're doing what you appear to be proposing. You should be asking a different question.
Just two airlines (BA and Air France) fly from Heathrow to Paris. So if you're crossing the Atlantic on BA or American (for an onward BA flight) or on Delta or Virgin (for an onward AF flight), you ought to be able to buy a ticket now which will allow your luggage to be through-checked to Paris, allow you to go straight to the onward departure gate, through security, without going through immigration, and offer you protection if your transatlantic flight is delayed.
If you can't do that (and if you're using another transatlantic airline, it's worth checking to see if they DO have interline agreements at LHR with BA or AF), then your big problem isn't so much immigration (rarely more than an hour: we don't treat arriving Americans as disgracefully as you allow your indolent bureaucrats to treat us) but:
- the need to retrieve your bags, transfer landside several miles to T4 or T5, recheck your bags, then go through the lengthy process of landside to airside security, and
- if your incoming flight's delayed too long, the high risk of your losing your booking and forfeiting what you've paid.
If you're not on an airline that offers interline facilities to BA or AF, the four hours you need to travel halfway round SE England is merely enough to deal with the logistics of an on-time arrival. They won't be enough to insure you against a delayed plane.
Apr 6th, 2015, 03:33 AM
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flanneruk - I'll need to see if Lufthansa has such an agreement.
We purchased the tickets on Lufthansa several weeks ago, booked the hotels in Paris and London, and figured we'd grab the Eurostar tickets a few weeks before heading over. Checking the Eurostar website, however, changed those dynamics and made us reconsider waiting. They were originally going to fly to London and then home from Paris, but the flights we were able to secure were much less expensive flying in and out of London. In hindsight, we would've been better off sticking with the original plan.
We purchased the tickets on Lufthansa several weeks ago, booked the hotels in Paris and London, and figured we'd grab the Eurostar tickets a few weeks before heading over. Checking the Eurostar website, however, changed those dynamics and made us reconsider waiting. They were originally going to fly to London and then home from Paris, but the flights we were able to secure were much less expensive flying in and out of London. In hindsight, we would've been better off sticking with the original plan.
Apr 6th, 2015, 04:59 AM
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<<the flights we were able to secure were much less expensive flying in and out of London>>
no doubt they were but this is an example of where it makes much more sense to fly to your destination (Paris) rather than a city in another country (London). What if your flight was late and you missed the Eurostar; how much would walk up tickets cost? Same goes for an unconnected flight.
A connecting flight from LHR to Paris is the only sensible option.
no doubt they were but this is an example of where it makes much more sense to fly to your destination (Paris) rather than a city in another country (London). What if your flight was late and you missed the Eurostar; how much would walk up tickets cost? Same goes for an unconnected flight.
A connecting flight from LHR to Paris is the only sensible option.
Apr 6th, 2015, 05:51 AM
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We've noticed that Eurostar tickets, however, for this timeframe are selling out and prices are going up.>
How much have you checked - www.eurostar.com? Hard to believe trains are selling out and there are not inexpensive tickets - don't just look for a specfic timeon a specific day - be flexible - GTues-thur is sslacker times and early or late in day too. I think if you look harder taking the Eurostar train will be both cost-effective and time saving - getting to Heathrow costs how much - takes how long - wiating to clear Customs, retrieving bags in Paris and getting into town again costs money - hard to believe if not on a connecting flgith that anyone these days would fly between London and Paris if staying in London.
How much will flying cost - all told? and what is the cheapest Eurostar tickets you have found (kids can get a child's rate I believe too).
How much have you checked - www.eurostar.com? Hard to believe trains are selling out and there are not inexpensive tickets - don't just look for a specfic timeon a specific day - be flexible - GTues-thur is sslacker times and early or late in day too. I think if you look harder taking the Eurostar train will be both cost-effective and time saving - getting to Heathrow costs how much - takes how long - wiating to clear Customs, retrieving bags in Paris and getting into town again costs money - hard to believe if not on a connecting flgith that anyone these days would fly between London and Paris if staying in London.
How much will flying cost - all told? and what is the cheapest Eurostar tickets you have found (kids can get a child's rate I believe too).
Apr 6th, 2015, 06:03 AM
#9
Of course, if the plan was to travel from London to Paris the day of arrival, you still have the issue of how long it will take to get from plane to train. Plus everyone will be jet-lagged and miserable.
Where are you looking for tickets? On eurostar.com I am seeing fares of $52/adult and $36/child one way for a random date in July.
Where are you looking for tickets? On eurostar.com I am seeing fares of $52/adult and $36/child one way for a random date in July.
Apr 6th, 2015, 06:20 AM
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Jet-lagged need not equal miserable. The tube ride, some refreshments at beautiful St. Pancras, maybe a walk around the area if time permits, a nap on the train, then ready to hit the ground running in Paris. We've done it and liked it.
LHR - CDG certainly makes sense, too.
LHR - CDG certainly makes sense, too.
Apr 6th, 2015, 08:29 AM
#11
mhuntoon: Lufthansa isn't a partner w/ either Air France or BA - but that doesn't mean they don't have an interline agreement. I don't think a lot of airlines publish their interlining agreements so maybe ask on FlyerTalk?
If they don't interline - you are sort of up a creek. In that case I'd book my onward flight several hours later. Like 3PM or later. If your flight lands on time the 5 hours is way overkill - but if you are delayed an hour or two you'd need every minute of it.
If they don't interline - you are sort of up a creek. In that case I'd book my onward flight several hours later. Like 3PM or later. If your flight lands on time the 5 hours is way overkill - but if you are delayed an hour or two you'd need every minute of it.
Apr 6th, 2015, 11:41 AM
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Having traveled with kids after a long flight from the US, and having gone through the confusion of Heathrow, I would highly recommend at least one overnight, preferably two, in London before traveling to Paris via Eurostar. Why not use the intervening day(s) to get a head start on London? Take a double decker bus tour (or the Harry Potter bus tour, which my kids enjoyed, and which functioned as a bit of an overview of London, as well), the Eye, a cruise on the Thames? Eat in a few restaurants and do a little souvenir shopping? Go to the British Museum? I think they'll start out in Paris much easier if they're recovered from jet lag, and it doesn't stop them exploring more of London when they get back.
My one trip on Eurostar was such a better experience compared to flying - bigger seats, more room between rows and for above-seat luggage, very straightforward and mercifully short security/immigration/customs screenings.
I hope they have a nice trip.
My one trip on Eurostar was such a better experience compared to flying - bigger seats, more room between rows and for above-seat luggage, very straightforward and mercifully short security/immigration/customs screenings.
I hope they have a nice trip.
Apr 6th, 2015, 11:44 AM
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Sorry - I see you've booked the hotels. Is it worth looking into whether they can accommodate a change in dates? I really wouldn't want to add that much extra travel time to an already jet-lagged family.
Apr 6th, 2015, 11:58 AM
#14
I agree w/ AlyssonRR - but if things are set in stone, I'd fly on to Paris in the late afternoon. It will be one hellacious travel day either way. Do you have acces to lounges? That would help at least a little.
